Easy Shrimp Caesar Salad Recipe with Homemade Dressing
Published Jun 14, 2024 Updated Jul 21, 2024
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This delicious Shrimp Caesar salad showcases juicy shrimp, seasoned and cooked with a simple spice blend, mixed with crunchy romaine lettuce, creamy avocado, Parmesan cheese, and crispy croutons, all tossed in a homemade, high-protein, creamy Caesar dressing. Ready to enjoy in under 30 minutes!
Table of Contents
What Makes This Recipe Great
Y’all, this flavorful Shrimp Caesar Salad is a delightful, fresh summer salad with amazing flavor and it’s just so satisfying. It features seasoned, pan-fried shrimp with a touch of sweetness and a subtle smokiness that complements the crisp romaine lettuce and crunchy croutons. The homemade Caesar salad dressing is rich with hints of garlic, anchovy, and Parmesan and is made high protein with the addition of Greek yogurt.
I just cannot get enough of this salad! It’s gluten-free, protein-packed, and has an option for dairy-free if needed. It’ll take you right around 25 minutes to prep, cook, and assemble, and it’s the perfect entree salad for a quick lunch or easy dinner on busy weeknights, Sunday brunch, or any occasion!
Ingredient Notes
Shrimp
- large shrimp: I used fresh shrimp, but if you use frozen, be sure to thaw it first.
- olive oil
- fresh garlic
- paprika
- lemon juice
- salt and black pepper to taste
Salad
- fresh romaine lettuce
- avocado
- parmesan cheese
- parmesan cheese Whisps or croutons: Use gluten-free croutons or Whisps for gluten-free.
- fresh parsley
High-Protein Caesar Dressing Ingredients
- Greek yogurt: For dairy-free options use your favorite dairy-free yogurt and vegan parmesan cheese.
- mayonnaise
- grated parmesan cheese
- olive oil
- Dijon mustard
- lemon juice
- garlic
- Worcestershire sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
- anchovy fillets or anchovy paste, optional
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Shrimp: In a large mixing bowl, toss the shrimp with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, and lemon juice. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until the shrimp are pink and opaque. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare the Homemade Caesar Dressing: In a food processor or blender, add in the Greek yogurt, grated parmesan cheese, olive oil, Dijon mustard, mayo, lemon juice, minced garlic, minced anchovies (if using), Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and pulse until smooth and well combined. Add to a small bowl or jar and refrigerate if not using right away.
- Prepare the Salad: In a large salad bowl or a large platter, combine the chopped romaine lettuce along with the cooked shrimp, croutons, shaved parmesan cheese, and sliced avocados. Drizzle the high-protein Caesar dressing over the salad. Enjoy.
Mac’s Pro Tip
Expert Tips
- I pan-fried my shrimp for this recipe, but you can also grill it if preferred. Use either a grill pan or your outdoor grill. I recommend adding the shrimp to metal or bamboo skewers for easy grilling. Then, place the shrimp skewers on your greased grill grates and cook for a few minutes per side. Add the grilled shrimp to your salad and enjoy!
- To make a dairy-free version, substitute dairy-free yogurt for Greek yogurt and use vegan parmesan cheese.
- If desired, you can swap the shrimp and add grilled chicken cubes! The dressing will work for any variation of this salad.
- Feel free to add ingredients or make variations of this salad as desired. You could always do homemade croutons, add extra toppings like cherry tomatoes or bacon bits, switch up the greens to add spinach or kale, and more!
Storage Tips
This salad is best served immediately and sprinkle with extra parmesan cheese and ground black pepper if desired. Serve as a side dish with pasta or a main dish on its own.
To store, I recommend not tossing the salad in the dressing first. Store the salad and shrimp components in separate containers and the Caesar salad dressing in a separate bowl or airtight container with a lid. When ready to serve, toss the ingredients with dressing and add to your serving dish.
Recipe FAQs
In one serving of this salad, there are 432 calories, 13 net carbs, and 35 grams of protein!
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Easy Shrimp Caesar Salad Recipe with Homemade Dressing
Ingredients
Shrimp
- 1.5 pounds large shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
Salad
- 8 cups romaine lettuce chopped
- 1 medium avocado sliced
- ⅓ cup parmesan cheese roughly shaved or grated
- 1 cup parmesan cheese whisps or croutons
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped (optional)
High-Protein Caesar Dressing
- 1 cup Greek yogurt or cottage cheese
- 1 tbsp mayo
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1-2 cloves garlic minced
- 1-2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 anchovy filets minced (optional for authentic flavor)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Shrimp: In a bowl, toss the shrimp with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, and lemon juice. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until the shrimp are pink and opaque. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare the High-Protein Caesar Dressing: In a food processor, add in the Greek yogurt, grated parmesan cheese, olive oil, Dijon mustard, mayo, lemon juice, minced garlic, minced anchovies (if using), Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper pulse until smooth and well combined.
- Prepare the Salad: In a large salad bowl or a large platter, combine the chopped romaine lettuce along with the cooked shrimp, croutons, shaved parmesan cheese, and sliced avocados. Drizzle the high-protein Caesar dressing over the salad. Enjoy
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
