I’m a huge fan of homemade dressings and sauces. They are such an easy way to add some spice to meals and by making them at home, you know exactly what goes into them. This healthy caesar dressing is so delicious, you won’t go back store-bought!
Traditional caesar is made with mayonnaise. We are swapping it out for greek yogurt and tahini to lighten it up, but not skimp on flavor. We also have garlic, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, and anchovy paste.
Never Miss a Recipe!
Get new recipes like this delivered to your inbox.
It’s rich and creamy, tangy and salty, and has a little zip in it! I love it on salads, with chicken or shrimp, or just as a dressing for power bowls.
Why we love this healthy caesar dressing
- packed with flavor
- super easy to make! – all you need to do is blend everything up.
- lightened up – packed with more protein and less fat and calories than your typical store-bought dressing.
Is Caesar dressing healthy for you?
Classic caesar dressing is made with raw egg yolks to make mayonnaise (or you can just use store-bought mayo). Due to the higher fat content in mayo and the addition of parmesan cheese, it can be one of the higher calorie dressings, and calories can add up quickly depending on how much you use. Of course, it can be enjoyed in moderation, just like any other food!
When making it at home, you have full control over the quality of the ingredients. This healthy caesar salad dressing is lightened up using protein-packed greek yogurt instead of mayo for a lighter option. And it’s gluten-free.
Ingredients
- plain greek yogurt – makes it super creamy and adds protein.
- tahini – for some earthiness and richness
- lemon juice – for some acidity and tang
- grated parmesan cheese
- fresh garlic
- dijon mustard
- anchovy paste – optional, but adds that classic caesar dressing taste and some saltiness
- water – to help thin it out a little
- salt and pepper
How to make healthy caesar dressing
- Make the sauce. Add all ingredients except the water to a glass jar. Whisk or use an immersion blender (my personal preference) until smooth. You can also blend it in your blender or food processor or just mix it by hand in a bowl. Blending the ingredients will give the dressing a super creamy texture. If desired, add 2-4 tablespoons of water to thin it out and mix again. Adjust according to taste.
- Enjoy! Serve however you like!
Do I need to add anchovies?
If anchovies aren’t your thing or you can’t find them, they are optional in this recipe. I have tried this recipe with anchovy paste and without and it’s delicious both ways. The anchovies do add some saltiness and umami flavor – giving it a little more authentic flavor.
What to use caesar dressing on
- a classic caesar salad – with romaine lettuce, croutons, and lots of parmesan cheese. Add chicken, salmon, or shrimp for some protein!
- in chicken caesar pasta salad
- in chicken caesar salad wrap or sandwich
- as a dip for veggies
Storage
- fridge – store in a glass jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- freezer – I do not recommend freezing this recipe due to the yogurt.
Substitutions
- greek yogurt – to make this dairy-free, use a dairy-free greek yogurt. Do not use a sweetened variety, you need to use plain.
- tahini – this helps give the dressing more flavor. There is not really a substitute for it.
- fresh garlic – use 1 teaspoon garlic powder instead of fresh.
- anchovy paste – leave it out if you do not have it or do not like it.
More healthy sauces and dressing recipes
- greek yogurt blue cheese dressing
- burger sauce
- peanut sauce
- homemade tzatziki
- spicy red pepper sauce
If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Healthy Caesar Dressing
equipment
ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain full-fat greek yogurt (4 ounces)
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese (21 grams)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 teaspoons anchovy paste (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2-4 tablespoons water (amount depends on desired consistency)
instructions
- Make the sauce. Add all ingredients except the water to a glass jar. Whisk or use an immersion blender (my personal preference) until smooth. You can also blend it in your blender or food processor or just mix it by hand in a bowl. Blending the ingredients will give the dressing a super creamy texture. If desired, add 2-4 tablespoons of water to thin it out and mix again. Adjust according to taste.
- Enjoy! Serve however you like!
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive so we can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
nutrition
Get My Guide On
How to Build a Balanced Plate
No recipe, no problem! Learn the key factors to build a balanced plate for sustainable eating and to fuel your body to support your activity, goals, and lifestyle.
I think this recipe has a great potential but can’t seem to get the tahini ratio correctly… I have tried different combinations of yogurt and tahini ratio (plus adding water) but the bitter note of tahini seems to be the dominant flavour
Hey, Alexandra! Thanks for trying it out! Curios what brand of tahini you are using. I find they can vary greatly in taste and texture and my favorite brand is Soom. It’s not bitter at all! Of course we all have different taste buds though. Let me know if you try that out and if makes a difference (if you haven’t already). Here is a link – https://amzn.to/4mz8X0p
Love this dressing, the Greek yogurt is a game changer.
So glad you enjoy it so much, Amanda!
SO SO GOOD! Incredibly easy but the taste is amazing. I used the umami seasoning from Trader Joe’s since I didn’t have anchovies on hand 🙂 Make this now and then go add it to her Caeser Pasta Salad!
Oh, I love that idea! So glad you enjoyed it, it’s a new favorite of mine. Thanks, Mary Alice!
This dressing tastes amazing and everything you want in a Caesar dressing and the fact it’s so low calorie and tastes so good is mind blowing. It’s super easy to make and I just ordered the anchovy paste off Amazon.
Highly recommend!!!
Aw yay, that makes me so happy to hear! Thanks, Riva!
Can’t wait to try it
Hope you enjoy it!