While the caesar salad and french fry combo is certainly a good one, constantly eating the same meal can become pretty tiring. The traditional caesar salad was invented in 1924 at a restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. Since then, it’s become a staple side or main dish — in restaurants and at home — consisting of romaine lettuce and croutons topped with shredded parmesan cheese and caesar dressing (usually an oil-based dressing with anchovies, grated parmesan, lemon juice, egg yolks, and various spices).
As time went on, so did the plethora of caesar salad variations, spanning from a simple caesar wrap to a buffalo ranch pretzel chicken caesar salad. Here are 6 ways that you can spruce up your lunch time caesar salad.
Protein, Protein, Protein
Photo by Half Baked Harvest
The most obvious choice? Add some protein. This could help you achieve your protein goals, but also includes some sustenance for a fuller meal instead of a side salad. Grilled shrimp, hard boiled eggs, salmon, steak, and chicken (grilled, cajun, barbecue, pesto—you can get creative here!) are some tasty options.
Check out this buffalo ranch pretzel chicken caesar salad from Tieghan Gerard/Half Baked Harvest or this salmon caesar salad grain bowl from The Real Food Dietitians.
Throw In Avocado, Nuts, or Legumes
Photo by Whole and Heavenly Oven
There’s nothing easier than throwing in pantry items. Toss in toasted walnuts, cashews, or pine nuts. Avocados and legumes (like chickpeas, beans, and lentils) are also a common addition — just check out this avocado crispy chickpea caesar salad by Whole and Heavenly Oven, or this southwest chicken caesar salad recipe.
Transform It Into A Pasta Salad
Photo by Averie Cooks
What’s the foolproof way to make any meal better? Add pasta. Reach for pasta shapes such as elbow, farfalle, gemelli, or cavatappi (just check out this pasta shapes guide for more insight). This chicken caesar pasta salad by Averie Cooks utilizes farfalle, while this tortellini caesar salad adds a cheesy twist by Two Peas & Their Pod.
Don't Forget The Extra Veggies
Photo by The Crowded Kitchen
Include more vegetables other than the lettuce. Here are some of our top veggie suggestions: cherry peppers, red onion, sweet potato, broccoli, or artichokes (this artichoke caesar-ish salad will do the trick!). If you’re a fan of brussels sprouts (don’t knock ‘em till you try ‘em), you may want to spring for this brussels sprout caesar salad recipe by The Crowded Kitchen.
Spruce Up The Lettuce
Photo by Barley and Sage
No, you don’t only have to use romaine lettuce as the greens for a caesar salad. Snag whatever you have in the fridge—spinach, arugula, microgreens—and throw them in the bowl with some caesar dressing. A great option is to actually grill the lettuce if you have one available to you. It adds a smoky flavor to the traditional recipe, like this chicken caesar salad with grilled romaine.
Turn It Into A Wrap
Photo by Rachel Mansfield
The simplest way to change up your go-to caesar salad is to switch around the order of ingredients. Instead of using a bowl, make these healthy chicken caesar lettuce wraps by Rachel Mansfield, or your favorite kind of tortilla wrap.
For even more food and recipe inspo, be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter!
Header photo by The Real Food Dieticians
