Juicy, flavorful shrimp on top of a bed of crunchy romaine and crispy croutons, all dressed with a homemade Caesar salad dressing and lots of parmesan cheese? Yes please! This salad is just amazing, and once you learn how simple it is to make it all from scratch, I don’t think you’ll be buying bottled Caesar dressing ever again. This salad comes together quickly since shrimp only take a few minutes to cook on the stove, so you can have dinner ready fast. Love big, satisfying salads? You should also see my Chicken Caesar Salad Recipe, or go a bit different tonight and make a traditional Greek Salad Instead.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients In Caesar Shrimp Salad
Here’s what you need to make this delicious salad with shrimp. Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
For the Salad:
Shrimp: You’ll need one pound of raw shrimp that has been peeled and deveined. You can leave the tails on if you like, or remove them before cooking for easier eating later. I chose shrimp that are Medium or Large size, but you can use any size that you enjoy.Olive Oil, Old Bay Seasoning, salt, and pepper: To cook the shrimp and add some flavor to them. You can make your own Old Bay Seasoning using my easy recipe. Romaine Lettuce: You want about 6 cups of chopped lettuce for this salad. You can get that using two romaine hearts or one large head of romaine. Be sure to wash and dry the lettuce before you start. Parmesan Cheese: You can use grated parmesan or very finely shredded for this salad. I sometimes like to add a bit of freshly shaved parmesan as a garnish too. Parmesan is much tastier when you grate it fresh. Croutons: Make them homemade! It’s super simple to bake them in the oven or make them in the Air Fryer. You’ll need 3 cups of cubed bread, plus some olive oil and salt and pepper.
For the Dressing:
Mayonnaise: a traditional Caesar dressing is made from oil and egg yolks. We’re skipping that and using mayo instead. It’s a shortcut that doesn’t take away any flavor. Anchovy Fillets: Take 4 anchovies from a can and chop them up finely. Then take the flat edge of your knife and mash them into a paste. These little fish add TONS of savory, umami flavor to the dressing. Lemon Juice and Dijon Mustard: These add needed acidity and tanginess to the creamy dressing. More Parmesan Cheese: It’s in the salad and in the dressing. It’s so good! For more information on how to make homemade Caesar dressing, see this post where I give you all the best tips.
How To Make a Shrimp Caesar Salad
Shrimp Caesar Recipe Tips
Wash the Lettuce: Romaine can hold on to a lot of dirt. I use this salad spinner from OXO to wash and dry all of my lettuce for salads. As a Side Dish: This salad can serve 4-6 people if served as a side dish, or 2-3 people as a main course. Lighten the Dressing: Save calories by swapping out half of the mayonnaise for Greek Yogurt. The dressing will have a different, slightly tangy flavor, but it’s still amazing. To Season the Shrimp: Old Bay is my go-to shrimp seasoning, but you can also use your favorite Cajun seasoning. For a more simple flavor, cook the shrimp with butter, salt and pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Enjoy it Fresh: Ceasar salad is best when eaten directly after making it. The lettuce will get soggy if left to sit too long after dressing it.
What To Serve With Shrimp Ceasar Salad
With Soup: The classic lunch pairing of soup and salad works for dinner too! Try shrimp Ceasar salad with Italian Wedding Soup or Instant Pot Creamy Tortellini Soup. With a Sandwich: Another excellent meal pairing! Enjoy a Chicken Parmesan Sandwich or Italian Beef Sandwiches with your salad. With Bread on the Side: Make a batch of Olive Garden Breadsticks or some tasty Garlic Bread. If you like this Caesar Salad with Shrimp, you’ll also love my Creamy Garlic Shrimp recipe!
Caesar Salad Variations
There are so many delicious ways to make a Caesar Salad. Try these ideas to switch things up! Protein: Caesar Salad can include any other proteins you enjoy. Instead of shrimp, try grilled chicken, steak, or salmon. You might also enjoy making crispy Fried Shrimp for this salad instead. Greens: Hearty greens like kale and spinach can be used in place of all or some of the romaine. Toppings: Go as crazy as you like with Caesar salad toppings! Hard-boiled eggs, chopped bacon or crispy pancetta, diced tomatoes, sunflower seeds, sliced red onions, or olives are some ideas to get you started. Pin the recipe so that you’ll never lose this delicious Ceasar Salad formula! Shrimp Ceasar Salad will be a new favorite, I’m sure. © Little Sunny Kitchen
