This caesar salad with steak has the best homemade dressing, crunchy panko crumbs, lots of parmesan, and is topped with thinly sliced steak! It's a lovely caesar salad on its own, and some seared thin slices of steak make it an absolute must try!
If you love a chicken caesar salad and are looking for a tasty alternative look no further! This caesar salad with steak is an incredible caesar on its own, but the protein addition takes it to the next level and makes it amazing to add to your list of dinner salads. It's perfect for laying out on a serving platter, or individually plating as part of any meal!
The homemade caesar dressing is super easy, and if you've never tried making your own before you may never go back to store-bought after trying this one. For the rest of the salad, fresh lettuce leaves, toasty panko crumbs and parmesan, and of course the steak make this one maybe my new favorite salad. We include instructions for an easy way to prepare the steak on the stove, but you can also cook it however you prefer!
If you're looking for another salad recipe that is perfect for sharing check out our Arugula and Spinach Salad, or if you're looking for another meat recipe we think you'll love our Carne Asada Quesadilla.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love this Salad
- The caesar salad itself is restaurant worthy! We know this is a bold statement, but we've tried MANY a caesar salad and this is our new homemade favorite. Between the Bibb lettuce leaves, homemade caesar dressing, perfectly golden toasted panko crumbs, and lots of freshly grated parmesan, this one checks all the boxes.
- It's a fun different way to enjoy steak. While steak and potatoes are always great, with the warmer months coming up enjoying it over a homemade salad is such a great option to add to your list of steak recipes.
- It's great as a shareable entertaining dish or as individual salads. This recipe looks stunning served on a large platter, making it perfect for your next gathering, but it also makes for the perfect side or main dinner salad for any weeknight meal!
Ingredients for this Recipe
This recipe contains many ingredients in a classic caesar salad, and for the steak there are definitely options as to which kind you can use!
- Mayo - Base for the caesar dressing. In some cases I prefer using light mayo, but for a creamy dressing with a sturdy consistency I recommend using regular mayo! You'll notice this homemade dressing doesn't include an egg yolk, so the mayo provides a good susbsitute.
- Dijon mustard - Adds some extra flavor! Make sure to not use too much because it can be overpowering.
- Worcestershire sauce - Just a dash adds a unique umami flavor.
- Lemon juice - Make sure to use freshly squeezed lemon juice. If you really love a lemony dressing you can also add more.
- Anchovy filets - If you don't like anchovies (I get it, I don't either!) I promise as long as you finely chop them until they are almost paste like you won't taste a fishy flavor, they'll just give the dressing that classic caesar taste. If you love anchovies like our dad, feel free to add some extras on to the finished salad!
- Garlic - Make sure to use fresh garlic. This recipe only uses 2 cloves so that the dressing isn't too garlicky.
- Parmesan - Freshly grated parmesan is key to ensuring it incorporates into the dressing, and I personally love using a microplane to make the cheese super fine. The finished salad is also topped with lots of additional freshly grated parmesan cheese!
- Salt and black pepper - Make sure not to skip these, especially the salt!
- Water - The flavor of the dressing without the water is spot on, so a tablespoon is just used to ensure it's a perfect pourable consistency. If you prefer a thinner more vinaigrette-like dressing you can whisk in an additional splash, just make sure to just do a little at a time.
- Olive oil - Used to toast the panko breadcrumbs and for cooking the steak.
- Panko breadcrumbs - Trust me, make these golden, olive oil toasted, panko crumbs and you may never look at a normal crouton again! You may also just eat these straight out of the pan. Just a bit of salt for seasoning makes these irresistible! If you prefer to use your store's favorite croutons or homemade croutons then you can definitely substitute those!
- Steak - Regarding the amount of steak purchased, I recommend judging this based on how many people you're serving and if this salad will be a main course or side salad. For the type, skirt steak, flank steak, or a thin sirloin work best as they're lean and easy to thinly slice. Make sure to slice against the grain and at an angle for the best strips. You could also do grilled steak instead of on the stove if you have a grill!
- Bibb lettuce - Bibb (also known as Boston lettuce) makes for a pretty, light, salad which doesn't even require chopping the lettuce! Just make sure to serve right away so the leaves don't get soggy. If you prefer a crisper salad I would recommend using romaine hearts or a head of romaine lettuce instead.
See recipe card below for quantities.
Step by Step Instructions
Both the homemade dressing and the rest of the salad components are super easy to make and ready from start to finish in just a little over half an hour!
Step 1: Make the caesar dressing. Make the homemade caesar dressing by whisking together all ingredients other than the water in a medium bowl. Thin with 1-2 tablespoons of water for a thinner and more pourable dressing (see note).
Step 2: Toast the panko. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add panko breadcrumbs and stir constantly until they are evenly golden, 5-7 minutes. Season lightly with salt then remove from heat so that the bottom layer doesn't burn.
Step 3: Prepare the steak. Pat steak dry with a paper towel then coat both sides with salt and pepper.
Step 4: Cook the steak. Heat remaining teaspoon of olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium high heat until glistening. Add steak and cook for 4-6 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of the steak and how you like it cooked (see note). Let rest on a cutting board for about 10 minutes then slice into thin strips against the grain at an angle.
Step 5: Toss the lettuce with the dressing. While the steak rests remove lettuce leaves from heads (chop them if you like) then add them to a large bowl. Toss with as much of the caesar dressing as desired.
Step 6: Finish the salad. Plate dressed lettuce on a large platter or multiple plates then top with the toasted panko breadcrumbs, lots of grated parmesan, and the sliced steak.
Tips for Making this Caesar Salad with Steak
- Make sure to stir the panko crumbs constantly when toasting them in the olive oil as they go from not toasted at all to golden very quickly. You also want to make sure that they're evenly coated in the olive oil so that they toast evenly.
- Because the 3 steak options listed are thin cuts, I recommend checking the temperature with an instant-read thermometer as thinner steaks are very easy to overcook. I also recommend cooking it for just slightly longer than you typically prefer since it's going over lettuce and you don't want it to be too juicy. Also make sure to let the steak rest for this reason.
- Once you toss the Bibb lettuce with the salad dressing make sure to serve the salad very soon as that type of lettuce will wilt more easily. If you are using romaine it will buy you a bit more time!
FAQs
Garlic bread would be a great side if you're having this salad as a main dish, or if you're splitting up this salad as sides then I think some pasta with red sauce would be perfect for the entree!
You could add button mushrooms, sliced red onion, cherry tomatoes, or maybe another cheese like feta!
If preferred, instead of adding the steak strips on top, you could also definitely cut them into bite-size pieces and toss them with the salad.
Storing and Freezing
I don't recommend storing the leftover salad once it has been tossed with the dressing as the lettuce will be too soggy. Any leftover steak can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Any remaining dressing can be stored in a separate airtight container for up to 1 week.
I don't recommend freezing any portion of this recipe.
Did you try this recipe?If so please leave a ⭐️ rating and/or comment below! Also, make sure to tag us on Instagram @doublethespoonfuls so we can see what you create.
📖 Recipe
Best Caesar Salad with Steak Recipe
Ingredients
Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing
- ¾ cup mayo
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice fresh
- 1-2 anchovy filets finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup parmesan freshly grated
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon water plus a splash more if needed
Steak Caesar Salad
- 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
- ⅔ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 16 ounces steak skirt, flank, or thin sirloin (see note)
- kosher salt
- black pepper
- 3-4 heads Bibb lettuce or romaine for a crunchier salad
- ½ cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
Instructions
- Make the homemade caesar dressing by whisking together all ingredients other than the water in a medium bowl. Thin with 1-2 tablespoons of water for a thinner and more pourable dressing (see note).¾ cup mayo, 1 teaspoon dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1-2 anchovy filets, 2 cloves garlic, ¼ cup parmesan, ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt, ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon water
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add panko breadcrumbs and stir constantly until they are evenly golden, 5-7 minutes. Season lightly with salt then remove from heat so that the bottom layer doesn't burn.3 tablespoons olive oil, ⅔ cup panko breadcrumbs
- Pat steak dry with a paper towel then coat both sides with salt and pepper.16 ounces steak, kosher salt, black pepper
- Heat remaining teaspoon of olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium high heat until glistening. Add steak and cook for 4-6 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of the steak and how you like it cooked (see note). Let rest on a cutting board for about 10 minutes then slice into thin strips against the grain at an angle.3 tablespoons olive oil
- While the steak rests remove lettuce leaves from heads (chop them if you like) then add them to a large bowl. Toss with as much of the caesar dressing as desired.3-4 heads Bibb lettuce
- Plate dressed lettuce on a large platter or multiple plates then top with the toasted panko breadcrumbs, lots of grated parmesan, and the sliced steak.½ cup parmesan cheese
Leave a star rating and comment, ask a question, or share a tip!