Caesar salad dressing is a favorite around the globe. Lots of us trying to eat healthy love a great salad and a yummy salad dressing. Caesar dressing is one of the richest, most indulgent dressings you could use on your salad. We know it’s higher in calories than others, but is it an option when following a gluten-free diet?
Yes, the original Caesar dressing recipe is gluten-free. Most Caesar dressings in supermarkets are also gluten-free. Caesar salad is often served with croutons, so be sure to ask for no croutons if dining out. The best gluten-free and healthier alternatives include Primal Kitchen Vegan Ranch Dressing, Brianna’s Herb Vinaigrette Avocado Oil Dressing, and Newman’s Own Avocado Oil & EVOO Greek.
In this article, we will take a deep dive into Caesar dressing. We will look at the ingredients and nutrition of traditional Caesar dressing. We will also review several popular Caesar dressing brands. Finally, we will reveal our favorite vegan, gluten-free salad dressing alternatives to Caesar dressing. Let’s dig in!
Contents
Caesar Dressing History
Many people assume that Caesar salad dressing is named after Julius Caesar, however, that is not true. Instead, it is named after the Italian-American chef, Caesar Cardini who invented the Caesar Salad, including its dressing, in 1924.
Caesar Cardini created his masterpiece while living in Tijuana, Mexico. During the prohibition era in the United States, many Americans visited Tijuana, Mexico where alcohol was served freely. Cardini moved to Tijuana and opened a restaurant there to attract American tourists. He invented a salad at this restaurant that became a huge hit!
Caesar Salad Nutritional Information
Original Caesar Salad Ingredients:
- Romaine lettuce
- Garlic
- Croutons
- Parmesan cheese
- Eggs
- Olive oil
- Worcestershire sauce
- Anchovies
Nutrition Per Serving:
- 560 Calories
- 52 g Total Fat
- 8 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 40 mg Cholesterol
- 860 mg Sodium
- 17 g Total Carbohydrate
- 5 g Dietary Fiber
- 2 g Sugars
Top Caesar Dressing Brands
Now let’s have a look at a few of the most popular commercial Caesar dressings on the market today. The original Caesar dressing contains anchovies, but some commercial Caesar dressings use Worcestershire sauce, which is similar to soy sauce or fish sauce.
Cardini’s Original Caesar Dressing
It bears the name of the man who created the original Caesar dressing! It’s definitely one of the most popular ones on the market and is rich and creamy.
Ingredients:
- Soybean oil
- Water
- Egg yolk
- Salt
- White wine and distilled vinegar
- Lemon juice concentrate
- Spices (including mustard seed)
- Parmesan cheese (part-skim milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes)
- Garlic
- Onion
- Olive oil
- Xanthan gum
- Molasses
- Corn syrup
- Rosemary extract
- Caramel color
- Sugar
- Anchovies
- Tamarind
- Natural flavors
Nutrition Facts (per 2 tablespoons, 29 grams):
- 160 Calories
- 17 g Total Fat
- 5 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 30 mg Cholesterol
- 240 mg Sodium
- 1 g Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- 0 g Total Sugars
- 0 g Added Sugars
- 1 g Protein
Johnny’s Great Caesar Dressing
This brand has quite a following! It is another really rich and creamy dressing and tastes pretty close to the kind you find freshly made at your favorite Italian restaurant.
Ingredients:
- Canola oil
- Water
- Olive oil
- Parmesan cheese (part-skim milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes)
- Red wine vinegar
- Lemon juice
- Salt
- Natural flavors
- Worcestershire sauce (distilled white vinegar, molasses, water, sugar, onions, anchovies, salt, garlic, cloves, tamarind extract, natural flavorings, chili pepper extract)
- Spice
- Garlic
- Onion
- Lactic acid
- Propylene glycol alginate
- Potassium sorbate
- Polysorbate – 60
- Sodium alginate
- Sodium benzoate
- Calcium disodium EDTA
Nutrition Facts (per 2 tablespoons, 30 grams):
- 170 Calories
- 19 g Total Fat
- 2 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Cholesterol
- 160 mg Sodium
- 1 g Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- 0 g Sugars
- 0 g Protein
Brianna’s Asiago Caesar Dressing
This is a really tasty Caesar dressing. It is gluten-free and made in small batches for quality control.
Ingredients:
- Canola oil
- Water
- Rice vinegar
- Asiago cheese
- Balsamic vinegar
- Garlic puree
- Egg yolk
- Cane sugar
- Worcestershire sauce (water, distilled vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, corn syrup, tamarind extract, caramel color, spices, dried onion, citric acid, xanthan gum, natural flavors, potassium sorbate)
- Sugar
- Corn syrup
- Tamarind extract
- Caramel color
- Spices
- Dijon mustard
- Vinegar water
- Mustard seed
- Sea salt
- White wine
- Citric acid
- Tartaric acid
- Spices
- Natural flavors
- Xanthan gum
- Rosemary oleoresin (antioxidant)
- Mixed tocopherols
Nutrition Facts (per 2 tablespoons, 30 grams):
- 150 Calories
- 15 g Total Fat
- 5 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 20 mg Cholesterol
- 330 mg Sodium
- 2 g Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- 1 g Total Sugars
- 1 g Added Sugars
- 1 g Protein
Marie’s Creamy Caesar
Marie’s makes another rich, creamy Caesar that tastes almost as good as one made fresh in an Italian restaurant.
Ingredients:
- Soybean oil
- Water
- Egg yolks
- Sour cream (cultured nonfat milk, cream)
- Romano cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes)
- Distilled vinegar
- Sugar
- Salt
- Spices
- Cultured buttermilk
- Garlic juice
- Onion juice
- Natural flavor (includes milk)
- Lemon juice concentrate
- Anchovy
- Xanthan gum
- Olive oil
Nutrition Facts (per 2 tablespoons, 28 grams):
- 120 Calories
- 13 g Total Fat
- 5 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 20 mg Cholesterol
- 180 mg Sodium
- 1 g Carbohydrate
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- 1 g Total Sugars
- 1 g Protein
Kraft Caesar Vinaigrette Salad Dressing with Parmesan
Kraft’s Caesar dressing has fewer calories and fat but is not as rich and yummy as some of the others. It also is not really any healthier considering some of the ingredients.
Ingredients:
- Water
- Vinegar
- Soybean oil
- Corn syrup
- Sugar
- Salt
- Parmesan and Romano cheeses made from cow’s milk cheeses (part-skim milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes)
- Dried garlic
- Egg yolks
- Spice
- Dried onions
- Citric acid
- Natural flavor
- Xanthan gum
- Molasses
- Caramel color
- Tamarind
- Potassium sorbate and calcium disodium EDTA (to protect flavor)
Nutrition Facts (per 2 tablespoons, 32 grams):
- 60 Calories
- 5 g Total Fat
- 1 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- Less than 5 mg Cholesterol
- 350 mg Sodium
- 4 g Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- 1 g Total Sugars
- 0 g Protein
Healthier Alternatives to Caesar Dressing
Traditional Caesar dressing is very rich and delicious. But it is also high in fat, sodium, and calories. There are some healthier alternatives to Caesar dressing that are equally rich and delicious! Many vinaigrettes are healthier, but not all are vegan. Below are some of our favorite Caesar dressing alternatives.
Primal Kitchen Vegan Ranch Dressing & Marinade With Avocado Oil
Primal Kitchen’s yummy vegan ranch dressing is Whole 30, keto and paleo friendly. It’s also gluten-free soy free, dairy free and sugar free.
Ingredients:
- Avocado oil
- Water
- Organic apple cider vinegar
- Organic distilled vinegar
- Organic gum acacia
- Organic guar gum
- Sea salt
- Cream of tartar
- Organic lemon juice concentrate
- Organic onion powder
- Organic garlic powder
- Nutritional yeast
- Organic mustard flour
- Organic parsley
- Organic chives
- Organic dill
- Organic black pepper
- Organic rosemary extract
Nutrition Facts (per 2 tablespoons, 30mL):
- 130 Calories
- 14 g Total Fat
- 2 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 2 g Polyunsaturated Fat
- 9 g Monounsaturated Fat
- 0 mg Cholesterol
- 220 mg Sodium
- 1 g Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- 0 g Total Sugars
Brianna’s Avocado Oil Herb Vinaigrette
This delicious herb dressing blends avocado oil with basil, cilantro, honey and spices and is delicious on a salad or as a marinade.
Ingredients:
- Avocado oil
- Water
- Apple cider vinegar
- Honey
- Granulated garlic
- Spices
- Dried basil
- Salt
- Xanthan gum
Nutrition Facts (per 2 tablespoons, 30 grams):
- 130 Calories
- 13 g Total Fat
- 5 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Cholesterol
- 70 mg Sodium
- 2 g Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- 1 g Total Sugars
- 1 g Added Sugars
- 0 g Protein
Primal Kitchen Cilantro Lime Dressing & Marinade with Avocado Oil
Primal Kitchen’s Cilantro Lime dressing is creamy and delicious. It’s perfect for a fresh green salad or as a marinade for your protein. It’s also gluten-free, sugar free, soy free, dairy free and Non-GMO.
Ingredients:
- Water
- Avocado oil
- Organic white balsamic vinegar (organic wine vinegar, organic grape must)
- Organic honey
- Organic lime juice concentrate
- Cilantro
- Organic eggs
- Sea salt
- Organic garlic
- Organic spinach powder
- Organic onion powder
- Organic gum acacia
- Organic guar gum
- Organic moringa powder
- Organic basil
Nutrition Facts (per 2 tablespoons, 30mL):
- 100 Calories
- 10 g Total Fat
- 5 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 5 g Polyunsaturated Fat
- 7 g Monounsaturated Fat
- 0 mg Cholesterol
- 170 mg Sodium
- 4 g Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- 3 g Total Sugars
- 2 g Added Sugars
- 0 g Protein
Newman’s Own Avocado Oil & Extra Virgin Olive Oil Greek Dressing
This Newman’s Own dressing is fantastic and just what you’d expect in a gourmet Greek dressing taste, but it’s much healthier! It’s also vegan, gluten-fee, soy and canola oil free, keto certified, paleo certified, and sugar free.
Ingredients:
- Avocado oil
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Apple cider vinegar
- Water
- Spicy brown mustard (distilled vinegar, water, mustard seed, sea salt, turmeric, spices)
- Se salt
- Distilled vinegar
- Lemon juice concentrate
- Garlic
- Onion
- Oregano
- Black pepper
- Basil
- Dill
- Xanthan gum
Nutrition Facts (per 2 tablespoons, 30 grams):
- 150 Calories
- 16 g Total Fat
- 5 g Saturated Fat
- 0 g Trans Fat
- 0 mg Cholesterol
- 230 mg Sodium
- 1 g Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- 0 g Total Sugars
- 0 g Protein
Takeaway
Caesar salad is iconic. The original Caesar salad dressing was invented by Caesar Cardini at his restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico.
The original dressing is rich and delicious and full of fat and sodium. There are many Caesar dressings on the market today. Some of them are very tasty, but none of them are very healthy.
We have found several delicious and equally rich salad dressing alternatives to Caesar dressing. Give one a try and you may just find a new favorite way to enjoy your salad!
Related Questions
Is Caesar dressing keto-friendly?
Yes, most Caesar dressing is keto-friendly. Caesar dressing is usually low in carbohydrates and high in fat. You should always check the labels, but most Caesar dressing will fit into a keto diet.
Is Caesar dressing vegan?
No, Caesar dressing is not vegan. It usually contains cheeses and the original recipe contains anchovies.