The Best Ever Steak Caesar Salad

Skip the chicken and opt for a perfectly cooked ribeye! This is the best steak caesar salad recipe, starting with a homemade dressing (so easy!), crispy baked parmesan crisps, and a perfectly seared ribeye steak.

Looking for great salad recipes? You’ll also love this Green Goddess Cobb Salad, and vibrant Mediterranean Tuna Quinoa Salad.

*Today I’m partnering with Sharp Home USA ~ Sharp creates quality home appliances that make life easier!

Better than a Steakhouse

You’ll love this fresh take on a steak dinner.

This salad perfectly showcases a well cooked ribeye steak. Fresh, crisp romaine lettuce, tossed with a homemade, garlicky caesar dressing, served with baked parmesan crisps.

An easy Caesar salad becomes a mouthwatering meal when you add on a perfectly seared steak.

Looks super fancy, but it’s made in about 30 minutes flat.

I made a large salad and served it on a platter for a beautiful presentation. Because summer tomatoes are so beautiful right now, I sliced a couple heirloom tomatoes for the platter. These are optional, so add them if you love them!

Sear the Perfect Steak

I think it’s so funny when people tell me I make the best steak they’ve ever had. All I use is Kosher salt and black pepper!

Secret #1: I read in America’s Test Kitchen that you can’t over-salt or over-pepper a steak. This has been a game changer! I very generously sprinkle on Kosher salt (using this coarse grain salt makes a difference!) and then grind up lots of black pepper.

Secret #2: Heat your pan (without oil/butter) first, to a very high heat. I use a cast iron pan, and wait for it to start smoking before adding the oil and steak in. We want to create a flavorful crust on the steak without overcooking the middle.

See this process below or in the video!

I love how quickly my Sharp Induction Cooktop heats up. When I want to get my cast iron nice and hot, it only takes about a minutes.

Since we cook steaks often, I know that when I set the Sharp Induction Cooktop to level 9, it takes less than 5 minutes per side for a very thick steak to get a perfect medium rare.

Hop on over to Sharp’s website to see if this is the perfect fit for your home!

Internal Temperature for Cooking Steak

I cook steak often enough that I don’t need to rely on a thermometer. If you are newer to cooking steak, or very particular about the temperature, use this guide and an instant-read thermometer so your beef comes out perfectly.

The temperature of steak continues to rise after it’s taken out of the pan and allowed to rest. For this reason, I stop cooking my steak when it’s 5 degrees below my target temperature.

Rare: 125º F (52º C) *A rare steak has a cool red center. (stop cooking around 120º F)

Medium Rare: 135º F (57º C) *A medium rare steak has a warm red center. (stop cooking around 130º F)

Medium: 145º F (63º C) *A medium steak has a warm pink center. (stop cooking around 140º F)

Medium Well: 150º F (66º C) *A medium well steak has a slightly pink center. (stop cooking around 145º F)

Well: 160º F (70º C) *A well steak has a slightly pink center. (stop cooking around 155º F)

What You’ll Need

Homemade Caesar Dressing

This dressing is lightly adapted from the Bon Appetit Caesar dressing recipe. If you are worried about using raw egg, omit it and add a little Greek yogurt to make up for the creaminess!

• Egg Yolk (pastured eggs have the least risk of food borne illness)
• Lemon Juice
• Dijon Mustard
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Anchovy Paste (use whole anchovies, if desired! Or sub capers for a briny flavor, sans fish.)
• Grated Parmesan Cheese
• Fresh Garlic (I prefer grating this in at the end!)
• Sea Salt & Black Pepper

*for an extra creamy caesar dressing, stir in 1/3 cup of full fat Greek yogurt once the dressing is made.

Steak Caesar Salad

This healthy caesar skips the croutons and opts for baked parmesan cheese crisps! Add your favorite croutons if desired.

• Ribeye Steak (a large, thick cut steak works great for salads. Use whatever steak you have or enjoy- sirloin steaks, a flank steak, or filets can be cooked in the same manner.)
• Avocado Oil
• Kosher Salt and Black Pepper
• Shredded Parmesan Cheese
• Romaine Lettuce (romaine hearts are great for the classic Caesar salad crunch!)
• Heirloom Tomatoes (or ripe, in season tomatoes)

How to Make a Homemade Steak Caesar Salad

Make a homemade caesar dressing:

Step 1: Add the eggs, lemon juice, and dijon mustard to a blender. Process to combine the ingredients, until the egg yolk creates a foamy mixture. Note: This dressing can be made in a bowl with a whisk. The process takes longer and requires constantly whisking as adding the olive oil to make the dressing emulsify.

Step 2: With the blender running, very slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Begin with about 1/2 teaspoon, then slowly add more, taking 1-2 minutes to add the entire amount.

Step 3: Add in the parmesan cheese, anchovy paste, salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.

Make parmesan crisps:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425º F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add shredded parmesan cheese to the baking sheet in 1 tablespoon mounds.

Step 2: Bake the parmesan cheese for 5-7 minutes, until the cheese has melted and begun to turn brown. Pull out of the oven and allow to cool. The cheese will become crisp as it cools.

Make a Steak Caesar Salad:

Step 1: Chop romaine lettuce, or lay out smaller romaine leaves on a large platter.

Step 2: Season the steak generously with Kosher salt and black pepper.

Step 3: Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat. Wait until the skillet is smoking before adding the oil and and the steak. We want an extremely hot surface to give the meat a dark crust without overcooking the steak. Cook for 3-5 minutes, until the steak has formed a nice sear.

Step 4: Flip the steak, and cook on the other side for an additional 3-5 minutes, until both sides have a nice char.

Step 5: Allow the steak to rest on a cutting board for about 10 minutes while preparing the rest of the salad. Why let the steak rest? The muscle tissue relaxes after being removed from heat, allowing the juices to be evenly distributed throughout the steak. When you cut the steak, less of the juices will be released and lost.

Step 6: Once the rest of the salad is ready, cut the steak in thin slices.

Step 7: Drizzle the romaine leaves with the caesar dressing. If using chopped up romaine, add it to a large bowl, drizzle with dressing, and then toss the lettuce to coat.

Step 8: Top the romaine with sliced steak and optional heirloom tomatoes. Add parmesan crisps if serving the salad right away, or serve them on the side for people to add to their plates along with the salad.

How to Store and FAQ

How to Store Leftover Caesar Salad

This salad is best eaten right after it’s made. The dressing will leave the salad soggy if stored overnight.

Keep the dressing on the side, and only add it to single servings of the salad. Store the leftover lettuce, parmesan crisps, and steak separately.

When ready to enjoy leftovers, reheat steak in a very hot skillet, and assemble individual portions of the salad.

Options for Caesar Dressing

• Use a favorite store bought caesar salad dressing.
• Use my Vegan Caesar Dressing (if you’re looking for an egg or anchovy-free version!).

Grilled Steak

If you’d like to adapt this recipe for the BBQ, simply follow these directions to prepare the steak:

Step 1: Heat a gas grill to a very high heat. Similarly to making the cast-iron skillet smoke, you want the grill temperature as hot as possible to begin.

Step 2: Add the seasoned steak, and grill for 3-5 minutes on the first side, until a dark crust has formed.

Step 3: Flip the steak, and continue to cook the other side for 3-5 minutes. Alternately, use a thermometer and the cooking temperatures above to cook the steak to your preferred doneness.

Allow the steak to rest and slice it thinly or cut it in bite size pieces prior to adding it to your salad.

Mexican Steak Caesar Salad

Want a flavorful twist on this salad? Make my Mexican Caesar Salad and then use the method for perfectly cooked steak strips from this recipe!

Beef works perfectly with Mexican flavors. If you’d like, swap the parmesan crisps for some tortilla strips and cotija cheese for an extra indulgent (but healthy!) salad.

Chicken Caesar Salad

Use the homemade Caesar dressing and parmesan crisps in this recipe to make a delicious Chicken Caesar salad, when you need a twist! I have a recipe for a Fully Loaded Chicken Caesar Salad that has a wonderful, easy chicken marinade. Combine the components from both recipes to make it your own!

Serve this Salad with:

• Gluten Free Cornbread (or use this cornbread to make homemade croutons!)
• Sweet Potato and Roasted Red Pepper Soup
• Crispy Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries

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