Creamy High Protein Caesar Dressing with Greek Yogurt

This creamy Caesar dressing is packed full of flavor, healthy fats, and protein! The secret ingredient? Greek yogurt. Bring it to your next family gathering either tossed in the traditional romaine or with my famous kale caesar salad. This dressing, packed full of nutrition, will satiate the taste buds and make everyone ask you for the recipe.

I’ve always been a sucker for a good Caesar salad. Crisp leaves soaked in creamy dressing topped with a crunch crouton? What’s not to love? As a registered dietitian, I always think the star of a salad is the dressing. I know we were taught by 90s culture to skip the dressing, but it adds so much flavor and can turn a dish from good to great! 

This creamy caesar dressing is packed full of protein and tang! I love how the greek yogurt, parmesan, and lemon compliment each other and add some feel good nutrition to a dish. Toss it in a salad or serve as a dip for veggies and enjoy! You won’t regret it. 

What you need for this creamy dressing & substitutions

Greek yogurt: It’s no secret I love Greek yogurt. It is so versatile – you can use it in smoothies (like my everyday green smoothie), in dipping sauces (like this honey mustard sauce), and now this creamy caesar salad dressing! Packed full of protein and healthy fats, it definitely is the star of the show. Not only does it add a tangy flavor, it’s also thick enough to create the desired texture necessary for a creamy dressing. If you’re out of Greek yogurt, you can replace it with mayonnaise, sour cream, or creamed cashews. 

Olive oil: Olive oil was used in this dressing to not only help emulsify the dressing but add that mouthfeel factor that makes you feel full and satisfied for longer. If you’re out of extra virgin olive oil, substitute for another moderate oil like avocado oil or grapeseed oil. 

Lemon juice: I’ve never made a caesar dressing without a squeeze of lemon. Not only does it add flavor, it also tenderizes the greens (allowing the dressing to soak in even more) and helps emulsify the dressing helping create a creamy texture. I used the juice of ½ a fresh lemon to add that traditional caesar salad tang. If you don’t have fresh lemons, you can substitute for lemon juice. 

Parmesan: I used freshly grated parmesan to add a salty and rich flavor to the dressing. If you don’t have parmesan on hand, you can substitute it with pecorino cheese or nutritional yeast. 

Garlic: I used fresh garlic for this recipe. You can substitute for garlic powder. I would start with 1 teaspoon of garlic powder and then add sparingly to taste. 

How to make this Caesar Dressing  with Greek Yogurt

Nutritional benefits

Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt is rich in protein, healthy fats, and calcium. I love that this probiotic packed (hello healthy gut) yogurt is so versatile. You can add it into your everyday green smoothie for a boost of protein or in a dressing for my delicious miso-yogurt baked salmon. Whether needing it for sweet or savory, greek yogurt can add to any dish. 

Lemon: Packed full of vitamin C and antioxidants, lemon may help to improve brain function and gut health. 

Olive Oil: Olive oil is full of antioxidants and healthy fats. Not only does it provide that satiety factor, it also may reduce inflammation and help with immune function. 

How to meal prep Caesar Salad Dressing

One of my favorite meal planning hacks is making 2-3 salad dressings and sauces at the beginning of the week to enjoy on salads, as marinades or dips for meals or snacks. Knowing I have these prepped takes the stress out of eating and saves anywhere from 5-10 minutes a day. 

You can definitely meal prep this Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing with Greek yogurt. Double or triple to the recipe and store in an airtight container or jar for 5 to 7 days. Put it on your fave salad, on a sandwich (or as a dip for veggies and enjoy throughout the week. 

How to enjoy this dressing

On my kale caesar salad: I love this creamy dressing of my famous Kale Caesar Salad. It adds a boost of protein plus the creaminess of the dressing pairs perfectly with the crunch from the roasted chickpeas. You can also meal prep this salad DRESSED and the leaves won’t get slimy… it actually gets better with time.

In this buffalo tofu wrap: This caesar salad dressing is tangy, creamy, and adds a delicious flavor to any dish it’s added to. When paired with the spiciness of the buffalo tofu in this wrap, the flavors balance each other out perfectly, making for a well-rounded and satisfying meal.

As dip for buffalo cauliflower bites: If you’re enjoying the buffalo cauliflower bites as an appetizer, why not serve it with this creamy caesar salad dressing. I love the mouthfeel of this combo – creamy, crunchy and spicy. So dang delish!