No, You Don’t Need Anchovies in Your Caesar Salad Dressing

The Caesar salad has interesting origins. It was actually invented by an Italian chef, called Caesar Cardini, while he was living in Mexico in the early 1900s. But, despite this, it has become an American classic and to this day, it remains a staple on menus across the US.

Made with chopped romaine lettuce, croutons, parmesan cheese, and an egg-based dressing, Caesar salads aren’t a traditionally vegan-friendly dish. But, thanks to the growing vegan food industry, it is possible to make a delicious animal-free version of the American favorite. And the first step is with the dressing. 

Read on for more on where to buy (and how to make) vegan Caesar salad dressing. For more on vegan parmesan, find our vegan cheese guide here.

What is in Caesar salad dressing?

Caesar salad dressing is usually made with a mayonnaise or egg yolk base, and it also contains anchovies, garlic, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and more Parmesan cheese. The creamy, rich, tangy dressing is, arguably, the most important part of the recipe. It’s responsible for giving the Caesar salad its signature taste. Without this part, it’s just a pile of lettuce leaves and some croutons.

But don’t worry, the modern-day vegan market has grown to the point where it has an alternative for pretty much everything, and Caesar salad dressing is no exception. Check out the brands below for some great-tasting vegan versions of this classic sauce. 

Vegan Caesar salad brands

1 Follow Your Heart

California-based Follow Your Heart has created vegan versions of many popular sauces and condiments (one of its best-sellers is its signature Vegenaise). It has a number of vegan dressings, including Thousand Island, Ranch, and, of course, Organic Caesar. Just like the original, it’s creamy, rich, thick, and delicious.
Check it out

2 Daiya

Daiya is best known for its extensive vegan cheese range, but it also offers a number of dairy-free dressings, too. Its tasty Creamy Caesar Dressing proves that you can have all the flavor of this classic sauce without animal ingredients, gluten, or any of the top eight allergens.
Check it out

Mother Raw

3 Mother Raw

Using “the perfect balance” of cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, capers, and minced garlic, the organic sauce brand Mother Raw has created this rich, creamy, tangy dairy-free version of Caesar salad. You won’t miss the original once you’ve tried it.
Check it out

4 Primal Kitchen

This Plant Based Caesar Dressing & Marinade is made with avocado oil (like most of Primal Kitchen’s products) and organic apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos, and herbs and spices—all of which combine to create a dressing that is flavorful, zesty, creamy, and light. Note that this brand also offers a non-vegan Caesar dressing, so make sure to double-check the label before you buy.
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Fody Foods

5 Fody Foods

Fody Foods makes products for people on a low-fodmap diet (find out more about that here), which means you can trust its gut-friendly products are free of onions and garlic. Instead, this vegan Caesar dressing is made with high-quality ingredients like extra virgin olive oil, gluten-free tamari, and Himalayan pink salt. If you’re prone to bloating, this might be the salad dressing for you.
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Gotham Greens

6 Gotham Greens

Gotham Greens offers two different types of Caesar salad dressing, and lucky for us, one of them is totally vegan. Made with miso and Dijon mustard, the dressing also works as a great dip choice thanks to its rich flavor and “peppery kick.”
Check it out

Trader Joe’s

7 Trader Joe’s

If in doubt, head to Trader Joe’s. That’s our motto. The vegan-friendly chain has many different exciting plant-based products, including this vegan Caesar dressing. Made with a mix of tofu, capers, mustard, and miso, the sauce is just as flavorful and creamy as the original version.
Check it out

How to make vegan Caesar salad with egg-free dressing: 5 recipes to try

A Caesar salad can be so much more than just chopped romaine lettuce and croutons, and the recipes below are the proof. You can use your go-to branded Caesar salad dressing in each, but if you want to try your hand at making your own, they’ll walk you through that, too.

Ashley Madden

1 Vegan Tahini Caesar Salad With Smoked Chickpeas

Curly kale stems, savory smoky chickpeas, vegan bacon bits, and a zesty homemade dressing take this Caesar salad to the next level. Even your meat-eating friends will want to eat this on repeat.
Get the recipe

Hannah Kaminsky

2 Easy Vegan Kale Caesar Salad

If you’re not a lettuce fan, this recipe proves you can bypass the romaine entirely and still end up with a delicious Caesar salad when you opt for curly kale. Combine with sourdough croutons for a hearty midweek lunch.
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Charlotte Dupont Photography

3 Tangy Vegan Farmhouse Caesar Salad

Combine smoky vegan bacon bits, buttery, crunchy croutons, and a homemade creamy dressing with cashew parmesan to make this deliciously tangy vegan farmhouse Caesar salad. Serve with blackened tempeh for extra protein.
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4 Chickpea Sweet Potato Salad With Homemade Caesar Dressing

This recipe takes your standard Caesar salad recipe and turns it into a hearty, warming fall favorite by adding plenty of beans, cayenne paper, and sweet potato into the mix. Top with organic granny smith apple slices and roasted chickpea crouton for a gluten-free salad that is packed with flavor and nutrition.
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I Love Vegan

5 Vegan Crispy Chick’n Caesar Salad

One of the most popular ways to eat a Caesar salad is with chicken. But if this used to be your favorite, you don’t have to miss out. Check out this vegan version made with protein-packed tofu chicken strips. They’re crispy, tender, and, honestly, even more delicious than meat.
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Charlotte is a writer and editor based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.