Easy Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad with Gluten-Free Croutons
If what
you are after is a gluten-free, healthy dish that can be taken for lunch or
dinner, Gluten-Free Croutons Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad should be on the
upper part of the list. That is, this age-old recipe contains a lot of protein
due to the presence of the soft pieces of chicken that have been grilled and
placed in the salad together with lettuce, Caesar dressing, and the crispy and
gluten-free croutons. Additionally, it is so tasty and simple that it is
impossible to withstand, and the people whose diet is ‘gluten-free’ do not have
to miss out.
Irrespective
of whether you are in the USA, UK, Canada, Europe, or any other place in the whole
wide world, this gluten-free Caesar salad is perfect for anyone in need of a
light, filling, and healthy meal. In this article, we wish, step by step, to
share this tasty dish’s recipe: ingredients, how to prepare it, how to serve,
as well as nutrition values and you’ll be able to prepare this lovely dish in a
moment!
Ingredients (Serves 4)
For the
Salad:
· 2 large chicken breasts (about 400 g)
· 1 large head of romaine lettuce (or 2 smaller heads)
· 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (freshly shredded preferred)
· 1 cup gluten-free croutons (made croutons or bought)
· 1 tablespoon olive oil
· Salt and pepper to taste
· 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
For the Gluten-Free Croutons:
· 4 slices of gluten-free bread (cubed)
· 2 tablespoons olive oil
· 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
· 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
· 1/4 teaspoon of dried oregano or Italian seasoning
Easy Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad with Gluten-Free Croutons
Ingredients for the Caesar Dressing
(Gluten-Free):
· Half a cup of mayonnaise (make sure you buy gluten-free)
· One tablespoon of Dijon mustard
· One tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce (buy gluten-free)
· Two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
· Two cloves of garlic, chopped very fine
· One half cup of grated mozzarella cheese
· Salt and pepper as per taste
How To Make
Croutons? Step-by-step guide
Step 1: Cook
the Chicken First
- Adjust the grill to medium
high heat above it.
- Rub olive oil, salt, and
pepper, plus garlic powder (optional), onto the chicken breast.
- Cook the chicken for around
5-7 minutes for one side or until it's ready with an internal temperature
of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).
- When done, take the chicken
off the grill for 5 minutes, then cut out the chicken into strips or cubes
after those minutes elapse.
Step 2: Prepare gluten-free croutons
- First, preheat the oven to
375 f (190 c).
- Chop gluten-free bread into
small cubes.
- Place olive oil and garlic
powder, sea salt, and dried oregano into a bowl with the bread cubes,
mixing well.
- Place the prepared bread
cubes on a baking sheet in one layer.
- Bake for approximately 10-15
minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Stir half way through to ensure
all croutons brown evenly.
- Take the croutons out of the
oven and leave it to cool down.
Step 3: Create the Gluten-Free Caesar Dressing
- Take a medium bowl and whisk
mayonnaise with Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and
minced garlic in it.
- Finally, add in the Parmesan
cheese and mix until combined properly.
- Using your discretion, add
salt and pepper to the dressing. For a thicker consistency, feel free to
include a bit more mayonnaise or olive oil if you so wish.
- In the meantime, just keep
the dressing on standby for when you're ready to give the salad a final
toss.
Step 4: How to Put the Salad Together
- Rinse the rosemary and cut
it into small squares or large bites.
- Take a big or medium bowl
and add cut romaine leaves, sliced grilled chicken, gluten-free crow dons,
and parmesan cheese.
- Add the gluten-free Caesar
dressing on top of the salad and stir well until all the ingredients are
covered evenly.
Side Dishes Ideas
Instead
of preparing the salad and letting it sour, toss the salad and serve over
gluten-free croutons with grilled chicken reheating. This is also the right
quantity for a family meal or small gathering, as the recipe makes 4 servings.
Additionally,
a little black pepper freshly ground or some more Parmesan cheese, for example,
can be used as a garnish on the salad. For those who want to lose weight, a
low-fat or vegan dressing could be used, or simply avoiding excess cheese and
croissants would suffice.
Nutritional Profile (for one serving)
· Calories: 450 kcal
· Proteins: 35 g
· Fats: 28 g
· Carbohydrates: 12g
· Fiber: 3 g
· Sugars: 2g
· Sodium: 900 mg
This
nutritional information calculates the values based on the use of listed
ingredients; however, do not hesitate to adjust them according to your tastes,
for instance, using less caloric dressings or less caloric cheese.
The Reasons Why This Dish Is So Popular
1. Appropriate for Gluten-Free Diets: This salad can be enjoyed in abundance by gluten-intolerant or celiac persons without compromising on flavor and texture appeal.
2. Nutritious and satisfying: The use of grilled lean chicken along with fresh romaine lettuce makes an ideal mix of proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
3. Simple and Straight forward: This dish can be completed in fewer than 30 minutes, which is perfect for those busy weekdays or healthy lunch.
4. Flexible: The ingredients can be tailored to your liking or health needs. Replace grilled chicken with shrimp, add creamy avocado, or go crazy with more veggies such as cherry tomatoes or cucumbers.
5. Great for Meal Prepping: This salad does not spoil easily and is so perfect for meal prep. Just pack the dressing separately with the salad and mix when ready to eat.
How to Make the Tastiest Grilled Chicken
Caesar Salad
1. Marinate Your Chicken: To improve the taste of grilled chicken, smear and keep it in a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs for about thirty minutes before grilling the chicken.
2. Prepare Croutons That Are Gluten-Free by Yourself: There are ready gluten-free croissants nowadays, but making one yourself allows you to season it however you want and even make sure that it would be the crunchiest croissant of all if you so desire. More so, it is very simple to prepare!
3. Select the lettuce wisely: For the Caesar salads, Romaine lettuce remains the most popular variety because it is crunchy. However, do not shy away from using kale or mixed greens if you would like to try them for variations in form or flavor.
4. Grill Carelessly Lasting Damage: To prevent ruining the chicken by overcooking it, always put a cooking thermometer into the meat so as to achieve the correct temperature inside. If we over-grill chicken morsels, they become dry and unattractive.
Conclusion
This
one-pan Chicken Caesar Salad with Gluten-Free Croutons is perfect for anyone
who wants a gluten-free meal with great taste. This Caesar salad is great for a
lunch you are hosting, a dinner you are having alone, or meal prep for the week
as it has all the deliciousness you love minus the gluten. Smoky grilled
chicken, crunchy croutons, creamy Caesar dressing, and a gluten-free audience
that craves all of it.