This smoky, creamy, and slightly spicy Chipotle Caesar Dressing will elevate your salads, wraps, and grilled veggies. With just a handful of simple ingredients, you can whip up a homemade dressing in under 5 minutes and it's far better than anything store-bought.
I often find that most bottled dressings are either too bland, packed with preservatives, or just don’t have that fresh, creamy texture I want.
If you’ve ever been disappointed by a lifeless Caesar dressing that lacks flavor, you’re not alone. The good news? Making your own at home is not only easy, but it also lets you control the ingredients and spice level to get that perfect balance of smoky heat and tangy goodness.
This spicy Caesar dressing is one of my favorites because it’s bold, creamy, and flavorful—without any unnecessary additives. I love using it on my Tuna Caesar Salad or Lobster Caesar Salad.
For more dips and sauce recipes check out my Easy Smashburger Sauce, Gluten Free Caesar Dressing, Hot Honey Mustard Sauce, or Yogurt Lemon Dill Sauce.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Creamy And Delicious: This chipotle dressing is made with simple ingredients. The Greek yogurt adds extra protein and creaminess —you don't even need the raw egg!
- Better Than Storebought: Storebought dressings are often filled with necessary ingredients and can lack flavor. This recipe allows you to control all of the ingredients and customize it to your liking.
- Quick And Easy: This simple recipe comes together in 3-4 minutes! All you have to do is toss the dressing ingredients into a food processor and blend. Easy peasy!
Ingredients
- Greek Yogurt: While Greek yogurt isn't traditional in a classic Caesar salad dressing, but I love including it for a little extra tang and creaminess. I recommend using full-fat grass-fed Greek Yogurt.
- Mayonnaise: Look for an avocado oil mayonnaise, like Chosen Foods or Primal Kitchen, as it provides a smooth, rich base while keeping the dressing light and flavorful.
- Dijon Mustard: The mustard adds an extra bit of tang and kick to the dressing. If you don't have dijon, stone ground mustard would work well.
- Coconut Aminios: I prefer to eat gluten-free so coconut aminos are my go-to substitute for Worcestershire sauce.
- Anchovy Paste: Okay, if you are skeptical of anchovies, I understand, but trust me here. You can't even taste them in the dressing, but they add such a depth of flavor, and I would not recommend omitting them. If you don't have anchovy paste, you can use 1-2 canned anchovies.
- Chipotle Pepper: The star of the show! The chipotle peppers are what makes this a spicy Caesar dressing. Just grab yourself a can of chipotles in adobo sauce and start with using 1 pepper, then adjust the amount to control the spice level.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic is what gives this dressing a bit of bite. I only recommend using fresh garlic cloves and skipping the stuff you find in the jar.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice brightens up the dressing and helps balance the richness and smokiness with a little acidity. If you don't have lemon juice you can substitute it with fresh lime juice.
- Parmesan Cheese: You can't make a Caesar dressing without good quality parmesan cheese! It adds a rich nutty and salty flavor to the dressing. Be sure to use freshly grated authentic Parmesan cheese!
- Sea Salt And Black Pepper: Salt and pepper help bring all of the flavors together. Be sure to taste and adjust the seasonings to your liking.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions And Variations
- Lighter Version: I use a 1:1 ratio of Greek yogurt to mayonnaise. For a lighter version, dial back the mayo and use more Greek yogurt.
- Extra Smokey: To deepen the smoke flavor without adding more heat, try adding ¼ teaspoon of smoked paprika.
- Bring The Heat: This is a spicy salad dressing as is, but you can crank it up a notch by increasing the number of chipotle peppers or adding in a little adobo sauce.
How To Make Spicy Caesar Dressing
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Step 1. Add all ingredients to the base of your food processor. Pulse until all ingredients are combined. Scrape down the sides and pulse again until smooth.
Step 2. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. You may want to add more lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, salt, or pepper.
Expert Tips And Notes
- Use High-Quality Ingredients: I'm a big fan of using high-quality ingredients, but it is even more important to do so in recipes like this, where there are minimal ingredients.
- Start With One Chipotle Pepper: Do yourself a favor and start with one chipotle pepper. Make the dressing then adjust the heat level if needed by adding more chipotle chiles if you want it spicer.
- Chill: Let the salad dressing rest for at least 1 hour. The flavors will come together and taste even better.
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Serving Suggestions For Chipotle Caesar Dressing
- Salads: Drizzle over a classic chipotle Caesar salad or Ceasar tuna salad with crisp romaine lettuce, croutons, and shaved Parmesan, or use it to dress a hearty kale and roasted chickpea salad.
- Wraps & Sandwiches: Spread onto a grilled chicken wrap or turkey club sandwich.
- Grilled Meats & Seafood: Serve alongside boneless skinless chicken breasts, steak, shrimp, or grilled salmon.
- Roasted & Grilled Vegetables: Use as a dipping sauce for crispy hot honey Brussels sprouts, roasted sweet potato fries, or smoked asparagus.
- Dipping Sauce: Perfect for crispy fries, oven-baked chicken tenders, or crunchy raw veggies like carrots, celery, and bell peppers.
- Tacos & Bowls: Drizzle over chicken or grilled shrimp tacos, or burrito bowls with black beans.
Storage And Reheating
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Give it a good shake before using it.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Traditional caesar dressing contains Parmesan cheese. My version also includes Greek yogurt. To make this dairy-free omit the yogurt and use a dairy-free Parmesan.
If your dressing is too thick, add a little olive oil, or extra lemon juice to reach your desired consistency.
Canned chipotle in adobo is best for flavor, but you can use fresh smoked jalapeños if needed.
Most Caesar dressings include Worcestershire sauce which has gluten in it. My recipe is gluten-free as we use coconut aminos instead!
Other Related Dips And Sauces Recipes
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Chipotle Caesar Dressing Recipe (With Greek Yogurt)
Ingredients
- ½ cup Greek Yogurt
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- 1 tablespoon Coconut Aminios
- 1 teaspoon Anchovy Paste
- 1 Chipotle Pepper
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese freshy grated
- ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to the base of your food processor. Pulse until all ingredients are combined. Scrape down the sides and pulse again until smooth.½ cup Greek Yogurt, ½ cup Mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard, 1 tablespoon Coconut Aminios, 1 teaspoon Anchovy Paste, 1 Chipotle Pepper, 2 cloves Garlic, 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice, ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese, ½ teaspoon Sea Salt, ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. You may want to add more lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, salt, or pepper.
Notes
- Use High-Quality Ingredients: I'm a big fan of using high-quality ingredients, but it is even more important to do so in recipes like this, where there are minimal ingredients.
- Start With One Chipotle Pepper: Do yourself a favor and start with one chipotle pepper. Make the dressing then adjust the heat level if needed by adding more chipotle chiles if you want it spicer.
- Chill: Let the salad dressing rest for at least 1 hour. The flavors will come together and taste even better.
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