Jamie Lee Curtis Once Declared Herself the “Best” at Caesar Salad. These Recipes Might Take Her Crown

Selena Gomez, Snoop Dogg, and Jamie Lee Curtis are just a few celebrities who *love* a good Caesar salad. In fact, Curtis once told the Chicago Tribune in 1990 that she knows she’s “better than anyone else when it comes to making a Caesar salad.” The actor’s secret? Homemade croutons and a heck of a lot of Worcestershire sauce. Snoop Dogg, on the other hand, prefers to add some red wine vinegar into the mix for a little extra acidity, while Gomez’s partner Benny Blanco always serves hers with a side of steak (it’s not vegan, but as a side note, we think the couple would love Chunk Foods’ plant-based steak with their Caesar instead).

Celebrities are not alone. Right now, TikTok cannot get enough of the humble Caesar salad, with different variations of the dish on the social media platform racking up millions of views each. Usually, these recipes aren’t vegan, but if you want to get in on the Caesar salad action, we’ve got you. Below, we’ve compiled eight of our favorite versions of the iconic lunch staple—all 100 percent plant-based.

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Isn’t Caesar salad always vegan?

Caesar salad was first invented back in the 1920s when a chef named Cesare “Caesar” Cardini wanted to find an innovative way to prevent food waste and use up leftovers from his restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. He threw together garlic, mustard, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, lime juice, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and some anchovies, and the signature dressing that makes a Caesar salad, well, a Caesar salad, was born.

Of course, plenty of these ingredients are not vegan (ahem, fish, eggs, and cheese). But you don’t actually need animal products to pull together a delicious Caesar dressing. Ingredients like capers, apple cider vinegar, tamari, and Dijon mustard do an excellent job of creating the same signature texture and flavor profile in Cardini’s original recipe. 

You can find out more about exactly where to buy and how to make vegan Caesar dressing here.

8 delicious vegan Caesar salad recipes

If you’re craving a unique twist on the classic dish, check out some of the vegan recipes below. They’re innovative, delicious, and guaranteed to become your new lunchtime favorites—you have our word.

Charlotte Dupont Photography

1 Tangy Vegan Farmhouse Caesar Salad

Loaded up with a creamy, nutritious tahini and pepita-based dressing, crumbly cashew parmesan, smoky vegan bacon bits, and crunchy croutons, this recipe from the Eating for the Planet Cookbook truly ticks all of the Caesar salad boxes. It’s vibrant, flavorful, and packed with goodness.
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Ashley Madden

2 Vegan Tahini Caesar Salad With Smoked Chickpeas

In a nutritious and innovative take on the classic Caesar salad, smoky, crunchy chickpeas take the place of traditional croutons in this vegan recipe from The Plant-Based Cookbook. But the sauce is the real show-stealer: tahini, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, garlic, capers, Dijon mustard, nutritional yeast, maple syrup, salt, and pepper offer a harmonious blend of tangy, savory, and slightly sweet flavors.
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Hannah Kaminsky

3 Easy Vegan Kale Caesar Salad

Crispy kale is always a good idea, especially when it’s combined with a creamy miso-based dressing and hearty croutons to make a nourishing vegan Caesar salad. The dish from from The Everyday Vegan Cheat Sheet cookbook is light, bright, and will make a great side dish or hold its own as a main, depending on your preference.
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My Darling Vegan

4 Vegan Caesar Salad With Soy Curls

If you miss the texture of chicken in your Caesar salad, you’ll be pleased to know that you can get the same delicious mouthfeel by using soy curls instead. According to recipe developer Sarah McMinn of My Darling Vegan, this version of the dish is still “refreshing and classic,” and has a “healthy spin that everyone will love.”
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Upbeet and Kaleing It

5 Restaurant-Style Vegan Chicken Caesar Salad

A Caesar salad is a menu classic, but you can get the same restaurant taste, actually, arguably even better, by making the iconic dish from home. Just follow this recipe from Upbeet and Kaleing It for all the guidance you need. “Not only is the salad cruelty-free but it honestly tastes better than what 99 percent of restaurants will serve you,” the blog promises.
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Lazy Cat Kitchen

6 Vegan Caesar Salad With Charred Lettuce

For a unique take on a vegan Caesar salad, check out this version from the Lazy Cat Kitchen, which features charred lettuce instead of the usual fresh leaves. According to the blog, it is the perfect side for barbecue season. “Don’t knock it ‘til you tried it,” notes recipe developer Ania Marcinowska.
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PlantYou

7 Vegan Caesar Salad With Crispy Tofu

Another great chicken replacement for a vegan Caesar salad has to be crispy tofu. The plant-based ingredient really shines when combined with a homemade creamy dressing, crunchy lettuce, and kale. “There is no rule that says you have to give up your favorite dishes just because you switched to a plant-based lifestyle. If you loved Caesar salad before, you’ll love this vegan version too,” promises Carleigh Bodrug of recipe blog PlantYou.
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Peanut Butter and Jilly

8 Copy Cat Erewhon Vegan Caesar Salad

Upmarket Californian supermarket chain Erewhon offers two versions of its iconic Caeser salad: one with chicken and one that’s vegan. If you love the vegan version, but not so much the price tag, why not make it from scratch yourself? Peanut Butter and Jilly has all the tips and tricks you need to do just that.
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