Chicken Dinner Lunch Recipe Salad Garlic chicken and bacon Caesar salad Michael Catling5 June 2025069 views A lighter twist on the classic chicken Caesar salad with a roasted garlic and yoghurt dressing. I’m not a big salad eater, but I make an exception where chicken Caesar salad is concerned. I remember eating it every day on holiday when I was a teenager, so I’m closer than most to becoming a connoisseur. I like to go hard on the bacon, croutons and chicken, which is griddled until you get some fierce char marks. Where I go rogue is by roasting a couple of garlic cloves and blending them into the Caesar dressing with Greek yoghurt rather than mayonnaise. It’s not traditional, I’ll grant you, but your tastebuds and waistline will thank you for it. How To Make Garlic Chicken And Bacon Caesar Salad Chef Catling’s recipe notes Recipe: Garlic chicken and bacon Caesar salad Frequently asked questions Tips & Notes To Know Dress lightly, toss gently: Add the Caesar dressing gradually, just before serving, and toss with care to avoid soggy leaves and over-saturation. Balance the dressing: Taste as you go. Too tangy? Add a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. Too rich? A touch more lemon juice will brighten it up. Garlic chicken and bacon Caesar salad Pin Print Ingredients For the dressing1 garlic clove, skin on75ml Greek yoghurt (0% fat)2 anchovy fillets in olive oil1/2 tsp Dijon mustard1 tbsp lemon juice1/2 tbsp parmesan cheese, shaved For the saladAvocado oil, for roasting and grilling1 ciabatta roll, cut into small chunks2 skinless chicken breasts, butterflied2 rashers smoked back bacon1/2 iceberg lettuce, shredded1 small red onion, finely sliced1 tbsp parmesan cheese, shaved Instructions Step 1Preheat the oven to 180C. Toss the ciabatta chunks with a drizzle of avocado oil and spread out on a baking tray. Step 2Place the garlic clove in a foil parcel and drizzle with avocado oil. Place next to the ciabatta chunks and bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes, turning halfway, until the croutons are golden and crisp and the garlic has softened. Step 3Pop the garlic clove from its skin and add to the blender with the Greek yoghurt, anchovies (with a drizzle of olive oil), Dijon mustard, lemon juice and half a tablespoon of parmesan. Blitz until smooth. Season to taste and refrigerate the dressing until ready to use. Step 4Heat a grill pan over a medium-high heat on the hob and rub the chicken breasts with avocado oil. Season with salt and pepper and char the chicken for 4 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Transfer to a plate and slice into thin strips. Keep warm. Step 5Meanwhile, lay the bacon out on a lined baking tray and place under a hot grill for 3 minutes on each side or until crisp and cooked through. Cut into small chunks and set aside. Step 6In a large bowl, toss the iceberg lettuce with the sliced red onion and a little of the dressing. Divide between two plates. Top with the sliced chicken, croutons and bacon. Drizzle over the rest of the dressing and garnish with the shaved parmesan before serving. Tag me on Instagram at @Chef_Catling. Frequently Asked Questions How Do I Know If The Chicken Is Cooked Through And Safe To Eat? The juices should be pale gold and clear. if there are traces of blood, return to the pan for a couple of minutes before checking again. If you have a digital thermometer to hand, simply stick the probe into the thickest part of the chicken breast. The internal temperature should be at least 73ºC (165ºF). This handy guide will help. Chicken or TurkeyInternal temperatureBreast73ºC / 165ºFThigh79ºC / 175ºFDrumstick79ºC / 175ºFWing79ºC / 175ºFWhole bird73ºC / 165ºF (at breast)79ºC / 175ºF (at thigh) Are Anchovies Really Integral To A Caesar Salad? This is always a point of contention whenever I make a Caesar salad for my fiancée because anchovies are the primary reason a Caesar salad tastes so good. Yes, they can smell particularly pungent, but they add a salty, umami flavour bomb that will give your Caesar salad that marvellous depth of flavour and richness. I’ve tried using Worcestershire sauce as an alternative, but it is a poor imitation.