Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza Recipe
Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza combines the smoky flavor of grilled dough topped with melty mozzarella, Parmesan, and thinly sliced grilled chicken, finished with crisp romaine lettuce tossed in a creamy Caesar dressing. This fresh and flavorful pizza is perfect for summer gatherings or a quick weeknight meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean
Ingredients
Pizza
- 1 lb pizza dough
- Olive oil for brushing crust
- 2 cloves garlic, sliced
- 8 ounces mozzarella, sliced
- ½ cup grated Parmesan, plus small chunk for shaving
- 1 chicken breast, grilled and sliced thinly
- 2 romaine hearts, washed and dried, cut into ½-inch pieces
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Caesar Salad Dressing
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
Instructions
- Preheat the Grill: Preheat a gas, pellet, or charcoal grill to 600 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure a hot, direct heat perfect for grilling the pizza dough.
- Make the Caesar Dressing: In a blender or food processor, combine Parmesan, mayonnaise, lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and garlic. Blend until smooth and emulsified. Chill the dressing until ready to use to allow flavors to meld.
- Prepare the Dough: On a floured surface, shape your pizza dough into two medium pizzas. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes, then reshape it to your desired size and thickness for grilling.
- Grill the Pizza Dough – Side 1: Brush one side of the dough with olive oil. Transfer it to the grill with the oiled side down and cook for 2 minutes with the lid closed to develop grill marks and crisp the crust slightly.
- Grill the Pizza Dough – Side 2: Brush the top side of the dough with olive oil, then flip it over and grill for another 2 minutes until the underside is golden and marked with grill lines.
- Add Toppings: Remove the grilled crust from the grill and place it on a baking sheet. Top with sliced mozzarella, sliced garlic, grated Parmesan, and the thinly sliced grilled chicken breast evenly over the surface.
- Finish Grilling the Pizza: Return the topped pizza to the grill. Cook with the lid closed until the cheese melts and the toppings are warmed, approximately 3-5 minutes, monitoring carefully to avoid burning.
- Toss Romaine with Dressing: While the pizza finishes, toss the prepared romaine lettuce with the chilled Caesar dressing until evenly coated.
- Assemble and Serve: Remove the pizza from the grill, top with the dressed romaine lettuce, season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper, and garnish with shaved Parmesan. Slice and serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- You can use homemade pizza dough or ready-made dough from the deli counter, both work well for this recipe.
- Ensure the grill is hot before placing the dough to achieve a crispy crust with grill marks.
- If you have leftover dressing, it can be stored refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Feel free to use pre-cooked or store-bought grilled chicken for a quicker prep time.
