Chicken Sausage Caesar Salad Recipe
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Jump to RecipeThis chicken sausage Caesar salad recipe is a great twist on a classic Caesar, made with fresh crisp lettuce, juicy sliced chicken sausage, creamy dressing, and shaved parmesan cheese. This quick and easy meal prep is high in protein and macro-friendly.
It’s a great meal prep recipe you can take on the go, and takes just 20 minutes to make a weeks’ worth of lunches! See our step-by-step photos and directions below to make this recipe today.
Want more high protein lunch ideas? Try our beef and cottage cheese bowls, air fryer mango chicken, and our favorite dense bean salad with chicken.
I recently found some really fantastic chicken sausage on sale and wanted to make a high protein lunch using them in a modern way. This fun twist on chicken Caesar salad is hearty, filling, and so good. It couldn’t be easier to make.
Start by preparing your chicken sausage, waiting for it to cool before slicing, then adding it to salad bowls with chopped Romaine lettuce, chickpeas, and parmesan cheese. Top with your favorite store-bought Caesar dressing (hello, easy shortcuts!) and enjoy.
Why This Recipe Works
- This chicken sausage salad is hearty, tasty, and SO delicious!
- It has a great variety of textures and flavors.
- A high protein lunch recipe, getting protein from the chicken sausage, chickpeas, and cheese.
- It’s versatile: you can use any flavor of chicken sausage you prefer, or also add in some other chopped vegetables if you like.
- Cooks of any skill level can successfully make this dish! Just follow our step-by-step photos and directions below.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Be sure to visit the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!
The base of this recipe is chicken sausage. I used a great store-bought brand that took just minutes to pan-fry. I’ve made this salad with a few different flavors of the chicken sausage, and I found that personally an Italian version was my favorite.
For the Caesar salad, use fresh chopped Romaine lettuce, shaved parmesan cheese, and your favorite store-bought Caesar dressing.
I also added chickpeas for extra protein and fiber. I tossed them with some olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika, and cooked them for 7-8 minutes until crispy. You can air fry or pan fry them.
Additions and Substitutions
Feel free to add in your favorite chopped vegetables to this salad: tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, or red onion would all be great add-ins.
Or add croutons for a crunchy addition instead of the chickpeas (or in addition to)!
Or mix up the lettuce: a spring mix, butter lettuce, massaged kale, or baby spinach would all be great alternatives to Romaine.
If you want to get adventurous, you can make a high protein dressing too.
How To Make This Recipe
Step 1: Cook the chicken sausage according to package directions.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, toss the drained chickpeas with olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder and paprika. Mix well to combine.
Step 3: Place the chickpeas in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, or fry in a skillet for 8 to 10 minutes until crispy.
Step 4: Chop the romaine lettuce into bite size pieces. Add to a large bowl, or divide the lettuce in four portions if meal prepping.
Step 5: In each portion of lettuce, two of the cooked sausages, half a cup of chickpeas, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese and 2 tbsp Caesar dressing. Toss well to combine and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Each salad has 32 grams of protein, making it an excellent high protein lunch or dinner option. Your protein amounts may vary based on the ingredients you use in your kitchen.
Yes, this recipe is perfect for meal prep! You can make a weeks’ worth of lunches in less than 30 minutes, and they keep well. Just be sure to store the dressing separately from the salad, and pour it over the salad right before serving. This will keep the Romaine crisp and prevent it from wilting.
Yes, you can use a Caesar dressing made with Greek yogurt for added protein if desired. Choose any store-bought dressing that fits in with your nutritional needs.
Expert Tips
- Browning the sausage before adding it to the salad adds a nice flavor, and color.
- You can make the chickpeas crispier by air frying them an extra 5 minutes to make them more like croutons.
- Make sure to store the dressing separately from the salad, or else the greens will crisp. Only toss the dressing with the salad right before serving.
More Easy High Protein Recipes
- Old Bay Shrimp Salad Recipe
- Copycat Herb Grilled Salmon
- Pulled Pork with Pork Chops Recipe
- Tuna salad with Greek yogurt
- Mango Shrimp Avocado Salad
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Chicken Sausage Caesar Salad
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Oven or Air Fryer
- Pan
Ingredients
- 8 chicken sausages any flavor you prefer
- 1 14 ounce can chickpeas
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 2 heads romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup Caesar dressing
- 1 lemon sliced into wedges
Instructions
- Cook the chicken sausage according to package directions. Once done, slice and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss the drained chickpeas with olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder and paprika. Mix well to combine.
- Place the chickpeas in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, or fry in a skillet for 8 to 10 minutes until crispy.
- Chop the romaine lettuce into bite size pieces. Add to a large bowl, or divide the lettuce in four portions if meal prepping.
- In each portion of lettuce, two of the cooked sausages, half a cup of chickpeas, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese and 2 tbsp Caesar dressing. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and toss well to combine – enjoy!
Nutrition
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