Traeger Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

Discover a major upgrade to a classic salad with this homemade marinated Traeger Chicken Caesar Salad. Tender, smoky grilled chicken meets crisp romaine, salty Parmesan, and crunchy croutons, all brought together by a tangy, creamy Caesar vinaigrette. This recipe highlights an easy way to use your Traeger or other pellet grill to add a gentle smoke that complements the bright, savory dressing. The result is a satisfying main-course salad that works equally well for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or casual entertaining.

Traeger Chicken Caesar Salad

This Traeger Chicken Caesar Salad takes a beloved family favorite and elevates it by marinating the chicken in the Caesar vinaigrette before grilling. The marinade infuses the meat with savory notes—anchovy, garlic, and Parmesan—while the grill adds a subtle smoke and char. Serve with extra shaved Parmesan and freshly made croutons for an impressive, flavorful meal.

The homemade Caesar vinaigrette is simple to make and far superior to store-bought dressings. It combines olive oil, vinegars, grated Parmesan, anchovy paste, Dijon, garlic, and a touch of sugar to balance the acidity. Reserve a portion of the dressing to marinate the chicken and use the remainder to dress the lettuce just before serving.

Fresh romaine, sliced grilled chicken, a generous sprinkle of Parmesan, and crunchy croutons make this salad a complete, protein-forward dish that’s family-friendly and easy to customize to dietary preferences.

Why you’ll love this dish

• Smoky grilled chicken: Grilling the marinated chicken gives it a smoky depth that pairs perfectly with creamy Caesar dressing.
• Fresh, homemade dressing: A bright, savory vinaigrette made with Parmesan and anchovy paste beats any bottled dressing.
• Flexible serving options: Serve as a hearty main course or a substantial side; it’s suitable for casual meals and guests alike.
• Easy to customize: Swap or omit ingredients to suit dietary needs—use gluten-free croutons, skip anchovy paste, or swap grilled shrimp for chicken if desired.

Get all of my Traeger Recipes here!

Recipe shopping list

Below is the shopping list for this recipe. Quantities and exact measurements are provided in the recipe card later in this post.

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Water
• White vinegar
• Apple cider vinegar
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Sugar
• Anchovy paste (optional)
• Sea salt
• Dried oregano
• Garlic
• Dijon mustard
• Black pepper
• Cayenne pepper
• Paprika
• Chicken breasts
• Salt, garlic powder
• Romaine hearts
• Shredded Parmesan
• Croutons

Try these other favorites from the Traeger collection!

How to make this recipe

Follow these clear steps for the best results. For safety, cook chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Allow the chicken to rest before slicing to keep it juicy.

1. Prepare the dressing: Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar and shake until emulsified. Reserve some dressing for marinating the chicken and use the remainder for the salad.
2. Marinate the chicken: Place chicken breasts in a resealable bag with a cup of the dressing. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight for deeper flavor.
3. Preheat the grill: Heat your Traeger or grill to about 375°F, allowing it to reach a steady temperature.
4. Season and grill: Drain excess marinade, season the chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, then grill. Cook about 8 minutes before flipping, continuing until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
5. Rest and slice: Let chicken rest for 8–10 minutes, then slice thinly.
6. Toss the salad: Tear romaine into a large bowl, add enough dressing to coat, then toss with Parmesan and croutons.
7. Serve: Divide salad among plates, top with sliced grilled chicken, an extra sprinkle of Parmesan, and a few croutons. Serve immediately.

Try with our Homemade Creamy Caesar Dressing!

Recipe FAQ

Try our Red Wine Vinaigrette next!

Serve this with

• Garlic bread
• Italian wedding soup

Soup, salad, and sandwich recipe ideas

• Beef dumpling soup
• Chicken pot pie soup
• Smoked lemon chicken orzo
• Easy pasta salad recipes for summer
• Asian chicken salad
• Greek salad
• Chopped Italian sandwich
• Traeger grilled steak sandwich
• Traeger Reuben sandwich
• Traeger pulled lamb gyro sandwich

Yield: 4 servings

Traeger Chicken Caesar Salad

Marinated chicken breasts are grilled until perfectly cooked and served over dressed romaine with Parmesan and croutons.

Prep Time: 4 hours

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

Caesar vinaigrette dressing

• 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/8 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon anchovy paste (optional)
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika

Chicken

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Salad

• 3 hearts romaine
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup croutons

Instructions

1. Combine all dressing ingredients in a quart-sized jar and shake vigorously to emulsify.
2. Place chicken breasts in a large resealable bag and pour in about 1 cup of the dressing to marinate.
3. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight for best flavor.
4. Preheat the grill to 375°F.
5. Remove chicken from marinade, discard excess, and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
6. Grill chicken about 8 minutes before flipping, then continue until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
7. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes, then slice.
8. Tear or chop romaine and toss with remaining dressing until evenly coated. Add Parmesan and croutons.
9. Divide salad among plates, top with sliced chicken, and serve.

Nutrition information (per serving)

• Calories: 829
• Total Fat: 65g (Saturated Fat: 12g, Unsaturated Fat: 50g)
• Cholesterol: 113mg
• Sodium: 1607mg
• Carbohydrates: 17g (Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 5g)
• Protein: 46g