Vegan Caesar Dressing
This vegan Caesar dressing takes all of 5 minutes to make, but it turns out incredibly creamy, garlicky, and zesty! Made with a base of cashews, it makes the perfect plant-based replacement for traditional recipes. Serve it on salad greens, with roasted veggies, and more!

๐ Why youโll love this recipe
- Quick: After soaking the cashews, just throw everything in your blender and watch as it comes together!
- Diet-friendly: This dressing can feed a versatile crowd since itโs dairy-free, egg-free, meat-free, and can easily be made oil-free.
- Healthy: This cashew Caesar dressing contains a plethora of heart-healthy fats, antioxidants, and minerals. And since there are no eggs or anchovies, it also happens to be saturated fat and cholesterol-free!
- Multipurpose: Serve it on salad, as a dip for roasted vegetables, in wraps, on pizza, and more. There are so many options!
If youโre a fan of vegan Caesar salad dressing, you should really check out our creamy balsamic dressing, lemon tahini dressing, and vegan ranch dressing.
๐ What is Caesar dressing?
Caesar dressing is one of the most popular salad dressings in the west. A typical recipe is made from anchovies, egg yolks, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon, and Parmesan cheese.
Itโs a zesty, garlicky, and umami-rich sauce thatโs typically paired with romaine lettuce, croutons, and more Parmesan. If youโre like us and would prefer a sauce without raw eggs and fish added in, this vegan Caesar dressing recipe is the solution!
๐ฑ Can you make Caesar dressing vegan?
While vegan Caesar dressing can be made with a wide variety of ingredients, this is our favorite version! With a few simple plant-based ingredients, the final result turns out rich, creamy, and punchy. Hereโs how we do it:
- Cashews: Cashews provide a creamy texture and lend a touch of sweetness.
- Capers: Added to impart a briny and tangy element, emulating anchovies.
- Nutritional yeast: This umami-rich ingredient mimics the cheesiness of Parmesan.
In the end, it isnโt an exact match to the original, and how could it be? But, youโll definitely be pleasantly surprised with how similar it tastes!
๐ History
Caesar dressing, and more generally Caesar salad, was originally created in Tijuana, Mexico. An Italian chef, Cesare (โCaesarโ) Cardini, is credited with the invention of this infamous dish.
In fact, itโs been on the menu of Caesarโs Restaurante-Bar since 1927, and itโs still served there to this day!

๐ Ingredients & substitutions
- Cashews: For the most neutral flavor, use raw cashews. Itโs also important to soak them until they are easily split apart, especially if you donโt have a high-speed blender. No cashews? Try sunflower seeds instead.
- Dijon: Adds a tangy kick that Caesar dressing is known for! Choose smooth Dijon for the best consistency and taste.
- Lemon: Use fresh lemon juice and the zest for fresh, tart, and bright notes that balance the richness of the cashews. Apple cider vinegar will also work.
- Garlic: The key to a perfect Caesar dressing is achieving the right amount of punch that fresh garlic provides. You can replace it with garlic powder in a pinch, but we highly recommend sticking with fresh cloves.
- Capers: The immature, unripened green flower of a caper bush, capers offer a unique tangy, briny element that replaces anchovies. Donโt skip them!
- Maple syrup: To balance the tang and punchiness, we prefer maple syrup. If you donโt have any on hand, substitute it with agave or cane sugar.
- Olive oil: Although optional, we feel it makes a difference in overall flavor. Use quality extra-virgin olive oil here.
- Water: To thin the dressing as needed.
- Nutritional yeast: Youโll be able to find nutritional yeast at most bulk food stores or online. White miso paste, tamari, or vegan Worchestershire will also work.
- Salt & pepper: To let the other flavors pop and add a slight kick.
For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.
๐ How to make vegan Caesar dressing
Step 1: Soak the cashews
Soak the cashews overnight in room-temperature water. If you forget, quick-soak them in hot water for 30-60 minutes.

Step 2: Blend the dressing
When the cashews are easily split, drain them and add them to your blender. Add the rest of the ingredients, and blend on high for 2-3 minutes, scraping down the sides throughout.

Step 3: Adjust the seasonings
Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed โ lemon and capers for more tang, garlic and Dijon for more punch, or maple syrup to balance the tang and spice. Happy eating!
If you have questions about making this cashew Caesar dressing, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!
๐ฅ How to use vegan Caesar dressing
Once itโs blended, serve this vegan Caesar dressing on or beside salads and vegetable-forward dishes like these:
- Kale Caesar salad: A nutrient-dense twist on traditional Caesar salad.
- Dip: Serve it alongside veggie sticks, air fryer green beans, potato wedges, vegan pizza, or buffalo cauliflower wings.
- Macaroni & potato salad: Replace mayo-based dressings with vegan Caesar dressing for a zesty twist on your favorite macaroni salad and potato salad recipes.
- Pizza: Replace red pizza sauce with this creamy dressing as a pizza base.
- Chicken Caesar wraps: Whip up some vegan fried chicken, then serve it in wraps with lettuce, vegan Parmesan cheese, croutons, and vegan Caesar salad dressing.
๐ก๏ธ Storage
Vegan Caesar dressing is a great flavor enhancer to keep on hand all week long! Just follow these storage tips to get the most out of it:
- Fridge: Once mixed, cashew Caesar dressing will last for up to 6-7 days in the fridge. We prefer storing it in a glass mason jar with an airtight lid to lock in the flavors best. It thickens as it sits in the fridge, so add a touch of water (or lemon juice) and give it a stir before serving.ย
- Freezer: This dressing can be frozen for up to 3 months. When youโre ready to use it again, thaw it in the fridge overnight. As with the above method, you may need some water or lemon juice to thin it out.

โป๏ธ Variations
- Spicy: For a slightly spicy version, add some cayenne powder, smoked paprika, or a teaspoon of your favorite hot sauce.
- Nut-free: Instead of cashews, try tahini, sunflower seeds, vegan mayo, or silken tofu instead.
- Add brine: For added briny flavors, include a few teaspoons of olive or caper brine.
- Oil-free: If youโd prefer an oil-free Caesar dressing, omit the olive oil completely. You may need to add a little more water or brine in its place.
๐งโ๐ณ Top tips
- Raw cashews: Donโt forget to use raw cashews, not roasted or roasted and salted. Raw cashews carry a mild, neutral flavor that doesnโt overpower the rest of the ingredients in this recipe.
- High-speed blender: For the smoothest, creamiest dressing texture, use a high-speed blender like a Vitamix or Blendtec. If you donโt have one, the cashews really need to soak in water for at least 3-4 hours prior to blending.
- Fresh lemon: Make sure to use fresh lemon juice in this recipe. Donโt use bottled lemon juice from concentrate as it wonโt be quite the same!
๐ฌ FAQ
There are many ways to make vegan Caesar dressing. In this recipe, we opted for a cashew base, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, capers, maple syrup, and a few other plant-based ingredients.
Caesar dressing is neither vegetarian nor vegan since it contains anchovies and parmesan cheese. Most traditional recipes also include raw egg yolks.
To replace the savory, briny flavor of capers, try chopped green olives instead. Purchase the non-filled type if you can.
๐ด More sauce recipes
If you enjoyed this vegan Caesar dressing recipe, be sure to check out some more sauces like the following:
- Spicy Chili Garlic Aioli: Rich plant-based sauce with a hint of spice.
- Vegan Pesto: Cashew-based pesto thatโs completely dairy-free.
- Vegan Tartar Sauce: Chunky, creamy, and tangy vegan tartar sauce.
- Vegan Tzatziki: Light, cooling, and refreshing plant-based tzatziki.

Best Ever Vegan Caesar Dressing
Equipment
- High-speed blender
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked
- 2 teaspoons Dijon
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- ยผ teaspoon lemon zest
- 4-5 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon capers
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ยพ cup water
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Soak the cashews overnight in room-temperature water. If you forget, quick-soak them in hot water for 30-60 minutes.
- When the cashews are easily split, drain them and add them to your blender. Add the rest of the ingredients, and blend on high for 2-3 minutes, scraping down the sides throughout.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed โ lemon and capers for more tang, garlic and Dijon for more punch, or maple syrup to balance the tang and spice.
- Serve your vegan Caesar dressing immediately over a salad, or transfer it to a mason jar for storage. Happy eating!
Notes
- Raw cashews: Donโt forget to use raw cashews, not roasted or roasted and salted. Raw cashews carry a mild, neutral flavor that doesnโt overpower the rest of the ingredients in this recipe.
- High-speed blender: For the smoothest, creamiest dressing texture, use a high-speed blender like a Vitamix or Blendtec. If you donโt have one, the cashews really need to soak in water for at least 3-4 hours prior to blending.
- Fresh lemon: Make sure to use fresh lemon juice in this recipe. Donโt use bottled lemon juice from concentrate as it wonโt be quite the same!
- Nutritional information is a rough estimate and should not be taken as health advice.
Nutrition
Note: We’ve updated this post to include new information and helpful tips about the recipe.
Justine Drosdovech is a food writer, photographer, and one of the founders of Broke Bank Vegan. She is a self-taught plant-based chef but uses her healthcare background to craft dishes that are both delicious and nourishing.
If you are substituting the cashews with sunflower seeds, how many do you use and do you need to soak them?
Hi Ellen,
Use the same amount by volume (1 cup), and yes you should still soak them. Hope that helps!