Micro Chop Caesar Salad with Giant Parmesan Crisp

If you’re looking for a high-protein snack idea that can also double as a delicious dip, then prepare to fall in-love with this Micro Chop Caesar Salad. This salad is everything that you know and love about a chicken caesar salad, but chopped finely enough to be scooped up with tortilla chips or enjoyed with a spoon. Plus, it’s topped with a giant parmesan crisp that is baked to perfection and adds the perfect, crunchy texture to the top of the salad. If traditional caesar salads have you feeling bored, then you will love my innovative twist on the classic recipe!

Friends, when the summertime roles around, there’s truly nothing I love more than a delicious, crispy, caesar salad… especially when it’s served poolside with a drink in-hand. As I write this, I am currently lying by the pool on a family vacation to Hawaii, and I’m soaking up as much sun as I possibly can, while enjoying a lunch of caesar salads, french fries, and a delicious, refreshing Aperol spritz. I mean truly… could there be anything better than that?

But while I love a traditional caesar salad, I recently fell in-love with micro chopped salads, and knew that I had to give the classic caesar a micro chopped upgrade. If you’ve never had a micro chopped salad, essentially all of the salad ingredients are laid out on a cutting board and then chopped very fine, with a sharp knife, before being added to the bowl. Not only does this eliminate the annoying situation of having to take bites out of a giant piece of lettuce (which is never fun, in my opinion!) but it also makes the salad perfectly scoopable, to the point where it’s somewhere between a salad and a dip. I don’t know if any of you remember a few years ago when Baked by Melissa went viral for her green goddess salad recipe that she ate scooped with tortilla chips, but if that’s your vibe, then you will love this salad!

Oh, and it doesn’t stop there. In addition to being chopped, this salad is also topped off with a giant parmesan crisp that looks fancy, but is truly so easy to make. It’s just made from grated parmesan cheese that is laid out on a baking sheet and baked for a five minutes until it forms a crispy round. The key here is to just make sure that it is fully cooled before you add it to the salad. If the cheese isn’t cool, it may break apart easily or not retain its shape, which will still taste delicious, but won’t have that “WOW” factor that breaking into the giant parmesan crisp does. There’s nothing more satisfying than whacking your spoon on top of this salad and watching the crisp break into tiny, crispy parmesan chips that blend perfectly into the salad. If you’ve never made a homemade parmesan crisp, then let this recipe be your sign to try it!

What You Need to Make This Micro Chop Caesar Salad

• Romaine Lettuce: Of course, it wouldn’t be a caesar salad without the romaine lettuce. The lettuce adds a delicious crispy, crunchy texture to this salad no other lettuce can truly replicate!
• Grilled Chicken Breast: To add some protein and texture to this salad, I love adding in grilled chicken breast. You can use premade grilled chicken (Trader Joe’s has a great one in their fridge section that is perfect for warming up and adding to your favorite recipes!) or prepare your own chicken with this easy recipe.
• Parmigiano Reggiano: Freshly grated parmigiano reggiano is essential for preparing the delicious, crispy parmesan cheese crisp! I will always recommend using freshly grated over pre-grated, as it doesn’t contain preservatives and adds an absolutely delicious flavor.
• Garlic Croutons: A caesar salad isn’t complete without the croutons, and I love the crunch that the garlic croutons adds to this recipe. You can use premade croutons or simply make your own with my easy recipe!
• Caesar Dressing: Pick your favorite caesar dressing and use it in this recipe! You can use your favorite store-bought dressing, or, if you prefer, you can make your own Healthy Caesar Dressing with my easy recipe!

How to Make This Easy 15 Minute Salad Recipe

To make this salad, start by preparing the giant parmesan crisp. Preheat your oven to 400 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Next, grate the Parmigiano Reggiano and add 1/2 cup of the cheese to the baking sheet, in a mound formation. Use your hands to lightly pat the cheese down.
Then, transfer the baking sheet into the oven and allow the cheese to cook for five minutes, until it’s nice and crispy.

Once it’s done, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool completely. While the parmesan crisp is cooling, prepare the salad. Add the romaine lettuce, cooked chicken breast, garlic croutons, the caesar dressing, and the remaining grated cheese to a clean cutting board.

Use a sharp knife to chop all of the ingredients until they’re very fine. Transfer the salad into a large bowl. Then, place the giant parmesan crisp on top.

Once the salad is done, garnish with a crack of black pepper, then serve immediately and enjoy!

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.

** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim