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High Protein Broccoli Caesar Salad

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This Broccoli Caesar Salad is a dairy-free, gluten-free-friendly, high-protein twist on the classic Caesar. Made with crisp-tender broccoli, a delicious dairy-free creamy silken tofu Caesar dressing, crispy chickpeas, and lemon garlic breadcrumbs, it’s garlicky, tangy, savory, crunchy, meal prep-friendly, and hearty enough for lunch or dinner.

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High Protein Broccoli Caesar Salad

When I was a kid, I was absolutely obsessed with Caesar salads. If there was one on the menu, there was a very good chance I was ordering it. But if you had told me back then that the dressing was made with anchovies… there is absolutely no way I would have touched it. I’ve since learned that you don’t need them at all to make an incredibly creamy, savory, ridiculously satisfying Caesar dressing.

This broccoli Caesar salad is a little different from the classic, and honestly, I think it might be even better. Instead of lettuce, we’re using lightly blanched broccoli, which stays crisp and hearty and holds onto every bit of that creamy dressing in its tiny little bud balls.

Very technical term, obviously.

It’s packed with fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, and antioxidants, making it a much more nutrient-dense base while still delivering all of the crunch you want from a great Caesar salad. If you’ve never been someone who gets excited about a bowl of lettuce, this might just be your new favorite way to eat a salad.

What Makes This Salad High Protein?

This high-protein Caesar salad gets its protein from two main ingredients: silken tofu and crispy chickpeas.

You know I love me a good silken tofu moment for my dressing, and chickpeas? Well, when are crispy chickpeas ever NOT a good thing to have on a salad? With these two ingredients alone, we’re already at 22 grams of protein per serving!

OH, and because we’re using broccoli instead of lettuce, you’re also getting a more filling, fiber-rich base for this salad that regular lettuce could never offer!

The BEST Dairy Free Caesar Dressing

This might be the best Caesar dressing I’ve made. Instead of being a fat bomb (sorry) loaded with oil, mayo, parmesan, and yes… tiny dead fish, this one gets its creaminess from silken tofu.

It’s packed with plant-based protein, naturally lower in fat, completely oil-free, and still has everything you expect from a Caesar: garlicky, tangy, peppery, cheesy, and packed with umami thanks to miso, capers, nutritional yeast, and Worcestershire seasoning.

Use this high protein Caesar salad dressing in more ways than one; use it as a dip for veggies, spread it onto sandwiches, or spoon it over grain bowls.

Ingredients for This Broccoli Caesar Salad

Every ingredient in this broccoli Caesar salad brings texture, flavor, or staying power.

Broccoli: replaces romaine as the base of this salad. It’s hearty, crisp, and amazing at holding onto the creamy dressing.
Crispy Chickpeas: add crunch, protein, and fiber. They make the salad more filling and give you that crouton-like bite without relying only on breadcrumbs.
Panko Breadcrumbs: create the lemon garlic crunch on top. Use gluten-free panko if necessary.
Garlic Powder: adds savory flavor to the breadcrumbs.
Lemon Zest: brings brightness and freshness. It makes the breadcrumb topping feel light, zippy, and perfect with the creamy dressing.
Nutritional Yeast: for the cheesy flavor you’d expect from a Caesar salad.
Italian Seasoning: brings a herby vibe to the breadcrumbs, adding to that garlic crouton touch.
Vegan Parmesan: optional, but delicious and in my opinion, necessary. What is a Caesar salad without parm?
Fresh Lemon: a final squeeze of lemon brightens the whole salad and balances the richness of the dressing.

High Protein Caesar Salad Dressing Ingredients

This high-protein Caesar dressing recipe is creamy, savory, dairy-free, and made without anchovies!

Silken Tofu: the creamy base of the dressing, which blends super smoothly and brings that unexpected boost of plant based protein.
White Miso Paste: adds salty, savory, umami-rich flavor while giving the dressing depth and complexity you’d normally get from parmesan and anchovies.
Nutritional Yeast: adds cheesy flavor without the need for dairy.
Fresh Lemon Juice: adds brightness and tang. Caesar dressing needs acidity, and lemon keeps this one fresh and balanced.
Dijon Mustard: adds sharpness and helps create that classic Caesar dressing flavor.
Capers: bring salty, briny flavor while helping mimic the savory punch of anchovies while keeping this dressing anchovy free!
Caper Brine: adds even more tangy, salty depth. It’s a small ingredient that makes a big difference.
Garlic: essential in any good Caesar dressing recipe. Use 2 cloves for a milder dressing or 3 if you love a strong garlic moment.
Worcestershire Powder: adds savory complexity and a little tang. Make sure yours is vegan if needed.
Maple Syrup: a tiny bit of maple syrup balances the acidity, salt, and garlic. It doesn’t make the dressing sweet; it just rounds everything out.
Onion Powder: adds savory depth and helps the dressing taste more complete.

How to Make This Salad

Blanch the Broccoli

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and prepare a large bowl of ice water. Add the broccoli and blanch for 45–60 seconds, just until bright green and crisp-tender. Immediately transfer the broccoli to the ice bath to stop the cooking. Once cooled, drain well and pat completely dry. This step is important. The broccoli needs to be dry so the dressing clings instead of sliding off or getting watery.

Make the Lemon Garlic Breadcrumbs

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add a splash of cooking oil or dairy-free butter if using, then add the panko breadcrumbs. Toast, stirring frequently, until lightly golden, about 3–4 minutes. Add the garlic powder, lemon zest, nutritional yeast, Italian seasoning, and a pinch of salt. Stir constantly for another minute until fragrant and deeply golden.

Blend the High Protein Caesar Dressing

Add the silken tofu, miso, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, capers, caper brine, garlic, Worcestershire powder, maple syrup, onion powder, and black pepper to a high-speed blender. Blend until completely smooth and creamy. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dressing reaches your desired consistency. Taste and adjust with more lemon juice, black pepper, or salt if needed.

Toss and Serve

Transfer the broccoli to a large salad bowl and pour the dressing over the top. Toss until every floret is evenly coated. Top with crispy chickpeas, lemon garlic breadcrumbs, vegan parmesan if using, freshly cracked black pepper, and an extra squeeze of fresh lemon before serving.

How to Serve & Store Leftovers

This broccoli Caesar salad is hearty enough to serve as lunch or dinner on its own, but it’s also so good with some of my summer favourites like crispy truffle fries, roasted potatoes, grilled tofu, a simple soup, pasta, or a cold glass of white wine on the patio! You can also serve it as a side dish for a summer dinner party, BBQ, or meal prep lunch.

For storing leftovers, keep the components separate if possible. Store the blanched broccoli, dressing, breadcrumbs, and crispy chickpeas in separate airtight containers. The broccoli and dressing will keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days. Once tossed, the salad will still taste good the next day, but the breadcrumbs and chickpeas will soften. For best crunch, add them right before serving. The dressing can also be used throughout the week on grain bowls, wraps, roasted veggies, or as a dip.

High Protein Caesar Salad Dressing FAQ

Is Caesar dressing healthy? Classic Caesar dressing can be rich and delicious, but it’s often made with oil, egg yolks, parmesan, and anchovies. I would say that this high-protein dressing is a lot healthier than the one you’d normally grab at the grocery store. It’s oil free, high protein and totally plant based!

Can I use raw broccoli? You can, but I really recommend blanching it. Blanching makes the broccoli more tender, bright green, and easier to eat while still keeping plenty of crunch.

Can I use romaine instead of broccoli? Yes, of course, use whatever base vegetable you’d like! The dressing and the breadcrumbs do most of the heavy lifting!

What can I use instead of crispy chickpeas? You can use toasted sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, croutons, crispy lentils, or extra breadcrumbs. The crispy chickpeas add protein and crunch, so I love keeping them in.

Is this good for meal prep? Yes. This salad is great for meal prep if you store the components separately. Toss the broccoli with the dressing and add the crunchy toppings right before serving.

Did you make this recipe?

I would love to hear from you! Leave a rating and review below and let me know how you liked this salad. Try these other caesar salad recipes next:

Kale Caesar Salad with Garlic Parm Roasted Delicata and Crispy Chickpeas

Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad

Vegan Kale Caesar Salad with Grilled Tofu

Jackie Akerberg

Author of the Clean Vegan Cookbook, Food Blogger and Recipe Developer from Des Moines, Iowa.

Jackfruitful Kitchen has proudly been featured in Forks Over Knives, Vegan Bowls, Vegan Food and Living, and DSM Magazine.

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Jackie Akerberg

High Protein Broccoli Caesar Salad (Dairy-free, no lettuce)

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Prep Time 25

Total Time 25

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Salad

Calories: 310

Equipment

Blender
stove

Ingredients

Salad Ingredients

2 head large broccoli, cut into very small pieces (about 8 cups)
3 oz store-bought crispy chickpeas

Creamy High-Protein Caesar Dressing Ingredients

10 oz silken tofu
1½ tbsp white miso paste
3 tbsp nutritional yeast
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp capers
1 tbsp caper brine
2-3 cloves garlic
1 tsp Worcestershire powder
1 tsp maple syrup
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
2-4 tsp water, as needed
sea salt, to taste (only if needed)

Lemon Garlic Breadcrumbs

1 cup panko breadcrumbs, gluten free, if desired
1 tsp garlic powder
1 lemon, zested
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tsp Italian seasoning
pinch of sea salt

Method

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and prepare a large bowl of ice water. Add the broccoli and blanch for 45–60 seconds, just until bright green and crisp-tender. Immediately transfer the broccoli to the ice bath to stop the cooking. Once cooled, drain well and pat completely dry.
Meanwhile, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Optional to add a splash of cooking oil or dairy-free butter. Add the panko breadcrumbs and toast, stirring frequently, until lightly golden, about 3–4 minutes. Add the garlic, lemon zest, nutritional yeast, parsley, and a pinch of salt, stirring constantly for another minute until the garlic is fragrant and the breadcrumbs are deeply golden.
To make the dressing, add the silken tofu, miso, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, capers, caper brine, garlic, Worcestershire powder, maple syrup, onion powder, and black pepper to a high-speed blender. Blend until completely smooth and creamy. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dressing reaches your desired consistency. Taste and adjust with additional lemon juice, black pepper, or salt, if needed.
Transfer the broccoli to a large salad bowl and pour the dressing over the top. Toss until every floret is evenly coated. Top with the crispy chickpeas, lemon garlic breadcrumbs, vegan parmesan (if using), freshly cracked black pepper, and an extra squeeze of fresh lemon before serving.

Nutrition

Serving 1servingCalories 310kcalCarbohydrates 51gProtein 22gFat 5gSaturated Fat 1gPolyunsaturated Fat 2gMonounsaturated Fat 1gSodium 552mgPotassium 1463mgFiber 14gSugar 11gVitamin A 1927IUVitamin C 289mgCalcium 232mgIron 5mg

*Macros are provided as an estimate for convenience. Your final numbers will vary depending on ingredient brands, substitutions, and how you portion the recipe.

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High Protein Broccoli Caesar Salad

High Protein Broccoli Caesar Salad

What Makes This Salad High Protein?

The BEST Dairy Free Caesar Dressing

Ingredients for This Broccoli Caesar Salad

High Protein Caesar Salad Dressing Ingredients