Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad with Grilled Cheese Croutons

Name: Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad with Grilled Cheese Croutons
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs; 2 tbsp avocado oil; 1/4 cup sweet and spicy BBQ rub; 1/2 cup butter, melted; 8 slices sourdough bread; 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese; 2 hearts romaine lettuce, chopped; 1/2 cup Caesar dressing; 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

This Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad elevates the classic with sweet and spicy BBQ-rubbed grilled chicken thighs and crispy cheddar sourdough croutons that replace traditional bread cubes with actual grilled cheese.

🌍American 🏷️Grilled chicken 🏷️Caesar salad 🏷️Salad 🏷️Grilled cheese Croutons

🏷️

🏷️Sourdough

-0:00

TikTok

Total

35 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$19–$31

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

-0:00

TikTok

Ingredients

1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
2 tbsp avocado oil
1/4 cup sweet and spicy BBQ rub
1/2 cup butter, melted
8 slices sourdough bread
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 hearts romaine lettuce, chopped
1/2 cup Caesar dressing
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

9 Ingredients

Delivery in as fast as one hour.^*

Powered by Instacart

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
In a large bowl, toss the chicken thighs with avocado oil and a generous amount of sweet and spicy BBQ rub until fully coated.
2
Place the seasoned chicken on a hot, preheated griddle or large skillet. Cook for several minutes per side until nicely caramelized and cooked through.
3
While the chicken cooks, melt the butter in a saucepan.
4
Brush both sides of each slice of sourdough bread with the melted butter.
5
Place the buttered bread slices on the griddle. Top half of the slices with shredded cheddar cheese, then place the remaining slices on top to form sandwiches.
6
Grill the sandwiches, flipping once, until the bread is golden brown and crispy and the cheese is melted. Set aside.
7
In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, and grated Parmesan cheese.
8
Toss the salad until the lettuce is evenly coated with dressing.
9
Plate the salad.
10
Dice the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and arrange it over the salad.
11
Take the grilled cheese sandwiches and dice them into crouton-sized cubes. Scatter the grilled cheese croutons over the salad and serve immediately.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Pat chicken thighs dry and let them sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before grilling for even cooking and better browning.
Toast the grilled cheese croutons separately in the oven after cubing to restore crispness—this prevents them from softening against the wet lettuce.
Apply the BBQ rub generously to both sides of the chicken 10 minutes before grilling so it adheres and caramelizes properly.
Butter the bread slices on both outer sides before grilling the sandwiches, and use medium heat to melt the cheese fully without burning the bread.

Substitutions

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs → bone-in thighs (add 2–3 minutes per side) or chicken breasts (reduce time to 5–6 minutes per side)
Sourdough bread → brioche, ciabatta, or thick-cut regular white bread (adjust grilling time by 1–2 minutes)
Cheddar cheese → gruyère or aged gouda (note: higher melt temperature, watch carefully)
Avocado oil → olive oil or melted butter (note: butter will brown faster, reduce heat slightly)

Storage & make-ahead

Store grilled chicken and croutons in separate airtight containers for up to 3 days; dress the salad only when ready to eat to prevent sogginess.

Equipment

grill or grill pan · meat thermometer

Common Questions

Can I make the grilled cheese croutons ahead of time?

Yes. Assemble and grill the sandwiches up to 2 hours ahead, then cube and toast them in a 375°F oven for 8–10 minutes until crispy just before serving.