Achieving a great vegan caesar dressing is more complicated than making vegan versions of other salad dressings. Caesar dressing gets its umami-rich flavor from anchovies and Worcestershire sauce, and its creamy texture from egg yolks and parmesan cheese. None of those things are vegan. So, how do you recreate that classic caesar flavor without any animal products? Many companies have tried, but only a few succeeded.
We tasted nine different vegan caesar salad dressing brands in search of the very best vegan caesar dressing (yes, that also means the best dairy-free caesar dressing). We looked for the best creamy, dairy-free caesar salad dressing (for all the creamy caesar fans), as well as the best vinaigrette-style vegan caesar salad dressing. We wanted ultra savory flavors—we wanted to be fooled into thinking there was real parmesan in the mix. We wanted tang. We wanted a peppery bite. And we wanted a vegan caesar dressing that could make both a great vegan caesar salad as well as a vegan caesar wrap. Bonus if it doubles as a dip.
Here’s the best vegan caesar dressing you can buy at the grocery store. (And if you’re looking for the best caesar dressing that isn’t vegan, we ranked those, too.)
- Mother Raw Organic Roasted Garlic Caesar
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If you were a competent at-home cook, this is what your homemade vegan caesar dressing would taste like. It gets its umami quality from nutritional yeast and roasted garlic, and its tang (it’s quite tangy) from lemon juice and apple cider vinegar. The texture is closer to a vinaigrette than a creamy caesar. It’s a touch nutty—almost like a walnut, complete with that slightly bitter flavor. It’s tasty but it’s different, and it was a top pick for frequent vegan eater, senior staff writer Jordan Myrick.
Related: Best Vegan Ranch Dressing
Credit: Merc / Mother Raw
- Plant Perfect Caesar Vegan Dressing
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While this vegan caesar dressing is missing caesar dressing’s classic tang, it is so good I had to include it on the list. It’s so creamy and savory, thanks to plenty of nutritional yeast. It’s a little sweet, but it’s that rich savory quality that keeps you coming back for more. It’s great on salad but I also like to use it as a dip for pizza. If you’ve ever wished for a creamy nutritional yeast dressing, this vegan caesar is the pick for you.
Related: Best Vegan Frozen Pizza
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Organicville Non-Dairy Caesar Dressing
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This organic, dairy-free caesar dressing is also Whole 30 approved, if that comes into play for you. All I cared about was that it used actual caesar dressing ingredients like lemon juice and mustard, both of which come together to create a wonderful tanginess. It’s creamy but not like a thick, creamy dressing—more like a creamy Italian dressing. It does have that parmesan-y flavor and maybe even a bit of an anchovy kick. Some tasters thought it could use more salt, but a sprinkling of non-dairy vegan shredded cheese (we like Trader Joe’s faux parmesan shreds) will solve that.
Related: Best Vegan Sour Cream
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Sprouts Plant-Based Caesar
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The secret ingredient in Sprouts’ store brand vegan caesar? Tamari! It stands in for anchovy and Worcestershire. It’s thick without being chunky. It’s also tangy and layered with savory flavor. “It’s so lucious on my tongue like I’m eating a little caesar cloud,” said Jordan. If you can’t quite imagine that, then just know that it is the perfect texture for spreading onto a tortilla to make a wrap—it won’t immediately drip out. Try it with one of our picks from the best vegan chicken nuggets ranking.
Related: Best Vegan Cheese We’ve Tasted
Credit: Merc / Sprouts
- Follow Your Heart Organic Caesar Dressing
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When it comes to making vegan condiments, Follow Your Heart is one of the best. They make an incredible vegan mayo and an extra creamy dairy-free caesar salad dressing. It’s mildly tangy, very peppery, and seriously garlicky. If you were blindfolded, I’m not sure you would be able to tell this was a vegan caesar dressing. I wish there was a touch more umami, but it is perfect for a salad. You will absolutely be satisfied. It tastes like any other store bought caesar dressing out there.
Related: Best Vegan Queso Dip
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Gotham Greens Vegan Caesar Dressing & Dip
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This vegan caesar dressing tastes like so much parmesan that I had to triple check the ingredients to make sure it was actually vegan. It’s creamy. It’s peppery. It’s cheesy (without cheese). It really has it all. (Okay, it could use a squeeze of lemon.) I think the key ingredient is miso. It adds that fermented umami quality that just keeps you coming back bite after bite (or spoonful after spoonful in the case of this taste test). And the addition of capers gives it a complex zing that none of the other vegan caesar salad dressing brands have. Use this not only as a salad dressing, but also as a sandwich spread, a dip, a drizzle for grilled veggies—this is the best vegan caesar dressing. Try it ASAP.
Related: Best Vegan Snack Ideas
Credit: Merc / Instacart
Best Almost Homemade
Best Savory
Best Organic
Best for a Wrap
Best Creamy
Best of the Best
Other vegan caesar dressing brands we tried: Simple Truth, Daiya, Fody Vegan Caesar
How could a store bought bottled version, vegan or not, taste anything like the real thing? I’m vegan for 8 years btw.