Crispy Chicken Caesar Salad Smash Tacos
Have you ever been craving a salad AND tacos, but didn't actually want a taco salad? Well, do I have the solution for you!
If you know me, you know I have a serious love for tacos in pretty much any form. And lately, the smash taco trend has definitely caught my attention.
The inspiration for this one actually came from my nephew, who, after waking up from surgery, requested a Caesar salad. Of all things! And while I LOVE a good Caesar salad, sometimes it just doesn't cut it when you're looking for something a little more filling.
So naturally, I thought... why not throw it on a taco?!
You get all those delicious Caesar salad flavors, plus the protein and carbs to make it a satisfying meal. And like most of my recipes, this one is super easy and totally customizable. Use your favorite protein, switch up the toppings, and make it your own!
Now let's go smash some tacos!
What You'll Need
For the tacos
1 lb ground chicken
1 egg
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
6–8 soft tortillas, depending on size (these are my absolute favorites!)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper
Cooking oil spray
For the Caesar salad
You know the drill — measure with your heart! Use whatever ingredients you love in a Caesar salad. Keep it traditional or throw in a few fun extras. Here's what I used:
Romaine lettuce, chopped
Croutons
Caesar dressing (I'm a big fan of this dairy-free one!)
Sliced pepperoncini
Capers
What You'll Do
In a medium bowl, combine the ground chicken, garlic powder, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Mix until everything is evenly incorporated.
Lay your tortillas out on a flat surface. Divide the chicken mixture evenly among them, spreading it into a thin, even layer all the way to the edges. You can use the back of a spoon, but honestly, I find using my hands is easiest!
In a small bowl, beat the egg. Brush a thin layer of egg over the chicken on each tortilla.
Sprinkle the panko breadcrumbs evenly over the chicken, gently pressing them in with your hands or the back of a spoon so they stick.
Heat a large skillet or flat-top griddle over medium heat and give it a good spray with cooking oil.
Once the pan is hot, place the tacos chicken side down and press firmly and evenly onto the cooking surface. We want maximum contact with the pan to get that delicious crispy crust!
Let the tacos cook undisturbed for about 6–8 minutes. Resist the urge to move them around! Carefully flip and cook tortilla side down for another 2–3 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked through and reaches 165°F.
Pro tip: If you want that chicken extra crispy (and who doesn't?!), flip the tacos back over to the chicken side for another minute or two.
Repeat until all your tacos are cooked. Working in batches? No problem! Just preheat your oven to 250°F and place the finished tacos on a baking sheet to stay warm while they wait for their friends.
While the tacos are cooking, toss together your Caesar salad ingredients. I like to mix the lettuce, dressing, pepperoncini and capers together, then add the croutons for some extra crunch.
Once your tacos are ready, pile that delicious Caesar salad right on top. And if you want to get a little extra, squeeze a lemon wedge over your tacos.
And there you have it — crispy, crunchy Chicken Caesar Smash Tacos! All the flavors of a Caesar salad, with a little taco magic thrown in.
Enjoy!