Crispy Herbed Chicken Caesar Pitas (Print version)

Tender breaded chicken with Caesar salad in warm pita pockets

# What you’ll need:

→ For the Herbed Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
03 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
05 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
06 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
11 - 2 large eggs
12 - 2 tablespoons milk
13 - 3 tablespoons olive oil

→ For the Caesar Salad

14 - 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
15 - 1/3 cup Caesar dressing
16 - 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
17 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)

→ For Assembly

18 - 4 large pita breads
19 - Lemon wedges (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Slice each chicken breast horizontally to create two thinner cutlets for even cooking.
02 - Place flour in one shallow bowl. Whisk eggs with milk in a second bowl. Combine panko, grated Parmesan, parsley, oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a third bowl.
03 - Dredge each chicken cutlet in flour, dip into egg mixture, then press firmly into panko mixture until thoroughly coated.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate.
05 - Heat pita breads in a dry skillet or warm oven for 1-2 minutes until soft and pliable.
06 - Toss romaine lettuce with Caesar dressing and shaved Parmesan in a large bowl. Add cherry tomatoes if using.
07 - Cut cooked chicken into strips for easy pita filling.
08 - Cut each pita in half to form pockets. Fill each pocket with Caesar salad mixture, then top with chicken strips.
09 - Serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side if desired.

# Cooking tips:

01 -
  • The contrast between hot, crispy chicken and cool, creamy salad is the kind of sensory experience that makes people pause mid-bite
  • Everything gets assembled into neat little packages, meaning you get all the satisfaction without the mess of a traditional salad
02 -
  • Crowding the pan makes the chicken steam instead of crisp, so cook in two batches if your skillet is smaller than 12 inches
  • Let the chicken rest on paper towels for at least two minutes before slicing, or those juices will escape and make the pita soggy
03 -
  • Pat your chicken completely dry before starting the breading process or the flour will clump up
  • Use tongs to flip the chicken so you do not knock off the precious crispy coating
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