Crispy Chicken Caesar Pita (Print view)

Crispy air-fried chicken meets classic Caesar flavors in a soft, warm pita pocket for a satisfying handheld meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ For the Crispy Chicken

01 - 2 large chicken breasts, cut into strips
02 - 1 cup buttermilk
03 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
04 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
05 - ½ tsp garlic powder
06 - ½ tsp paprika
07 - ½ tsp salt
08 - ¼ tsp black pepper
09 - Cooking spray

→ For the Caesar Salad

10 - 1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
11 - ½ cup Caesar dressing
12 - ¼ cup shaved Parmesan cheese
13 - ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
14 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ For Assembly

15 - 4 pita breads, warmed
16 - Extra Caesar dressing, for drizzling
17 - Lemon wedges

# How-To Steps:

01 - Place chicken strips in buttermilk for at least 15 minutes, up to 2 hours for enhanced tenderness.
02 - Combine panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a shallow bowl.
03 - Remove chicken from buttermilk, allowing excess to drip off. Press each strip firmly into breadcrumb mixture to coat evenly.
04 - Arrange coated strips in a single layer in air fryer basket. Lightly mist with cooking spray and cook at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, turning once halfway through, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
05 - Combine chopped romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, shaved Parmesan, and cherry tomatoes in a large bowl. Toss until evenly coated.
06 - Heat pita breads in a dry skillet over medium heat for 30 seconds per side or microwave for 15 seconds. Carefully slice open to create pockets.
07 - Fill each pita pocket with Caesar salad mixture and 2-3 crispy chicken strips. Drizzle with additional Caesar dressing and serve with lemon wedges on the side.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything you love about Caesar salad transformed into something you can eat with your hands
  • The air fryer creates restaurant-quality crispy chicken without the mess of deep frying
  • Perfect for those nights when you want something satisfying but dont want to spend hours cooking
02 -
  • Dont overcrowd the air fryer basket or the chicken will steam instead of crisp, working in batches if necessary
  • Letting the excess buttermilk drip off prevents soggy coating that can fall off during cooking
03 -
  • Pat the chicken strips dry before adding them to the buttermilk for better coating adhesion
  • Let the cooked chicken rest on a wire rack for 2 minutes before stuffing into pitas to maintain maximum crunch
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