Crispy Chicken Caesar Pita (Printable)

Air-fried crispy chicken with Caesar salad and Parmesan stuffed into warm pitas for a satisfying handheld meal in just 35 minutes.

# Components:

→ Crispy Chicken

01 - 2 large chicken breasts, cut into strips
02 - 1 cup buttermilk
03 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
04 - 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
05 - 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 0.5 teaspoon paprika
07 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
08 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
09 - Cooking spray

→ Caesar Salad

10 - 1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
11 - 0.5 cup Caesar dressing
12 - 0.25 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
13 - 0.5 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
14 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Assembly

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

# Method:

01 - Submerge chicken strips in buttermilk and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, or 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 liquid to drain. Coat each strip thoroughly in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to ensure adherence.
04 - Place chicken strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket and lightly coat with cooking spray.
05 - Cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 12 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden brown and fully cooked.
06 - Toss chopped romaine lettuce with Caesar dressing, shaved Parmesan, and halved cherry tomatoes.
07 - Heat pita breads in a dry skillet or microwave, then carefully cut open to form pockets.
08 - Fill each pita pocket with prepared Caesar salad and 2 to 3 chicken strips. Drizzle with additional Caesar dressing and squeeze lemon juice if desired.
09 - Serve immediately while chicken remains warm and crispy.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It satisfies both your craving for crispy fried chicken and a fresh, tangy salad in one bite.
  • The air fryer keeps the chicken light and crunchy without any heavy oil or mess.
  • Everything comes together in under 40 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
  • Its endlessly customizable with toppings like avocado, bacon, or extra Parmesan.
02 -
  • If you skip the cooking spray on the chicken, the coating wont crisp up properly and youll end up with sad, pale strips.
  • Dont assemble the pitas more than a few minutes before serving or the lettuce will wilt and the chicken will lose its crunch.
  • Use tongs to flip the chicken in the air fryer, forks will scrape off the precious breading youve worked so hard to build.
03 -
  • If your air fryer is small, cook the chicken in batches and keep the finished strips warm in a low oven.
  • For a lighter version, use Greek yogurt based Caesar dressing and whole wheat pitas without sacrificing flavor.
  • Always taste your salad before stuffing the pitas, you want enough dressing to coat every leaf but not so much that it drips everywhere.
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