Chicken Caesar Smash Tacos

Combine two of your favorites in these delicious Chicken Caesar Smash Tacos! Made with crispy flour tortillas and loaded with seasoned chicken and creamy caesar salad, they truly are the best of both worlds!

Do you ever have an undeniable craving for caesar salad? Because I do… ALL the time! There’s just something about the combination of crunchy lettuce and creamy dressing and parmesan cheese that always leaves me wanting more. So when I first ran across the idea of Chicken Caesar Smash Tacos, I was all in!

Honestly, I’m not sure what it is about smashing food that’s so enticing, but between Smash Burgers and Smashed Potatoes, I definitely get the appeal. So to me, Chicken Caesar Smash Tacos were a no-brainer.

They combine a smashed chicken patty with fresh caesar salad and toasted panko breadcrumbs, all inside a crispy flour tortilla. And the end result does not disappoint!

It’s the perfect combination of flavors and textures, and seriously so easy to make. Not to mention… who doesn’t like a fun new twist on an old favorite?!

what you’ll need for this recipe

Tortillas – This recipe starts with 8 fajita sized tortillas. If you’re using a different size, you’ll need to adjust the number accordingly.

Ground chicken – For the meat, I used 1 pound ground chicken. Substitute ground turkey or ground beef if you prefer.

Seasonings – I used a combination of onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Feel free to add additional seasonings, such as paprika, Italian seasoning, or any of your favorites.

Romaine lettuce – Romaine lettuce is the main ingredient in the caesar salad filling. I used 2 hearts of Romaine lettuce, chopped.

Parmesan – Shaved parmesan cheese is another key ingredient in the filling. I used 2/3 cup, but you can use more or less to taste.

Caesar dressing – I used 2/3 cup caesar dressing. Again, use more or less to taste.

Panko breadcrumbs – Crispy panko breadcrumbs take the place of croutons in this recipe. I used 1/4 cup, sautéed in a little bit of butter for extra crunch.

how to make chicken caesar smash tacos

Season the meat. Season the ground chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper and any additional seasonings you like.

Make the caesar salad. Prepare the caesar salad in a separate bowl and set aside.

Prep & grill the tortillas. Spread the ground chicken onto tortillas and grill for 2-3 minutes on each side, until the chicken is fully cooked and the tortilla is golden brown.

Assemble. Assemble the tacos by adding caesar salad to each tortilla. Sprinkle with toasted panko crumbs.

storing & reheating

The best way to store leftovers is to keep the smash patty tortillas and the caesar salad separate. Store leftover smash patty tortillas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, add a small amount of olive oil to a skillet and heat over medium-high heat until warmed through OR reheat in an air fryer at 375°. Store leftover caesar salad in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator. Once dressed, salad will last only 1 day before becoming soggy, so you may need to make a new batch.