Crispy Herbed Chicken Caesar Pitas (Print Version)

Crispy herbed chicken cutlets with fresh Caesar salad tucked into warm pita pockets for a satisfying, easy main dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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

→ 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)

→ Assembly

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

# Cooking Steps:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The panko Parmesan crust creates this insane crunch that stays crispy even tucked inside the pita
  • Everything cooks in one skillet while the salad comes together in minutes
  • Hot crispy chicken against cool creamy lettuce hits every texture craving
02 -
  • Do not overcrowd the pan when frying the chicken or the oil temperature will drop and you will get soggy breading
  • Let the breaded chicken rest for a few minutes before cooking so the coating sets and stays attached better
  • Warm your pitas first because cold pita will crack when you try to open it into a pocket
03 -
  • Set a wire rack over your baking sheet to drain the cooked chicken so air circulates underneath and keeps it crispy on all sides
  • Use tongs to flip the chicken instead of a fork so you do not pierce the breading and let juices escape
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