Crispy Herbed Chicken Caesar Pitas (Printable)

Golden crispy herbed chicken meets fresh Caesar salad in warm pita pockets for a satisfying 40-minute meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Herbed Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced horizontally into 4 thin cutlets
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

→ Assembly

18 - 4 large pita breads
19 - Lemon wedges

# How-To:

01 - Slice each chicken breast horizontally to create two thinner cutlets, resulting in 4 total pieces for even cooking.
02 - Arrange three shallow bowls: place flour in the first, whisk eggs with milk in the second, and combine panko, grated Parmesan, parsley, oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in the third.
03 - Dredge each cutlet in flour, shaking off excess. Dip into egg mixture, then press firmly into panko mixture, ensuring complete coating on both sides.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook cutlets for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Drain on paper towels.
05 - Heat pita breads in a dry skillet or warm oven for 1-2 minutes until soft and pliable for easy filling.
06 - Combine romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, shaved Parmesan, and cherry tomatoes in a large bowl. Toss until leaves are evenly coated.
07 - Cut the crispy chicken cutlets into strips approximately 1/2 inch wide for easy pita filling.
08 - Cut each pita in half to form pockets. Fill with Caesar salad mixture, top with chicken strips, and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything tastes better when you can eat it with your hands and nobody judges you
  • The crunch from the panko against cool creamy lettuce is basically perfect texture balance
  • Weeknight dinner feels like something you ordered from a restaurant but took twenty minutes
02 -
  • Don't skip warming the pitas or they'll split when you try to fill them and everything falls out
  • Let the chicken rest on paper towels for a minute so the crust stays crisp instead of getting soggy
  • The breading station sounds fussy but having everything ready makes the actual cooking go so fast
03 -
  • Pat the chicken really dry before breading or the coating won't stick properly
  • Use one hand for wet ingredients and one for dry to keep the breading process from turning into a mess
Go Back