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Smash Chicken Caesar Tacos

Smash chicken Caesar tacos turn a Caesar salad into a handheld taco: crispy smash chicken with caramelized edges, charred corn tortillas, and Caesar dressing draped over shaved Parmesan and romaine. Quick weeknight tacos with a smash-burger style cook and a bright lemon squeeze.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 820
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Smash chicken
  • 1.5 lb ground chicken
  • Salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • garlic powder to taste
  • Italian seasoning to taste
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
Toppings and tortillas
  • 8 corn tortillas small
  • 2 cup romaine lettuce finely shredded
  • 0.5 cup Caesar dressing
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese shaved
  • Lemon wedges for serving

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Season and portion chicken
  1. Season the ground chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning to taste, then divide into 8 portions.
  2. Set the portions aside while you heat the skillet.
Smash and crisp the chicken
  1. Heat the olive oil in a cast iron skillet over high heat until hot.
  2. Place 1 portion of ground chicken in the skillet and immediately smash flat with a spatula, then cook 3-4 minutes until edges are crispy and caramelized.
  3. Flip the patty and cook 2 more minutes until cooked through to 165°F, then repeat with the remaining portions.
Char tortillas
  1. Char the corn tortillas directly over a gas flame or in a dry skillet until slightly blistered.
Dress romaine
  1. Toss the finely shredded romaine lettuce with the Caesar dressing until evenly coated.
Assemble tacos
  1. Assemble tacos by topping each charred tortilla with a smash chicken patty and a mound of Caesar-dressed romaine.
  2. Finish with shaved Parmesan and a squeeze of lemon, then serve immediately.

Notes

For the crispiest caramelized edges, smash the chicken immediately after it hits the hot skillet and avoid moving it during the first 3-4 minutes. Store leftover smash chicken and romaine separately in airtight containers in the fridge up to 3 days; reheat chicken in a skillet until hot and re-toss romaine with a fresh splash of dressing. Freezing is not recommended for assembled tacos, but cooked chicken patties can be frozen up to 2 months. For a lighter option, use light Caesar dressing and reduce the Parmesan slightly.