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Mouthwatering Smash Chicken Caesar Tacos

Category: Satisfying Entrées for Any Occasion

Dive into these super crispy smash chicken Caesar tacos. Sear the chicken in a hot pan after smooshing it onto each tortilla. You’ll get tasty golden crust every time. Flip them, then layer on crunchy lettuce tossed with Caesar, pile with bacon, and sprinkle with shredded Parmesan. Eat them while they’re fresh and warm for that perfect combo of creamy Caesar and chicken taco in one bite.

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Dana
Updated on Sat, 21 Jun 2025 01:20:00 GMT
Tortilla topped with lettuce, bacon, and cheese. Pin
Tortilla topped with lettuce, bacon, and cheese. | chefsnaps.com

Juicy ground chicken, crisp bacon bits, and fresh lettuce are all tucked into a tortilla that shatters with every bite. It's got all that creamy Caesar zing, crunchy greens, salty cheese, and a little smoke—you're gonna want to share, but you'll wish you made more.

These bring together the crisp snap of tacos and the punchy taste of Caesar salad all at once. The first time I whipped them up for a random weekday dinner, my crew was hooked. Now, everyone's always nudging me to make them again.

Tasty Ingredients

  • Beef bacon bits: Super crunchy, smoky, and salty. Real bacon makes every bite better
  • Parmesan (shredded): Salty cheese flavor for the top. Shred it yourself for extra oomph
  • Caesar dressing: Loads of umami here. A rich one with real anchovy and plenty of cheese works best
  • Romaine lettuce: Go for super crisp leaves with no wilting. They bring juicy crunch
  • Salt: Just enough to bring all the flavors together. Sprinkle as you go to get it perfect
  • Black pepper: Cracked fresh for that spicy, sharp Caesar kick
  • Garlic powder: Packs a punch without any mushiness that fresh garlic brings
  • Chicken: Ground chicken keeps things tender and soaks up all that Caesar taste. A bit of fat helps it stay juicy
  • Little flour tortillas: Go for soft, bendy ones—they let you smash and fry without ripping
  • Avocado oil: Gets tortillas crisp and gold. A light smell and color mean it's fresh

Simple Steps

Fold and Serve:
Bend them up while still sizzling and eat straight away so they're hot and crackly
Top and Build:
Drop cool lettuce on the hot tortillas, douse everything in Caesar dressing, shower on cheese, and finish with bacon. Want bolder flavor? Mix lettuce and dressing before piling it on
Flip for Crunch:
Turn tortillas so the plain side fries too—let it get golden and crunchy for max texture
Sear the Chicken Side:
Heat some avocado oil in your pan. Chicken faces down on the skillet first. Sizzle two or three minutes till browned and cooked. The smell will tell you when it's perfect
Smash Chicken on Tortillas:
Take handfuls of seasoned chicken and mash them flat onto the back of each tortilla. Push down so it sticks and won’t fall off
Season the Chicken:
Toss ground chicken in a bowl with plenty of garlic powder, pepper, and salt. Get your hands in there so everything’s coated and nothing’s bland
A plate stacked with lettuce and cheesy chicken tacos. Pin
A plate stacked with lettuce and cheesy chicken tacos. | chefsnaps.com

I always pile on extra Parmesan at the end. Turns the flavor up a notch. Last time we had these for a movie night, they vanished way quicker than the popcorn did!

Keeping Leftovers Fresh

Crunch is king, so eat them hot if you can. Got extras Stash in the fridge for one or two days. Rewarm in a plain pan to bring crunch back. Skip lettuce till ready to eat or it’ll get soggy—pile on after heating

Swaps and Switches

Can’t find ground chicken Go for ground turkey instead—it cooks up nearly the same way. Out of beef bacon Fix it up with crispy turkey bacon crumbles, or toss on roasted chickpeas for a veggie bite. Gluten avoiders: grab corn tortillas and double-check your Caesar sauce

How to Serve

Slice up some lemon to squeeze over them for a fresh kick, or drop on some cherry tomato halves for extra juiciness. Want a build-your-own night? Lay out tortilla shells, greens, cheese, and sauces in bowls so everyone makes their own

Two crunchy chicken tacos loaded with lettuce. Pin
Two crunchy chicken tacos loaded with lettuce. | chefsnaps.com

Fun Background

This is what happens when you mash up a Caesar salad with a hard shell taco. The “smash” move comes straight from burger making—pressing meat down cooks it even and keeps it juicy. That makes taco night tastier and way more hands-on

Recipe FAQs

→ How do you get tortillas super crispy?

Just spread the seasoned chicken really thin on your tortillas, then drop them into hot avocado oil. The whole thing turns crisp and golden fast.

→ How do you keep the chicken in place?

Press the ground chicken down flat and firm on each tortilla. That way it sticks through cooking and comes out as one piece.

→ Can lettuce be made ahead of time?

Sure thing! Toss the romaine and Caesar dressing together ahead. It gets extra tangy and stays together on each taco.

→ What extra toppings go great here?

Shredded Parmesan, crispy beef bacon bits, and another splash of Caesar make the tacos extra delicious and crunchy.

→ Don’t want beef bacon? Any swaps?

Try turkey bacon bits, or use crunchy chickpeas for the same salty, crispy bite if you want something different.

Caesar Chicken Tacos

Loads of flavor with savory chicken, cheesy Parmesan, Caesar-y lettuce, and crunchy bacon bits tucked in crisp tortillas.

Preparation Time
15 min
Cooking Time
15 min
Total Time
30 min
By: Dana

Category: Main Dishes

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: Modern American

Yield: 4 Servings (8 tacos)

Dietary Preferences: ~

Ingredients

→ Cooking Supplies

01 Avocado oil to grease your skillet

→ Filling and Toppings

02 8 mini flour tortillas
03 Chopped half a romaine head
04 3 tbsp crispy beef bacon bits
05 80 ml creamy Caesar sauce
06 50 g shredded Parmesan

→ Chicken Base

07 500 g minced chicken meat
08 2 tsp garlic powder
09 Dash of cracked black pepper
10 Salt, as much as you like

Steps

Step 01

Finely chop your romaine and grate the Parmesan if it's not already shredded. Have bacon bits and Caesar dressing nearby.

Step 02

Throw your ground chicken into the bowl. Dump in garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Use your hands or a spoon and mash it up till it's mixed well.

Step 03

Plop some chicken mixture onto each tortilla. Spread it out across one side. Press so the chicken sticks nice and flat.

Step 04

Set your pan over medium-high heat. Add avocado oil, then put tortillas chicken-side down. Let them cook for 2 or 3 minutes until the meat's golden and set.

Step 05

Flip the tortillas so the plain side can get crispy too. Wait till both are golden and crunchy.

Step 06

Pile on that lettuce, slap on Caesar, shower with Parmesan, and toss on bacon bits. If you want, you can dunk the lettuce in dressing before adding for extra flavor everywhere.

Step 07

Fold 'em up while they're hot and crispy. Dig in before they lose that crunch.

Notes

  1. Push the chicken down firmly on tortillas so it cooks evenly and doesn't fall apart in the pan.
  2. If you toss your lettuce with the dressing beforehand, it grabs onto the cheese and bacon better.

Required Tools

  • Big bowl
  • Frying pan or skillet
  • Spatula
  • Sharp knife
  • Cutting board

Allergen Information

Check every ingredient for potential allergens, and consult a healthcare professional if uncertain.
  • Has gluten (in flour tortillas)
  • Has dairy (from Parmesan and Caesar sauce)
  • May have egg (check your Caesar dressing)

Nutritional Details (Per Serving)

These details are for reference purposes and don't replace professional medical advice.
  • Calories: 410
  • Fats: 22 g
  • Carbohydrates: 32 g
  • Protein: 25 g