Description

These Smash Chicken Caesar Tacos are a quick, high-protein dinner featuring juicy, seasoned chicken smashed onto crispy tortillas and topped with a creamy Caesar salad. Ready in under 30 minutes, they’re perfect for busy weeknights and packed with flavor and crunch.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (thinly sliced or pounded to 1/4-inch thickness)
1 tablespoon olive oil (plus more for skillet)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
8 small flour tortillas (street taco size, 5–6 inches; use corn tortillas for gluten-free)
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese (for pressing onto chicken while cooking)
2 cups chopped romaine lettuce (or baby kale/arugula)
1/2 cup Caesar dressing (store-bought or homemade)
1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1/3 cup garlic croutons, crushed (optional)
Freshly cracked pepper, to taste
Cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
Thinly sliced red onion (optional)
Lemon wedges (optional)
Hot sauce (optional)

Instructions

Slice or pound chicken breasts until about 1/4-inch thick.
Toss chicken in a bowl with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Let marinate for at least 10 minutes (or up to 24 hours in the fridge).
Chop romaine lettuce and place in a bowl. Add Caesar dressing, shredded parmesan, and crushed garlic croutons (if using). Toss until lightly coated. Set aside.
Heat a large nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil and let it get hot.
Place one tortilla flat on a plate. Lay a thin chicken piece over half the tortilla. Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon grated parmesan on the chicken side.
Carefully transfer to the hot skillet, chicken side down. Press firmly with a spatula to smash the chicken into the tortilla.
Cook for 2-3 minutes until the chicken is golden and the tortilla is crisp. Flip and cook another 1-2 minutes until tortilla is golden and chicken is cooked through (internal temp should reach 165°F).
Repeat with remaining chicken and tortillas, adding oil as needed. Keep finished tacos warm in a low oven (200°F) if making a large batch.
Top each smash chicken tortilla with a scoop of Caesar salad mixture.
Add any extras: tomatoes, red onion, a squeeze of lemon, or hot sauce. Serve immediately for best crunch.

Notes

For gluten-free, use corn tortillas and gluten-free croutons. For dairy-free, use vegan Caesar dressing and skip parmesan or use nutritional yeast. Pound chicken thin for best results. Keep pan hot and don’t overcrowd for a crispy edge. Store chicken and salad separately for leftovers.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 taco
Calories: 220
Sugar: 1
Sodium: 500
Fat: 10
Saturated Fat: 3
Carbohydrates: 10
Fiber: 1
Protein: 19

Keywords: smash chicken tacos, Caesar salad tacos, high protein dinner, easy chicken tacos, healthy tacos, weeknight dinner, skillet chicken, crispy tortilla, meal prep, family dinner