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Smash Chicken Caesar Tacos

Smash chicken Caesar tacos turn crispy smash chicken into easy weeknight tacos with charred corn tortillas and Caesar-dressed romaine. Each taco gets a caramelized chicken patty, dripping Caesar dressing, shaved Parmesan, and a lemon squeeze for bright, salty flavor.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 740
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ground chicken
  • 1.5 lb ground chicken
Chicken seasonings
  • 0.25 salt to taste
  • 0.25 pepper to taste
  • 1 tsp garlic powder to taste
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning to taste
Cooking oil
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
Tortillas and filling
  • 8 corn tortillas small
  • 2 cup romaine lettuce finely shredded
  • 0.5 cup Caesar dressing
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese shaved
  • 2 lemon wedges for serving

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Smash-season and portion the chicken
  1. Season the ground chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning, then divide into 8 portions.
Smash-cook the chicken patties
  1. Heat the olive oil in a cast iron skillet over high heat.
  2. Place 1 portion of ground chicken in the skillet and immediately smash flat with a spatula.
  3. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the edges are crispy and caramelized.
  4. Flip the patty and cook for 2 more minutes until cooked through to 165°F.
  5. Repeat the smash-cooking process with the remaining chicken portions.
Char tortillas and dress the romaine
  1. Char the corn tortillas directly over a gas flame or in a dry skillet until slightly blistered.
  2. Toss the romaine lettuce with the Caesar dressing until evenly coated.
Assemble the tacos
  1. Assemble tacos by topping each charred corn tortilla with a smash chicken patty.
  2. Top with Caesar-dressed romaine, then finish with shaved Parmesan and a squeeze of lemon.

Notes

For the crispiest, caramelized edges, keep the skillet at high heat and smash immediately after the chicken hits the pan. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days, keeping the chicken, romaine, and tortillas separate; reheat chicken in a skillet to re-crisp, and assemble fresh. Freezing is not recommended for best texture. If you want a lighter option, use a reduced-fat Caesar dressing.