Crispy Chicken Caesar Pita (Printable)

Air-fried crispy chicken with Caesar salad and Parmesan tucked into warm pitas for a satisfying handheld meal.

# What You Need:

→ Crispy Chicken

01 - 2 large chicken breasts, cut into strips
02 - 1 cup buttermilk
03 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
04 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
09 - Cooking spray

→ Caesar Salad

10 - 1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
11 - 1/2 cup Caesar dressing
12 - 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
13 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
14 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Assembly

15 - 4 pita breads, warmed
16 - Extra Caesar dressing for drizzling
17 - Lemon wedges

# Steps:

01 - Submerge chicken strips in buttermilk and let sit for at least 15 minutes, up to 2 hours for enhanced tenderness.
02 - Combine panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a shallow bowl.
03 - Remove chicken from buttermilk, allowing excess to drip away. Dredge each strip in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to ensure coating adheres.
04 - Place coated chicken strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking spray.
05 - Cook at 400°F for 10 to 12 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden brown and fully cooked through.
06 - Toss chopped romaine lettuce with Caesar dressing, shaved Parmesan, and halved cherry tomatoes.
07 - Heat pita breads in a dry skillet or microwave until warm, then carefully cut open to form pockets.
08 - Fill each pita pocket with Caesar salad and 2 to 3 chicken strips. Drizzle with additional Caesar dressing and add lemon juice if desired.
09 - Present immediately while the chicken remains warm and crispy.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The chicken comes out ridiculously crispy without deep frying and your kitchen stays completely clean
  • Everything gets tucked inside a pita so each bite contains all the flavors and textures at once
02 -
  • Overcrowding the air fryer basket will make the chicken steam instead of crisp so work in batches if necessary
  • Let the chicken rest for two minutes after air frying so the coating sets and stays crunchier longer
03 -
  • Preheat your air fryer for three minutes before adding the chicken for the crispiest results every time
  • Use kitchen shears to cut the chicken into strips for more uniform sizing than a knife provides
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