Description
Crispy chicken caesar salad delivers a perfect balance of crunchy textures and zesty flavors. Rich parmesan, golden chicken, and fresh romaine combine for a meal that satisfies and delights your taste buds.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Ingredients:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
- 1 cup breadcrumbs or panko
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg, beaten
Seasoning:
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cooking Ingredients:
- 23 tablespoons (344 milliliters) vegetable oil for frying
Salad Ingredients:
- 1 large head of romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) Caesar dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- 1/4 cup (30 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup (60 grams) croutons
Serving (Optional):
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Prepare a breading station with three shallow dishes: one with seasoned flour, another with whisked egg, and the third with a blend of breadcrumbs enhanced with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Dredge each chicken strip meticulously through the flour, ensuring a complete, even coating that removes excess moisture.
- Submerge the floured chicken in the beaten egg, allowing any drips to fall back into the dish for a light, uniform layer.
- Roll the egg-coated strips generously in the seasoned breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to create a crisp, adherent coating.
- Warm vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat, creating a shimmering surface that’s ready for frying.
- Carefully place the breaded chicken strips into the hot oil, maintaining a consistent temperature to achieve a golden-brown exterior and fully cooked interior.
- Fry each side for 3-4 minutes, rotating once to ensure even browning and complete cooking.
- Transfer the crispy chicken to a paper towel-lined plate, allowing excess oil to drain and maintain the crunchiness.
- In a large mixing bowl, layer chopped romaine lettuce with Caesar dressing and grated Parmesan cheese, tossing thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly.
- Gently fold in crunchy croutons, creating a textural balance throughout the salad.
- Plate the dressed salad in individual serving bowls, arranging the golden-brown chicken strips on top.
- Finish with an optional sprinkle of additional Parmesan and serve alongside bright lemon wedges for a zesty touch.
Notes
- Customize breadcrumb coating by using gluten-free breadcrumbs for those with wheat sensitivities, ensuring everyone can enjoy this crispy chicken salad.
- Monitor oil temperature carefully while frying chicken to achieve perfect golden-brown exterior without burning, using a thermometer for consistent results.
- Pat chicken strips dry before coating to help breading adhere better and create extra crunchiness, preventing soggy breading during frying.
- Prepare chicken strips ahead of time and reheat in oven for a quick meal prep option, maintaining crispiness without additional oil absorption.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg