Crispy Chicken Caesar Tacos You'll Want on Repeat

These Chicken Caesar Tacos take everything we love about a classic chicken Caesar salad and load it into soft tortillas. You get crispy chicken, crunchy lettuce, creamy Caesar dressing, salty Parmesan and crisp prosciutto (instead of bacon) in every bite.

Four chicken caesar tacos on a wooden surface.

There are lots of viral chicken Caesar smash tacos around at the moment, but these are a little different. Instead of pressing minced chicken onto a tortilla and frying it, I make my air fryer cornflake chicken tenders, chop them into bite-sized pieces and pile them into warm tortillas with all the Caesar salad extras.

I actually prefer them this way. The cornflake coating gives the chicken loads of crunch without deep frying, and because all the different components stay separate until you build the taco, you get that contrast between warm crispy chicken and cold crunchy lettuce.

We have made these several times while testing the recipe and they disappear FAST. They are easy enough for a weeknight dinner, but they are also a really fun option for a taco night where everyone can build their own - and my kids would have taco night every night if they had their way.

Would you like to save this post?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

Jump to:

Why You'll Love It
Recipe Overview
Chicken Caesar Tacos vs Chicken Caesar Smash Tacos
Ingredients and Substitutions
How To Make Chicken Caesar Tacos
The Secret to Really Good Chicken Caesar Salad Tacos
Variations
Serving Suggestions
Make Ahead
Storage
Dannii's Top Tips
Troubleshooting Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
More Chicken Caesar Recipes
Recipe
Feedback

Why You'll Love It

So much texture - Crispy cornflake chicken, crunchy lettuce, soft tortillas and crisp prosciutto.
A lighter twist - The chicken is air fried rather than deep fried and I use my Greek yogurt-based Caesar dressing.
Family friendly - Put everything on the table and let everyone build their own tacos.
Easy to prepare ahead - The chicken and dressing can both be made in advance, then everything can be assembled just before eating.
Something different - These have all the flavours of a chicken Caesar salad, but in an easy handheld dinner.
Tried and tested - We have made these several times to get the balance of crispy chicken, salad and dressing just right.

Recipe Overview

Ready in: Just 20 minutes from start to finish.
Makes: 4 generously filled tacos, serving 2.
Texture: Crispy chicken, crunchy lettuce, creamy dressing and crisp prosciutto in every bite.
Perfect for: A quick weeknight dinner, easy lunch or build-your-own family taco night.
Make ahead: Prepare the chicken, dressing and prosciutto ahead, then assemble just before serving for maximum crunch.

Chicken Caesar Tacos vs Chicken Caesar Smash Tacos

You might have seen the viral chicken Caesar smash tacos where raw minced/ground chicken is spread directly onto a tortilla before being cooked chicken-side down in a frying pan.

These aren't that.

My chicken Caesar tacos are much closer to a chicken Caesar salad served inside a taco. I use crispy chunks of my homemade air fryer cornflake chicken, then add lettuce, homemade healthy Caesar dressing, Parmesan and crispy prosciutto to a soft tortilla.

There is no raw chicken pressed onto the tortilla and no need to worry about the chicken separating from the tortilla when you turn it over.

I also think using breaded chicken works really well here because you still get that really satisfying crunch that makes the viral tacos so popular, but with chunks of juicy chicken breast inside.

Ingredients and Substitutions

All the ingredients needed for this recipe each with text overlay labels.

A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Air Fryer Cornflake Chicken - This is what makes these chicken Caesar tacos really special. Make two portions of my cornflake chicken tenders and then cut them into bite-sized pieces once cooked. The crushed cornflake coating gets really crispy in the air fryer whilst the chicken stays juicy. You could use another crispy chicken recipe, but you would lose some of the signature crunch.
Soft tortillas - Small soft flour tortillas work best because they are flexible enough to hold plenty of filling without splitting. Warm them briefly before serving so they are softer and easier to fold. Wholewheat tortillas can also be used if you want some extra fibre.
Little gem lettuce - I love little gem here because it is really crisp and holds up well against the warm chicken and creamy dressing. Romaine/cos lettuce is the obvious alternative and gives you the classic Caesar salad flavour and texture.
Caesar dressing - I use my homemade healthier Caesar dressing, which is made with Greek yogurt rather than a mayonnaise-heavy base. It is creamy, tangy and packed with all those familiar Caesar flavours. You could use your favourite store-bought Caesar dressing if you are short on time.
Parmesan - A little goes a long way because Parmesan has such a strong savoury flavour. Freshly grated or shaved Parmesan is much better than the shelf-stable pre-grated kind here.
Prosciutto - Rather than adding thick pieces of bacon, I crisp prosciutto in a dry frying pan and crumble it over the finished tacos. You only need a little for plenty of salty, crispy flavour. Bacon medallions or regular crispy bacon can be used instead.
Black pepper - Optional, but plenty of freshly ground black pepper really finishes off the Caesar flavours.
Lemon - Also optional, but a squeeze of fresh lemon just before serving cuts through the creamy dressing and works really well with the Parmesan.

How To Make Chicken Caesar Tacos

Cooked chicken tenders in an air fryer basket.

Make the crispy chicken. Make two portions of my Air Fryer Cornflake Chicken Tenders following the recipe instructions. Once they are cooked through and golden and crispy, leave them to rest for a couple of minutes and then chop them into bite-sized pieces.

Four pieces of prosciutto cooking in a large pan.

Crisp the prosciutto. Heat a dry frying pan over a medium heat. Add the prosciutto and cook until crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer it to a plate, leave it to cool slightly and then roughly chop or crumble it.

A bowl of healthy Caesar salad dressing with a small whisk.

Make the Caesar dressing. Put all the ingredients for the dressing into a bowl and mix well.
Warm the tortillas. Warm the tortillas briefly in a dry frying pan or according to the packet instructions. This makes them softer and less likely to split when folded.

Assemble the tacos. Divide the Caesar dressing and chopped lettuce between the tortillas.

Grated parmesan and chopped crispy prosciutto added on top of the chicken.

Add the chicken. Divide the chopped crispy chicken between the tortillas. Add the Parmesan, then finish with the crispy prosciutto. Serve straight away.

The Secret to Really Good Chicken Caesar Salad Tacos

The best thing about these tacos is the contrast in texture, so you don't want everything to sit mixed together for too long.

I keep the chicken, lettuce and dressing separate until we are ready to eat. The chicken stays crispy, the lettuce stays crunchy and everyone can add exactly as much Caesar dressing as they want.

Make sure the lettuce is also really dry after washing it. Any excess water will dilute the dressing and can make the tortillas soggy.

The size of the chicken matters too. You want pieces small enough that you can get chicken in every bite, rather than trying to fold a tortilla around an entire chicken tender.

Variations

There are lots of ways you can adapt these crispy chicken Caesar tacos.

Spicy - For some heat, add a drizzle of hot sauce or mix a little hot sauce into the Caesar dressing. You could also turn these into Buffalo chicken Caesar tacos by tossing the cooked crispy chicken in a little Buffalo sauce before adding it to the tortillas.

Avocado - Add some avocado for extra creaminess, or sliced cherry tomatoes and cucumber if you want to get a few more vegetables in there. They aren't traditional Caesar ingredients, but they work really well in a taco.

Crunch - If you want even more crunch, add some crushed homemade croutons just before serving.

Quick - For an easier version, use ready-cooked chicken and store-bought dressing. It won't have quite the same crispy texture as the cornflake chicken version, but it makes a really quick lunch using leftovers.

Serving Suggestions

These chicken Caesar salad tacos are filling enough to serve on their own for a quick lunch, but for dinner I usually add a simple side.

Air fryer potato wedges are probably my first choice. Crispy potatoes work really well with the creamy Caesar dressing and make this feel like a proper family dinner.

For something lighter, try air fryer corn on the cob or serve the tacos with extra chopped salad on the side.

Baked sweet potato chips would also work really well, especially if you want something that the kids can pick up and eat alongside the tacos.

For a taco-night style spread, put all the components in bowls and add some vegetable sticks, avocado and lemon wedges. Everyone can then build their own.

And don't forget some extra Caesar dressing on the side for dipping the crispy chicken into.

A taco made up of caesar dressing, lettuce, cornflake chicken, Parmesan and crispy prosciutto.

Make Ahead

One of the advantages of these over chicken Caesar smash tacos is that almost everything can be prepared separately.

The Caesar dressing can be made in advance and kept covered in the fridge.

You can cook the cornflake chicken ahead of time too. It won't be quite as crispy once chilled, but putting it back into the air fryer before assembling the tacos will help bring back some of the crunch.

Wash and chop the lettuce ahead of time if you want, but make sure it is completely dry before storing it. Keep the dressing separate until the last minute.

You can also crisp the prosciutto in advance and keep it in a separate container.

Don't assemble the tacos until just before serving. Once the dressing and lettuce sit against the tortilla, it will gradually start to soften.

Storage

Store: These are definitely best eaten immediately once assembled. If you have leftovers, take the tacos apart if possible and store the different components separately.

Cooked cornflake chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Keep the Caesar dressing in a sealed container in the fridge and store the lettuce separately so it stays crisp.

Reheat: Reheat the chicken in the air fryer for around 5 minutes, or until piping hot throughout. I would avoid microwaving the coated chicken if possible, as it will soften the crispy cornflake coating.

Freeze: The cornflake chicken can be frozen either before or after cooking for up to 2 months. I wouldn't recommend freezing assembled tacos, lettuce or Caesar dressing.

Dannii's Top Tips

Warm the tortillas before filling them so they fold without splitting.
Make sure the lettuce is completely dry so it doesn't water down the dressing.
Don't dress the lettuce until you are ready to serve.
Chop the chicken into fairly small pieces so every bite contains chicken.
Don't overload the tortillas. It is better to make another taco than have all the filling fall out.
Keep the chicken and salad separate until serving so you get the best hot-and-cold contrast.
Crisp the prosciutto in a dry pan - it doesn't need any extra oil.
Freshly grated Parmesan gives much better flavour than pre-grated Parmesan.
Put extra Caesar dressing on the table for dipping.
If making these for children, serve all the fillings separately and let them build their own.

Troubleshooting Guide

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
The tortillas split when folded	The tortillas are too cold or the tacos are overfilled.	Warm the tortillas briefly in a dry pan before filling and don't overload them.
The tacos have gone soggy	The lettuce was still wet, too much dressing was added or the tacos were assembled too early.	Dry the lettuce thoroughly and keep all the components separate until just before serving. Assemble the tacos just before serving so the dressing doesn't have time to soften the tortillas.
The chicken isn't crispy	It has been sitting with the dressing or lettuce for too long, or it was covered while hot.	Keep the chicken separate until serving. If making it ahead, reheat it in the air fryer for a few minutes to bring back the crunch.
The prosciutto is chewy rather than crispy	The pan wasn't hot enough or the slices were overlapping.	Cook it in a dry pan over a medium heat in a single layer, then let it cool before crumbling - it crisps further as it cools.
The Caesar dressing is too thick	Some Greek yogurts are much thicker than others.	Loosen it with a teaspoon or two of lemon juice or cold water until it reaches a drizzleable consistency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use leftover chicken?

Yes. Leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken makes these really quick.
However, the air fryer cornflake chicken is what gives this recipe its best texture. If using plain leftover chicken, I would warm it before assembling the tacos and add something crunchy such as croutons.

Can I use store bought caesar dressing?

Absolutely. I love using my homemade Greek yogurt Caesar dressing because it keeps the recipe lighter whilst still being really creamy, but a good-quality store-bought dressing is an easy shortcut.

What tortillas are best for chicken caesar tacos?

Small soft flour tortillas are my preference. They are flexible, easy to fold and their mild flavour works well with Caesar salad.
Corn tortillas can be used, but they have a stronger flavour and can be more likely to crack when folded. Warm them thoroughly before assembling.
If you need these to be gluten-free, use your favourite gluten-free soft tortillas and make sure the ingredients used in your crispy chicken and Caesar dressing are gluten-free too.

How do you stop chicken Caesar tacos going soggy?

Keep everything separate until the last possible moment.
Make sure your lettuce is completely dry, don't add too much dressing and don't assemble the tacos until you are ready to eat them.
If you are putting these out for a family dinner, I actually think the best option is to let everybody build their own.

Can I make these without prosciutto?

Yes. Simply leave it out, or swap it for crispy bacon or bacon medallions.
The crispy chicken already adds plenty of texture, so the tacos will still be delicious without it.

Can I make them in the oven instead of the air fryer?

Yes, just follow my recipe for baked chicken goujons.

Can I use hard taco shells?

You can, but I much prefer soft tortillas for this recipe. The combination is basically halfway between a Caesar wrap and a taco, and a soft tortilla holds the chunky crispy chicken and salad much better.

More Chicken Caesar Recipes

If you've tried these chicken Caesar tacos, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy and use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.