Crispy Chicken Caesar Sandwich (Printable)
Crunchy fried chicken, romaine and Parmesan with Caesar dressing on toasted brioche — ready in ~40 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Crispy Chicken
01 - 2 large chicken breasts, sliced horizontally into 4 fillets
02 - 1 cup buttermilk
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
05 - 1 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
07 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
08 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
09 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 2 large eggs
11 - Vegetable oil, sufficient for frying (approximately 1/2 inch depth in skillet)
→ Caesar Salad
12 - 2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
13 - 1/3 cup Caesar dressing
14 - 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
→ Assembly
15 - 4 brioche or sandwich buns, split and toasted
16 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, for toasting buns (optional)
# How To Cook:
01 - Combine buttermilk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl. Submerge the chicken fillets in the mixture, cover, and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to 4 hours for enhanced tenderness.
02 - In a shallow dish, whisk together all-purpose flour, panko breadcrumbs, and grated Parmesan cheese. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs until well combined.
03 - Remove chicken from marinade. Dredge each fillet in the flour-breadcrumb mixture, dip into beaten eggs, then return to the flour-breadcrumb mixture to ensure a thick, crispy coating.
04 - Heat vegetable oil in a skillet to 350°F (use sufficient oil to create about 1/2 inch depth). Fry coated chicken fillets for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
05 - Toss shredded romaine lettuce with Caesar dressing in a bowl. Add shaved Parmesan cheese and mix gently to combine.
06 - Spread unsalted butter on cut sides of buns if desired. Toast buns in a skillet or toaster until golden brown.
07 - Arrange a fried chicken fillet on the bottom half of each toasted bun. Top with a generous portion of Caesar salad and cover with the top bun. Serve immediately; offer additional Caesar dressing or lemon wedges on the side if desired.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- It's the secret weeknight way to impress without spending hours in the kitchen.
- The one-two punch of juicy fried chicken and tangy Caesar dressing is addictively good.
02 -
- If the oil isn’t hot enough, your chicken will soak it up—the first soggy batch was a heartbreaker.
- Coating every crevice generously led to the crispiest, crunchiest crust and no bland bites.
03 -
- A wire rack set over a baking sheet keeps the fried chicken crispy if you aren’t serving right away.
- A final sprinkle of flaky salt on the chicken as it comes out of the oil lifts all the flavors.