Chicken Caesar Smash Tacos
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Taco Tuesday just got a serious upgrade with these Chicken Caesar Smash Tacos, made with only 4 ingredients from Trader Joe’s! Imagine juicy, seasoned chicken smashed into crispy tortillas, topped with creamy Caesar salad, for the ultimate flavor mash-up. This fun and easy recipe is ready in just 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights!
Why you’ll love this recipe
In 2024 I started a series on Instagram where I shared a new Trader Joe’s 5 ingredient recipe every week. The series was so successful that I turned all of the recipes into an ebook. Click on the link and you can get it for FREE!
Due to reader demand for more of these recipes, I’m back and bringing you a new Trader Joe’s 5 ingredient recipe every week. But don’t worry if you don’t have a Trader Joe’s around you. I’ll give alternate ingredients that you can pick up at any major grocery store, so you can always make these recipes at home.
After hearing about the viral Chicken Caesar Smash Tacos on TikTok, I thought this would be a perfect 5 ingredient recipe to add to the series. And not only did it turn out absolutely delicious, you actually only need four ingredients to make it! Here’s why you’ll love it:
- It’s easy and affordable! You only need 20 minutes and 4 ingredients to make this recipe, making it perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute meals.
- Big flavor with minimal effort! Juicy ground chicken, crispy tortillas, and creamy Caesar salad pack a punch of bold flavor without a complicated recipe.
Ingredients
Here I explain the best ingredients for this chicken caesar smash tacos recipe and substitution options. For the exact ingredient measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Ground chicken
- Aglio olio seasoning – if you’re not shopping at Trader Joe’s for this recipe, you can pick up any Italian seasoning blend at the grocery store, or make my Italian seasoning at home in just 5 minutes.
- Mini Sonora style tortillas – if you’re at a traditional grocery store, you’ll want to pick up “fajita size” tortillas for this recipe. These small flour tortillas are 6 inches wide. You can also use corn tortillas (and omit the croutons from the salad kit) to make this recipe gluten free.
- Caesar salad kit – with croutons, parmesan cheese, and creamy caesar dressing.
Instructions
I’ve included step by step photos below to make this recipe super easy to follow at home. For the full detailed recipe instructions, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Prepare the chicken. Combine ground chicken with aglio olio seasoning. Divide the mixture into 8 (2 ounce) balls. I like to use a kitchen scale for this. Use a fork to press one ball of the ground chicken mixture onto each tortilla and spread it flat.
- Prepare the caesar salad. Combine the chopped romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, and creamy caesar dressing in a large bowl. Note: I like to chop the romaine up a little bit more, as I find that it’s easier to top the tacos with more finely-chopped lettuce. Also, I recommend crushing the croutons and adding them on top at the end, so you don’t have big chunks of croutons in the taco. Both of these steps are optional.
- Smash the tacos. Heat a non-stick pan, or griddle, on the stove over medium-high heat. Do not grease the pan. Add each tortilla, chicken-side down, to the pan and cook for 3 minutes, pressing flat with a spatula. Flip each tortilla and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Remove from the heat, add some of the caesar salad to each taco and sprinkle the crumbled croutons on top.
More 5 ingredient recipes
Want more Trader Joe’s 5 ingredient recipes? Check out these delicious dishes and plan your weekly menu around these easy recipes!
Chicken Caesar Smash Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 2 tablespoons Aglio Olio seasoning blend, or Italian seasoning
- 8 mini sonora style tortillas
- 12 ounces caesar salad kit
Instructions
- Combine the ground chicken and aglio olio seasoning. Divide the mixture into 8 (2 ounce) balls.
- Use a fork to press one ball of the ground chicken mixture on each tortilla and spread it flat. Repeat with all of the tortillas and balls of meat.
- Combine the chopped romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, and dressing in a bowl and toss until coated. Note: I like to chop the romaine up a little bit more, as I find that it’s easier to top the tacos with more finely-chopped lettuce. Also, I recommend crushing the croutons and adding them on top at the end, so you don’t have big chunks of croutons in the taco. Both of these steps are optional.
- Heat a non-stick pan, or griddle, on the stove over medium-high heat. Add each tortilla, meat-side down, to the pan and cook for for 3 minutes, pressing down with a spatula.
- Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes. You'll probably have to do this in 2 batches, depending on the size of your pan.
- Remove the tacos from the heat and add some of the caesar salad to each taco. Top with the crumbled croutons.
Notes
- This recipe makes 8 tacos. I recommend 2-3 per person. You can easily double the recipe by clicking the 2X button above. All of the ingredient amounts will automatically update for the new serving size.
Nutrition Facts
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