Crispy Chicken Bacon Caesar Wraps (Print Version)

Golden fried chicken, crispy bacon, and Caesar-dressed romaine wrapped in warm tortillas for a hearty handheld meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 1 cup buttermilk
03 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon paprika
06 - 1 teaspoon salt
07 - 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
08 - Vegetable oil for frying

→ For the Bacon

09 - 8 strips smoked bacon

→ For the Caesar Salad

10 - 1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
11 - 0.5 cup Caesar dressing
12 - 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
13 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ For Assembly

14 - 4 large flour tortillas, 10-inch diameter
15 - Extra Caesar dressing for drizzling, optional
16 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese for sprinkling, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - Place boneless, skinless chicken thighs in buttermilk and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, or overnight for enhanced tenderness.
02 - Combine all-purpose flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a shallow dish and mix thoroughly.
03 - Pour 0.5 inch of vegetable oil into a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat until shimmering.
04 - Remove chicken thighs from buttermilk, dredge thoroughly in the seasoned flour mixture, shake off excess, and fry in hot oil for 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
05 - In a separate skillet, cook bacon strips over medium heat until crispy, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels and set aside.
06 - Toss chopped romaine lettuce with Caesar dressing and grated Parmesan cheese in a large bowl. Season with freshly ground black pepper to taste.
07 - Heat flour tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat or microwave until pliable and warm, approximately 30 seconds per tortilla.
08 - Cut cooked chicken thighs into thin strips using a sharp knife on a cutting board.
09 - Layer dressed romaine lettuce, sliced crispy chicken, and 2 bacon strips onto each warm tortilla. Drizzle with additional Caesar dressing and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired.
10 - Fold in the sides of each tortilla and roll tightly. Slice each wrap in half diagonally and serve immediately.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The chicken stays impossibly juicy inside while the outside shatters like glass when you bite down.
  • It comes together faster than takeout, with no waiting around for delivery.
  • Everything is built to be eaten with your hands, which somehow makes it taste better.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting time after frying—those paper towels aren't decoration, they're removing excess oil that would make everything soggy.
  • If your chicken finishes cooking before the bacon and salad are ready, let it sit on the paper towels at room temperature rather than getting cold, because cold fried chicken loses its textural magic.
03 -
  • If you're cooking for a crowd, you can fry all the chicken ahead of time and reheat it in a 350-degree oven for five minutes right before assembly so you're not sweating over the stove while people are getting hungry.
  • Make your own Caesar dressing if you have 10 minutes and some good anchovies, because homemade tastes noticeably fresher and you control how much salt and garlic goes in.
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