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The starter, Chic bistro

Crispy Chicken Caesar Salad

Crispy chicken Caesar salad is a bistro style starter for 6, with breaded chicken, homemade croutons, and a real anchovy dressing. It takes 40 minutes of active work, the dressing and breaded chicken are made in the morning, and only the frying happens at the last minute. It's easy, costs about €2.90 per person, and the key is whisking the oil into the dressing slowly and draining the chicken on paper towels so it stays crisp.

A Caesar salad dressed up for a party, with crispy breaded chicken, golden croutons, and a real homemade dressing.

Crispy Chicken Caesar Salad
For
6 people
Work
40 min
Total time
1 h 10
Prep
Prepared the same day
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.90
Calories per person
560 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach

Behind its classic diner reputation, this party version of Caesar salad is all about contrast. The breaded chicken shatters when you bite into it, the romaine stays crisp and cool, the croutons add another layer of crunch, and the homemade dressing, built from anchovies, garlic, and egg yolk, coats everything in a richness store bought versions never quite reach.

It's a great starter for a dinner with friends in spring or summer, when you want something generous without weighing down the rest of the meal. Kids tend to love it too, thanks to the breaded chicken, which makes it an easy pick for a family gathering where everyone eats the same thing.

The schedule

What happens when, so you can be with your guests instead of in the kitchen.

  1. The day before Nothing to do
  2. The same day 3 steps, 10 min
  3. Before the guests arrive 1 step
  4. When it's time to serve 1 step, 8 min

In the morning, make the dressing, toast the croutons, and bread the chicken, then keep everything chilled until serving. Just before guests arrive, wash and spin dry the romaine. At serving time, fry the chicken for a few minutes and plate it with the lettuce, croutons, dressing, and parmesan.

The ingredients

6 people

Butcher

  • Chicken breasts 600 g

Pantry

  • Panko breadcrumbs 100 g
  • Flouroften in the pantry 50 g
  • Anchovy fillets 4
  • Dijon mustardoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Sunflower oiloften in the pantry 15 cl
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Eggs 2
  • Parmesan 80 g
  • Egg yolks 2

Fruits and vegetables

  • Romaine lettuce 3
  • Garlic 1 cloves
  • Lemon 1

Bakery

  • Sandwich bread 4 slices

Allergens Gluten, Eggs, Lactose, Fish, Mustard

The recipe, moment by moment

The same dayDuring the day, whenever you get a moment.

  1. Blend the egg yolks with the garlic, anchovies, mustard, and lemon juice, then whisk in the oil in a thin stream to build the dressing, finishing with a little grated parmesan.

    Pour the oil in drop by drop at the start, the dressing won't split.

  2. Cut the sandwich bread into cubes, drizzle with a little oil, and bake at 180°C until golden. 10 min

    Flip them halfway through for even color.

  3. Cut the chicken into strips, coat in flour, then beaten egg, then breadcrumbs, and keep chilled.

    Press the breadcrumbs on firmly with your palm so they stick.

Before the guests arriveThe last hour, right before the doorbell rings.

  1. Wash the romaine lettuce, spin it dry, tear it into pieces, and keep chilled.

    Very dry lettuce holds the dressing better.

When it's time to serveThe final touches, right in front of your guests.

  1. Fry the breaded chicken in an oiled pan, then plate it over the lettuce with the croutons, dressing, and parmesan shavings. 8 min

    Set the chicken on paper towels for 30 seconds, it stays nice and crispy.

Our tips to get it right

  • Drain the breaded chicken on paper towels right before plating, otherwise steam softens the crust within minutes.
  • Shave the parmesan with a vegetable peeler instead of grating it, it looks cleaner on the plate.
  • Serve the dressing on the side in a small bowl if you're hosting kids who aren't fans of anchovies, so everyone can add their own amount.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken for shrimp, seared 2 minutes per side, for a seafood version that cooks even faster.
  • For a vegetarian take, leave the anchovies out of the dressing and replace the chicken with chickpeas roasted with a little paprika.
  • For kids, serve the breaded chicken as strips on the side with the dressing for dipping, and the lettuce and croutons separately.

What to serve it with

  • A glass of crisp dry white wine
  • Crusty bread for the dressing
  • A light chilled soup to start

Storage

The dressing keeps for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed jar. Raw breaded chicken keeps for 1 day chilled before frying, but doesn't freeze well once cooked since the crust loses its crunch. Only toss the lettuce with the dressing right before serving.

Questions about this recipe

Can I use regular breadcrumbs instead of panko?

Yes, regular breadcrumbs work fine, panko just gives a slightly crispier, airier crust. The flavor stays very close either way.

How do I keep the Caesar dressing from splitting?

Add the oil in a very thin stream at first, without rushing, while blending or whisking continuously. If it does split, whisk in a spoonful of warm water vigorously to bring it back together.

Can I make this salad without anchovies?

Yes, you can leave them out entirely or swap them for a spoonful of soy sauce to keep some of that deep, salty flavor. The dressing will be a touch milder but still good.

How do I plate this so it looks good at the table?

Lay the romaine down first on a platter or individual plates, add the still warm chicken on top, then finish with the croutons and parmesan last. Add the dressing right before serving so everything stays crisp.

Can a crispy chicken Caesar salad be made ahead?

Yes, during the day. The recipe needs 40 min of work in total, split up like this, the same day, 3 steps, before the guests arrive, 1 step, when it's time to serve, 1 step.

How long does it take to make a crispy chicken Caesar salad?

Allow 1 h 10 in total, including resting and cooking time, of which 40 min is actual work. The recipe is rated "easy".

How many calories are in a crispy chicken Caesar salad?

About 560 kcal per person, for a recipe meant for 6 people. The calories are calculated by Kiloach, your kilo coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a crispy chicken Caesar salad cost?

About €2.90 per person, that's €17.40 for 6 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, eggs, lactose, fish, mustard. Remember to ask your guests about their allergies before putting your menu together.

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