Crispy Chicken Caesar Sandwich

Elevate your sandwich game with this incredible Crispy Chicken Caesar Sandwich! We take thin, golden-fried chicken cutlets, slather the bread with rich garlic butter, and then pile it high with crisp romaine tossed in a bright, homemade Caesar dressing. This is definitely not your average lunch.

Every bite offers a perfect contrast: the satisfying crunch of the chicken, the savory toasted bread, and the fresh, zesty bite of the lightly dressed romaine.

Recipe Details

• Flavor Profile: Savory, garlicky, and rich, with bright, acidic notes from the lemon juice and the distinct umami depth of the Caesar dressing.
• Textures: Features a highly satisfying contrast between the crispy fried chicken and the soft, toasted hoagie roll, balanced by the crunch of the fresh romaine lettuce.
• Total Active Time: About 25 minutes (for frying, mixing, and assembling).
• Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate. Involves shallow frying chicken cutlets, which is an easy technique, alongside simple sauce and spread preparation.

What You’ll Need

This recipe is built on three key homemade components: the thin and crispy Chicken Cutlets, a rich and savory Garlic Butter spread to toast the bread, and a classic, zesty Caesar Dressing. You’ll combine these elements on a fresh hoagie roll for a powerhouse meal.

Ingredient Notes

• Chicken Breasts – Start with two chicken breasts and slice them horizontally to create 4–6 thin cutlets. This ensures they cook quickly and remain tender while maximizing the surface area for a crispy coating.
• Panko and Breadcrumbs – Using a mix of 1/2 cup traditional breadcrumbs and 1/2 cup Panko creates a coating that is ultra-crispy and light, giving the fried chicken its satisfying crunch.
• Anchovy Paste – This is the secret to a great Caesar dressing. It provides a deep, savory, umami flavor that is essential for the classic taste; you won’t taste “fishiness,” only richness.
• Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt – Used in the dressing, this ingredient adds thickness and a subtle tanginess that helps emulsify the sauce and gives it a creamy body.
• Hoagies or Baguette – Choose a sturdy, fresh bread that can stand up to the crunchy filling and the moisture from the salad without falling apart.

Add-ins and Substitutions

Keep the method the same, but feel free to personalize the sandwich fillings:

• Add Texture: Include thinly sliced red onion or mild banana peppers to the salad for extra tang and crunch.
• Spice: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the chicken breadcrumb mixture for a subtle kick of heat.
• Extra Cheese: Instead of just Parmesan, add a thin slice of provolone or mozzarella cheese to the toasted bread while it’s still warm for a quick melt.

How to Make Crispy Chicken Caesar Sandwich

This recipe is broken down into four parts: preparing the chicken, toasting the bread, making the dressing, and finally, assembling the masterpiece!

Make the Chicken Cutlets

1. Slice Chicken: On a cutting board, slice the two chicken breasts horizontally to create 4–6 thin cutlets.
2. Bread the Cutlets: In a small bowl, whisk the egg with a splash of milk, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. In a second bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and Panko. Bread your cutlets by first dipping them in the egg mixture, allowing any excess to drip off, and then pressing them firmly into the breadcrumb mixture to coat thoroughly.
3. Fry the Chicken: Pour vegetable oil into a shallow pan, about 1-inch deep, and heat it over medium-high heat. Carefully fry the breaded cutlets until they are golden brown and crispy, which takes about 5 minutes total. Once cooked, set them aside on a paper towel-lined pan to drain the excess oil.

Toast the Bread

1. Make Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, combine the slightly melted salted butter, mayonnaise, minced garlic, chopped fresh parsley, and finely grated Parmesan.
2. Toast Hoagies: Split the hoagies or baguette in half lengthwise. Generously spread the prepared garlic butter mixture on the inside of each half. Place the bread in a 450°F oven or under a broiler to toast for about 3–4 minutes until golden and fragrant.

Prepare the Dressing and Salad

1. Make Dressing: Whisk all the ingredients for the Caesar dressing (mayo, sour cream or yogurt, Parmesan, lemon juice, Dijon, anchovy paste, grated garlic, salt, and pepper) together in a bowl or a mason jar until smooth.
2. Dress Romaine: In a large salad bowl, toss 3–4 tablespoons of the prepared dressing with the chopped or shredded romaine lettuce. Use just enough dressing to lightly coat the lettuce without making it soggy.

Assemble the Sandwich

1. Layer and Serve: When ready to serve, build the sandwich by layering the crispy chicken cutlets on the bottom half of the toasted bread. Top the chicken with the dressed Caesar salad and, for an extra flourish, add a little extra grating of Parmesan cheese. Close the sandwich and enjoy immediately!

Pro Tip: Keep it Dry

When making the chicken cutlets, ensure you press the breadcrumbs firmly onto the meat. After frying, place the cutlets on a paper towel-lined cooling rack (if you have one) instead of directly on a flat plate. This allows air to circulate underneath and prevents the bottom crust from getting soggy while they rest.

Recipe Tips

• Shallow Frying Temperature: Maintain a steady medium-high heat when shallow frying. If the heat is too low, the cutlets will absorb too much oil; if it’s too high, the coating will burn before the chicken cooks through.
• Don’t Over-Dress: Only use the suggested amount of dressing on the romaine. You want the lettuce to retain its crunch; an overly wet salad will make the sandwich soggy quickly.
• Serving Timing: These sandwiches are best enjoyed immediately after assembly. The heat of the chicken and the toastiness of the bread are what make the textures shine.
• Use Fresh Garlic and Parsley: The flavor of the garlic butter spread is heavily dependent on the freshness of the minced garlic and chopped parsley. Avoid using dried versions for the best results.

FAQs

Q: Can I bake or air fry the chicken instead of frying? A: While the recipe calls for frying for the ultimate crispness, you can certainly bake the cutlets at 400°F for about 15-20 minutes, or air fry them at 375°F until golden and cooked through. Be aware that the texture may be slightly drier than when shallow-fried.

Q: How can I make the dressing less tangy? A: If you find the dressing too sharp, add a small pinch of sugar or a bit more mayonnaise to round out the acidity from the lemon juice.

Q: Can I make the dressing ahead of time? A: Absolutely! The Caesar dressing can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Just give it a good whisk or shake before using it.

Serving Suggestions

This sandwich is a complete meal, but if you want to pair it with something light, here are a few ideas:

• Fries: Classic potato fries or sweet potato fries are a perfect casual pairing.
• Vegetable Chips: A side of crispy kettle-cooked potato chips or homemade vegetable chips.
• Pickles: A small side of dill pickles or pickled onions offers a nice, sour contrast to the richness of the sandwich.

Make This Recipe in Advance

You can prepare several components ahead of time to make assembly at mealtime incredibly fast:

• Chicken Cutlets: You can bread the chicken cutlets up to 4 hours in advance and keep them uncovered in the refrigerator. Fry them just before serving.
• Dressing and Garlic Butter: Both the Caesar dressing and the garlic butter spread can be made 1–2 days ahead and stored tightly covered in the refrigerator.
• Chop Lettuce: Chop or shred the romaine lettuce and keep it dry in the refrigerator. Do not dress the lettuce until you are ready to assemble the sandwiches.

Crispy Chicken Caesar Sandwich (Gourmet Hoagie)

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• Author: Samantha Brooks
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x

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Description

Elevate your lunch with this incredible Crispy Chicken Caesar Sandwich! It features golden-fried, thin chicken cutlets layered on bread slathered with rich garlic butter, and piled high with crisp romaine tossed in a bright, homemade Caesar dressing. The satisfying crunch of the chicken, savory toasted bread, and zesty fresh salad create a perfect, upscale meal.

See also  Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Chili

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Chicken Cutlets

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 egg, whisked with a splash of milk
• 1/4 teaspoon EACH garlic powder, salt, pepper
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup Panko
• Vegetable oil, for frying

For the Garlic Butter

• 4 Tablespoons salted butter, slightly melted
• 2 Tablespoons mayo
• 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2–3 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan

For the Caesar Dressing

• 1/2 cup mayo
• 1/4 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
• 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• Salt & pepper, to taste

To Assemble

• 4 hoagies or baguette
• 3–4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped or shredded

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Instructions

Step 1: Slice the Chicken
On a cutting board, slice the two chicken breasts horizontally to create 4–6 thin cutlets.

Step 2: Bread the Cutlets
In a small bowl, whisk the egg mixture with the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. In a second bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and Panko. Bread the cutlets by dipping them first in the egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off, and then pressing them firmly into the breadcrumb mixture to coat thoroughly.

Step 3: Fry the Chicken
Pour vegetable oil into a shallow pan (about 1-inch deep) and heat it over medium-high heat. Carefully fry the breaded cutlets until they are golden brown and crispy (about 5 minutes total). Once cooked, set them aside on a paper towel-lined pan or cooling rack to drain excess oil.

Step 4: Make Garlic Butter
In a small bowl, combine the slightly melted salted butter, mayonnaise, minced garlic, chopped fresh parsley, and finely grated Parmesan.

Step 5: Toast Hoagies
Split the hoagies or baguette in half lengthwise. Generously spread the prepared garlic butter mixture on the inside of each half. Place the bread in a 450°F oven or under a broiler to toast for about 3–4 minutes until golden and fragrant.

Step 6: Prepare the Dressing
Whisk all the ingredients for the Caesar dressing (mayo, sour cream or yogurt, Parmesan, lemon juice, Dijon, anchovy paste, Worcestershire, grated garlic, salt, and pepper) together in a bowl or jar until smooth.

Step 7: Dress Romaine
In a large salad bowl, toss 3–4 tablespoons of the prepared dressing with the chopped or shredded romaine lettuce. Use just enough dressing to lightly coat the lettuce without making it soggy.

Step 8: Layer and Serve
When ready to serve, build the sandwich by layering the crispy chicken cutlets on the bottom half of the toasted bread. Top the chicken with the dressed Caesar salad and, for an extra flourish, add a little extra grating of Parmesan cheese. Close the sandwich and enjoy immediately!

Notes

Air Fry Option: For a slightly lighter version, you can air fry the breaded cutlets at 375°F until golden and cooked through, or bake them at 400°F for about 15-20 minutes.

Make-Ahead Dressing: The homemade Caesar dressing can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Whisk or shake it well before using.

Spice It Up: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the chicken breadcrumb mixture before breading to give the cutlets a subtle kick of heat.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Sandwich
• Method: Frying, Toasting
• Cuisine: American / Italian-American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 sandwich (1/4 of recipe)
• Calories: 720
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 1420mg
• Fat: 55g
• Saturated Fat: 13g
• Unsaturated Fat: 38g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 40g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 25g
• Cholesterol: 110mg

Keywords: crispy chicken sandwich, caesar sandwich, fried chicken cutlet, homemade caesar dressing, hoagie sandwich, gourmet lunch, garlic butter bread