Summer Dinner Series: Chicken Caesar Flatbreads
- jennysmithmattfeldt
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
quick, simple dinners that won't heat up your kitchen this summer
Few things go together better in my mind than chicken, Caesar, and a little cocktail. The fact that it doesn't have to be a straight up salad is a beautiful thing. Our Summer Dinner Series is all about simple, quick, delicious dinners that don't require a lot of effort or produce a ton of heat in the kitchen. And when I say simple, I mean simple—you don't even have to measure most times.
Our first dinner: Caesar flatbreads with a chicken crust. It's such an easy, light, protein packed meal (the crust alone has over 400 grams of protein for the entire flatbread.) I love cooking for other people, and sharing these recipes feels like an extension of that. What I haven't quite figured out yet is photographing food. So you work on trying these meals, and I'll work on taking better photos.
Chicken Crust
2 cans of Kirkland canned chicken breast
2 eggs
1/3 cup bread crumbs
garlic powder
salt & pepper
Mix together and season generously. Press onto a non stick silicone baking mat and bake at 400° start with 20 minutes. Let it bake until edges are brown and you can 'lift' the crust (feels sturdy enough to eat like a slice of pizza.)
Here's my preface it took my husband years to convince me to try canned chicken. Is it the fanciest ingredient? Absolutely not. Quite the opposite, actually. But it's clean, lean protein, affordable, and works incredibly well in recipes like this.
The biggest thing to know about a chicken crust is that patience pays off. My fatal flaw in the kitchen is never letting things cook quite as long as they should, so learn from my mistakes here. Let it really finish cooking, firm up, and develop some structure before you pull it out. If you rush it, you'll end up with something that needs a fork. If you give it the time it deserves, you'll be able to pick up a slice and have it actually hold all of those Caesar toppings without falling apart.
Caesar Topping
Freshly prepped onion, garlic, and Parmesan
2 parts Greek yogurt
1 part mayo
salt & pepper
Worcestershire (couple shakes)
Squeeze of lemon
Shredded lettuce
Optional but wonderful top with small diced cucumbers and avocado.
Making your own Caesar dressing is so much simpler than you think. Measure the parmesan and garlic with your heart. A mix of Greek yogurt and mayo creates the perfect balance—bright, creamy, light, and fresh without feeling overly rich.
This is very much my off the cuff Caesar recipe, and it works every time. The truth is the exact amounts don't really matter. Taste as you go, add a little more of what sounds good, and trust yourself. That's usually how the best dinners come together anyway.
Tipsy Teas
makes two - top with a slice of lemon Over ice combine:
2 cups brewed herbal tea (I used raspberry leaf)
2 shots of American Honey
3 shakes Peach bitters
Squeeze of lemon
A cute little summer dinner deserves a matching cocktail. This honey peach tea follows the same off the cuff energy as the rest of the meal. You get to be flexible with the amounts and even the flavor profile.
The only nonnegotiables are herbal tea, Wild Turkey American Honey, and a few dashes of fruity bitters. From there, make it your own. It's light, refreshing, and just fun. The kind of drink that feels right at home on a patio with dinner and a good conversation.
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