One of Ben’s and my favorite restaurants in town is Granite City Brewery. From cinnamon rolls as big as our heads, to ultra-refreshing seasonal blueberry brew, we always know we’ll have a great meal and drink whenever we stop by.
One of the items we’ve grown particularly attached to is their Chicken Caesar Chalupa appetizer.
Baked flour tortillas are brushed with Caesar dressing, topped with shredded chicken and mozzarella cheese, then baked. They’re served with an ice-cold Caesar salad and chopped tomatoes for scooping, and are the epitome of refreshing and satisfying. Imagine our horror when we stopped in a few months ago and found out the Chicken Caesar Chalupas had been taken off the menu!? Noooo!
Right then and there Ben and I vowed to recreate the crispy app at home. 3+ months later (…) we finally got around to it, Baked Chicken Caesar Chalupa Nachos, people. These. babies. ROCK! One of our favorite restaurant recreations ever!
Start by sauteing a couple chicken breasts seasoned with lemon pepper in non-stick spray until cooked all the way through.
Once they’re cool enough to handle, shred the chicken with your fingers or a fork, and set aside.
Next, take a few burrito-sized gluten free tortillas and cut each one into 8 wedges.
Once all the tortillas have been cut into wedges, lay them on foil-lined and non-stick sprayed baking sheets.
Spray the tops with more non-stick spray, then bake at 400 degrees until they’re lightly toasted and just starting to turn golden brown. Tip: You can do this ahead of time! Just let the wedges cool completely before putting them in an air-tight container for a couple days.
Alright, here comes the fun part – piling on the toppings!
First top each wedge with about 1 teaspoon Caesar dressing.
I heart Brianna’s Asiago Caesar, but feel free to use whatever’s your fave.
Next add on a little bit of the cooked & shredded lemon pepper chicken.
Finish with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Put the wedges back into the 400 degree oven for 4-5 minutes, or until the tortillas are golden brown, and the cheese is melted. YUM!!!!
Lay the wedges around crunchy romaine lettuce that’s been cut into bite-sized pieces and tossed with a little more Casesar dressing, then sprinkle chopped, fresh tomatoes around the outside!
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Baked Chicken Caesar Chalupa Nachos
Description
Baked Chicken Caesar Chalupa Nachos are irresistible and perfect for scooping up an ice-cold Caesar Salad!
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- non-stick spray
- Lemon pepper seasoning
- 3-4 large tortillas
- Caesar dressing
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped into bite-sized pieces
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray both sides of the chicken breasts with non-stick spray, season with lemon pepper, and saute in a skillet until no longer pink in the middle, about 4-5 minutes a side. Let cool slightly, then shred with a fork or your fingers. Set aside.
- Cut tortillas into 8 wedges each. Line baking sheets with foil, then spray with non-stick spray. Lay down tortillas and spray tops with non-stick spray. Bake for 3-4 minutes, or until wedges are slightly toasted and just starting to turn golden brown.
- Spread about 1 teaspoon of Caesar dressing on each of the toasted tortilla wedges. Top with shredded chicken and mozzarella cheese. Bake for 4-5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
- Toss romaine lettuce with enough Caesar dressing to coat. Place in the middle of a plate, and surround with baked Caesar chicken wedges. Sprinkle with chopped tomato and serve.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Chicken Caesar Chalupas would be awesome as a starter for a dinner party, or a fun entree for 2 or 3. I hope you’ll give them a try!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen 03.05.2012
Those look super fun and of course, delicious! I love doing recreations at home. I’ve perfected the PF Changs lettuce wraps :)
Polly 03.05.2012
Yum!! Can’t wait to try these this week.
Jv 03.05.2012
I gorgt about the chicken Caesar chalupa at GC! I’m actually pretty disappointed with the changes to their menu and brunch — they no longer have an eggs Benedict station… Only omelet stations and everywhere does that. If they don’t bring back their seasonal blueberry ale, I’m writing in ;)
Sommer 03.05.2012
This was my all-time favorite thing to order at Granite City. So disappointed to hear they don’t have it anymore. But I will definitely have to use this recipe to get my fix. Thx!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious 03.05.2012
Recreating your favorite dishes from restaurants are the best. Your own version is so much better, healthier, and best of all, cheaper.
These look really great. Can’t wait to give these a try. And I’m definitely going to have to pick up a bottle of Brianna’s Asiago Caesar on my way home from work tomorrow.
Lindsey 03.05.2012
I love to re-create restaurant meals! The last one we made was a Burrito Bowl for Chipotle – even though I had not been there yet…but I finally went today and think I did a pretty good job :)
Amy M 03.05.2012
Granite City is the best! Love their waffle fry nachos and my husband always get their crispy shrimp tacos. I’m thinking he and I need to schedule a date night there soon!
Lindsey 03.05.2012
Oh yum! We can’t get past the Idaho Nachos at Granite City… they are always our go-to appetizer! :)
Wendy B 03.05.2012
This looks fantastic! Will be trying this soon!
About the only thing I have ever tried to recreate is the chopped steak that Outback used to have. That and the way good steak places do baked potatoes.
Stephanie @ On the Road to RD 03.05.2012
I’m with you. Brianna’s is the best. No caesar can compare!
Alaina @ Fabtastic Eats 03.05.2012
Oh my goodness! These sound perfect! My fiance would love these!! I can’t wait to make them! Thanks for another great one! :)
Dena @ 40 Fit in the Mitt 03.05.2012
I did my best recreating a Seared Tuna Cherry Spinach Salad I get with my mom when we go to a restaurant in Traverse City. They use these amazing cherries as garnish and in the dressing. I’m still working on the dressing, they will not give it out1
melanie 03.05.2012
this looks amazing – so glad i found your blog through your green monster smoothie on pinterest. :)
kathleen @ the daily crumb 03.05.2012
delicious! my hubby would love these. and i just realized i never really knew what a chalupa was until now… thanks, lady :)
Kim 03.05.2012
Sounds really good! I bet my bf would love this :)
lisa 03.05.2012
Perfect, I am making these for dinner tomorrow since I have all the ingredients (Caesar dressing is leftover from your chicken Caesar sandwich recipe!).
Kristin 03.05.2012
Thank you thank you thank you!! This was my favorite item at granite city. I can’t believe they got rid of it! I can’t wait to try the at home version!
Jodie @ Birds Nest 101 03.05.2012
I love standing over the kitchen counter and having a dinner like that!! I did that a few weeks ago. And this my friend is a winner of a dinner!
Heidi 03.05.2012
Fun! We love Granite City too! Will have to try these!
Blog is the New Black 03.05.2012
Another winner from Iowa Girl! ;)
Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed 03.06.2012
Yes, she keeps pumping them out! Looks super yummy!