Okay so my husband won’t stop bugging me to make this dish. Like every week he’s asking when I’m making it again. I finally decided to share it because honestly, it’s pretty darn good and super easy to throw together.
I found this recipe by accident when I was trying to use up some Caesar dressing that was about to expire. Threw some chicken in a pan with asparagus and boom – new family favorite. Now it’s what I make when I want something that tastes fancy but doesn’t require me to actually try that hard.
The best part? One pan. That’s it. I hate doing dishes so anything that keeps my cleanup minimal gets my vote. Plus the kids eat it without complaining, which is basically a miracle in my house.
What’s in This Thing?
Nothing crazy – just chicken breasts, asparagus, Caesar dressing, and some Parmesan cheese. The Caesar dressing does all the heavy lifting flavor-wise. When it bakes in the oven it gets this amazing caramelized thing going on that makes everything taste way more complicated than it actually is.
I usually grab whatever asparagus looks good at the store. Sometimes it’s thin, sometimes thick – doesn’t really matter. Just trim off the woody ends and you’re good to go.
Ways to Switch It Up
Look, I’m not one of those people who follows recipes exactly. Sometimes I throw in whatever vegetables are hanging out in my crisper drawer. Cherry tomatoes are really good in this – they get all sweet and jammy.
My sister adds mushrooms to hers. My mom wraps the asparagus in bacon (of course she does). Do whatever makes you happy. The Caesar chicken part stays the same, everything else is fair game.
If you’ve got picky kids, the bacon trick actually works. They’ll eat pretty much any vegetable if it’s wrapped in bacon.
FAQs:
Can I use chicken thighs? Yeah, just cook them a bit longer. They’re actually more forgiving than breasts.
What if I hate asparagus? Use green beans or broccoli. Whatever green vegetable you can tolerate.
Does the Caesar dressing have to be fancy? Nope. I use the stuff from a bottle. Works fine.
Can I make this ahead? You can prep everything earlier but I’d cook it fresh. Reheated chicken gets weird.
Leftovers
This keeps in the fridge for a few days. When I reheat it I just throw it in a low oven with some foil over it so it doesn’t dry out. Sometimes I add a splash of chicken broth if it looks sad.
What to Serve With It
We usually have this with mashed potatoes because you need something to soak up all the good stuff in the pan. Sometimes I make a quick salad to go with it but honestly, the asparagus is enough vegetables for me.
If I’m trying to impress someone I’ll put some extra cheese on top and maybe some fresh pepper. Makes it look like I actually know what I’m doing.
This recipe has saved my butt so many times when I need dinner on the table fast. Hope you like it as much as we do.
Caesar Chicken with Asparagus
This is what I make when I want something that tastes good but doesn’t require much effort. Everything goes in one pan and twenty minutes later you’ve got dinner. My husband requests this weekly – no joke.
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
Serves: 4 people
What You Need
- 4 chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup Caesar dressing
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 pound asparagus, ends trimmed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Lemon wedges
How to Make It
- Heat oven to 375°F. Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Heat oil in a big oven-safe pan. Brown chicken on both sides, about 3-4 minutes each side.
- Take pan off heat. Pour Caesar dressing all over the chicken.
- Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top of chicken.
- Put asparagus around the chicken. Sprinkle garlic powder on the asparagus and add more cheese if you want.
- Stick the whole pan in the oven for 20 minutes or until chicken is done (165°F if you’re checking).
- Let it sit for a minute then serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
If your asparagus is really thick you might want to give it a head start by boiling it for a couple minutes first. Otherwise it might not get tender enough.
Calories: About 385 per serving
I have just discovered this recipe, but intend to cook it soon.