Epic Tater Tot Caesar Salad: The Ultimate Crunch Fest!

Hold onto your forks, folks, because this ain't your grandma's Caesar salad! We're ditching the boring croutons and bringing in the big guns: crispy, smashed tater tots. Yes, you heard that right. This game-changing salad is loaded with juicy chicken, a vibrant Caesar dressing with a secret twist, and enough Parmesan to make a Roman emperor jealous. Get ready for a flavor explosion that will leave you craving more!

Ingredients

• 8 ounces frozen crispy chicken cutlets
• Cooking spray
• 2 ½ cups frozen bite-sized potato nuggets (Tater Tots)
• 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, divided
• 1 cup Caesar dressing
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh garlic
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 4 cups finely chopped Romaine lettuce
• 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Prep two baking sheets – one greased with cooking spray for the chicken, the other lined with parchment paper for the tater tots.
2. Bake chicken for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until crispy. Once cool, chop into bite-sized pieces.
3. Bake tater tots for 8-10 minutes to soften them up. Then, the fun part: smash each tot with the bottom of a greased cup. Back in the oven they go for another 15-20 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
4. Sprinkle the crispy tots with ½ cup Parmesan and bake for another minute until melted. Let them cool slightly.
5. Whisk together Caesar dressing, lemon zest, anchovy paste, garlic, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and salt.
6. Combine lettuce, chicken, remaining Parmesan, and remaining pepper. Toss with half the dressing.
7. Gently fold in the glorious tater tot croutons.
8. Plate your masterpiece, drizzle with white balsamic vinegar, and shower with extra Parmesan. Prepare for pure bliss!