Description
This Sheet Pan Chicken Pitas with Herby Ranch Slaw is a delicious and easy-to-make meal featuring tender, spiced chicken baked to perfection and served with a fresh, creamy herb-infused cabbage slaw inside warm pita bread. It’s a vibrant and flavorful dish ideal for a quick weeknight dinner or casual gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 lemon, sliced
Herby Ranch Slaw
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt or non-dairy alternative
- 1/4 cup dill, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp chives, minced
- Juice from 1/2 lemon
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Kosher salt to taste
- 1/2 small head green cabbage, shredded
Additional
- 2-3 pitas
- 1 ripe avocado, cubed
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425º F, preferably using convection mode to ensure even roasting and crispiness.
- Prepare Chicken: In a large bowl, combine the chicken pieces with brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, and olive oil. Add the lemon slices and toss everything together until the chicken is well coated with the spice mixture.
- Bake Chicken: Spread the seasoned chicken pieces evenly onto a sheet pan, making sure not to overcrowd them to allow proper caramelization. Bake for 15 minutes, then toss the chicken pieces to promote even cooking. Continue baking for an additional 7 minutes or until the chicken is crisp and caramelized.
- Make Herby Ranch Slaw: While the chicken is baking, combine plain yogurt, dill, parsley, chives, lemon juice, olive oil, and kosher salt in a large bowl. Add the shredded green cabbage and toss everything together to coat the cabbage in the dressing. Let the slaw sit for 10-15 minutes to develop flavors.
- Warm Pitas and Assemble: Warm the pitas in the microwave or oven until soft and pliable. Stuff each pita with a generous amount of herby ranch slaw, followed by caramelized chicken pieces and cubed avocado.
- Serve: Serve the stuffed pitas immediately for a fresh, flavorful meal.
Notes
- For extra crispiness of the chicken, use a convection oven setting if available.
- You can substitute Greek yogurt for the plain yogurt for a thicker slaw texture.
- Feel free to add other fresh herbs like cilantro or mint to the slaw for additional flavor.
- Avocado can be replaced with cucumber slices or roasted red peppers if preferred.
- To keep the pitas warm and soft, wrap them in foil and heat them in a low oven for a few minutes instead of microwaving.
- Adjust cayenne pepper quantity to control the spiciness level to your taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
