Description
A flavorful and easy sheet pan chicken pita recipe featuring caramelized, spiced chicken pieces served with a refreshing herby ranch slaw and creamy avocado in warm pita bread. Perfect for a quick and wholesome meal.
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
- 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
For Serving
- 2-3 pitas
- 1 ripe avocado, cubed
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 425º F, preferably using convection mode for even cooking.
- Prepare Chicken: In a large bowl, toss the chicken pieces with brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, kosher salt, and olive oil. Add the lemon slices and toss again to coat everything evenly.
- Bake Chicken: Spread the chicken evenly on a sheet pan without overcrowding. Bake for 15 minutes, then toss the chicken to turn pieces for even caramelization. Bake for an additional 7 minutes until the chicken is crisp and caramelized.
- Make Herby Ranch Slaw: In a large bowl, mix plain yogurt, dill, parsley, chives, lemon juice, olive oil, and kosher salt until well combined. Add shredded green cabbage and toss thoroughly to coat the cabbage with the dressing. Let the slaw sit for 10-15 minutes to marinate flavors.
- Warm Pitas and Assemble: Warm the pitas in the microwave until soft and pliable. Stuff each pita with a generous portion of the herby ranch slaw, baked chicken pieces, and cubed ripe avocado.
- Serve: Serve immediately while the chicken is warm and the pitas are fresh for the best experience.
Notes
- For a non-dairy option, substitute the yogurt with a plain non-dairy alternative like coconut or almond yogurt.
- Adjust cayenne spice to control the heat level to your preference.
- Do not overcrowd the sheet pan to ensure the chicken crisps properly instead of steaming.
- Letting the slaw rest allows the flavors to meld and the cabbage to soften slightly.
- Use fresh herbs for the best flavor in the herby ranch slaw.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
