Keto Air Fryer Chicken Caesar Bakes with Bacon
Handheld chicken bakes inspired by Costco's popular freezer item, featuring seasoned cooked chicken, crispy bacon, and melted Italian cheese wrapped in pizza dough and air fried until golden. These are perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or casual entertaining. The Caesar dressing adds a signature tangy richness, while the sealed edges create a portable package that's crispy outside and savory inside. Ideal for families and those seeking a shortcut using prepared dough.
Ingredients
- 1 container prepared pizza dough
- ½ cup Caesar salad dressing
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- 1 cup bacon, crumbled
- 1 ½ cups Italian cheese blend, shreddedmozzarella and parmesan blend1:1slightly sharper taste
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Instructions
- 1
Roll pizza dough into a large rectangle and cut into 4 equal pieces.
- 2
Spread Caesar dressing on each rectangle, leaving borders on all sides.
- 3
Layer chicken and bacon evenly on each piece, then add cheese.
- 4
Fold dough edges to meet in the middle and press down along the sides to seal.
- 5
Smear tops with additional Caesar dressing and sprinkle remaining cheese.
- 6
Air fry until golden brown and heated through.
Tips
Use rotisserie chicken for speed and flavor; shred while warm for easier layering on dough.
Cook bacon until crispy before crumbling to prevent soggy bakes and ensure texture contrast.
Don't overfill the rectangles; leaving clear borders prevents sealing issues and ensures even browning.
Good to Know
Refrigerate cooked bakes in an airtight container up to 3 days. Freeze unbaked or cooked bakes in a freezer bag up to 1 month.
Assemble bakes completely, cover, and refrigerate up to 8 hours before air frying. Bake directly from cold without thawing.
Serve warm, immediately after cooking. Pairs well with roasted vegetables, a green salad, or garlic bread.
Common Mistakes
Overfill the rectangles to avoid dough bursting and filling leaking during cooking.
Seal edges loosely to avoid them separating and dough puffing unevenly.
Use thawed, room-temperature dough to avoid sealing failures and uneven baking.
Substitutions
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FAQ
Can I use frozen pizza dough?
Yes, thaw it completely at room temperature or in the refrigerator before rolling. Cold dough is harder to seal and may bake unevenly.
Can I make these ahead and freeze them?
Yes. Assemble completely, freeze on a tray uncovered for 2 hours, then store in a freezer bag for up to 1 month. Air fry from frozen, adding 2-3 minutes to cook time.
How long do cooked bakes keep?
Refrigerate cooked bakes in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350F air fryer for 3-4 minutes until warmed through.