BBQ Chicken Lettuce Wraps With Crunchy Veggies Recipe

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

One of the best things about tortilla wraps is how wonderfully versatile they are. There are a huge array of fillings you can load them up with, but we'd argue that we're about to share one of the very best combos out there. These BBQ chicken lettuce wraps with crunchy veggies, brought to us by recipe developer Catherine Brookes, offer the perfect contrast of crisp and hearty textures. And, the sweet and tangy taste of the barbecue chicken fits in oh-so beautifully alongside the fresh, crisp veggies and rich cheddar cheese. The result is a quick, easy meal that's light yet satisfying.

This recipe makes use of pre-cooked chicken breasts, so there's no frying or roasting required here. You'll simply shred the meat and toss it with plenty of barbecue sauce before adding it to the wraps along with the layers of vibrant salad veggies. The beauty of this recipe is that you can customize which veggies go into the wrap, but we'll touch more on that down the line. Toss your completed barbecue chicken lettuce wraps into a lunch box with your favorite snacks, and you've got a midday treat you'll be looking forward to all morning.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Start by grabbing some medium-sized flour tortillas. You'll first spread these with a layer of mayonnaise. Then, for the fillings, there's cooked chicken breasts, barbecue sauce, shredded lettuce, pickled red onion slices, shredded cheddar cheese, and some thinly sliced carrot and cucumber.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Shred the chicken breasts with forks.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Add the shredded chicken to a bowl and stir in the barbecue sauce.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Spread 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise onto each of the 4 tortillas.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Add some shredded lettuce and pickled onion slices to the lower center area of each tortilla.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Spoon barbecue chicken on top of the lettuce.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Sprinkle shredded cheese onto the chicken.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Top with the cucumber and carrot slices.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Roll up the wraps by folding the sides inwards then tightly rolling from the bottom up to securely enclose the fillings.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Serve the barbecue chicken wraps with sides of your choice.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

While we recommend you give the barbecue chicken option a try, switching things up is no problem. If you'd prefer something a little spicier, try tossing the shredded chicken with some Buffalo sauce. This will add a distinct tangy heat for a wrap with a punchier finish. And, you can always balance this out by spreading some cool ranch dressing onto the wrap before adding the fillings. A milder option is sweet chili sauce. This leans a touch sweeter than the barbecue sauce, and of course brings more warmth. Hoisin sauce is another way to introduce a balanced sweetness, with its tangy, umami-rich flavor profile.

Creamier sauces can work just as well here, too. A blue cheese sauce would taste wonderful paired with the chicken, bringing a sharp richness and making the wrap feel that bit more indulgent. A simple garlic mayo would be another excellent choice, or you could whip up a Caesar dressing with plenty of zesty lemon and tangy Dijon mustard. This would taste wonderful combined with some shaved Parmesan cheese.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Don't feel that you have to limit yourself to the veggies suggested in this recipe. You can absolutely throw in some extras, or switch things out depending on what's left in your fridge. To stick with the crunchy theme, try adding some sliced bell peppers, radish, or shredded red cabbage to the wrap. These are all ideal for adding color and keeping things fresh. Another option that's sure to bring plenty of bite is layering on some sugar snap peas. Celery would work well too, either sliced into long, thin strips or finely diced and scattered over the chicken.

To build on that all-important textural contrast, feel free to incorporate some vegetables with less crunch, such as creamy sliced avocado, diced tomatoes, or roasted corn. Cooked and shredded beets would also add a nice pop of color, while diced green onions would add a nice and mild onion flavor without overpowering the rest of the ingredients.