Spicy Buffalo Chicken Handhelds

Welcome to your new favorite go-to recipe: these incredible homemade Buffalo Chicken Wraps! They are not just a meal; they’re a versatile culinary delight, perfect for a quick, satisfying lunch, a hearty snack, or even a crowd-pleasing appetizer. Imagine succulent chicken, perfectly marinated in classic buffalo sauce, nestled with crisp lettuce and cheese, all brought together by a rich, creamy dressing, then expertly wrapped in a soft tortilla. This recipe promises bold flavors, delightful textures, and an easy preparation that will have you coming back for more.

THE ULTIMATE GRAB-AND-GO BUFFALO CHICKEN WRAP EXPERIENCE

There’s something uniquely satisfying about a well-crafted wrap. They offer a complete meal in a convenient, portable package, making them ideal for busy weekdays, picnics, or effortless entertaining. This Buffalo Chicken Wrap recipe stands out from the crowd for its harmonious blend of zesty heat and cool creaminess. While many Buffalo-style dishes lean heavily into aggressive spiciness, our approach ensures the vibrant flavors of the hot sauce are perfectly balanced by a luxurious, cooling dressing. The result is an intensely flavorful experience that delivers a pleasant warmth without overwhelming your palate, inviting everyone to enjoy its deliciousness.

One of the best aspects of these wraps is their adaptability. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or just starting your culinary journey, you’ll find this recipe straightforward and forgiving. We’ve crafted it to be simple to execute, often utilizing ingredients you likely already have on hand. This means less time grocery shopping and more time enjoying a fantastic, flavorful meal. From the quick marinade to the assembly, every step is designed for maximum flavor and minimal fuss, making it an excellent choice for any occasion.

EXPERT TIPS AND TRICKS FOR PERFECT BUFFALO CHICKEN WRAPS

Crafting the perfect Buffalo Chicken Wrap is an art, but with these pro tips and tricks, you’ll be a master in no time. We’ll guide you through ingredient choices, preparation techniques, and customization options to ensure every wrap is a masterpiece.

• **Hot Sauce Selection is Key:** While we highly recommend Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Wing Sauce for its iconic flavor and balanced heat, don’t hesitate to use your personal favorite. Other popular choices include Crystal Hot Sauce or a homemade buffalo sauce. Adjust the quantity based on your preferred spice level – a little extra can amplify the kick, while reducing it can create a milder wrap.
• **The Creamy Dressing Dilemma: Blue Cheese vs. Ranch:** Our recipe traditionally calls for blue cheese dressing, which offers a sharp, tangy counterpoint to the buffalo chicken. However, if blue cheese isn’t your preference, a good quality ranch dressing makes an excellent alternative. Ranch provides a milder, herb-infused creaminess that still beautifully complements the spicy chicken. You can even mix a little Greek yogurt into either dressing for an added probiotic boost and slightly lighter consistency.
• **Lettuce for Crunch and Freshness:** Fresh, crisp lettuce is crucial for that satisfying crunch. You can opt for convenience with pre-packaged shredded iceberg lettuce, or take a few extra minutes to shred your own. Iceberg is classic, but consider other options like romaine for a slightly firmer texture and more nutritional value, or even a spring mix for added peppery notes. Ensure your lettuce is thoroughly washed and dried to prevent soggy wraps.
• **Chicken Preparation for Optimal Tenderness:** For the best results, use thinly sliced chicken breasts. This not only ensures faster and more even cooking but also creates tender pieces that are easy to eat in a wrap. You can buy pre-sliced thin chicken cutlets, or easily slice larger chicken breasts in half horizontally to achieve the desired thickness. If you’re short on time, pre-cooked grilled chicken strips or shredded rotisserie chicken can be quickly coated in hot sauce and used, significantly cutting down on prep time.
• **Cheese Choices: Beyond Colby-Jack:** Colby-Jack cheese offers a mild, creamy flavor and excellent meltability. However, feel free to experiment with other shredded cheeses. Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese are fantastic alternatives, providing similar textures and savory notes. For a sharper flavor, try a mild or sharp white cheddar. Always shred your own cheese from a block for the best flavor and texture, though pre-shredded works in a pinch.
• **Tortilla Versatility:** The base of your wrap is important! Burrito-sized flour tortillas are recommended for their generous size, allowing you to pack in plenty of fillings and fold them securely. However, the market offers a fantastic array of options: whole wheat for added fiber, low-carb for dietary needs, spinach or sun-dried tomato tortillas for extra flavor and color, or gluten-free options. Warming your tortillas slightly in the microwave or on a dry skillet before filling makes them more pliable and much easier to fold without tearing.
• **Embrace Customization:** Think beyond the core ingredients! Consider adding finely diced celery or carrots for extra crunch, thinly sliced red onion for a pungent bite, or even a sprinkle of fresh cilantro or green onions for herbaceous freshness. A dash of pickled jalapeños can also add an extra layer of heat and tang.

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED FOR BUFFALO CHICKEN WRAPS

Gathering your ingredients is the first step towards creating these delectable wraps. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need and why each component is vital:

• Chicken Breasts: We’ll be cooking fresh chicken breasts to ensure they’re perfectly seasoned and coated in the spicy sauce. For convenience, thinly sliced chicken breasts cook quickly and evenly. If you’re truly pressed for time, pre-cooked grilled chicken or a store-bought rotisserie chicken can be shredded and tossed with hot sauce as a fantastic shortcut.
• Hot Sauce: The heart of the buffalo flavor! Frank’s RedHot is a classic choice for its signature vinegary tang and moderate heat. Crystal hot sauce is another excellent option. The amount used can be adjusted to your preferred spice level, ensuring a personalized experience.
• Garlic Powder and Onion Powder: These essential seasonings provide an aromatic depth to the chicken, enhancing its savory profile and creating a rich flavor base that perfectly complements the hot sauce. They are pantry staples that make a big impact.
• Cream Cheese: This is a crucial component for our creamy dressing. Ensure your cream cheese is fully softened to room temperature before mixing. This prevents lumps and ensures a smooth, velvety consistency for your dressing, which is key to its luxurious texture.
• Mayonnaise: Providing richness and body to the dressing, mayonnaise is essential for that decadent, smooth finish. We recommend quality brands like Hellmann’s or Duke’s for the best flavor. We haven’t tested this recipe with Miracle Whip, which has a tangier, sweeter profile, so stick to traditional mayonnaise for authentic results.
• Blue Cheese Dressing: Offering a pungent, tangy kick, blue cheese dressing is the traditional complement to buffalo chicken. If its strong flavor isn’t to your liking, a creamy ranch dressing makes for a milder, equally delicious substitute, providing a cool contrast to the spicy chicken.
• Tortillas: Burrito-sized flour tortillas are ideal for wrapping, providing ample space for all the delicious fillings. While plain flour tortillas are excellent, feel free to explore other varieties like spinach, sun-dried tomato, whole wheat, or low-carb tortillas to suit your taste and dietary preferences.
• Lettuce and Cheese: These are classic wrap fillings that add texture and flavor. Shredded iceberg lettuce provides a refreshing crunch, while shredded Colby-Jack cheese melts slightly and offers a mild, creamy counterpoint. Don’t hesitate to customize these toppings with your favorite greens or cheese varieties to make the wraps truly your own.
• **Olive Oil, Salt, and Pepper:** Standard cooking oil for sautéing the chicken and basic seasonings to bring out the natural flavors of the meat.

STEP-BY-STEP: HOW TO ASSEMBLE YOUR BUFFALO CHICKEN WRAPS

Creating these wraps is a straightforward process, broken down into simple, easy-to-follow steps. Let’s get cooking!

First, prepare your chicken. In a large mixing bowl, combine the thinly sliced chicken breasts with the buffalo hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to ensure every piece of chicken is evenly coated with the flavorful marinade. This step infuses the chicken with that signature buffalo taste right from the start.

Continue stirring the chicken mixture until all ingredients are well combined. The chicken should be completely coated and ready for cooking.

Next, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, pour in the olive oil. Carefully add the marinated chicken to the skillet, arranging the pieces in a single layer if possible. Cook for approximately 4 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). The thin slices will cook quickly, ensuring juicy and tender results.

Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pan and set aside. Increase the heat in the skillet slightly to allow any residual hot sauce in the pan to reduce and thicken, concentrating its flavor. While the sauce reduces, slice the cooked chicken breasts into strips, preparing them for the wraps.

Return the sliced chicken to the pan, tossing it in the reduced, flavorful sauce. This step ensures every strip of chicken is coated in a rich, intensified buffalo flavor. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the chicken to cool slightly while you prepare the creamy dressing.

Now, let’s make that essential creamy dressing. In a separate bowl, first mix the softened cream cheese until it’s smooth and free of any lumps. Then, add the mayonnaise and blue cheese dressing (or ranch, if preferred). Stir all these ingredients together until they are completely combined and form a smooth, uniform sauce. This creamy mixture is what truly balances the heat of the buffalo chicken.

Continue stirring the dressing ingredients until perfectly smooth and well blended. The consistency should be easily spreadable.

Time to assemble your wraps! Lightly warm the tortillas in the microwave for a few seconds; this makes them much more pliable. Lay a warmed tortilla flat and spread about 2 tablespoons of your creamy dressing mixture evenly across the center.

On top of the dressing, add a generous handful of fresh shredded lettuce, providing a crisp and refreshing layer.

Next, sprinkle a handful of shredded cheese over the lettuce. The cheese will add another layer of creamy texture and savory flavor.

Finally, place 3-4 slices of your perfectly cooked and sauced buffalo chicken on top of the cheese and lettuce. Ensure the chicken is centered to allow for easy folding.

To fold the wrap, first fold the bottom and top edges of the tortilla inwards over the filling. Then, tightly roll the wrap from one side to the other, creating a secure, cylindrical package. For easier handling and serving, secure each wrap with a few toothpicks before carefully slicing it in half. This creates a visually appealing presentation and prevents the fillings from spilling out.

Serve your delicious Buffalo Chicken Wraps immediately. They are fantastic on their own, but for a complete and balanced meal, consider pairing them with crisp carrot and celery sticks. These not only offer a refreshing crunch but also perfectly complement the buffalo flavors, just like with traditional buffalo wings.

STORAGE TIPS FOR FRESHNESS AND CONVENIENCE

These Buffalo Chicken Wraps are best enjoyed fresh, but thoughtful storage can extend their deliciousness or help with meal prepping. Here’s how to keep your components and assembled wraps at their best:

• **Cooked Chicken Storage:** The cooked buffalo chicken can be stored separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This makes it an excellent candidate for meal prep; cook a larger batch of chicken, and assemble wraps throughout the week.
• **Creamy Dressing Storage:** The creamy blue cheese (or ranch) dressing can be prepared in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Ensure it’s in a well-sealed container to maintain freshness and prevent odor absorption. Give it a good stir before using if it has separated slightly.
• **Assembled Wrap Storage:** If you have leftover wraps that are already assembled, it’s best to wrap each individual Buffalo Chicken Wrap tightly in plastic wrap before placing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When stored this way, they will remain fresh and enjoyable for up to 3 days. However, for the crispiest lettuce and best texture, we recommend assembling wraps just before serving. If preparing ahead, keep the wet ingredients (chicken, dressing) separate from the dry (tortillas, lettuce) and assemble just before eating for optimal results.

CRAVING MORE BUFFALO CHICKEN AND WRAP RECIPES?

If you’ve fallen in love with these Buffalo Chicken Wraps, you’re in for a treat! The versatility of buffalo chicken and the convenience of wraps extend to many other exciting dishes. Explore some of our other fan favorites:

• Southwest Chicken Wraps – A vibrant and flavorful alternative.
• Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels – Perfect for entertaining or as a fun snack.
• Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas – A comforting and hearty meal with a kick.
• Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta – Easy, creamy, and spicy weeknight dinner.
• Buffalo Chicken Garlic Texas Toast – A delicious twist on a classic.
• Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas – Crispy, cheesy, and quick!
• Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese – The ultimate comfort food fusion.

Buffalo Chicken Wrap

These homemade Buffalo Chicken Wraps are a delicious and easy lunch, snack or fun appetizer. Chicken marinated in buffalo sauce and topped with a creamy dressing and wrapped in a tortilla!

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 4

Author: Brandie Skibinski

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound thinly sliced chicken breasts
• ½ cup Frank’s buffalo hot sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 ounces (1/2 block) cream cheese (softened to room temperature)
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup blue cheese dressing (or ranch dressing)
• 3-4 large flour tortillas (burrito size)
• 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
• 2 cups shredded colby jack cheese

Instructions

1. Add the chicken to a large bowl and pour in the hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper and stir to combine.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and pour in the olive oil.
3. Add the chicken and cook for about 4 minutes on each side, or until cooked through (internal temperature of the chicken should be 165°F degrees).
4. Remove the chicken from the pan and turn the heat up to allow the hot sauce to reduce a bit.
5. In the meantime, slice the chicken into strips, add it back into the pan and toss it in the reduced sauce.
6. Remove the pan from the heat to cool a bit.
7. Mix the cream cheese until smooth then add the mayonnaise and blue cheese dressing and stir to combine.
8. Heat the tortillas in the microwave and spread about 2 tablespoons of the blue cheese mix into the center of the tortillas, then add a handful of the lettuce, then a handful of cheese and finally 3-4 slices of chicken.
9. Fold up the bottom and top of the tortilla, then roll the wrap up and add a few toothpicks to each side before slicing in half.
10. Serve immediately with carrots or celery (optional).

Notes

• I like to use Franks Buffalo Hot Sauce in this recipe, but you can use your favorite hot sauce.
• Try switching out the blue cheese dressing with ranch dressing.
• You can shred your own lettuce or buy the pre-packaged shredded lettuce to use.
• I use thin sliced chicken breasts for this, you can purchase them this way or you can cut a larger chicken breast in half. It just cooks up much faster.
• Colby-Jack cheese is used, but you can use your favorite cheese.
• Any type of tortilla will work for this recipe. There are so many options these days: wheat, low carb, spinach, gluten-free or sun-dried tomato also work.
• I like to slightly warm the tortillas before filling, this makes them easier to fold.
• Burrito sized tortillas are used for this but you could certainly use other sizes depending on how you want to serve this.

Course: Appetizer, Lunch, Main Course, Snack

Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 788 kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 59g | Sodium: 2329mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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