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BBQ Chicken Wraps (Easy Recipe!)

Charlotte Brooks

August 3, 2023

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These quick and easy BBQ Chicken Wraps combine saucy rotisserie chicken, sharp Cheddar cheese, and a mix of fresh veggies. All bundled up inside a large tortilla and crisped to perfection in a skillet, these wraps offer an irresistible crunch paired with a melty cheese filling. They’re not only absolutely delicious but also a convenient meal that can be whipped up in no time!

Image of the BBQ Chicken Wraps stacked on top of each other

BBQ Chicken Wraps are part of our Back-To-School Lifesavers — a series of recipes that are intended to have little (or no) veggie chopping, minimal prep time, around 10 ingredients or less (not including pantry staples), and use kid-friendly ingredients. Click here to see all the recipes in the series!

BBQ Chicken Wraps

Relying on rotisserie chicken and store-bought BBQ sauce for a quick meal is one of my favorite shortcuts when I’m pressed for time. It’s a simple matter of tossing chicken with sauce, and the result doesn’t compromise on flavor at all.

I’ve used this efficient approach in a few recipes you might have seen on this site: the 15-minute BBQ Chicken Sandwich Recipe, the effortless BBQ Chicken Salad, or in the round-up of three simple BBQ Chicken dinners.

So, I’m thrilled to expand this collection with the introduction of these BBQ Chicken Wraps, which absolutely stay true to the formula of being incredibly quick to prepare, supremely delicious, and easy to assemble. The ingredients are simple: rotisserie chicken, store-bought BBQ sauce, a selection of veggies, and some extra-sharp Cheddar cheese. All you need to do is combine them all and stuff the mixture into tortillas. Truly, it doesn’t get any easier than this!

BBQ Chicken Wrap Ingredients

Rotisserie chicken: Using pre-cooked rotisserie chicken is a great time saver. When shredding the chicken, discard the skin and bones. Be sure to remove as much meat as possible. You can use both white and dark meat, according to your preference. If you prefer a leaner filling, stick with breast meat.
BBQ sauce: Opt for a high-quality BBQ sauce, since it’s a significant contributor to the overall flavor of the wraps. Choose one that caters to your personal taste – smoky, spicy, sweet, tangy, etc. Feel free to experiment with different brands until you find your favorite. My personal favorite is Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ® (original) sauce or Stubb’s Original BBQ® sauce.
Cilantro: Use fresh cilantro for the best flavor. Before chopping, make sure to wash it thoroughly to remove any grit. If you’re not a fan of cilantro, just leave it out!
Red onion: Red onions add a nice crunch and sharp flavor to the wrap. If you find the taste of raw onions too strong, soak the diced onions in cold water for about 10 minutes to mellow their flavor before adding them to the mix. Again, if you aren’t a fan, leave ’em out and use double the red pepper instead!
Red bell pepper: This adds a slightly sweet crunch to the wraps. Be sure to remove the seeds and membrane before dicing. The smaller the dice, the better!
Sharp Cheddar cheese: The sharpness of Cheddar cheese complements the BBQ sauce and chicken nicely. For a smoother, creamier texture, grate your own cheese instead of using pre-shredded varieties, which often contain anti-caking agents.
Salt and pepper: These are essential for bringing out the flavors of the other ingredients. Use fine sea salt for a uniform flavor and fresh ground black pepper for the best taste. Keep in mind, the saltiness of your BBQ sauce may influence how much additional salt you need.
Tortillas: Use large tortillas so you’ll have room for plenty of filling and still wrap them properly. We’re looking for flour tortillas here; corn tortillas are more prone to breaking/ripping.

Process shots of BBQ Chicken Wraps-- images of the chicken, cheese, peppers, cilantro, onions, and BBQ sauce being added to a bowl

Why Use Sharp Cheddar?

Sharp or extra-sharp Cheddar cheese is aged longer than regular Cheddar, and that intensifies its flavor. The more robust, tangy, and complex flavor of sharp or extra-sharp Cheddar can stand up better to other strong flavors in a dish, like the BBQ sauce in these wraps.

In addition to flavor, the aged cheeses also tend to melt better, creating a smoother and creamier texture in the wraps. While you could use regular Cheddar, it won’t have as much flavor impact and the overall taste of the wraps could end up a bit bland in comparison.

Using sharp or extra-sharp Cheddar cheese can help ensure that the cheese flavor doesn’t get lost and contributes positively to the overall taste profile of the BBQ chicken wraps.

Process shots of the wraps being wrapped up

SHORTCUTS

BBQ Chicken Wrap Shortcuts:

Rotisserie chicken: Many warehouse and grocery stores offer hot-and-ready rotisserie chickens that are flavorful and loaded with meat – enough to yield a decent number of wraps! However, for the quickest prep time, I suggest buying rotisserie chicken meat that has already been pulled from the bones and shredded. You can usually find this in the deli section of most stores.
Leftover cooked or grilled chicken: If you have some on hand, leftover cooked or grilled chicken with a basic salt and pepper seasoning can also work well for this recipe. Don’t worry about heating it beforehand; the chicken will warm up nicely as we cook the wraps.
Use a food processor: To speed up prep time, use a food processor to quickly chop the veggies and fresh cilantro.
Store-bought BBQ sauce: Few things compare to this homemade BBQ Sauce recipe, but unless you have some already whipped up in your fridge, your favorite brand from the store will work perfectly for this recipe!

Process shots of BBQ Chicken Wraps-- images of the wraps being cooked in a skillet

How To Fold and Crisp the Wraps

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to fold a wrap like a packet and then how to crisp it up in a skillet:

Folding the wrap:
- Lay the tortilla flat on your work surface and spoon the filling onto the center, leaving a generous border around all edges.
- Fold both sides of the tortilla into the center, partially covering the filling.
- Next, fold the edge of the tortilla that’s closest to you over the filling and the folded-in sides.
- Finally, grasp the last edge of the tortilla furthest away from you and, while keeping it tight, pull it over the other side until you have a neatly wrapped packet. The filling should now be completely enclosed.
Crisping the wrap in a skillet:
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
- Once the skillet is hot, place the wraps (which should be generously sprayed with cooking spray) seam-side down. This technique helps seal the wraps and prevents them from unraveling during cooking.
- Cook the wrap for 1-2 minutes, or until the underside is golden brown and crispy.
- Using tongs, carefully flip the wrap over and cook the other side for another 1-2 minutes, or until it too is golden brown and crispy.
- Don’t forget to crisp up the edges too!
- Repeat this process with the remaining wraps, taking care not to overcrowd the skillet. Depending on the size of your skillet, cook only two or three wraps at a time.

QUICK TIP

Remember, you want to achieve a good balance between browning the tortillas and fully heating the filling. We warm the wraps in the microwave to help get the heating underway, and then add them to a skillet on medium-high heat. Lower heat may not crisp the tortilla, while high heat might burn the tortilla before the filling is fully warmed. And don’t skip the cooking spray — that’s what will give those lovely crisp edges!

Image of the wraps being removed from the skillet

STORAGE

How To Store BBQ Chicken Wraps

Storing BBQ Chicken Wraps for later is easy; just don’t crisp the wraps you plan to store. Here are the steps:

For short-term storage:

Cool completely: Before storing, allow the wraps to cool completely. Storing warm food can lead to condensation, which may make the wraps soggy.
Wrap individually: Wrap each cooled wrap tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
Refrigerate: Place the prepared wraps in the refrigerator. They should last for up to 3-4 days.

For freezing:

Cool completely: Allow the wraps to cool completely before freezing.
Wrap individually: Wrap each one tightly in aluminum foil. You can then place the wraps in a freezer-safe bag for an added layer of protection against freezer burn.
Freeze: The wraps can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Reheating:

From the refrigerator: Unwrap and remove the aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place the wrap in a microwave-safe dish. Cover with a microwave-safe lid or another plate. Heat on high for 30-90 seconds or until heated through. You can also reheat in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Once heated through, crisp in a skillet, following recipe directions.
From the freezer: If frozen, it’s best to thaw the wraps in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. Then, follow the above steps to reheat.

Image of the BBQ Chicken Wraps stacked on top of each other

More easy and quick recipes:

BBQ Chicken Wraps

These quick and easy BBQ Chicken Wraps combine saucy rotisserie chicken, sharp Cheddar cheese, and a few veggies. These wraps are crisped up in a skillet, making them irresistibly delicious with plenty of melty cheese.

BBQ Chicken Wraps

Instructions

COMBINE: Add everything except for the tortillas to a large bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (I add ½tsp fine sea salt and ¼ tsp pepper, but add to preference, depending on the saltiness of BBQ sauce.) Stir the ingredients gently with a wooden spoon. If necessary, add an additional spoonful or two of sauce if the mixture seems too dry.
ASSEMBLE: Arrange the six tortillas on a clean, flat surface. Evenly distribute the filling right in the center of each, with about ½ cup of the mixture for each tortilla. Fold up like a packet (See Note 3). Microwave each wrap (one at a time) for 20-30 seconds.
BROWN: After microwaving, spray each wrap generously on all sides with olive oil cooking spray. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Place the wraps into the skillet, seam side down, cooking 2 or 3 at a time to avoid crowding. Use the tongs to rotate the wraps every 1-2 minutes, or until each side turns golden brown and crispy. Continue this process until all wraps are crisped.
ENJOY: Serve the BBQ chicken wraps hot, straight out of the skillet with a side of mashed avocado if desired.
STORAGE: Should you find yourself with leftover wraps and wish to refrigerate or freeze them for later, please refer to the “Storage” section within this post for comprehensive instructions.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Veggies: We use about 1/2 of a small red onion, 1/2 red pepper, and 1/2 a bunch of fresh cilantro. Feel free to throw this in a food processor to quickly dice.
Note 2: Cheese: The sharpness of Cheddar cheese complements the BBQ sauce and chicken nicely. Sharp or extra-sharp Cheddar has a lot more flavor than mild Cheddar! For a smoother, creamier texture, grate your own cheese instead of using pre-shredded varieties, which often contain anti-caking agents.
Note 3: How to fold a “packet” wrap:

Lay the tortilla flat on your work surface and spoon the filling onto the center, ensuring to leave a generous border around all edges.
Fold both sides of the tortilla into the center, partially covering the filling.
Next, fold the edge of the tortilla that’s closest to you over the filling and the folded-in sides.
Finally, grasp the last edge of the tortilla furthest away from you and, while keeping it tight, pull it over the other side until you have a neatly wrapped packet. The filling should now be completely enclosed.

Nutrition Facts

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.