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Buffalo Chicken Wrap Recipe


  • Author: Dianna

Ingredients

For the Buffalo Chicken:

  • Chicken: 1.5 lbs (about 2-3 large) boneless, skinless chicken breasts. You can also use chicken thighs for more flavor and moisture, or about 4 cups of shredded pre-cooked rotisserie chicken for a super-fast shortcut.
  • Olive Oil: 1 tablespoon. For cooking the chicken.
  • Seasoning: 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. This simple blend seasons the chicken from the inside out before it even meets the sauce.
  • Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce: ¾ cup. This is the classic, quintessential buffalo sauce base. Its specific blend of aged cayenne, vinegar, and garlic is difficult to replicate and provides the authentic flavor we’re after.
  • Unsalted Butter: 4 tablespoons, melted. This is the secret ingredient that transforms hot sauce into buffalo sauce. It adds richness, mellows the harshness of the vinegar, and helps the sauce cling beautifully to the chicken.

For the Creamy Dressing:

  • Your Choice of Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing: ½ cup. This is a matter of personal preference. Ranch offers a creamy, herby coolness, while blue cheese provides a pungent, tangy funk that many people feel is essential to the buffalo experience. Use a good quality, thick dressing for the best results.

For Assembling the Wraps:

  • Large Flour Tortillas: 6 large (10-inch “burrito size”) tortillas. These are sturdy enough to hold all the fillings without tearing. You can also use whole wheat, spinach, or low-carb tortillas if you prefer.
  • Shredded Cheese: 1 ½ cups of shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a Mexican blend. Colby Jack is also an excellent choice. Shredding your own cheese from a block will result in a better melt.
  • Romaine Lettuce: 2 cups, washed, dried, and thinly sliced. Romaine provides the best crunch that holds up against the warm chicken and sauce. Iceberg lettuce is a good substitute.
  • Red Onion: ¼ cup, very thinly sliced (optional). This adds a sharp, pungent bite that cuts through the richness of the other ingredients.
  • Celery or Shredded Carrots: ½ cup, finely diced or shredded (optional). For extra crunch and a nod to the classic celery stick pairing.

Instructions

Phase 1: Cooking and Shredding the Chicken

(If you are using a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, you can skip to step 4 of this phase).

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Pat the boneless, skinless chicken breasts dry with a paper towel. This helps you get a better sear. In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Rub this seasoning mixture all over the chicken breasts, ensuring they are evenly coated.
  2. Cook the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, carefully place the seasoned chicken breasts in the pan. Cook for about 6-8 minutes per side, depending on the thickness. The chicken should be golden brown on the outside and cooked through, with an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Avoid overcrowding the pan; cook in batches if necessary.
  3. Rest the Chicken: Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for 5-10 minutes. This crucial step allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring it stays moist and tender.
  4. Shred the Chicken: Using two forks, pull the chicken meat apart until it is fully shredded. Alternatively, for a quick and easy hack, you can place the rested (and still warm) chicken breasts in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low for 15-30 seconds, and you’ll have perfectly shredded chicken with almost no effort! Place all the shredded chicken into a large mixing bowl.

Phase 2: Creating the Signature Buffalo Sauce

  1. Melt the Butter: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter. You can also do this in a microwave-safe bowl.
  2. Combine the Sauce: Once the butter is melted, pour in the ¾ cup of Frank’s RedHot sauce. Whisk the two together until they are fully emulsified and the sauce is smooth and glossy. The sauce should be a vibrant orange color.
  3. Coat the Chicken: Pour the warm buffalo sauce over the shredded chicken in the mixing bowl. Use a spatula or tongs to gently toss the chicken until every piece is generously and evenly coated in the delicious sauce. Take a moment to admire your work – this is the heart of your wrap!

Phase 3: Assembling and Toasting the Wraps

This is where the magic happens. A well-built and toasted wrap is the difference between a good wrap and a great one.

  1. Warm the Tortillas: To make the tortillas more pliable and prevent them from cracking when you roll them, warm them slightly. You can do this by wrapping the stack of tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwaving for 30 seconds, or by warming them one by one in a dry skillet for about 15-20 seconds per side.
  2. Layer the Ingredients: Lay one warm tortilla flat on a clean surface. It’s important to layer the ingredients correctly for structural integrity.

    • Start with Cheese: Sprinkle about ¼ cup of shredded cheese in a line down the center of the tortilla, leaving a border of about 2 inches on all sides.
    • Add the Chicken: Spoon a generous portion (about ⅙ of the mixture) of the warm buffalo chicken on top of the cheese. The heat from the chicken will begin to melt the cheese, acting as a delicious glue.
    • Add the Veggies: Top the chicken with a handful of the sliced romaine lettuce and any optional additions like red onion, celery, or carrots.
    • Drizzle the Dressing: Finish with a drizzle of your chosen dressing (ranch or blue cheese) over the fillings. Be careful not to add too much, as this can make the wrap soggy.

  3. Fold the Wrap: Folding a burrito-style wrap is easy once you get the hang of it. First, fold in the two short sides over the filling. Then, take the bottom edge of the tortilla (the one closest to you) and pull it up and over the filling, tucking it in tightly. Continue to roll it forward until you have a secure, sealed wrap.
  4. Toast for Perfection (Highly Recommended): This final step elevates your wrap to a professional level. Clean out the skillet you used for the chicken or use a separate non-stick pan. Place it over medium heat (no oil needed). Carefully place the wrap seam-side down in the hot, dry pan. Toast for 2-3 minutes, or until the bottom is golden brown and crispy. Flip the wrap and toast the other side for another 2-3 minutes. This not only adds an incredible crunch but also helps to seal the wrap shut.
  5. Serve Immediately: Remove the wrap from the pan, slice it in half on a diagonal for that classic deli look, and serve immediately while it’s warm and crispy.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: One Normal Portion
  • Calories: 580-650