When the weather warms up or you are simply exhausted after a long day of work, turning on the hot oven is the absolute last thing you want to do. That is exactly where these incredible BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps come in to save the day and your sanity. This brilliant recipe takes tender, perfectly seasoned shredded chicken, tosses it in a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce, and pairs it with a vibrant, highly crunchy, and creamy homemade coleslaw. Rolled tightly into a soft flour tortilla, it is the ultimate fast, fresh, and deeply satisfying meal that comes together in under fifteen minutes flat.
Finding lunches or light dinners that the entire family will actually look forward to eating can be quite difficult, especially on busy weekdays. If your household has been relying heavily on dense, hot comfort foods like a massive bowl of Honey Pepper Chicken Mac and Cheese or a bubbling, heavy tray of BBQ Chicken Mac and Cheese, these crisp, refreshing wraps are the perfect palate cleanser to break up your routine.
Whether you need a portable lunch for the office, a quick meal before evening soccer practice, or a simple dinner on a lazy Tuesday, these wraps deliver massive flavor with virtually zero cooking required.
Why This Wrap Recipe Works So Well
The real magic of these BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps lies in the brilliant contrast of textures and temperatures. You have the rich, savory, and slightly sweet notes of the barbecue chicken acting as the hearty base of the wrap. Then, you introduce the cold, highly crunchy, and tangy coleslaw right on top. The sharp acidity of the creamy slaw dressing cuts completely through the heaviness of the thick BBQ sauce, creating a perfectly balanced bite every single time.
If you love highly flavorful, messy sandwiches like those bold Cajun Chicken Sloppy Joes, you will absolutely adore the flavor profile of this wrap, but you will appreciate that the sturdy flour tortilla keeps all the ingredients neatly contained without ruining your shirt.
Additionally, this recipe is a meal prep dream come true. You can use leftover store bought rotisserie chicken, or easily shred up any grilled chicken breasts you have sitting in the refrigerator from the weekend. Just like our fresh and simple Gourmet BLT Wraps, having the ingredients prepped and ready in the fridge means you can assemble a restaurant quality meal in a matter of seconds.
Essential Ingredients
You only need a handful of very simple, everyday grocery items to pull this magnificent, fresh dinner together.
For the BBQ Chicken Filling:
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Cooked Chicken: Two cups of cooked, shredded chicken. A plain rotisserie chicken from the grocery store is a massive time saver here.
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BBQ Sauce: Use your absolute favorite brand. A thicker, slightly sweeter Kansas City style sauce usually clings best to the cold shredded meat.
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Red Onion: Very thinly sliced red onion adds a sharp, fresh bite that complements the smoky barbecue flavor perfectly.
For the Creamy Coleslaw:
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Coleslaw Mix: Grab a bag of pre shredded cabbage and carrots from the produce section to keep this recipe incredibly fast and entirely stress free.
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Mayonnaise: The smooth, creamy base of the homemade dressing.
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Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds that essential tangy zip to the slaw to wake up all the flavors.
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Honey: Just a small drizzle to perfectly balance the sharp acidity of the vinegar.
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Salt and Black Pepper: For basic, essential seasoning.
For Serving:
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Flour Tortillas: Large, burrito sized soft flour tortillas work absolute best for rolling up a hearty amount of filling without tearing or bursting open.
Step by Step Instructions
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Mix the Coleslaw Dressing: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, and black pepper until completely smooth and emulsified.
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Toss the Slaw: Add the pre shredded coleslaw mix directly into the bowl with the dressing. Toss everything together vigorously until the cabbage is evenly coated. Let the slaw sit at room temperature for about five minutes so the flavors can marry and the cabbage can soften slightly.
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Prepare the Chicken: In a separate small bowl, combine your shredded cooked chicken and the barbecue sauce. Stir well until the meat is completely smothered in the sweet and smoky sauce.
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Warm the Tortillas: To prevent your tortillas from tearing or cracking while rolling, warm them in the microwave for about fifteen seconds wrapped gently in a damp paper towel.
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Assemble the Wraps: Lay a warm tortilla completely flat on your clean work surface. Spoon a generous amount of the BBQ chicken mixture directly into the center. Top the chicken with a handful of the thinly sliced red onions and a large scoop of the creamy coleslaw.
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Roll and Serve: Fold the left and right sides of the tortilla inward, then tightly roll it up from the bottom exactly like a burrito. Slice the wrap in half on a sharp diagonal and serve immediately.
BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup red onion, very thinly sliced
- 3 cups coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots)
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- to taste salt and black pepper
- 4 large flour tortillas
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, and black pepper until perfectly smooth.
- Add the coleslaw mix to the dressing and toss until the cabbage is completely coated. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the shredded cooked chicken and the BBQ sauce. Stir well to coat the meat.
- Warm the flour tortillas in the microwave for 15 seconds to make them pliable.
- Lay a tortilla flat and spoon a quarter of the BBQ chicken mixture into the center.
- Top the chicken with sliced red onion and a generous scoop of the creamy coleslaw.
- Fold the left and right sides of the tortilla inward, then roll up tightly from the bottom.
- Slice in half diagonally and serve immediately.
Notes
What to Serve With Chicken Wraps
Because these wraps are wonderfully crisp and refreshing, they pair beautifully with simple, crunchy sides. Kettle cooked potato chips, crispy sweet potato fries, or a fresh summer fruit salad are all excellent choices for a remarkably fast meal.
If you are hosting a casual weekend get together and want to offer a wide variety of handheld foods to your guests, serve these cold BBQ wraps alongside a massive, hot platter of our famous Chicken Parmesan Sliders.
Love switching up your dinner themes throughout the week to keep things interesting? If you serve these refreshing wraps on Monday, you can easily transition to a fantastic Mexican inspired feast the very next night with a bubbling tray of Queso Chicken Enchiladas or some incredibly rich Cheesy Rotel Beef Tacos. And when you are finally ready to bring hearty pasta back to the dinner table, an elegant skillet of Cowboy Butter Lemon Bowtie Chicken will absolutely blow your family away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these wraps ahead of time? It is highly recommended to store the individual components separately if you are meal prepping for the work week. If you assemble the wrap completely and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight, the moisture from the creamy coleslaw and the BBQ sauce will make the flour tortilla very soggy. Pack the chicken, slaw, and tortilla in separate containers and assemble right before eating.
What other wraps can I use? If you are watching your carbohydrate intake, you can easily serve this highly flavorful filling inside large romaine lettuce leaves or delicate butter lettuce cups. Whole wheat tortillas or green spinach wraps also work beautifully and add a little extra nutrition to your plate.
Can I heat the chicken up first? Absolutely! While this wrap is incredibly delicious served entirely cold, many people deeply prefer the contrast of hot BBQ chicken against the cold, crunchy slaw. Simply microwave your BBQ chicken mixture for about one minute before assembling the wrap.