Oh my gosh, are you ready for the easiest, most refreshing lunch you’ll make all summer? When the heat hits and I just can’t bring myself to turn on the oven, these are what I turn to every single time. Seriously, these Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish are my absolute lifeline when I need something satisfying, bright, and done in about fifteen minutes flat. They hit all the right spots—smoky chicken, creamy tang from the slaw, and the perfect soft tortilla hug. My family begs for these wraps during baseball season because there’s almost no cooking involved, just pure assembly magic!
Why You Will Love These Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish
I’m telling you, these wraps are a game-changer when you’re staring down a hot afternoon and the thought of actual cooking makes you sweat. Forget complicated steps; these are pure, simple joy in a tortilla. Seriously, these Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish are my absolute lifeline when I need something satisfying, bright, and done in about fifteen minutes flat. If you need something fast, check out how quick my chicken Caesar wraps go together too, but trust me, you need this flavor profile for summer!
Quick Assembly Time
- You seriously won’t believe it—prep and cook time together clock in at only 15 minutes total!
- Perfect for poolside lunches or when you’re running out the door for summer activities.
- It’s assembly, not actual cooking, which is my favorite kind of recipe.
Perfect Balance of Textures and Flavor in Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish
- We get that smoky, slightly sweet punch from the sauced-up chicken.
- Then, BAM! The coleslaw cuts right through it with its cool crunch and bright, vinegary tang.
- This amazing contrast is what makes these Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish so unbelievably addictive.
Essential Ingredients for Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish
Okay, let’s talk about what you actually need to make these wraps sing! The beauty of this recipe is that it relies on pantry staples mixed with one key prepared item. You’ll need about two cups of chicken that’s already cooked and shredded—I’m not kidding, if you’re short on time, just grab a rotisserie chicken, shred it, and call it a day. That’s my secret weapon most weeks!
For the BBQ coating, you want half a cup of your favorite barbecue sauce. This is where you can really personalize things; if you like smoky and spicy, use that kind! Then, for the slaw, grab two cups of plain, pre-made coleslaw mix. Don’t bother chopping cabbage unless you really love that extra effort!
The dressing is simple: a quarter cup of mayonnaise, a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar for that necessary sharp bite, and just a tiny teaspoon of sugar to balance the tang. Don’t forget basic salt and pepper, and four large flour tortillas to hold it all together. These Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish come together because the ingredients are familiar but mixed in a way that feels brand new.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish
Listen, if you use a store-bought BBQ sauce, make it a good one—it’s the star of the chicken mixture! If you used chopped pork instead of chicken, these would still be amazing Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish, just saying. And for the tortillas, if you only have smaller ones, you can probably stretch this to six wraps easily, but I prefer the large, pliable ones because they hold up better to all that delicious filling.
Also, I always taste the coleslaw dressing before mixing it with the cabbage. If your vinegar is sharp, maybe you need a smidge more sugar, or if your mayo is super thick, you might need an extra splash of the vinegar to keep it from being too sticky. It’s all about that perfect contrast!
Equipment Needed for Assembly
This is the fun part—getting everything ready to pile high! Since this recipe is all about assembly, we only need a few simple things from the drawers. Make sure you have at least two medium mixing bowls. One is for the saucy chicken and the other is just for getting that slaw dressing mixed up perfectly.
You’ll need a cutting board and a sharp knife if you’re shredding your own chicken or need to chop nuts or celery hearts for the slaw. Have your serving plates ready, and that’s truly it. No messy pots or pans to scrub later, which is why I love having these on rotation during the summer!
Step-by-Step Instructions for Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish
This is where the magic happens, and I’m emphasizing the word ‘assembly’ because we are really just mixing, not cooking! We stick to two completely separate bowls for preparation, which, honestly, is key to keeping everything tasting fresh instead of just mushy. Follow these steps closely, and you’ll nail those perfectly balanced Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish every time! If you’re looking for other great assembly ideas, you should definitely check out my guide for delicious turkey wraps too!
Preparing the Flavorful BBQ Chicken Mixture
- Get out a good-sized mixing bowl—the first one! Toss in your two cups of shredded chicken.
- Pour in about half a cup of barbecue sauce. You want the chicken completely drenched, but not swimming in sauce. If your sauce is super thick, you might need a tablespoon of water or even a tiny splash of apple cider vinegar to help it coat beautifully.
- Mix that up until every piece of chicken looks glossy and coated in that smoky goodness. Set this aside while you concentrate on the crunch factor!
Making the Tangy Coleslaw Dressing
- Grab your second clean bowl. This is just for the dressing components first! Whisk together the mayonnaise, the apple cider vinegar, and the sugar until it’s smooth. Give it a little taste—does it need a pinch more salt? Go for it!
- Now, add your two cups of pre-made coleslaw mix into that dressing bowl. Toss gently until everything is lightly coated. I love doing this dressing mixture about 15 minutes before I mix it into the cabbage, just letting those flavors marry together in the fridge.
Assembling Your Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish
- Before you start layering, warm those flour tortillas up for just 10 or 15 seconds each—I usually pop mine in a dry skillet over medium heat. This makes them pliable so they don’t crack when you roll them tight.
- Lay your warm tortilla flat. Put a generous scoop of the saucy BBQ chicken down the middle, leaving about two inches clear on the sides.
- Now, spoon a good amount of that crisp coleslaw right over the chicken. This is the crucial texture step for these Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish!
- Here’s the pro move to stop sogginess: don’t let the slaw sit on the tortilla for too long before rolling! Fold the sides in snugly over the filling, and then roll tightly from the bottom up. Serve these bad boys immediately so you get that temperature and texture contrast we’re aiming for!
Tips for the Best Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish
Even though these wraps are quick, a couple of little tricks can really elevate them when you’re making Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish. My biggest piece of advice centers entirely around moisture control. If the coleslaw sits too long on the tortilla, that dressing will seep into the flour, and you’ll end up with a sad, soggy wrap by lunchtime.
Seriously, only dress that slaw right before you are ready to assemble and eat! If you are preparing components ahead of time, keep the slaw mix dry in one container and the dressing in another. Mix them *just* seconds before wrapping. For next-level flavor, try skipping the regular BBQ sauce and using a slightly spicier Korean-style BBQ glaze for the chicken—it adds such a fantastic depth!
If you’re looking for something with a little more heat, you absolutely must check out my recipe for irresistible buffalo chicken salad; you could swap that spicy mix right in for the sweet BBQ chicken for a totally different vibe! Ultimately, quality sauce makes these Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish shine.
Serving Suggestions for Your Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish
These Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish honestly stand alone so well, but serving them with the right side kicks them up a notch for a full summer meal. Because the wrap is already rich with BBQ flavor, I usually lean toward something really crisp and fresh on the side.
You can’t go wrong with a simple bowl of seasoned sweet potato fries, baked, not fried, if you can manage it. If you need a truly refreshing drink pairing to cut through the tanginess, my recipe for refreshing homemade lemonade is the perfect bright complement to these BBQ wraps!
Storage and Make-Ahead Guidance
I wish I could tell you these wraps store perfectly assembled for days, but honestly, that wet coleslaw dressing is the enemy of a good tortilla! If you are planning ahead—and I often prep the chicken mixture the night before—you absolutely must keep things separate. Store your saucy BBQ chicken in an airtight container in the fridge.
The coleslaw mix and its dressing should stay totally separate until you are literally sitting down to eat. Wrap them up individually or keep them in separate, tightly sealed containers. Assemble them right before you pack them up for lunch the next day, or they’ll turn into a soggy mess by noon, and nobody wants that!
Frequently Asked Questions About Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish
I get so many great questions about making these wraps when people first try them out. It’s totally normal to wonder about substitutions or how to keep everything fresh! I’ve answered the most common ones below so you can conquer these wraps like a pro, even if you’re new to putting chicken and slaw together in a tortilla.
Can I use a different type of meat instead of chicken?
Oh yeah, absolutely! While these are the best Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish, the concept works with almost any shredded, saucy meat. Pulled pork is an amazing swap—it holds the BBQ sauce beautifully. Shredded turkey breast works fantastic too, especially if you cooked too much for dinner the night before. Just make sure whatever meat you use is already cooked and easy to shred!
How do I prevent the coleslaw from making the wraps soggy?
This comes up all the time! The number one trick is separation, separation, separation. You must keep the crunchy cabbage mix completely separate from the chicken mixture until the absolute last second. Don’t mix them in one big bowl—we are building layers, not a salad! If you dress the slaw more than five minutes before assembling, you’re asking for trouble.
Are these Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish suitable for meal prep?
Yes, but only in components! You can definitely prep the BBQ chicken mixture and the coleslaw dressing separately and keep them chilled for a couple of days. They are stellar for quick weekday lunches this way. But remember, you have to do the final assembly right before you eat. If you want to make these Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps Perfect Summer Dish ahead, keep the tortillas separate and only combine everything when you’re ready to munch. If you checked out those easy chicken Caesar wraps, you know how important it is to avoid that early sogginess!
Estimated Nutrition Information
Before we sign off, I just want to give you a quick heads-up about those numbers you see floating around online for calories and macros. When I talk about the nutrition for these wraps, please know that everything I put down is just an estimate, you know?
The actual count changes like crazy depending on which brand of BBQ sauce you decide to use—some are super sugary, some are thinner—and what kind of tortillas you grab. Are yours whole wheat? Are they huge? I use standard large flour tortillas, but if you swap to those skinny ones, your numbers will look way different!
So, consider everything listed as a fun guideline, not a strict rule book. If you’re tracking macros closely, you’ll definitely want to calculate based on the specific sauce, mayo, and tortilla you use in your own kitchen. Happy wrapping!
Print
Flavorful BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps
- Total Time: 15 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Low Fat
Description
Simple wraps featuring BBQ chicken and coleslaw, suitable for a summer meal.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 4 large flour tortillas
- 2 cups pre-made coleslaw mix
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix the shredded chicken with the barbecue sauce until fully coated.
- In a separate bowl, combine the coleslaw mix, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and sugar. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well.
- Warm the flour tortillas briefly according to package directions.
- Place a portion of the BBQ chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla.
- Top the chicken with a portion of the coleslaw mixture.
- Fold the sides of the tortilla inward, then roll tightly from the bottom to create a wrap.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- You can use rotisserie chicken for faster preparation.
- Adjust the amount of barbecue sauce based on your flavor preference.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 5 min
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Assembly
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 wrap
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 12
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 28
- Cholesterol: 55
Keywords: BBQ chicken, coleslaw, wraps, summer dish, easy lunch