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Home » Recipes » Lunch

Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

Published: Dec 9, 2021 · Modified: Sep 22, 2024 by Christina Koncker · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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Forget every bland, boring chicken salad you’ve ever eaten because this Chicken Salad Lettuce Wrap features a quick and easy chipotle mayonnaise that sets the flavor bar high, bringing bold flavors to the humble lettuce wrap. 

This recipe is dedicated to those of you who have ever begrudgingly eaten a bland AF chicken salad sandwich or wrap. Especially a lettuce wrap. Because here you are trying to be healthy and cut down on your carb intake and you’re munching on bland chicken salad wrapped in edible water. The fillings of a lettuce wrap MUST be flavorful. Or a few hours after eating I’m abandoning my desire to keep wanting to eat healthier by eating five too many brownies. 

I push the easy button on the chicken here, reaching for a pre-cooked take-home Rotisserie chicken. Because the effort belongs on jazzing up the mayo that ties this Rotisserie chicken salad together into one boldly delicious lettuce wrap.

This Chipotle Chicken Salad recipe is what you need to jazz up that lettuce wrap. To start, you need mayo that doesn’t suck. That means taking your run-of-the-mill storebought mayo and helping it become delicious - by combining it with chipotle en adobo peppers. This chicken salad lettuce wrap is also fantastic with homemade Chipotle and Roasted Garlic Mayo.

Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps with chipotle mayo on a plate.

This recipe was inspired (ripped off) by my recipe for Chipotle Tuna Salad Sandwiches, and pairs well with tortilla chips and Cucumber Pico de Gallo.

Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Substitutions & Variations
  • How to Make Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps - Directions
  • Top Tips for the BEST Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps
  • Storage
  • Recipe FAQs
  • What to serve with chicken salad lettuce wraps
  • Chipotle Chicken Salad

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • It's tasty and feels light. Sure the chipotle mayo is luxurious, but chicken, fresh veggies, and Iceberg lettuce make it feel like a light meal.
  • It's bold in flavor. Chipotle en adobo peppers are like the perfect ingredient in this chicken salad - it instantly adds smoke and heat, making each bite boldly flavored.
  • It's easy to make. Pick up a premade rotisserie chicken, shred it, mix it, serve it. This recipe comes together quickly when the cooking is done for you. Here's another great rotisserie chicken recipe, Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas.

Ingredients

  • Shredded rotisserie chicken - You will need around 4 or so cups of shredded chicken. Since to-go rotisserie chickens vary in size you may need more than one.
  • Fresh, finely diced red onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno to add freshness and a Tex-Mex flair.
  • Black olives - Because, why not? I think they are rich and buttery here, with a little southwest flair.
  • Lemon or lime juice - Fresh is best, adds acidity and brightness.
  • Head of Iceberg lettuce - My favorite for lettuce wraps, lets the chicken salad shine.
  • Mayo (I used Kraft's Olive Oil Mayo) - To lend that creaminess that ties chicken salad together.
  • Chipotle in adobo peppers, the sauce - A little goes a long way to adding smoke and heat, which makes this a bold and flavorful lettuce wrap.
  • Salt and pepper, to taste - The chipotle mayo that ties this recipe together is pretty basic, but season it to suit your tastes.

A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below - keep scrolling!

Substitutions & Variations

The Mayo - This easy mayo is life-changing. It changed this self-professed mayo hater into someone who tolerates mayo (at least when it’s enhanced with bold flavors). Add roasted garlic to the mix to take homemade mayo to the next level.

The Chicken - You don't have to use rotisserie chicken here of course; feel free to use whatever leftover chicken you might have on hand. For best results, keep it neutrally flavored.

The Vegetables - Where you can freely play is with the vegetables. Not a fan of onion? Leave it out! Think this would be killer with jicama? Add it in! Maybe black olives are a no-go, so you want to tag in green olives instead. Go nuts!

The Extras - Speaking of nuts, some pepitas or crushed walnuts would add a nice crunch here. You might also consider sneaking in some fresh herbs - like parsley, cilantro, or thyme. If you anticipate leftovers, just add the fresh herbs to what you plan on eating. 

The Lettuce - I like Iceberg lettuce for wraps because I like the coverage and the watery crunch. One outer leaf is similar in size and shape to a medium-sized tortilla. Romaine leaves are another good option. They are sturdier than Iceberg leaves but the shape makes for more of an open-face situation than a true wrap. And butter lettuce is divine but delicate, a solid option for a lettuce cup. 

How to Make Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps - Directions

Add mayo, sauce from chipotle en adobo peppers, and lemon juice to a large bowl and stir until combined. Taste. Season with salt and pepper if desired.

chipotle chicken salad ingredients in a bowl.
  1. Step 1: Add all ingredients to a bowl (except for the lettuce, of course).
freshly combined chipotle chicken salad ingredients in a bowl.
  1. Step 2: Stir until combined. Taste. Season with salt and pepper if desired.
  1. Step 3. Remove the core from the Iceberg lettuce by cutting around it with a paring knife. Carefully peel off the outer layers of lettuce, leaving them as intact as possible. It’s okay if you get a few rips here and there as I recommend at least 2 lettuce layers for a stable lettuce wrap you can pick up and eat. 
  2. Step 4. Optional: Take your paring knife and remove a little more from each lettuce leaf where the core was - this is a personal preference for me to remove this slightly tougher section.
  3. Step 5. Take two lettuce leaves and stack them strategically so that they can be wrapped around the filling.
  4. Step 6. Add two generous spoonfuls of Chipotle Chicken salad, spreading evenly across the lettuce leaves. 
  5. Step 7. Wrap the lettuce around the filling and prepare yourself to take a big bite. 
  6. Step 8. Consider your chicken salad game upped.

Hint: When cutting out the core of the lettuce, cut in a larger circle than necessary; this makes the leaves easier to peel off intact.

Chicken Salad Lettuce Wrap with chipotle mayo on a plate.

Top Tips for the BEST Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

Tip 1. Use rotisserie chicken to save time. I love grabbing a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store every once in a while to shortcut a dinner or two. Starting with prepared chicken means this recipe comes together super quickly.

Tip 2. Use the freshest, crispest lettuce you can find. To get maximum crunch.

Tip 3. Make it your own. Maybe you feel strongly that celery needs to be a component in chicken salad. Then definitely add it! I often add twists when making this recipe; I added pickled carrots from a jar of pickled jalapenos once and it added a nice spicy acidic bite. Or you might like this Chipotle Chicken Salad recipe better with garlic.

Rotisserie Chicken Salad Lettuce Wrap on a plate.

Storage

Store leftover chicken salad in a lidded container in the refrigerator. Best used within 3 days.

Store Iceberg lettuce leaves in a sealed Ziploc bag. Add a slightly damp paper towel in the bag as well to keep things crisp and moist. Keeps for up to 7 days when stored in a crisper drawer.

Recipe FAQs

What lettuce is best for lettuce wraps?

I LOVE the watery crunch of Iceberg lettuce. Romaine and butter lettuce are also solid options for lettuce wraps.

What to make as a side with lettuce wraps?

There are so many great options for sides that pair well with these lettuce wraps. A few suggestions for great pairings include soup (perhaps a creamy Sweet Potato Soup), a pasta salad (like this Dill Pickle Pasta Salad), and/or a dip served with chips, crackers or veggies (like this Spinach Dip).

How far in advance can you make a lettuce wrap?

I have admittedly not tested how far in advance you might make a chicken salad lettuce wrap, though I'll wager you don't want to make a lettuce wrap too far in advance. Otherwise, you're gonna wind up with soggy lettuce, which is a non-starter because you NEED that crunch against the chicken salad. I recommend making lettuce wraps immediately before serving.

What to serve with chicken salad lettuce wraps

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If you tried this Chicken Salad Lettuce Wrap recipe (or any other recipe on Midwexican), please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it turned out in the 📝 comments below!

Chipotle Chicken Salad

Christina Koncker
This recipe sets the flavor bar, bringing bold flavors thanks to a super quick chipotle mayo.
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 8 cups
Calories 444 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups rotisserie chicken shredded
  • ½ cup red onion finely diced
  • ½ cup bell pepper finely diced
  • 2 jalapenos finely minced
  • 20 large black olives diced
  • ½-1 teaspoon freshly-squeezed lemon or lime juice
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons chipotle en adobo sauce
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and papper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Add mayo, chipotle en adobo sauce, and lemon juice to a large bowl and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, if desired.
    ½-1 teaspoon freshly-squeezed lemon or lime juice, 1 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons chipotle en adobo sauce, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, Salt and papper
  • Add shredded rotisserie chicken, onion, pepper, black olives, and jalapenos to the bowl and stir until combined.
    4 cups rotisserie chicken, ½ cup red onion, ½ cup bell pepper, 20 large black olives, 2 jalapenos
  • Consider your chicken salad game upped.

Notes

*Nutrition information is approximate and was calculated using an online nutrition calculator.
Save time with rotisserie chicken. I love grabbing a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store every once in a while to shortcut a dinner or two. Starting with prepared chicken means this recipe comes together super quickly.
Make it yours. Maybe you feel strongly that celery or apple or grapes must be a component in chicken salad. Then definitely add it! I often add twists when making this recipe; I added pickled carrots from a jar of pickled jalapenos once and it added a nice spicy acidic bite.

Nutrition

Calories: 444kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 34gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 125mgSodium: 749mgPotassium: 60mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 387IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 0.2mg
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Christina from Midwexican

About Christina

I'm a Minnesota native who can't get enough of south-of-the-border flavors. My recipes combine comforting Midwestern eats with bold Mexican and Tex-Mex flavors. If you love comforting food, bold flavors, and - most importantly - tacos! then you'll love what I'm cooking!

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