Wow. This recipe for Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps is just phenomenal… and I don’t say that often (really, look around to see that this might be a first!). We are not only going to make a delicious pulled chicken lettuce wrap, we’re going to add a modified version of the famous Franks Red Hot Wing Sauce that you’re going to put on everything. So good. Let’s get started.
But wait… there’s more! Check out my other lettuce wrapped deliciousness: Leftover Turkey Lettuce Wraps and my super fresh Shrimp Salad Lettuce Wraps. Yum.
This recipe is: Low Carb, Keto Friendly, Gluten Free, Paleo and Dairy Free (if you omit the blue cheese crumbles!).
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love My Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps:
- Incredibly simple to make
- You can use any cooked chicken for this recipe.
- Substitute in shredded turkey or pork for a nice twist.
- It is great for meal prep as it stores and reheats well.
- The family doesn’t just love it, they ask for it weekly.
- If you’re not paying attention to carbs, use hard-shell tacos.
- Perfectly low carb and keto meal that everyone will crave.
Is this Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe Low Carb?
Ingredients for Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, shredded
- Franks Hot Sauce
- Butter
- Ranch Seasoning Mix
- Yellow mustard (something like French’s works great)
- Iceberg lettuce
- Crumbled blue cheese
Ingredient Substitute Ideas:
- Chicken Breasts: you can use pulled pork (that has not had sauce added to it yet) or even some shredded turkey breasts. This is also good with some crumbled ground beef too!
- Franks Hot Sauce: there are so many different hot sauces on the market these days, but they all have a different flavor profile. The traditional Buffalo sauce is based on Franks, so it is best to use Franks for this buffalo chicken wrap recipe. In a pinch, the original Tabasco is okay to use.
- Ranch Seasoning Mix: if you don’t want to make your own Ranch seasoning, use the stuff in the packet from the store.
- Yellow Mustard: the brightness of the yellow mustard is what this recipe needs. You can try Dijon or Brown, but it will not taste the same.
- Iceberg Lettuce: Find some Little Gem lettuce. They are the perfect size for a single portion serving of the Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps!
- Crumbled Blue Cheese: My family doesn’t love crumbled blue cheese as much as I do, so they use shredded cheddar and it is delicious.
How to make Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps:
Check out the step-by-step photos below to guide you through the process of making this delicious and healthy Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wrap recipe at home. If you’re looking for the full printable recipe and ingredient list, you’ll find them in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: Place butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
Step 2: Pour Franks Hot Sauce into the melted butter to start building the sauce base.
Step 3: Add the Ranch Seasoning Mix and yellow mustard to the sauce mixture.
Step 4: Use a whisk to combine all the ingredients thoroughly.
Step 5: Add the shredded chicken to the saucepan with the prepared sauce.
Step 6: Use tongs to toss the chicken in the sauce, ensuring it is fully coated and warmed through.
Step 7: Lay iceberg lettuce leaves on a serving tray or plate. Begin assembling the wraps by placing the sauced chicken in each lettuce leaf.
Step 8: Top with some blue cheese crumbles and a little bit of sour cream.
Step 9: Enjoy and be ready to come back for seconds!
💡 Scott’s Pro Tips:
- Temperature matters: if you’re new to making the iconic Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Sauce recipe, you need to know that the heat should be on medium-low when melting the butter. If the heat is too high, the fats will separate from the sauce rather than acting as an emulsifier. Just take your time and the sauce will thicken naturally.
- Whisking: while the sauce is cooking, it is a great idea to whisk it around a bit in the pan. Just a gentle whisk goes a long way to making the sauce just right.
📋 Buffalo Chicken Wrap Recipe Variations:
- Additional Ingredients: I’ve made this recipe so many times… and each time it varies slightly from the time before depending on what I have on hand. I love adding on some freshly chopped chives or scallions (green onion) along with a dollop of sour cream. When I’ve made seasoned sour cream (add some fajita mix to the sour cream and give it a stir), that is a very welcomed addition.
- Buffalo Chicken Salad Variation: Don’t want to deal with the fuss of making buffalo chicken lettuce wraps? No problem. Just make a bed of lettuce in a shallow bowl. Dress the lettuce with some olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. Top with the shredded buffalo chicken, some sliced black olives, shredded cheddar cheese and a garnish of cilantro. Delicious buffalo chicken salad ready in minutes.
- Buffalo Chicken Tacos: looking for something even more spectacular (I know, how could we top what’s already here?!?)… make a batch of my Cheese Taco Shells (they are gluten free, low carb and keto friendly too) and follow along the recipe for my Rotisserie Chicken Tacos. You’ll love every minute of the process and also just how good they taste!
Storage Instructions for Buffalo Chicken:
To store: Look, we are going to need to store the buffalo chicken separately from the lettuce wraps. Otherwise, they are going to go soggy. Store the room-temperature buffalo chicken in an airtight container. Once refrigerated, it will last for about a week. The lettuce lasts for as long as it is fresh.
To reheat: I like to reheat my buffalo chicken in a non-stick pan over medium heat on the stove. I add the leftover buffalo chicken to the pan, cover and cook until warmed through. You can also reheat in a toaster oven or regular oven in an oven proof container at 350°F until warmed through.
To freeze: Transfer the cooked buffalo chicken mixture to a freezer-proof container. Be sure that there is minimal headspace (the space between the food and the container lid) as the chicken tends to freezer burn quite quickly.
To reheat from frozen, allow the chicken to thaw in the fridge overnight and then heat according to the instructions above.
What to Serve with Low Carb Buffalo Chicken Wraps:
Really, this is a meal within itself… but if you’re looking for some delicious complementary dishes for this recipe, you’ll find them here:
- Easy Coleslaw Recipe: this recipe has a touch of heat and a lot of sass. It pairs well with the Buffalo Chicken wraps either as a side or as a topping.
- Coleslaw for Pulled Pork: if it’s good enough to be slathered onto pulled pork, then it’s definitely going to be good when added onto some Buffalo Chicken Wraps.
- Cauliflower Potato Salad: it’s like eating a loaded baked potato without any of the carbs. So delicious. This rounds out the “down home” flavors of the Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps with a delightful exclamation point.
Final Thoughts on Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps:
FAQs
Most recipe developers use Iceberg Lettuce for lettuce wraps simply because it is readily available and cheap. The very best lettuce for lettuce wraps (and what I use in my recipes) is called Little Gem lettuce. Each piece makes the perfect lettuce wrap, simplifying the process of making the wraps.
If you’re looking for a great complement to the flavors of a buffalo chicken lettuce wrap, just about nothing competes with a good mayonnaise-based coleslaw recipe. The flavors complement one another extraordinarily well, and for adventurous eaters, the coleslaw can be added to the buffalo lettuce wrap, too.
Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked chicken breasts shredded
- 1 bottle 12 oz hot sauce (Franks or Tabasco)
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon Ranch Seasoning Mix can use purchased Ranch mix
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 head iceberg lettuce or several Little Gem lettuce heads
- 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
Ranch Seasoning Mix
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1/2 teaspoon dried chives
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Place a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add in the hot sauce, butter, 1 tablespoon of the Ranch seasoning mix and the yellow mustard. Stir well until the butter is melted, then set aside.
- While the hot sauce is warming, shred the cooked chicken breasts (you can boil, roast, slow cook or grill the chicken breasts) using two forks. You want approximately 4 cups of shredded chicken.
- Place the shredded chicken into a large mixing bowl. Once the butter has melted and the sauce slightly thickened, pour the hot sauce mixture over the shredded chicken.
- Using tongs, nicely coat all the chicken with the hot sauce mixture.
- Peel off layers of either the Iceburg lettuce or the Little Gem lettuce. Place some of the buffalo chicken into the lettuce. Top with some blue cheese crumbles and a little bit of sour cream.
- Enjoy and be ready to come back for seconds.
Notes
- I have not included the cooking time for the shredded chicken. Why? Every time I make this recipe for Keto Buffalo Chicken Wraps, I already have cooked chicken on hand, which I use. Or, I have a rotisserie chicken ready to be shredded (you can see my video on how to Shred a Rotisserie Chicken).
- I did not include the entire recipe for the Ranch Seasoning in the nutritional value for the recipe... only 1 tablespoon has been accounted for in the nutritional values. Any extra of the seasoning mix can be added to a little mixture of mayonnaise and sour cream to make a really nice Ranch Dressing.
Nutrition
“This website provides approximate nutrition data and information for convenience and as a courtesy only.”
2 Responses
It feels like I’m always making shredded chicken these days… my kids are just tearing through it. Last weekend, my daughter asked me to make this for all of her friends coming over for dinner… everyone loved it! I did use cheddar cheese rather than blue cheese crumbles- but it was a definite winner.
I’ve always believed that wholesome ingredients can create the most flavorful dishes, and this recipe proves it. The spicy buffalo chicken paired with cool, crunchy lettuce! What would you suggest serving alongside these wraps?