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Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps are my go-to when I want all the flavor of buffalo wings without the mess, and they come together in about 5 minutes flat. Crispy chicken gets tossed in tangy buffalo sauce and tucked into cool, crunchy butter lettuce with red cabbage, celery, and blue cheese. I threw these together on game day when I wanted something a little lighter on the snack table, and they vanished before the first quarter ended. If you love buffalo everything, our air fryer buffalo chicken tenders are another must-make.
Using prepared chicken tenders makes these wraps ridiculously fast, so they are perfect for a last-minute appetizer or an easy lunch.
Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 0 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 5 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 6 wraps
- ⚡ Calories: 45kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Spicy, tangy buffalo chicken with cool blue cheese and crunchy fresh veggies
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, as simple as our sticky grilled chicken wings
Quick Answer
To make Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps, cut cooked chicken tenders into bite-sized pieces and toss them in buffalo sauce until coated. Separate and clean butter lettuce leaves, then fill each leaf with the buffalo chicken, thinly sliced red cabbage, and celery. Drizzle with blue cheese dressing and sprinkle with blue cheese crumbles, then serve right away for a quick, low-carb appetizer or lunch.
Jump to:
- Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps FAQs
- Other Recommended Easy Appetizer Recipes
- Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Ready in 5 minutes. Using prepared chicken tenders means there is no cooking involved, just toss, fill, and serve.
- All the buffalo flavor, lighter. You get that craveable spicy-tangy buffalo taste wrapped in fresh lettuce instead of bread or fried dough.
- Naturally low-carb. Butter lettuce cups replace tortillas or buns, making these a great keto and gluten-free friendly option.
- Crunchy, cool, and spicy. Crisp cabbage and celery plus cool blue cheese balance the heat of the buffalo sauce perfectly.
- Perfect for parties or lunch. They work as a passed appetizer, a game day snack, or a quick, satisfying weekday lunch.
- Totally customizable. Swap the chicken, the dressing, or the veggies to make them exactly how your crowd likes them.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- They deliver all the flavor of buffalo wings in a fresh, low-carb, 5-minute wrap.
- Crispy buffalo chicken, crunchy veggies, and cool blue cheese come together in every bite.
- They are as easy and crowd-pleasing as our air fryer buffalo chicken tenders.
Key Ingredients
Just a handful of simple ingredients make these buffalo chicken lettuce wraps.
- Chicken tenders: Use prepared crispy chicken tenders, whether store-bought, air-fried, or leftover, cut into bite-sized pieces. They are the hearty, satisfying base of the wraps.
- Buffalo sauce: The star flavor. Toss the chicken in your favorite buffalo sauce for that signature spicy, tangy kick. Adjust the amount to your heat preference.
- Butter lettuce: Soft, pliable butter lettuce leaves make the perfect little cups. Their tender texture holds the filling without cracking like crisp lettuces can.
- Red cabbage and celery: Thinly sliced red cabbage and celery add crunch, freshness, and that classic buffalo wing pairing of celery and spicy chicken.
- Blue cheese: Both blue cheese dressing and crumbles cool down the heat and add rich, tangy flavor, just like dunking our grilled chicken wings.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
These buffalo chicken lettuce wraps are easy to make your own.
- Swap the blue cheese for ranch dressing if you prefer a milder, creamier flavor.
- Use shredded rotisserie chicken or grilled chicken instead of crispy tenders for a lighter version.
- Add shredded carrots, green onion, or diced avocado for even more crunch and freshness.
- Make it a spicy buffalo bowl by serving everything over greens instead of in lettuce cups, like a lighter take on our BBQ chicken snacks.
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Cut the cooked chicken tenders into bite-sized pieces and place them in a bowl.
- Toss the chicken pieces with the buffalo sauce until they are evenly coated. Set aside.
- Slice the veggies and clean the butter lettuce leaves thoroughly. Fill each leaf with buffalo chicken, red cabbage, and celery.
- Drizzle with blue cheese dressing, sprinkle with blue cheese crumbles, and serve right away.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Use sturdy butter lettuce, since its soft, cupped leaves hold the filling best without tearing. Romaine hearts work too.
- Warm the chicken first if using leftovers, so it is nice and crispy before tossing in the sauce.
- Toss the chicken in sauce right before serving so it stays crisp and the lettuce does not get soggy.
- Dry the lettuce well after washing so the wraps are not watery and the dressing clings.
- Set up a wrap bar with all the fillings in bowls so everyone can build their own to their taste.
- Adjust the heat by using more or less buffalo sauce, or offer a milder ranch option on the side.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps are best served fresh and assembled right before eating so the lettuce stays crisp and the chicken stays crunchy. Arrange them on a platter for a party or plate a few for a quick lunch.
For a full game day spread, serve them alongside our air fryer buffalo chicken tenders and a bowl of warm spinach artichoke dip.
Round out an appetizer table with our ham and cheese sliders and cranberry meatballs so there is something for everyone.
Because these are meant to be eaten fresh, they are not ideal for making fully ahead. Instead, prep the components separately: cut the chicken, slice the veggies, and wash the lettuce, then store each in the fridge for up to two days. Toss the chicken in buffalo sauce and assemble the wraps just before serving so everything stays crisp, cool, and fresh.
Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps FAQs
These wraps are best assembled right before serving so the lettuce stays crisp and the chicken stays crunchy. That said, you can prep all the components ahead: cut the chicken, slice the cabbage and celery, and wash and dry the lettuce, then store them separately in the fridge for up to two days. When you are ready, toss the chicken in buffalo sauce and assemble.
Any cooked, crispy chicken tender works beautifully here, whether store-bought, homemade, or air-fried. You can also use grilled chicken, shredded rotisserie chicken, or leftover chicken for a lighter, non-crispy version. Just cut it into bite-sized pieces so it fits neatly in the lettuce cups and toss it in the buffalo sauce.
They can be. Using butter lettuce cups instead of tortillas or buns keeps the carbs low, and blue cheese dressing and crumbles are keto-friendly. To keep them fully low-carb, use breaded chicken made with a low-carb coating or grilled chicken, since traditional breaded tenders add some carbs. Check your buffalo sauce label too, as some contain added sugar.
If blue cheese is not your favorite, ranch dressing is the classic swap and gives a milder, creamier flavor that still pairs perfectly with buffalo chicken. You can also use a light drizzle of sour cream, Greek yogurt ranch, or a dairy-free dressing. Feta or crumbled goat cheese are fun alternatives to blue cheese crumbles too.
Butter lettuce, also called Bibb or Boston lettuce, is ideal because its soft, cupped leaves are pliable and hold the filling without cracking. Romaine hearts and iceberg leaves also work and add extra crunch. Whatever you choose, separate the leaves carefully and pat them dry so the wraps hold together well.
The key is to assemble the wraps right before eating and to dry the lettuce thoroughly after washing. Toss the chicken in buffalo sauce at the last minute rather than letting it sit, which keeps the coating crisp. If you are serving a crowd, set out the components separately and let everyone build their own so nothing sits and softens.
Made these Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps? I would love to hear how they turned out, leave a comment and a star rating below!
Our rice based greek chicken bowls are another light dinner the whole family builds themselves.
Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Place in a bowl and toss with the buffalo sauce, set aside.4 prepared chicken tenders, 3 tablespoons buffalo sauce
- Slice veggies and clean lettuce leaves thoroughly.1 head butter lettuce, 1/2 cup thinly sliced red cabbage, 1/2 cup thinly sliced celery
- Assemble lettuce wraps by placing the desired amount of ingredients into the lettuce leaves, enjoy.Bleu Cheese Dressing, bleu cheese crumbles
Video
Notes
- We used deli chicken tenders for this recipe, but you can use frozen, cook according to package directions. This will add some time onto the recipe itself.
- The best lettuce to use is butter, but there are other options, see above.
- You can make your own homemade blue cheese sauce or bottled for this recipe. Our favorite is Litehouse.
- If you are not a fan of blue cheese, ranch is always a good substitute.
- Feel free to add whatever other toppings you like, this is a great base recipe to build off of.
Nutrition
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Thanks so much! You won’t regret it 😉
Looooove this idea! Perfect for lunch, low carb and high impact flavors. I am so saving this one!
wow thank you very much its a great recipe