Zesty Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps (30-Min Meal!)

The Flavor of Game Day, Remixed for Summer

Growing up in Buffalo, New York, the smell of spicy, tangy buffalo sauce is practically part of the city’s DNA. It means game days, family gatherings, and pure, unadulterated flavor. But on a hot summer day, a heavy plate of wings didn’t always feel right. That’s how this recipe was born—a quest to capture 100% of that addictive buffalo flavor in a lighter, fresher form. These buffalo chicken lettuce wraps are the brilliant result, giving you all the zest and excitement without weighing you down.

A typical order of restaurant wings can easily top 1,000 calories. What if you could get that same bold, crave-worthy taste for a fraction of the calories and have it on the table in under 30 minutes? This recipe makes it happen.

Ingredients: A Symphony of Spice & Cool

This recipe is all about the dynamic play between spicy buffalo chicken and a cool, creamy dressing. We’ve included classic ingredients and popular, healthier variations right in the list, so you can customize it to your taste.

this now & bake later ❤️

Timing: Fresh & Fast

This entire meal comes together in less time than it takes to get takeout delivered, making it a weeknight hero.

• Preparation Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking Time: 10-12 minutes
• Total Time: Approx. 27 minutes

Step-by-Step Guide to Flavor Town

Step 1: Mix the Creamy Dressing

Let’s start with the cool-down crew. In a small bowl, whisk together the crumbled blue cheese (or feta), mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt), milk, lemon juice, parsley, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix until it’s as smooth as you like it. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper if needed. Set it aside in the refrigerator to let the flavors meld while you cook.

Step 2: Cook the Chicken

Pat your cubed chicken breasts dry with a paper towel and season them generously with the 1 teaspoon of salt. Heat the canola oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chicken in a single layer. Pro Tip: Don’t overcrowd the pan! Cook in two batches if necessary to ensure the chicken sears to a beautiful golden brown instead of steaming. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cooked through.

Step 3: Make the Zesty Buffalo Sauce

While the chicken is cooking, whisk together the lime juice, hot sauce (or Sriracha), and honey in a separate bowl. This is your sweet, spicy, and tangy buffalo sauce.

Step 4: Combine and Finish the Filling

Once the chicken is fully cooked, reduce the heat to low. Pour the buffalo sauce mixture over the chicken in the skillet. Stir continuously until the sauce thickens slightly and coats every piece of chicken beautifully, about 1-2 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Step 5: Assemble Your Wraps

It’s time to build your masterpiece! Arrange the crisp lettuce leaves on a platter. Stir the sliced cucumber, celery, and carrots into the warm buffalo chicken mixture. Spoon the filling generously into each lettuce cup. Drizzle with your homemade creamy dressing and serve immediately.

Nutritional Information

These wraps are designed to be both satisfying and nutritious. Here’s an approximate breakdown per serving (2 wraps), using Greek yogurt for the dressing.

Compared to an order of traditional wings, these wraps offer a high-protein meal with significantly fewer calories and fat, plus a healthy serving of fresh vegetables.

Healthy Swaps & Fun Variations

This recipe is incredibly versatile. Here’s how you can make it your own:

• Go Leaner: The recipe is already healthy, but using Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise for the dressing not only cuts fat but also adds an extra 5-6 grams of protein.
• Use Ground Chicken: For an even faster cook time, substitute the chicken breasts with 1 pound of ground chicken. Simply brown and crumble it before adding the sauce.
• Make it a Salad: Don’t want to bother with wraps? Chop the lettuce and toss all the ingredients together for a delicious and hearty buffalo chicken salad.
• Tortilla Time: As noted in the ingredients, if you’re looking for a more substantial meal, serve the filling in warmed flour or corn tortillas instead of lettuce.

Serving Suggestions

These buffalo chicken lettuce wraps are perfect for almost any occasion.

• Quick Weeknight Dinner: They are a complete, balanced meal that’s ready in a flash.
• Game Day Appetizer: Serve them as a lighter, easier-to-eat alternative to messy wings at your next watch party.
• Perfect for Meal Prep: Cook the chicken filling and make the dressing ahead of time. When you’re ready to eat, just reheat the chicken and assemble the wraps for a lightning-fast lunch or dinner.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using Flimsy Lettuce: Choose a sturdy lettuce with large, cup-shaped leaves like Iceberg, Butter, or Romaine hearts. A flimsy leaf will tear and won’t hold the filling.
2. Overcooking the Chicken: Cubed chicken breast cooks very quickly. Overcooking it will result in dry, tough meat. Cook it just until it’s no longer pink in the center.
3. Crowding the Pan: Giving the chicken space in the pan allows it to get a nice sear, which adds a ton of flavor. If you overcrowd it, the chicken will steam and can become rubbery.
4. Skipping the Fresh Veggies: The crunchy, cool cucumber, celery, and carrots are essential for providing textural contrast and a refreshing bite to balance the spicy chicken.

Storing for Later

For the best results, store the components separately.

• Buffalo Chicken: The cooked filling can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop.
• Dressing: The creamy dressing will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
• Lettuce & Veggies: Wash and thoroughly dry your lettuce leaves. Store them in a zip-top bag with a paper towel to absorb moisture. Keep chopped veggies in a separate container.

Your New Favorite Way to Eat Buffalo Chicken

This recipe delivers everything you love about buffalo flavor—the tangy heat, the savory chicken, the cool and creamy dressing—in a fresh, fast, and satisfying format. These buffalo chicken lettuce wraps are incredibly flavorful, endlessly customizable, and perfect for a quick dinner, healthy lunch, or party appetizer. They are a true testament to the idea that delicious food can also be vibrant and energizing.

Give this recipe a try and let us know what you think! Drop a comment and a review below, and be sure to subscribe for more easy and delicious meal ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the best kind of lettuce for lettuce wraps?

The best choices are lettuces that are both sturdy and naturally cup-shaped. Iceberg lettuce provides the best crunch, Butter lettuce (like Bibb or Boston) is tender and pliable, and Romaine hearts are sturdy and boat-shaped.

Q2: Can I use rotisserie chicken to make this even faster?

Absolutely! Using a store-bought rotisserie chicken is a fantastic shortcut. Simply shred or cube about 3-4 cups of cooked chicken. You can skip the cooking step and warm the chicken in a skillet before adding the buffalo sauce.

Q3: How spicy is this recipe?

The spice level depends on your hot sauce. Louisiana-style hot sauces (like Frank’s RedHot) have a moderate, tangy heat. Sriracha has a bit more of a garlicky, sweet heat. You can easily adjust the spice by using more or less hot sauce or by adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce for an extra kick.

Zesty Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps (30-Min Meal!)

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• Author: Evelyn Marcella Rivera
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 people (2 wraps each) 1x

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Description

Spicy, tangy buffalo-honey chicken nestled in crisp lettuce leaves (or warmed tortilla shells), drizzled with a creamy blue-cheese-Greek-yogurt sauce, and topped with fresh cucumber, celery, and carrots. Ready in just 30 minutes, these wraps are a light, flavorful dinner the whole family will love!

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

Dressing:

• 1/3 cup Crumbled blue cheese (Or feta)
• 1/4 cup Mayonnaise (Or Greek yogurt)
• 2 Tbsp 2% milk (Or any milk)
• 4 1/2 tsp Lemon juice (Freshly squeezed)
• 1 Tbsp Fresh parsley minced
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Buffalo Chicken:

• 1 lb Boneless skinless chicken breasts (Cubed)
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 Tbsp Canola oil
• 1/4 cup Lime juice (Freshly squeezed)
• 1/4 cup Louisiana-style hot sauce (Or sriracha)
• 1/4 cup Honey

Veggie Toppings & Assembly:

• 1 small Cucumber (Halved seeded, thinly sliced)
• 1 rib Celery (Thinly sliced)
• 3/4 cup Julienned carrots
• 8 leaves Lettuce leaves (Butter or romaine)
• Warmed tortilla shells (Optional for wrap-in-shell)

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Instructions

Make the Dressing:

1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together blue cheese, mayonnaise, milk, lemon juice, parsley, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Cook the Chicken:

1. Season cubed chicken with salt. Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add chicken and sauté 5–7 minutes until cooked through and lightly golden.

Toss in Buffalo Sauce:

1. Stir together lime juice, hot sauce, and honey in a small bowl.
2. Pour over cooked chicken and toss to coat. Cook 1–2 minutes more until sauce is slightly thickened and glossy.

Prep Veggies & Wraps:

1. While chicken cooks, arrange cucumber, celery, and carrots on a platter.
2. Separate and wash lettuce leaves; warm tortillas if using.

Assemble Wraps:

1. Spoon buffalo chicken into each lettuce leaf (or tortilla).
2. Drizzle generously with blue-cheese dressing.
3. Top with sliced cucumber, celery, and carrots.

Serve:

1. Arrange wraps on a serving tray alongside extra dressing for dipping. Enjoy immediately.

Notes

• Heat Level: Adjust hot-sauce amount to taste.

• Make-Ahead: Whisk dressing and marinate chicken in buffalo sauce up to 4 hours ahead.

• Protein Swap: Use shredded rotisserie chicken for an even faster meal.

• Extra Crunch: Add chopped nuts (like peanuts or cashews) for texture.

• Low-Carb Option: Omit tortillas and serve strictly in lettuce wraps.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Lunch, Main Course
• Cuisine: American, Tex-Mex

Nutrition

• Calories: 360