Description
This Hot Honey Chicken Caesar Wrap recipe combines crispy fried chicken strips tossed in a sweet and spicy hot honey glaze, paired with a classic Caesar salad filling and wrapped in warm flour tortillas. Perfect for a flavorful and satisfying meal that blends spicy, sweet, and savory notes with a crunchy texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Breading
- 2 large chicken breasts, cut into strips
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil for frying
Hot Honey Sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1.5 tablespoons hot sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Caesar Salad Filling
- 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/2 cup Caesar dressing
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
- 1 cup croutons (optional)
Wraps
- 4 large flour tortillas, 10-inch
Instructions
- Marinate Chicken: Place chicken strips in a bowl and cover completely with buttermilk. Let rest for at least 15 minutes to tenderize and enhance juiciness.
- Prepare Breading Mixture: In a shallow dish, combine flour, panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly to evenly distribute the seasonings.
- Coat Chicken: Remove chicken strips from buttermilk and dredge each piece in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to ensure an even coat.
- Fry Chicken: Heat 1/2 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. In batches, fry coated chicken strips for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Prepare Hot Honey: In a small saucepan over low heat, combine honey, hot sauce, and red pepper flakes (if using). Warm gently while stirring for about 2 minutes until flavors meld. Remove from heat immediately to prevent burning.
- Coat Chicken in Hot Honey: Add the fried chicken strips to the warm hot honey sauce and toss thoroughly until each piece is evenly coated and glossy.
- Assemble Caesar Salad: In a large bowl, combine chopped romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, and grated Parmesan cheese. Toss gently to ensure all leaves are coated. Add halved cherry tomatoes and croutons if desired, and mix lightly.
- Warm Tortillas: Heat tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat for 30 seconds per side until warm and pliable, or microwave wrapped in a damp paper towel for 20 seconds.
- Assemble Wraps: Place each warm tortilla flat on a surface. Layer the Caesar salad mixture in the center, then top with hot honey chicken strips. Fold in the opposing sides and roll tightly toward you to form a wrap.
- Serve: Slice each wrap diagonally in half and serve immediately while the hot honey chicken remains warm and the salad fresh.
Notes
- Make sure the oil is at the right temperature (around 350°F) before frying to ensure crispy chicken without greasiness.
- You can adjust the heat level by varying the amount of hot sauce and red pepper flakes in the hot honey sauce.
- For a lighter option, bake the breaded chicken strips at 400°F for 20 minutes until golden and cooked through instead of frying.
- The optional cherry tomatoes and croutons add extra texture and freshness but can be omitted if preferred.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor in the Caesar salad mixture.
