Healthy Air Fryer Chicken Wraps

When my kids started asking for chicken wraps every day after school, I thought I’d need to spend hours in the kitchen to keep up with demand. That’s until my neighbor mentioned making them in the air fryer – I honestly didn’t think it would work.

Turns out, I couldn’t have been more wrong. These air fryer chicken wraps are not only quick to make, but they come out perfectly crispy on the outside while staying nice and warm inside. And unlike traditional pan-frying where I’d sometimes burn one side (sorry, family!), the air fryer gets it right every single time.

What Kind of Chicken Should I Use?

For these air fryer wraps, boneless, skinless chicken breast is your best bet, though you could also use chicken tenders if that’s what you have on hand. If you’re looking to save some prep time, you can pick up pre-cut chicken strips from the meat department, just keep in mind they might be a bit pricier than whole breasts. When selecting your chicken, look for pieces that are roughly the same thickness – this helps them cook evenly in the air fryer. If your chicken breasts are particularly thick, you might want to butterfly them or pound them to an even thickness before cooking.

Options for Substitutions

This wrap recipe is super adaptable and you can make several swaps based on what you have in your kitchen:

• Chicken breast: You can easily swap chicken breast with chicken thighs, turkey breast, or even rotisserie chicken (just skip the seasoning and warming step).
• Greek yogurt/sour cream: These are interchangeable with each other, or you can use all mayonnaise if that’s what you have. For a lighter option, try mashed avocado.
• Flour tortillas: While flour tortillas work best for holding everything together, you can use whole wheat tortillas or even low-carb versions. Just warm them slightly to make them more pliable.
• Bacon: Turkey bacon works great here, or you can leave it out. For a vegetarian protein boost, try crispy chickpeas instead.
• Cheddar cheese: Feel free to use any melting cheese you like – Monterey Jack, pepper jack, or a Mexican cheese blend all work well.
• Lettuce: Any crispy lettuce works here – romaine, iceberg, or green leaf are all good choices. You can also use spinach or arugula for a different flavor.
• Cilantro: If you’re not a cilantro fan, try fresh parsley instead. The taste will be different but still fresh and good.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest challenge when making air fryer chicken wraps is overcrowding the air fryer basket, which prevents the chicken from getting that perfect golden-brown exterior – work in batches if needed and leave space between pieces for proper air circulation. A common mistake is slicing the chicken before it’s had a chance to rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking, causing all those flavorful juices to run out instead of staying locked inside the meat. To ensure your wraps don’t become soggy, pat your lettuce completely dry before assembly and avoid overfilling the tortillas, which can lead to tears and messy eating. For the crispiest results, give your assembled wraps a final 2-3 minute toast in the air fryer at 350°F, but keep a close eye on them as tortillas can go from perfectly toasted to burnt in seconds.

What to Serve With Chicken Wraps?

These spicy chicken wraps pair perfectly with some classic sides that’ll round out your meal nicely. A bowl of crispy tortilla chips with fresh guacamole or salsa makes for an easy and tasty companion – plus, who doesn’t love chips with their wrap? For something lighter, try a simple corn and black bean salad dressed with lime juice and cilantro, which complements the Mexican-inspired seasonings in the wrap. If you’re feeding a hungry crowd, some seasoned sweet potato fries or regular french fries from the air fryer would work great since you’ll already have it warmed up from making the chicken.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: If you’ve made extra chicken for these wraps, store the cooked chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The sauce can be kept separately in the fridge for up to 5 days – it actually tastes even better after the flavors have had time to mingle!

Prep Ahead: You can prep most components ahead of time to make quick assembly later. Cook the chicken and bacon, mix the sauce, and shred the cheese – store each separately in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat, just warm up the chicken and bacon, and assemble your wraps with fresh lettuce.

Assembled Wraps: Once assembled, these wraps are best eaten within a few hours. If you need to pack them for lunch, wrap them tightly in foil or plastic wrap, but keep the lettuce separate to prevent sogginess. Add the lettuce right before eating for the best crunch!

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	8 minutes
Total Time	18-23 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 2300-2500
• Protein: 150-170 g
• Fat: 150-170 g
• Carbohydrates: 200-220 g

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless chicken breast
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon chili seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup greek yogurt or sour cream
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
• Juice from one lime
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
• 4 large flour tortillas (burrito-size)
• 6 chopped slices of bacon
• 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 ounces of romaine, iceberg, or green leaf lettuce

Step 1: Prepare the Seasoning Mix

In a small bowl, combine ground cayenne, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, and cumin.

Mix everything together thoroughly to create a flavorful seasoning mix for the chicken.

Step 2: Season and Prep the Chicken

Pat your chicken dry using a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.

Cut the chicken into 1-inch cubes and place them into a large mixing bowl.

Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the chicken.

Use your hands to rub the seasoning into the chicken cubes until they are evenly coated.

Step 3: Air Fry the Chicken

Place the seasoned chicken cubes into the air fryer basket, ensuring they are spread out in a single layer for even cooking.

Air fry the chicken at 400°F for 4 minutes.

Then, flip the chicken pieces and cook for an additional 4 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F to ensure they are thoroughly cooked and juicy.

Step 4: Make the Cilantro Lime Ranch

While the chicken is cooking, prepare the cilantro lime ranch dressing.

In a food processor, combine mayonnaise, Greek yogurt or sour cream, cilantro, lime juice, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.

Blend until the mixture is smooth and well combined, forming a creamy, tangy sauce for your wraps.

Step 5: Assemble the Wraps

To compile your wraps, start by placing a tortilla flat.

Spread a layer of cilantro lime ranch down the center.

Add lettuce, cooked bacon, air-fried chicken cubes, and cheese in a line over the sauce.

To fold, bring in each side of the tortilla perpendicular to the toppings, then roll the bottom up over the filling until the wrap is fully closed.

Repeat this process for the remaining wraps.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Once all wraps are assembled, serve them immediately or pack them for a meal on the go.

These flavorful wraps make a delicious and convenient lunch or dinner!