Best Southwest Chicken Wrap Recipe | Modernmealmakeover.com (2024)

This Southwest chicken wrap makes a tasty dinner or an easy grab and go lunch. It can be ready to serve in under 30 minutes, making it a great option when you are in a pinch or even if it is just a busy weeknight! With chicken, veggies, black beans, and a flavorful southwest dressing, this is a wrap recipe that you just can’t pass up!

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In my house, especially on busy weekdays, I always go for a simple, quick lunch or dinner recipe. These southwest chicken wraps have quickly become one of our favorites. The chicken makes it a protein packed, filling meal, and you will even get some veggies in! These versatile wraps combine protein filled chicken with nutrient rich vegetables for a healthy meal. The chicken and veggies are topped with a delicious homemade dressing that gives these chicken wraps the perfect amount of flavor.

This Southwest chicken wrap is so easy to make that it can be a quick dinner or an on the go lunch. To make this wrap, you start by baking your chicken strips. I always use frozen chicken strips unless I have leftover homemade chicken on hand. While the chicken is cooking, you can mix up your dressing. This is a simple mixture of mayonnaise, milk, salsa, taco seasoning, and cumin. Once that is finished, you can brown your corn in a skillet. After you have done that, all that is left to do is assemble your wrap! Add the chicken, dressing, corn, black beans, lettuce, tomato, and cheese into your tortilla and, voila! You have a tasty wrap ready to eat.

If you love easy chicken wrap recipes for your family dinners, you might want to check out our Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken, and our Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts.

Why You’ll Love this Southwest Chicken Wrap Recipe

• This versatile spicy chicken wrap can be served for dinner or made ahead for an easy, grab and go lunch.
• It is very simple to make this wrap a healthy, veggie packed recipe!
• The homemade dressing gives this southwest chicken wrap the perfect combination of flavor and spice.
• With protein and veggies, this Southwest chicken wrap is very filling.
• You can easily make this wrap recipe your own by switching up what you decide to put into it!

Southwest Chicken Wrap Ingredients

• Chicken Tenders: To keep this Southwest wrap recipe simple I like to buy the frozen crispy breaded chicken breasts and pop them in the oven. To cut back on calories, you can also use grilled chicken tenders.
• Flour Tortillas: Use your favorite flour, whole wheat, protein, low carb, or spinach tortillas for these Southwest chicken wraps.
• Lettuce: I prefer to use romaine lettuce in this wrap, but you can use whatever you have in the fridge.
• Tomato: Pick a couple medium-large tomatoes and cut into slices. If you don’t like tomatoes, omit them all together.
• Black Beans: Black beans are a good source of fiber, and protein. Drain and rinse black beans before serving adding them to your wrap.
• Corn: You can use canned or frozen corn that has been thawed.
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese: I like to keep it simple and use the shredded cheddar cheese that I always have on hand. Other great options are Mexican, Colby Jack, and Monterey Jack cheeses.

Southwest Dressing

• Mayonnaise: I like to use lite mayo to cut down on calories and fat.
• Milk: Any kind of milk will work for this homemade dressing. I used 1% milk.
• Salsa: I always have our homemade canned salsa on hand, but any kind of salsa will work in this dressing.
• Taco Seasoning: Taco seasoning adds such great flavor to this southwest dressing, I always have our homemade Taco Seasoning on hand. You can make a big batch and keep it in the cupboard.

How to make the best Southwest Chicken Wrap

• Preheat oven according to package directions and bake chicken strips.
• In a small mixing bowl add mayonnaise, milk, salsa, taco seasoning, and cumin. Mix well and set aside.
• While chicken is baking, place thawed corn into a small skillet with 1 Tbsp. oil and cook until corn is lightly browned.
• Remove Chicken from the oven and cut into small strips.
• Start assembling your chicken wraps by adding a couple Tbsp. of the southwest dressing to the lower half of the tortilla. Add romaine lettuce, sliced tomatoes, black beans, corn, chicken strips, and drizzle more southwest dressing on top.
• Roll up tortilla tightly, cut in half and serve with a side of southwest dressing. Enjoy!

Popular Substitutions and Additions

You can use any kind of tortilla for this Southwest chicken wrap. I like to use flour or spinach, but you could also use whole grain, low carb, or even gluten free. You will want to avoid corn tortillas for these wraps – they don’t roll well and may fall apart.

For the chicken, you can choose either breaded or fried frozen chicken. I have even used leftover homemade chicken in these Southwestern chicken wraps, and they turned out to be delicious! You could also use shredded rotisserie chicken if you have one on hand.

What to Serve with Southwest Chicken Wraps

I love to serve this wrap with a side of chips and salsa. It really gives it that southwestern feel! I usually do this Homemade Fresh Peach Salsa. If you prefer queso, serve this chicken wrap with chips and Crock Pot White Queso Dip. You could even dip your wrap into the cheese dip – yum!

If you want to pair this southwest chicken wrap with something on the lighter side, opt for a pasta salad. If you have any leftover corn or black beans, you can use them to make this tasty Mexican Pasta Salad.

Storing Southwest Chicken Wraps

Southwest chicken wrap ingredients are best stored in separate containers to prevent all the ingredients from getting soggy. Store them in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days. When you are ready, reheat chicken and assemble wraps like the recipe instructions below.

Southwest Chicken Wrap Recipe FAQ’s

Can I grill this southwest chicken wrap?

Sure! If you prefer your wraps to be crunchy on the outside and melty cheese on the inside, you can grill your wrap on a grill or in a skillet. You could also press it with a panini press. If your wrap starts to open while you are cooking it, just stick a toothpick in it to hold it closed.

Can I make this chicken wrap into a salad?

Yes, you can easily turn this Southwestern chicken wrap into a salad. One of my favorite things to do if I’m not feeling like a wrap is to make a nice hearty chicken salad. Simply layer lettuce, tomato, corn, black beans, cheddar cheese, and chicken. Top with a drizzle of the Southwest dressing, and you have yourself a delicious salad recipe.

Is there a store bought dressing that is comparable to this homemade dressing?

I have not found a store bought dressing that I like as much as this homemade version, but you can always make the dressing ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until you are ready to use it.

Other favorite chicken recipes

• Oriental Chicken Wrap
• Chicken Salad Sandwich
• Grilled Chicken Quinoa Bowls
• Tuscan Chicken Mac and Cheese

Have you tried this recipe?

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46 Comments

1. Megan

   February 15, 2021 at 2:28 pm ·Reply

   Could you sub some sour cream for the mayo? I’m not a huge mayo fan and I’m wondering if sour cream would work for this? Maybe it would make it a bit thicker?

   • April

     February 15, 2021 at 2:40 pm ·Reply

     Yes, you definitely can use sour cream. Let me know what you think with the substitution.

     • Jill

       May 20, 2023 at 4:01 pm ·Reply

       
       I used the sour cream as a substitute and it’s amazing! Just adds a little bit more of a “bite” to it.

       • Jessie

         September 25, 2023 at 11:36 am ·Reply

         Question, could I make these for dinner ahead of time, put in the fridge. Then heat them in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes?

         • April King

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           September 25, 2023 at 3:05 pm

           I don’t see why not, let me know if it turns out for you.

2. Emily Mashburn

   February 22, 2021 at 9:05 am ·Reply

   What kind of salsa did you use?

   • April

     February 22, 2021 at 11:30 am ·Reply

     I used our homemade canned salsa recipe, but any kind of salsa will work in the sauce.

3. Sarah Gutierrez

   March 1, 2021 at 8:27 pm ·Reply

   Do you have any suggestions for a side dish to go with these wraps? Can’t wait to try them!

   • April

     March 1, 2021 at 9:30 pm ·Reply

     Hi Sarah,
     We usually make a batch of seasoned French fries or tater tots to go with the wrap. We love to dip them in the southwest sauce, it’s the best.
     ‘

4. Kim

   March 15, 2021 at 5:46 pm ·Reply

   
   My husband and I loved this. This is an easy recipe and we had everything we needed to make them.

   • April

     March 15, 2021 at 6:57 pm ·Reply

     I’m glad you both enjoyed it, it’s one of my families favorites.

5. Melissa Storath

   March 25, 2021 at 5:14 pm ·Reply

   
   Delicious, we used leftover roasted chicken.

   • April

     March 25, 2021 at 7:15 pm ·Reply

     I’m so glad you liked it.

     • Tammy

       January 22, 2022 at 12:11 pm ·Reply

       Do you cook the beans first?

       • April King

         January 22, 2022 at 2:35 pm ·Reply

         I use canned black beans, so there is no need to cook them. Just drain and rinse.

6. Sonia Harms

   April 7, 2021 at 5:21 pm ·Reply

   
   This recipe is amazing! These wraps are so delicious. I made the sauce ahead of time. Bought Tyson precooked chicken strips. Tossed them in the air fryer and the meal was together in no time. Thank you for a great one that will be added to our rotation!

   • April

     April 8, 2021 at 11:31 am ·Reply

     I’m so glad you enjoyed them. We love easy dinners in our home!!

     • Ashley

       November 9, 2023 at 10:17 pm ·Reply

       
       I am a fan of southwest chicken wraps so have to try your recipe. I am in love and you make instructions so easy. I like your shortcut to the dressing.

7. Erin

   April 22, 2021 at 2:53 pm ·Reply

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   It was good but the sauce felt like it was missing something. Overall it was quick and easy.

   • April King

     April 22, 2021 at 6:44 pm ·Reply

     Glad you liked it. I would love to hear if you end up adding something to the sauce.

   • Sara

     June 15, 2021 at 3:19 pm ·Reply

     I added a sprinkle of Hidden valleyspicy ranch seasoning mix to it and it was amazing!

8. Bea

   February 3, 2022 at 1:00 pm ·Reply

   
   Thanks for this recipe! I made it twice already in one week for my family because they love it!

   • April King

     February 3, 2022 at 2:40 pm ·Reply

     So glad your family is enjoying the recipe. It’s one of our families favorites too!

9. Danielle

   February 22, 2022 at 8:58 pm ·Reply

   
   Delicious, quick, and filling. Perfect recipe for quick lunch or dinner! Made extra sauce to keep in fridge for more wraps this week.

   • April King

     February 23, 2022 at 2:00 pm ·Reply

     So glad you loved them.

10. Mikki

    March 18, 2022 at 7:34 pm ·Reply

    This recipe was so good and easy! I added a little extra salsa on top after I made the wrap, took it over the top!

    • April King

      March 18, 2022 at 7:43 pm ·Reply

      I’m so happy to hear you loved the recipe. Thank you for sharing.

11. Jessica

    March 29, 2022 at 3:24 pm ·Reply

    
    If your in a hurry like I usually am, use hidden valley chipotle southwest dressing…so good!

    • April King

      April 13, 2022 at 12:28 pm ·Reply

      Oh yummy, that sounds amazing. Thank you for sharing.

12. Emily

    March 29, 2022 at 6:09 pm ·Reply

    Was wondering if you could substitute or just take out the milk in the dressing? I do have heavy cream didn’t know if a little of that would work

    • April King

      April 13, 2022 at 12:28 pm ·Reply

      You could substitute the milk for sour cream.

13. Ruth

    April 24, 2022 at 1:59 pm ·Reply

    What size bag of frozen corn do you use?

    • April King

      April 26, 2022 at 11:06 am ·Reply

      I use an 8oz bag

14. Crissy

    April 29, 2022 at 8:48 am ·Reply

    
    This was a great wrap! I didn’t make the dressing, I used a bottled ancho chile ranch, pico instead of tomatoes, and cooked the corn in the microwave. Delicious!

    • April King

      April 29, 2022 at 10:08 am ·Reply

      Crissy, I’m so glad you loved the wrap. Thank you for sharing your substitutions. They sound delicious.

15. Megan

    July 28, 2022 at 5:54 pm ·Reply

    
    These were fantastic!! I made a few modifications just to try different things; I made homemade fried chicken for this. and instead of using salsa for the southwest dressing, I found a corn black bean red pepper salsa that I used and used limited mayo and milk (did not use taco seasoning as the salsa was already spicy). Added yellow rice and a cilantro lime crema sauce we got from the store. These were SOOO GOOD and such a wonderful change of pace!

    • April King

      July 29, 2022 at 10:13 am ·Reply

      I love all the substitutions you made. Thank you for sharing.

16. Meghan

    August 7, 2022 at 4:54 pm ·Reply

    
    Very delicious and simple to make. Actually ran out of tortillas before the filling. Still trying to figure out how to eat the rest without the tortillas.

    • April King

      August 16, 2022 at 3:01 pm ·Reply

      On top of lettuce is a delicicious option.

17. Amy

    August 14, 2022 at 9:04 am ·Reply

    I am going to make these tonight, sounds delicious! Has anyone made this recipe and heated their wraps up in frying pan? Thinking of trying it.

18. Taylor

    August 16, 2022 at 10:38 am ·Reply

    
    Make it with leftover rotisserie chicken, it was amazing!

    • April King

      August 16, 2022 at 2:53 pm ·Reply

      So glad you loved it.

19. Sasha

    February 17, 2023 at 6:05 pm ·Reply

    
    Did this in a salad/ bowl instead of a wrap! Added some hidden valley ranch mix to the dressing and swapped low fat sour cream for mayo! Yum yum yum!

20. Anna

    March 31, 2023 at 4:30 pm ·Reply

    
    Absolutely Love this recipe. It’s quick and easy, even my picky 10 yr old loves this. Thanks for sharing 💙💚

21. Raigan

    July 17, 2023 at 8:49 am ·Reply

    Can these be make a day or so ahead of time for a party or will they get soggy?

    • April King

      July 17, 2023 at 12:10 pm ·Reply

      I would recommend making them the day of so they tortilla doesn’t get soggy.