Spicy Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Creamy Ranch Dressing

These fun and flavorful lettuce wraps make for a lighter, healthier take on buffalo chicken. Shredded chicken is tossed in a cayenne-hot sauce then wrapped up in crisp lettuce leaves and served with a cooling ranch dipping sauce. They have all the addictive spicy, creamy flavors of your favorite game-day appetizer, but in handheld, lower-carb form that's easy to customize. Whether you're watching the big game or making a healthy weeknight dinner, these buffalo chicken lettuce wraps are sure to score big.

Ingredients

To make buffalo chicken lettuce wraps for 4 servings, you'll need:

• 2 large chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
• 1⁄2 cup hot sauce (Frank's RedHot or similar)
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 head butter or green leaf lettuce
• 1⁄2 cup ranch dressing
• 1 avocado, sliced
• Chopped celery (for garnish)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Constructing these spicy lettuce wraps is simple:

1. In a bowl, toss shredded chicken with hot sauce, melted butter and cayenne until coated.
2. Separate lettuce leaves and rinse to remove grit.
3. Place 2-3 tablespoons chicken mixture into each lettuce leaf.
4. Top with ranch dressing, avocado slices and celery bits.
5. Wrap lettuce around fillings and enjoy!

Choosing the Best Ingredients

Quality ingredients take these wraps to the next level. Look for:

Chicken

• Boneless, skinless breasts or thighs.
• Cook until no longer pink inside.
• Shred finely for even distribution.
• Rotisserie chicken works too.

Lettuce

• Butter or romaine have pliable leaves.
• Iceberg works but may be too brittle.
• Look for heads without browning or wilting.
• Green leaf, Boston bibb also work well.

Sauces

• Frank's RedHot or other Buffalo-style hot sauce.
• Ranch dressing balances spice. Make your own or use store-bought.
• Blue cheese dressing is another classic pairing.

Quality ingredients mean you need just a few components.

Prep Tips for Chicken

Be sure to:

• Cook chicken breasts until no pink remains inside.
• Let chicken rest 5 minutes before shredding for juiciness.
• Shred across the grain into long thin pieces.
• Moisten with Buffalo sauce as you shred to prevent dryness.
• To save time, use rotisserie chicken.

Properly shredding the chicken keeps these wraps tender and tasty.

Constructing the Lettuce Wraps

Building the wraps is easy but follow these tips:

• Rinse lettuce leaves well and pat dry.
• Choose leaves large enough to contain filling.
• Add chicken mixture near base of leaf.
• Top with sauce, veggies, cheese, etc.
• Avoid overstuffing or they will tear.
• Wrap lettuce around filling and tuck in sides.

Use properly sized clean lettuce leaves and the right amount of filling for tidy wraps.

Customizing Filling and Toppings

Personalize wraps with mix-ins like:

• Veggies - Onion, tomato, pepper, carrot, etc.
• Cheese - Cheddar, blue cheese, pepper jack.
• Crunch - Celery, radish, jicama.
• Herbs - Cilantro, parsley, basil.
• Sauce - Ranch, blue cheese dressing, guacamole.

Get creative with flavors to make these wraps your own.

Serving Suggestions

Serve lettuce wraps with:

• Celery sticks and carrot sticks.
• Tortilla chips, pita chips.
• Cucumber slices, pepper slices.
• Side salad with ranch or vinaigrette.
• Hummus, guacamole, salsa dips.
• Fruit like grapes, berries, melon.

Crunchy fresh vegetables and dipping sauces complement these flavorful wraps.

Storage and Leftovers

For best results:

• Refrigerate leftover chicken and wraps separately.
• Chicken keeps 3-4 days, lettuce 1-2 days.
• Reheat chicken in microwave with splash of water.
• Crisp lettuce back up in ice water 5 minutes.
• Assemble wraps with fresh veggies and sauce.

Proper storage keeps these wraps' components fresh and crisp.

Nutrition Facts

Buffalo chicken lettuce wraps offer nutrients like:

• Protein from chicken to keep you full.
• Vitamin A, vitamin K from lettuce.
• Prebiotics from ranch dressing.
• Antioxidants from hot sauce.
• Fiber, vitamin C from toppings like carrot and celery.

The lettuce wraps provide more nutrition than fried chicken wings!

Conclusion

These fun, hand-held buffalo chicken lettuce wraps are a fresh and lighter way to enjoy classic game day flavors. The crisp lettuce leaves make the perfect low-carb carrier for the spicy, shredded chicken filling. Drizzled with creamy, cooling ranch dressing and topped with crunchy veggies, they offer spice, crunch, and creaminess in every bite - no deep fryer required! Customize them to your tastes and enjoy as an appetizer or main dish any time.

5 Frequently Asked Questions about Buffalo Chicken Wraps

1. What's the best lettuce to use?

Butter or romaine lettuce leaves work great. They are pliable but sturdy enough to contain the filling.

2. Can I bake the chicken instead of frying?

Absolutely! Baked or rotisserie chicken breast is healthier and easier to shred for these wraps.

3. What dipping sauces go well with them?

Ranch and blue cheese dressing are classics. Hummus, guacamole and salsa work great too.

4. How long do they last refrigerated?

Store lettuce and chicken separately. Lettuce lasts 1-2 days, chicken 3-4 days refrigerated.

5. Can I meal prep buffalo chicken wraps?

Yes, prep chicken and store separately from whole lettuce heads. Assemble wraps right before eating for best results.