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Folded Crispy Cheese and Chicken Wraps inspired by the classic Cuban sandwich. Seasoned chicken, ham, lettuce, herbs, pickles, mustard, and lots of swiss cheese. All folded up into wraps, then pan-fried until warm and crispy. These easy wraps come together quickly, they’re crunchy on the outside, spicy and cheesy inside. Serve with creamy avocado jalapeño sauce for dipping. Great for dinner, but equally fun for game night!
When recipes stop working for me, and I try one new recipe after another that I’m just not that happy with, I start looking into completely new ideas with completely new flavors. A lot of times when I’m not loving recipes, it usually means I’m bored. Bored with the flavors, bored with the idea, just bored.
It takes me some time to come to that realization. But when I do, I go to flavors I haven’t explored nearly enough. Cuban food is definitely one of the cuisines that I’ve barely skimmed the surface of, so I was excited to dive in. Plus a Cuban-style sandwich is actually something a few of you have previously asked for.
So when I started thinking about recipes, that Cuban sandwich came to mind. Almost immediately I was set on the idea.
Unfortunately, I don’t know where to find good Cuban-style bread around here. So instead of sandwiches, I decided to make crispy, cheesy wraps. Plus, I love the idea of folded wraps, they are always delicious.
Now, I understand this isn’t by any means traditional Cuban food. But it’s my fun twist, with lots of Cuban inspiration. I swapped the traditional roasted pork with seasoned chicken and the Cuban-style bread with whole-grain tortillas. I then added one of my favorite creamy sauces.
Not traditional, but very much inspired by ingredients within a Cuban sandwich. And ones that are used in Cuban cooking.
Here’s how you do it
First things first, start with the chicken. I cooked it with onions, garlic, oregano, and lots of cumin. Get the chicken crispy in a skillet and that’s it. Just keep the flavor simple.
When the chicken is cooked, the rest is really just assembling.
Assemble
I took a lot of photos so you could see how this is done, but guys it’s easy. Make a cut down the center of your tortillas, then add the chicken to one corner. Then add the greens to another corner, and finally the cheese to another. Fold it all up, then pan-fry.
So you’ve got….
One-quarter of chicken.
Another quarter of greens, pickles, n’ things.
A quarter full of mustard and ham.
And finally a quarter full of melty swiss and pepper jack cheese.
Now fold it all up into one triangle.
Then the sauce
It’s the creamiest most delicious avocado jalapeño sauce. It’s one of my favorite sauces. The key is to blend the avocado with pickled jalapeños. The pickled jalapeños add a little tanginess and mellow out the spiciness. They make the flavor extra delicious and different from other sauces.
As the wraps cook, the cheese on the outer layer melts out a bit and the most magical thing happens. The cheese melts onto the skillet and becomes crispy and almost fried. It’s really good.
And then, everything else cooks together into a wrap that’s crispy on the outside, but cheesy and saucy inside. The ham, while it might sound different, actually makes these. Something about that combo of pickles, ham, and swiss. So odd, but so good.
Nothing fancy, just really delicious food. Excited to have this recipe on-hand for easy dinners and the Super Bowl this Sunday. It’s just one of those meals that everyone loves!
Looking for other fun sandwiches? Here are my favorites:
Healthier Homemade Crunchwrap Supreme
Everything Cheddar Tomato Bacon Grilled Cheese
Lastly, if you make these Folded Crispy Chicken and Cheese Wraps be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Folded Crispy Chicken and Cheese Wraps
Servings: 4 wraps
Calories Per Serving: 4673 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, using more or less to taste
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 4 large (burrito size) whole wheat, or gluten-free, tortillas
- 2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup chopped pickles
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 4 tablespoons mustard
- 4 very thin slices deli ham
- 1/2 cup shredded swiss cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
Creamy Jalapeño Sauce
- 1 avocado, halved
- 1 cup fresh cilantro
- 1/4- 1/2 cup pickled jalapeños, use to your taste
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/3 cup mayo
Instructions
- 1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over high heat. Add the onion and chicken and cook 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, oregano, cumin, cayenne, and season with salt and pepper. Cook another 5 minutes until the chicken is browned. 2. To assemble, cut down from the center of the tortilla to the edge (see above photo). Spread the chicken in the bottom left corner, then add a handful of the lettuce, pickles, and cilantro on the top left corner. Spread the mustard on the top right corner, add the cheese, and ham (see photos for visuals). Fold the chicken over the lettuce. Then, working clockwise, fold that quarter over the ham. And finally, fold that quarter over the bottom corner with cheese. 3. To make the jalapeño sauce, combine all ingredients except the mayo in a blender. Blend until smooth. Now add the mayo and season with salt. Pulse to combine. 4. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a skillet, add 1 wrap and cook 2-3 minutes per side until crisp and golden brown. Serve warm with jalapeño sauce.
Easy and delicious! These were a big hit at a get together with friends. The sauce has excellent flavor and is an awesome touch, especially for people like me who love all things saucy!!
Hi Heather,
Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad to hear that it was a hit!! xTieghan
Great recipe. Everything about it was good, especially the creamy jalapeno sauce. Thank you for the very instructive pictures and how to fold. The chicken was very flavorful and will be used a lot. Can’t wait to have it in a wrap or on a salad.
Hi Catherine,
Wonderful!! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for giving it a go:) xTieghan
One of the best recipes!! The flavor is so good and it was super easy to make. My husband and I both loved it.
Hi Laurel,
Wonderful!! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for giving it a go:) xTieghan
I made this tonight and it was excellent. All the flavors went great together. I will be making again. It was so quick and easy to put together. Last summer you made an amazing grilled veggie panini, I think that sandwich would be amazing created into one of these wraps. Keep these types of wrap recipes coming, they are quick, easy and full of flavor.
Hi Sarah,
Wonderful!! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for giving it a go:) xTieghan
Very tasty! Agree, the sauce makes it.
Hi Nicole,
Awesome!! I am thrilled that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Have a great week:) xx
Love your recipes! Have not tried this yet and wondered if a panini press would work? TIA
Hey Gail,
Yes, that should work well for you! Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
How do you fold the quarter with the chicken up to the lettuce without the chicken falling all over? I’m looking forward to making these for family dinner night this weekend!!!
Hi Sally,
It might fall a little, just push any pieces that do back inside:) I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Made these tonight! The sauce is AMAZING. It was an excellent change of pace on my weekly menu. Thank you!!!!! We all enjoyed. :))
Hey Jordan,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it!! Have the best day:) xx
These were incredibly easy and incredibly good, most certainly a remake. So much flavor! Thank you!
Hi Tricia,
Wonderful!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks so much for making it! xT
Seriously one of the best things I’ve ever made. So good and so easy!
Hey Anna,
Wonderful!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks so much for making it! xT
I love your creativity! We tried this recipe with leftover pork chops instead of chicken (I shredded the previously seasoned pork chops) to make it taste more like a cuban sandwich and it was amazing! I am cuban and let me tell you, this is a beautiful and creative way of ‘re-interpreting’ the cuban sandwich!
Hey there,
Fantastic!! I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xTieghan
kim and i luv this dish!
looks gorge!?
Hey there,
Fantastic!! I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xTieghan
I made this for the second time in just over a week. This is such a keeper! We love it!
Hi Lynn,
Fantastic!! I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xTieghan
Made this over the weekend. Absolutely phenomenal. Assembly was a bit difficult the first time but after that much easier and whole house loved it!
Hi there,
Awesome!! Thanks a lot for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was a hit. Have the best week:) xx
Another fabulous winner!! I made your chipotle chicken ones last week and my fiance and I were OBSESSED! When I saw these the other day on your website, I knew I had to make them – we have a thing for Cubans! I had leftover carniats that I used in place of the chicken and it was *chefs kiss*. Thanks for your wonderful recipes!
Hey Sarah,
Happy Friday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan