I still had a few carrots in my fridge and half of a rotisserie chicken, so I decided to mix them up into a delicious chicken Caesar salad and stuff them into a wrap. These Chicken Kale Caesar Wraps were the perfect no-cook, cold lunch or light dinner for this hot weather. No, wait, “hot” is an extreme understatement. Scorching? Steam bath? Let’s just say it’s so hot that I don’t feel like cooking or eating anything hot. …But I still need to eat something other than popsicles.
What Kind of Kale Should I Use?
I used Lacinato kale, or “dino” kale, for these wraps because it’s just a tiny bit more tender than the curly variety. For that reason I really like to use it in recipes where the kale is not cooked. Plus, Lacinato kale leaves are fairly flat and smooth, so they’re much easier to cut and work with. Even though Lacinato kale is slightly more tender, it still holds up really well to the dressing, so you can keep the dressed filling for the wraps in the fridge for a few days without much change in texture. I love that!
What Else is in the Wrap?
I also added some shredded carrot for color and texture, a little bit of Parmesan for extra umami, and my leftover chopped up rotisserie chicken to make a fairly well rounded filling for the wraps. I almost grabbed a bag of croutons to toss in there for extra crunch, too, but at the last minute decided to keep them simple. Even though sesame seeds are very Caesar salad-like, I think they would be an interesting addition to these wraps. And, if you *happen* to have extra bacon or bacon bits (I don’t know has extra bacon laying around, but IF you do…) OMG that would be so good in the wraps.
What Kind of Caesar Dressing Should I Use?
Some Caesar dressings are creamy, some are more like a vinaigrette (like this one from Ken’s Steakhouse). For these wraps I prefer a creamy Caesar dressing. This time I used a creamy caesar made by Girard’s, but Ken’s also makes a nice creamy Caesar.
How Long Do The Wraps Stay Good?
If you plan to make these Kale Chicken Caesar Wraps ahead of time, I suggest mixing up the filling and refrigerating that separately from the wrap itself. Then just fill and fold the wrap the morning of or night before you plan to eat it. The mixed filling should hold up for about 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Kale Chicken Caesar Wraps
Servings 4 wrapsIngredients
- 1 bunch lacinato kale (about 5 cups chopped) ($1.50)
- 1 15oz. can chickpeas ($1.15)
- 2 carrots ($0.24)
- 1/2 rotisserie chicken (2 cups chopped) ($3.50)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan ($0.41)
- Freshly cracked black pepper ( $0.03)
- 1/4 cup creamy Caesar dressing ($0.53)
- 4 large tortillas (burrito size) ($1.20)
Instructions
- Remove the stems from the kale leaves by running a sharp knife along each side of the stem from top to bottom. Stack the de-stemmed leaves, then cut crosswise into thin strips. Place the chopped kale into a colander and rinse well with cool water. Let as much water drain away as possible. Use a salad spinner of blot with a clean, lint-free towel to remove as much moisture as possible. Place the cleaned and dried kale into a large bowl.
- Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Peel the carrots, then shred them using a large holed cheese grater. Remove the chicken meat from the carcass, then roughly chop into small pieces. Add the chickpeas, carrots, chopped chicken, and Parmesan to the bowl with the kale.
- Add 1/4 cup Caesar dressing to the bowl, then stir until everything is evenly coated. Add one heaping cup of the salad mix to the center of a large tortilla. Add some freshly cracked pepper, if desired. Fold in the sides of the tortilla, then roll it up like a burrito. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to a day.
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Notes
Nutrition
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How to Make Kale Chicken Caesar Wraps – Step by Step Photos
I like Lacinato kale for salads because it’s just a bit more tender than curly leaf kale and it’s flat shape makes it a little easier to work with. I used one bunch, but since all bunches vary in size, it ended up being about 5 cups once chopped. Before chopping, remove the stems by running a knife down each side of the stem from top to bottom.
Once the stems are removed, stack the leaves and cut crosswise into strips (about 1/4 inch thick).
Rinse the kale really well and allow as much water to drain away as possible (I like to give the colander a little shake).
You really want the kale to be dry so that the dressing sticks to the leaves instead of getting watery and sliding right off. Plus, watery wraps are not good. So, use a salad spinner or roll the chopped kale up in a clean, lint-free towel to absorb excess moisture.
Peel two carrots, then shred them using a large holed cheese grater. Also drain and rinse one 15oz. can of chickpeas.
Pull the meat from half of a rotisserie chicken, then give it a rough chop so that it is in small pieces. It should be about two cups once chopped.
Add the kale, chickpeas, carrots, chicken, and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan to a bowl.
Add 1/4 cup of creamy Caesar dressing, then stir until everything is coated in dressing. I thought I was going to have to add more dressing at first, but I just kept stirring and eventually, the dressing was distributed.
Add about one heaping cup full of the salad mixture to the center of a large, burrito-sized tortilla.
Fold in the sides, then roll the filling up like a burrito. Enjoy! Chicken Kale Caesar Wraps – I light lunch for HOT days!
What if I’m unable to find lacinto kale? Is it possible that I can substitute lettuce or spinach? Thanks, Beth!!
Yep, you can actually use whatever type of lettuce you like best, but I think something with a bit of crunch works best. :) Romaine is the classic Caesar salad green.
I tried this with spinach and while it does not have the “Kale Crunch”, it does ahve a certain bite to it, a special mouthfeel. Great to find out that someone else is also looking at texture while creating recipes – so important!
Made this (without the sauce) for the whoke week and it was delish! I added some capsicum fir crunch and made a skinny Cesar sauce. The flavours of the kale, chicken, chickpeas and sauce paired so well together. We will be using this recipe again. Thank you.
Such a easy food,I can try and share it with my family.
I didn’t really follow the recipe here – but I did use this as inspiration with what to do with my leftover rotisserie chicken and ceasar salad from Costco. Just chopped up the chicken, mixed with salad and threw it in a tortilla for lunch. :)
I’ve been into cooking lately. Never tried this one before. But i have a very good feeling about it. I mean it’s healthy, it’s kale. What else do we need right?
I won’t rate the recipe because I had to make too many substitutions, but I wanted to thank you for the inspiration.
Instead of the Caesar dressing, I made a quick tahini dressing (with tahini (obviously), lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper and water). I also used some of your shawarma chicken that I had in the freezer instead of rotisserie chicken, and skipped the Parmesan.
It was absolutely delicious, both cold and warm, wrapped in a pita or on its own.
I’ll definitely make it again, and I’ll also try the original recipe as soon as possible, because it looks very yummy!
Awesome! I love it when a recipes inspires a totally new creation. Yours sounds delicious, too! I want to try it. :)
WoW Beth, Just found your site and have got to admit I’m 100% impressed. The layouts of your posts, the pictures, the printable recipe and the look of that FOOOD!!!
Gotta admit you got it going!
Rich
Thanks! Glad you’re enjoying it. :)
Is this sweet? Would raisins pair nicely in the wrap?
I didn’t find it sweet at all. :) I’m not sure I, personally, would like raisins with the Caesar dressing.
Want X 1000, for breakfast! I’m trying to talk my housekeeper (aka darling daughter) into making this, as I am so tired of my breakfast routine. Love your blog, check back often for inspiration.
This is genius and looks so delish! I typically just use kale in smoothies. Time to switch things up!
Is there any danger of the mixture getting too watery after being left in the fridge for a day or two? I wonder if you could wait and only add the dressing directly to the serving you’re making up at the time?
You could definitely wait to add the dressing, but surprisingly mine has not gotten watery at all. I think it’s because kale is a low moisture vegetable, so it doesn’t get weepy and wet as it wilts. :)
I’m so embarrassed that when I want a wrap, I immediately think McDonalds….hmmm, and if I had a few carrots in my fridge and a rotisserie chicken, I’m afraid I’m not creative enough to drum this up! Oh well. These wraps looks so good and are no doubt more healthy than McDonalds, you are putting me to shame. But I’m going to make them anyhow!!
I LOVE wraps. Yummy!! :-)
I love the addition of chickpeas in these.
I just have to say that I LOVE this website so much ah. I am inspired to eat nothing but different kind of wraps this summer now! I’ve been eating nothing but salads and I just want to eat with my hands, is that so wrong? It feels more like a meal when it’s all wrapped up.
Anyways, just a long awaited kudos for Budget Bytes! You make my mouth and tummy (and wallet) very very happy. Thanks Beth!
Awww, thank you!!