Crunchy, flavorful, and downright addictive—this Crispy Chicken Wonton Tacos Recipe hits all the right notes. I love how the crispy wonton shells pair perfectly with the savory chicken and tangy coleslaw, making every bite a delightful mix of textures and tastes.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
I'm genuinely excited to share this Crispy Chicken Wonton Tacos Recipe because it’s a fantastic blend of crispy, tangy, and hearty flavors all wrapped into one fun handheld treat. It’s great for casual dinners or when you want to impress friends without too much fuss.
- Perfectly Crispy Wonton Shells: Baking the wonton wrappers until crunchy gives you that satisfying crisp every taco deserves.
- Flavor-Packed Chicken Filling: The hoisin and soy sauce combo with garlic and ginger adds a delicious Asian-inspired depth.
- Zesty, Crunchy Slaw: The coleslaw with a touch of honey and rice vinegar brings freshness and balance to each bite.
- Simple Yet Impressive: You don’t need fancy ingredients or complicated techniques to wow with this recipe.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The ingredients here come together beautifully — the hoisin and soy sauce create a savory glaze, the fresh ginger and garlic add aromatic brightness, and the crispy wonton shells provide the perfect base. When you shop, choose fresh chicken breasts and grab pre-made wonton wrappers for convenience.
- Chicken breasts: Using diced chicken breasts allows for quick cooking and even distribution in your tacos.
- Hoisin sauce: Adds a sweet, tangy, and umami-rich flavor that’s key to the chicken’s signature taste.
- Sesame oil: Imparts a subtle nutty aroma that enhances the Asian-inspired profile.
- Soy sauce: For saltiness and depth, soy sauce balances the sweetness perfectly.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic amps up the flavor with its pungent kick.
- Fresh ginger: Adds zing and warmth, essential in many Asian dishes.
- Coleslaw mix: The crunchy veggies create a refreshing contrast to the rich chicken.
- Green onions: Bright and mildly sharp, green onions add freshness and a pop of color.
- Rice vinegar: Brings acidity to the slaw, balancing sweetness and richness.
- Honey: Sweetens the slaw dressing naturally and complements the savory chicken.
- Wonton wrappers: The star of the show—they crisp up into perfect little taco shells.
- Sweet chili sauce: For drizzling on top, this adds a delightful sweet heat kick.
- Cilantro and sesame seeds: Garnishes that bring brightness and extra texture.
Make It Your Way
I love tweaking this Crispy Chicken Wonton Tacos Recipe based on what’s in season or my mood. You can easily switch up the slaw or add some heat if that’s your vibe.
- Variation: Sometimes I swap out the coleslaw for shredded napa cabbage and carrots tossed in a spicy mayo for a creamier bite that still packs a punch.
- Heat it up: Adding a dash of sriracha or even diced jalapeños to the chicken mixture kicks up the spice level beautifully.
- Make it vegetarian: Use tofu or diced mushrooms instead of chicken, and double the hoisin for that umami boost.
- Gluten-free option: Try rice paper shells or corn tortillas toasted until crispy if you can’t find or prefer not to use wonton wrappers.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Crispy Chicken Wonton Tacos Recipe
Step 1: Prep and crisp the wonton shells
First, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly spray or brush both sides of the wonton wrappers with cooking spray or a neutral oil. I like to drape them over the edges of a 9x13 baking dish so they form taco-shaped cups. Bake for about 7-8 minutes—keep a close eye here to avoid burning! When they’re slightly pliable, gently pull them apart so you can fill them more easily. Pop them back in the oven for another 7-8 minutes until they're golden and crispy all over.
Step 2: Cook the chicken filling
While the shells bake, mix the diced chicken with hoisin sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, minced garlic, and fresh ginger in a bowl. Heat a large skillet over high heat and sauté the chicken mixture for 7-8 minutes, tossing frequently so it cooks evenly and gets nicely coated with that glossy sauce. It should be cooked through and fragrant with those delicious Asian spices.
Step 3: Toss the coleslaw
While the chicken cooks, make your slaw by combining the coleslaw bag mix with thinly sliced green onions, a splash of sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and a drizzle of honey. Stir everything until it’s well blended and tastes light, tangy, and slightly sweet — it adds the perfect crunchy contrast to the savory chicken.
Step 4: Assemble and serve
Fill each crispy wonton shell with a scoop of the hot chicken mixture, then top generously with your fresh slaw. A drizzle of sweet chili sauce over the top plus a sprinkle of chopped cilantro and toasted sesame seeds finishes it off beautifully. Serve immediately—you’ll love the texture contrasts and flavor harmony in every bite.
Top Tip
After making this Crispy Chicken Wonton Tacos Recipe a bunch of times, I’ve learned a few tricks to make sure everything turns out just right and super tasty. These tips really helped me avoid common pitfalls.
- Don’t overcrowd the skillet: Cooking the chicken in batches if needed prevents steaming and helps it brown beautifully.
- Watch the wontons closely: The difference between perfectly crispy and burnt is just a couple of minutes, so stay nearby the oven!
- Gentle pulling when warm: Pull apart the wonton shells gently right after the first bake while they’re still warm, so they don’t crack.
- Customize your slaw dressing: Taste and tweak your slaw dressing with a bit more honey or vinegar to suit your preference.
How to Serve Crispy Chicken Wonton Tacos Recipe
Garnishes
I’m a huge fan of finishing these tacos with chopped fresh cilantro because its bright herbal flavor cuts through the richness. Toasted sesame seeds add a lovely nutty crunch. For some extra zing, I drizzle a little sweet chili sauce over top — it’s the perfect sweet heat complement.
Side Dishes
To keep things balanced, I like serving these with a simple cucumber salad or steamed edamame sprinkled with sea salt. If you want something heartier, sticky jasmine rice or fried rice pairs beautifully and soaks up any dipping sauce.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun party presentation, I arranged the filled wonton tacos standing upright in a taco holder or a narrow baking dish lined with foil. It keeps them from tipping over and looks vibrant adorned with cilantro and sesame seeds. You could also serve them family-style alongside dipping bowls of extra sweet chili sauce and lime wedges for squeezing.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover cooked chicken in an airtight container in the fridge and keep the slaw separate to prevent sogginess. The wonton shells are best eaten fresh but can be stored in a sealed bag at room temperature for a day or two if you want to save some crisp shells.
Freezing
I’ve frozen the cooked chicken mixture successfully by letting it cool and then packing it tightly in freezer-safe containers. When you’re ready, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently in a skillet. I wouldn’t freeze the assembled tacos because the wontons lose their crunch.
Reheating
To keep the chicken juicy but the wonton shells crispy, reheat the chicken separately in a skillet or microwave, and warm the shells for a minute or two in the oven. Then assemble fresh before serving for best texture and flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions:
You can definitely make Crispy Chicken Wonton Tacos Recipe gluten-free by substituting the wonton wrappers with rice paper sheets or using crispy corn taco shells instead. Just be sure to check all sauces for gluten content as well.
The best way is to bake the wonton shells fully before filling. Avoid assembling them too far ahead of time. If you need to prep in advance, store the shells and filling separately and combine just before serving.
Yes! Ground chicken works great for this recipe. Just cook it in the skillet until browned and no longer pink, stirring to break up any lumps to get an even texture.
If you don’t have hoisin sauce on hand, you can mix soy sauce with a little honey, garlic powder, and a touch of Chinese five-spice powder to mimic the sweet and savory flavor hoisin provides.
Final Thoughts
I’ve made this Crispy Chicken Wonton Tacos Recipe so many times and it never gets old. It’s become my go-to for crowd-pleasing dinners or easy weeknight meals. You’ll enjoy how quickly everything comes together and how impressive it tastes. Trust me, once you try making these, they’ll become a favorite in your recipe collection too!
Print
Crispy Chicken Wonton Tacos Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Enjoy a delicious copycat version of Applebee's Chicken Wonton Tacos featuring tender honey-garlic chicken and a zesty, crunchy coleslaw all nestled in crispy baked wonton shells. This flavorful appetizer combines savory and sweet elements with a satisfying crunch perfect for sharing.
Ingredients
Chicken Mixture
- 2 chicken breasts, finely diced
- 2 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
Coleslaw
- 1 (397g) bag coleslaw
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
Wonton Shells and Garnishes
- 16 wonton wrappers
- Sweet chili sauce, to serve
- Chopped cilantro, to serve
- Sesame seeds, to serve
Instructions
- Prepare Wonton Shells: Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray wonton wrappers with cooking spray or brush lightly with olive or canola oil. Drape them over the sides of a 9x13 baking dish. Bake for 8 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning. Remove from the oven and gently pull apart the shells while still pliable to make filling easier. Bake an additional 8 minutes until crispy.
- Cook Chicken: In a large bowl, combine the diced chicken breasts with hoisin sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, minced garlic, and ginger. Heat a large skillet over high heat and sauté the chicken mixture for 8 minutes, tossing frequently, until fully cooked.
- Make Coleslaw: In another large bowl, mix together the coleslaw bag contents with green onions, sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and honey until well combined.
- Assemble Tacos: Spoon the cooked chicken into the baked wonton shells. Top with the prepared coleslaw. Drizzle with sweet chili sauce and sprinkle chopped cilantro and sesame seeds over the top. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Keep a close eye on the wonton wrappers while baking to prevent them from burning as they cook quickly.
- Gently separating the wonton shells after the first bake makes filling them much easier and helps them stay crispier.
- Use fresh garlic and ginger for the best flavor in the chicken marinade.
- Adjust the amount of sweet chili sauce according to your spice preference.
- These tacos are perfect as an appetizer or party snack and are best served immediately to maintain crispiness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 957 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
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