Crunchy, tangy, and packed with flavors, this Chicken Wonton Tacos with Zesty Slaw Recipe is an absolute game-changer. What I love most is how the crispy wonton shells perfectly cradle a saucy, tender chicken filling topped with a vibrant slaw that wakes up your taste buds in every bite.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Chicken Wonton Tacos with Zesty Slaw Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Chicken Wonton Tacos with Zesty Slaw Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Chicken Wonton Tacos with Zesty Slaw Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This recipe is a delightful mashup of Asian-inspired flavors wrapped up in a fun, finger-food form. I first tried making these on a whim one weeknight, and they instantly became my go-to when I want something quick yet impressive.
- Crunch factor: The baked wonton shells get irresistibly crispy without deep frying, making them light and crunchy.
- Flavor explosion: Sweet, savory, tangy, and just a hint of heat all come together perfectly in the chicken and slaw.
- Super quick to put together: With simple ingredients and straightforward cooking steps, you can whip these up in under 40 minutes.
- Versatile: Easy to customize with your favorite toppings or protein swaps to suit your mood or diet.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The charm of this Chicken Wonton Tacos with Zesty Slaw Recipe lies in its fresh, straightforward ingredients that balance texture and flavor beautifully. When shopping for your ingredients, look for fresh wonton wrappers and good-quality chicken breasts to make your tacos shine.
- Chicken breasts: Provides tenderness to the filling and soaks up the savory marinade perfectly.
- Hoisin sauce: Adds a rich, sweet-savory depth that's key to the signature flavor.
- Sesame oil: Gives a wonderful nutty aroma that lifts the entire dish.
- Soy sauce: Brings umami saltiness balancing the sweet elements.
- Garlic and fresh ginger: Infuse the chicken with fresh zest and warmth.
- Coleslaw mix: Offers crunch and freshness to contrast the warm chicken.
- Green onions: Bring a mild bite and lovely color pop.
- Rice vinegar: Adds acidity to the slaw for a bright kick.
- Honey: Rounds out the vinaigrette with gentle sweetness.
- Wonton wrappers: Crispy, slightly chewy taco shells that make these special.
- Sweet chili sauce: The finishing touch that adds sweet heat.
- Cilantro and sesame seeds: Garnish ingredients that add freshness and texture.
Make It Your Way
One of my favorite things about this recipe is how easy it is to make it your own. I often switch up the protein or spice level depending on what’s in my fridge or who’s coming over.
- Variation: Sometimes I swap the chicken for diced shrimp or tofu to make it seafood-style or vegetarian—and it’s just as delicious.
- Heat level: If you like it spicy, just toss a little Sriracha into the chicken mix or drizzle over the tacos before serving.
- Slaw twist: Adding shredded carrots or thin slices of jalapeño to the slaw amps up the crunch and flavor.
- Gluten-Free: Sub gluten-free wonton wrappers if needed, and double-check hoisin and soy sauce labels for GF-friendly products.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Chicken Wonton Tacos with Zesty Slaw Recipe
Step 1: Get Those Wonton Shells Crispy
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Spray or brush the wonton wrappers lightly with cooking spray or oil—this is the secret to that golden crunch. Then drape them over the edges of a 9x13 baking dish; this helps create the taco shape. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes but keep a close eye—they can burn quickly. While they're still a bit pliable, carefully pull them apart to ensure you can fill them without tearing. Pop them back in the oven for another 7 to 8 minutes until super crispy. This double-bake technique is a game-changer!
Step 2: Savory Chicken Filling Magic
In a large bowl, toss your finely diced chicken breasts with hoisin sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, minced garlic, and fresh ginger. Let this mixture sit for a few minutes if you have time—it helps deepen the flavors. Heat a skillet over high heat and sauté the chicken, stirring often, for about 7-8 minutes until it’s cooked through and sticky with that delicious sauce. Keep the heat high to get a bit of caramelization without drying out the chicken.
Step 3: Whip Up the Zesty Slaw
While the chicken cooks, combine your coleslaw mix, sliced green onions, sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and honey in a large bowl. Give it a good toss so every shred of cabbage gets coated in this tangy dressing. The slaw not only adds freshness but also a sweet-tart crunch that peps up every bite.
Step 4: Assemble and Serve
Fill each crispy wonton shell generously with the savory chicken mixture, pile on the zesty slaw, then drizzle with sweet chili sauce. Don’t forget to sprinkle chopped cilantro and sesame seeds on top—they make the tacos look stunning and add layers of flavor. Serve immediately and watch everyone dive in.
Top Tip
Over the years, I’ve found a few tweaks that make this Chicken Wonton Tacos with Zesty Slaw Recipe even easier and tastier. It’s all about balancing texture and not letting your shells get soggy.
- Double baking the wonton shells: This keeps them crisp even after you load them up with chicken and slaw.
- Marinate the chicken briefly: Letting the chicken sit for 10 minutes in the marinade intensifies flavor dramatically.
- Drain excess liquid: Before assembling, make sure the slaw isn’t dripping wet to avoid soggy tacos.
- Keep hot and serve fast: Wonton shells lose crunch quickly, so try to serve right away for the best bite experience.
How to Serve Chicken Wonton Tacos with Zesty Slaw Recipe
Garnishes
I always finish mine off with plenty of fresh chopped cilantro and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds — it adds both color and a subtle crunch. A squeeze of lime is optional but wonderful to brighten up the whole dish even more.
Side Dishes
For sides, a simple cucumber salad or steamed edamame pairs beautifully without overpowering these flavorful tacos. Sometimes, I like to serve them with a light jasmine rice bowl on the side to turn it into a full meal.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, I arrange the wonton tacos on a long platter with little bowls of extra sweet chili sauce, lime wedges, and freshly chopped herbs nearby. It makes for a gorgeous spread that invites everyone to customize their own bites.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Because the wonton shells lose crunch quickly, I store leftovers separately — chicken filling and slaw go in airtight containers in the fridge, and the baked wonton shells stay at room temperature in a sealed bag.
Freezing
I’ve frozen the cooked chicken filling successfully—just thaw it overnight in the fridge and reheat gently. I don’t recommend freezing the fully assembled tacos because the shells get soggy upon thawing.
Reheating
Reheat the chicken in a skillet over medium heat to retain moisture and flavor. If you want to refresh the crispy shell, pop them in the oven at 350°F for a few minutes, but do it just before serving to keep that perfect crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions:
You can prepare the chicken filling and slaw up to a day in advance and refrigerate them separately. However, bake and crisp the wonton shells just before serving to ensure they remain crunchy.
If you can’t find wonton wrappers, spring roll wrappers or small taco shells can be a good substitute. Just adjust the baking or toasting time accordingly for a similar crunchy texture.
Absolutely! The chicken filling and slaw keep well in the fridge, making it easy to assemble fresh tacos throughout the week. Just keep the shells separate until ready to serve for the best texture.
They’re mildly spicy due to the sweet chili sauce drizzle, but you can always increase or decrease the heat level by adding more chili sauce or including fresh jalapeños in the slaw mix.
Final Thoughts
These Chicken Wonton Tacos with Zesty Slaw Recipe hold a special place in my kitchen repertoire. They’re fun to make, delightful to eat, and always get compliments. Whether you're cooking for a casual family dinner or feeding a crowd, these tacos bring big flavor in a small, crispy package. Give them a try and see how easily they become a new favorite!
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Chicken Wonton Tacos with Zesty Slaw Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Applebee's Chicken Wonton Tacos are a delicious copycat recipe featuring finely diced chicken marinated in hoisin, sesame oil, and soy sauce, sautéed to perfection, and served in crispy baked wonton wrappers. Topped with a fresh and tangy coleslaw, sweet chili sauce, cilantro, and sesame seeds, these tacos offer a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and crunchy textures for an irresistible appetizer or main course.
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 the oven to 375°F. Lightly spray the wonton wrappers with cooking spray or brush with a bit of olive or canola oil. Drape them over the sides of a 9x13 baking dish. Bake for 7-8 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning. Remove from oven and gently pull apart the wonton shells while still pliable to make filling easier. Return to the oven and bake for another 7-8 minutes until crispy.
- Cook Chicken: In a large bowl, mix the finely diced chicken with hoisin sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, minced garlic, and minced ginger. Heat a large skillet over high heat and sauté the chicken mixture for 7-8 minutes, tossing frequently until the chicken is cooked through.
- Make Coleslaw: In another large bowl, combine the bag of coleslaw with thinly sliced green onions, sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and honey. Mix thoroughly to combine and create a flavorful slaw.
- Assemble Tacos: Spoon the cooked chicken mixture into the crispy wonton shells. Top with the prepared coleslaw, drizzle with sweet chili sauce, and sprinkle with chopped cilantro and sesame seeds. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Watch the wonton shells carefully during baking to prevent burning as they crisp up quickly.
- Gently pulling apart the wonton wrappers while warm helps create a taco shape that is easier to fill.
- Use fresh ginger and garlic for the best flavor in the chicken mixture.
- Sweet chili sauce can be adjusted to taste or substituted with sriracha or another favorite sauce.
- These tacos can be served as an appetizer or a main dish depending on portion size.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 957 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
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