Crispy Chicken Wonton Tacos

ByTammi Published Updated
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This copycat Applebee’s Chicken Wonton Tacos recipe consists of a crispy wonton taco shell filled with honey-garlic chicken, an Asian slaw. Topped with sweet chili sauce, sesame seeds and cilantro – it’s the perfect appetizer recipe.

a white plate of chicken wonton tacos

I love a restaurant copycat recipe that proves you can make your favourite dishes at home, and for less. In fact, our take on Applebees Oriental Chicken Salad is still a highly requested meal from the kids.

Much like this delicious salad, these Chicken Wonton Tacos are a recipe from Applebee’s.

This is a great restaurant quality appetizer recipe, and perfect for all the holiday season entertaining.

You and your guests will love these crispy wonton shells filled with flavourful chicken and creamy Asian slaw. The combination of flavours is truly outstanding.

December is all about the appetizers for us. We enjoy an array for dinner often, with guests or as a comforting family meal.

Appetizer nights have become a tradition this time of year, right up to New Years Eve celebrations.

These also make an easy main dish for an impressive dinner. Best of all, you can customize each one to your hearts content with plenty of topping options.

Like most appetizers though, you will also love this as a dinner time meal. We have!

a white plate of wonton tacos

The Main Components to these Tacos are:

  1. Baked Wonton Tacos Shells – made by baking wonton wrappers brushed with olive oil, in the oven. When done they are taco-like shells that are golden brown, a little bubbly, and nicely crispy.

  2. Stir Fried Chicken – skinless chicken breast is sliced and marinated in teriyaki sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, and fresh ginger. Then pan-fried on the stove.

    I use garlic from the jar for convenience and I love using fresh ginger, yet you can use 1 teaspoon of ginger powder as a swap. You can also substitute the teriyaki sauce for hoisin sauce.

  3. Asian Slaw – Store bought coleslaw mix and green onions, with a homemade asian dressing. This dressing consists of: sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and honey. You can also add in some diced red onion if you wish.

  4. Toppings – I suggest sweet chili sauce, sesame seeds and cilantro. Other topping suggestions for garnish are: lime wedges, grated carrot and/or a small bowl of sriracha sauce to dip.
a wonton taco on a plate with others behind it

How to Make Tacos from Wonton Wrappers

Wonton wrappers are usually found near the produce at traditional grocery stores. I find mine by the spice roots (like fresh ginger), also near the refrigerated salad dressings.

How to make wonton taco shells? There are a few methods when making baked wonton tacos, and one is to drape the wrapper over the rimmed edge of a deep casserole dish.

Yet I have found that making taco shells out of wonton wrappers on the side of a baking dish cooks very unevenly and doesn’t give the easiest shape to fill.

The BEST WAY is to turn mini muffin tin upside down, and place wonton wrapper between two muffin cups, and press the middle down.

This creates a “V”, with two opposing points resting on the top of the wells. This secret trick produces the perfect taco shape, and cooks evenly.

If your muffin tin is well used and you think it might stick, use nonstick cooking spray before placing the wrapper.

a plate of chicken wonton tacos

How to Make Chicken Wonton Tacos

The wonton chicken tacos process may seem like a lot to take on, but I guarantee this recipe is so easy to make.

The length is just to explain the process, to help make assembly as streamlined as possible. Keep in mind, you can prepare a next step while the other is cooking etc.

Slice fresh raw skinless chicken breasts into long thin slices. Add to a medium bowl and place the mixed marinating ingredients with the chicken and toss.

Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. You can also combine stir fry sauce with chicken, and place into a large ziplock bag instead of a bowl.

Preheat oven to 375 F and place each wonton wrapper on an upturned muffin tin as described above.

Bake in a preheated oven for 7-9 minutes, watching closely so they don’t burn.

Once you have extra flaky shells which are golden brown in colour, remove from oven and set aside. You might need to cook wrappers in batches.

a white plate with wonton tacos and a side of sauce in a bowl

Place a large skillet (frying pan) on the stove over medium heat. Add in a bit of olive oil or nonstick spray.

Remove marinated chicken from the fridge and saute the chicken, tossing frequently, until cooked through. Remove from heat.

In a large bowl combine coleslaw mix with the chopped green onions.

In another medium bowl, mix together the ingredients to make the slaw dressing and pour over the coleslaw mixture and toss to coat.

Add a small amount of the chicken mixture into a crispy wonton shell.

Then top tacos with the zesty asian slaw and drizzle with sweet chili sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped fresh cilantro. Repeat with remaining wonton tacos. Enjoy!

Can You Make these Ahead of Time?

You can do most of the prep work ahead of time, yet it’s best to cook and assemble applebees wonton tacos right before eating.

One of the exceptional things about this recipe is the unique combinations of textures that are best when fresh (hot chicken, cold tangy salad, crispy crunchy shell).

a hand holding a wonton taco over a plate of tacos

Try this recipe with our Bang Bang Shrimp!

Storing and Freezing Instructions

For the same reasons why you cannot make ahead of time (other than prepping), you also cannot store full leftovers of applebee’s chicken wonton tacos already assembled recipe.

Yet you can store leftover chicken for up to 3 or 4 days, refrigerated in an airtight container. You can also freeze the chicken for up to 4 months.

Also make sure your leftover wonton wrapper are well sealed and refrigerated as well.

Chicken Wonton Tacos made such a unique taco, the flavor of this dish tastes like no other.

They are mini bites, making them a great appetizer that will stand out. With exceptional flavours and distinctive textures, you’ll understand why this is such a popular copycat recipe.

More Appetizer Recipes:

a plate of chicken wonton tacos

Chicken Wonton Tacos

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

This copycat APPLEBEES CHICKEN WONTON TACOS recipe consists of a crispy wonton shell filled with honey-garlic chicken, an Asian slaw. Topped with sweet chili sauce, sesame seeds and cilantro - it's the perfect appetizer recipe.

Ingredients

CHICKEN

  • 2 skinless boneless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
  • 2 Tablespoons teriyaki sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 Tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons fresh garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced

ASIAN SLAW

  • a bag coleslaw
  • 1/4 cup green onions, diced
  • 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon honey

SHELL & TOPPINGS

  • 16 wonton wrappers
  • sweet chili sauce
  • sesame seeds
  • chopped cilantro

Instructions

    Slice fresh raw chicken breasts into long thin slices. Add chicken to a medium bowl and place the chicken ingredients with the chicken and toss. Cover, refrigerate and allow to marinade for 1 hour. You can also add all ingredients to a large ziplock bag and place in the fridge.

    Preheat oven to 375 F. Turn a muffin tin upside down, and press the middle of a wonton wrapper between two of the muffin cups to create a "V". Two opposing points will rest on the top of the wells. Bake for 7-9 minutes, watching closely so they don't burn. Once cooked, remove from oven and set aside. You might need to cook wrappers in batches.

    Place a large pan on the stove over medium heat. Add in a bit of olive oil. Remove marinated chicken from the fridge and saute the chicken once oil is hot, tossing frequently. Cook until cooked through. Remove from heat.

    Add the bag of coleslaw mix to a large bowl and add in the chopped green onions. In another medium bowl, mix together the ingredients to make the slaw dressing and pour over the coleslaw mixture.

    Take a cooked wonton shell and add in a layer of the cooked chicken. Add some coleslaw mixture and drizzle with sweet chili sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped fresh cilantro. Repeat with remaining wonton tacos.

    Serve immediately, and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 378Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 898mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 2gSugar: 11gProtein: 25g

Did you make this recipe?

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© My Organized Chaos
Cuisine: Chinese / Category: Appetizers

Disclosure: I am participating in the Chicken Farmers of Canada campaign managed by SJ Consulting. I received compensation in exchange for my participation in this campaign. The opinions on this blog are my own.

This amazing chicken appetizer recipe was made in my partnership with Canadian Chicken Farmers of Canada. I’m proud to support local family-owned businesses, our economy, and helping to promote high quality meat.

cfc brand

So look for this signature logo on the package when shopping for chicken. If your grocer doesn’t provide their customers with the “Raised by a Canadian Farmer” brand, simply ask them to. Yes, it’s just that easy to be an advocate.

There are other ways you can support Canadian Chicken Farmers. Check out the list of restaurants and brands that carry Canadian Chicken. That’s another easy way to help make a difference to the over 78,000 Canadian jobs in the Canadian chicken industry.

Connect online – Facebook: Canadian Chicken, Twitter: @ChickenFarmers, Instagram: @ChickenDotCA and Pinterest: ChickenDotCA.

chicken wonton tacos with text

Created by Tammi Roy

Tammi Roy is the founder of My Organized Chaos, a Canadian food and lifestyle blog. She lives in Alberta, Canada and is the mom of three beautiful teenage girls. Tammi’s passions are her family, creating and sharing delicious recipes, travelling and photography. Learn more about Tammi.

95 Comments

  6. I always prepare chicken lollipops and crispy + spicy chicken wings but the Chicken Wonton tacos just gave me an idea for this Holidays.

    Reply

  17. Sweet and Spicy Chicken Turnovers with Cilantro Dip sound amazing! I’d love to try them.

    Reply

  22. I don’t use chicken often as an appetizer, but I think I’d do chicken meatballs with a dipping sauce.

    Reply

  24. Chicken spring rolls would be so delicious in that air fryer! Thanks for the chance to win and happy holidays!

    Reply

  49. I love breaded chicken tenders with various dipping sauces.
    Love your chicken recipes above…

    Reply

  53. I don’t have a favorite chicken appetizer recipe. So I looked on the site and Chicken Waffle Bites with Thai Sweet Chili Sauce sounds good.

    Reply

  55. These crispy chicken wonton tacos look incredible!! We’ve been very into Korean flavours lately and enjoy things like these Korean Fried Chicken Bites.

    Reply

  77. Wings in my air fryer! Parmesan garlic, spicy buffalo and honey garlic are my go to ones.

    Reply

  80. We love Greek chicken skewers year round!! Chicken, tomato, mozzarella balls, zucchini, red onion! Sometimes mushrooms, sometimes feta sprinkles too! So good!!

    Reply

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