If you’re on the hunt for something quick, flavorful, and downright satisfying, this Chicken Pesto Wraps Recipe is an absolute game-changer. I love how all the flavors come together—the tangy Caesar dressing, fresh romaine, juicy cherry tomatoes, and that rich, herbal pesto coating tender chicken pieces. It’s honestly one of those meals I reach for again and again because it’s super easy to whip up and my family goes crazy for it. Stick around, and I’ll share all my tips to help you nail it every time!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Ready in about 20 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights or lunch on the go.
- Fresh & Flavorful: The combo of pesto and Caesar dressing takes this wrap to the next level.
- Versatile Ingredients: You can use leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken, making it a great way to reduce waste.
- Family Favorite: This recipe always wins me compliments around the dinner table and I bet you’ll hear “make this again!” too.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients work beautifully together—the creamy pesto coats the tender chicken, while the fresh romaine and tomatoes add crunch and brightness. A simple homemade Caesar dressing ties everything together without overpowering the flavors. When buying, fresh pesto is a great shortcut, but making your own really shines if you have the time.

- Cooked chicken: I often use leftover grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken for convenience and flavor.
- Pesto: I recommend starting with 1/3 cup, but feel free to adjust based on moisture—you’ll want enough to coat the chicken without making it soggy.
- Grated parmesan: Adds a nutty salty kick; optional but highly recommended.
- Wraps: Choose your favorite type—flour tortillas work best here for flexibility and taste.
- Romaine lettuce: Shredded for that crisp freshness everyone loves.
- Cherry tomatoes: Sliced for bursts of juicy sweetness in every bite.
- Mayonnaise: Use plain mayo or swap for Greek yogurt for a lighter Caesar dressing.
- Olive oil: Adds richness and smoothness to the dressing.
- Fresh lemon juice: This brightens and balances the flavors perfectly.
- Garlic cloves: Essential for that classic Caesar zing in the dressing.
- Capers and brine: They add a tangy, salty punch—don’t skip these!
- Dijon mustard & Worcestershire sauce: Small ingredients with big flavor impact for the dressing depth.
- Salt & fresh cracked pepper: To season and bring it all together.
Variations
I love to mix things up a bit depending on what’s in my pantry or who I’m cooking for. You can easily personalize this Chicken Pesto Wraps Recipe to suit your taste or dietary needs, and it’s always fun to try new combos to keep it fresh.
- Protein swap: Tried swapping chicken for turkey or even chickpeas for a vegetarian twist—delicious and hearty!
- Dressing variations: Sometimes I add extra lemon or a splash of hot sauce to the Caesar dressing for a little kick.
- Wrap options: Whole wheat or spinach wraps add great flavor and nutrition boosts.
- Extra veggies: Add sliced avocado, cucumbers, or roasted red peppers to amp up the freshness.
How to Make Chicken Pesto Wraps Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Fresh Ingredients
Start by chopping your cooked chicken into small, bite-sized pieces. This helps everything blend together nicely without overpowering individual bites. Shred the romaine lettuce finely, and slice those cherry tomatoes so they’re ready to add vibrant color and freshness. Having your ingredients prepped upfront makes assembly a breeze!
Step 2: Whip Up the Caesar Dressing
Pop the mayo, olive oil, lemon juice, parmesan, garlic cloves, capers and brine, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper into a food processor or blender. Blend it all until smooth. This homemade Caesar dressing is a total game-changer—I used to buy store-bought until I tried this. Don’t forget to taste it and adjust salt or lemon juice to your liking. A little tweak here can make it suit your palate perfectly.
Step 3: Combine the Salad
In a medium bowl, toss the shredded romaine, sliced tomatoes, and half of your Caesar dressing. Mixing them together now means every leafy bite will be nice and flavorful. Be gentle with the lettuce, or it can get soggy too quickly—just enough to lightly coat the leaves.
Step 4: Coat the Chicken with Pesto
Next, toss your chopped chicken with the pesto in a large bowl. I like to go slow here—start with 1/3 cup and add more if needed until all the chicken is coated but not swimming in sauce. This step is where the magic happens: that herby, nutty pesto really turns simple chicken into something extraordinary.
Step 5: Assemble the Wraps
Lay out your wrap and add a generous pile of the dressed romaine and tomatoes to the center—but be careful not to overstuff, or your wrap won’t hold together. Then spoon on the pesto-coated chicken on top. Feel free to sprinkle extra parmesan and drizzle a bit more Caesar dressing, or save that for dipping later. Fold the wrap like a burrito—tucking in the edges as you roll.
Step 6: Toast for Extra Flavor (Optional)
My family loves these warmed up, so I often spritz a little oil into a hot skillet and place the wrap seam side down, toasting for 2-3 minutes per side until golden and slightly crisp. This step isn’t required, but it really adds a nice texture contrast and warms everything through.
Pro Tips for Making Chicken Pesto Wraps Recipe
- Use Leftover Chicken: I always keep leftover grilled chicken for this; it saves time and tastes better than plain boiled chicken.
- Adjust Pesto Moisture: Some pestos are oilier than others—start with less and add gradually to avoid soggy wraps.
- Don’t Overstuff: Less is more here; overfilling wraps causes them to tear and spill during eating.
- Warm the Wraps Correctly: Toast seam side down first to help keep everything sealed while warming.
How to Serve Chicken Pesto Wraps Recipe

Garnishes
I like to add a sprinkle of extra parmesan on top just before serving. Sometimes a few fresh basil leaves or a little cracked black pepper bring out that pesto flavor even more. And if you’re feeling fancy, a light drizzle of balsamic glaze can add a lovely sweet tang.
Side Dishes
These wraps pair wonderfully with crispy sweet potato fries or a simple cucumber salad for something cool and crunchy. For an easy lunch, I sometimes serve them with a side of fresh fruit or carrot sticks for a little crunch. It keeps the meal balanced and vibrant.
Creative Ways to Present
For a casual gathering, I slice the wraps into pinwheels so guests can grab bite-size pieces. They also look pretty on a platter when you alternate the pesto chicken with colorful veggies peeking out. For picnics, wrapping them tightly in parchment paper keeps them neat and easy to transport.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover wraps keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I recommend storing any extra dressing separately to prevent the wraps from getting too soggy. When ready to eat, you can enjoy cold or warmed up.
Freezing
I haven’t had the best luck freezing assembled wraps because the lettuce tends to lose its crunch. But if you want to freeze for convenience, I suggest freezing the pesto chicken and the Caesar dressing separately and assembling fresh wraps when you’re ready to eat.
Reheating
To reheat, unwrap and toast the wrap in a skillet over medium heat for a few minutes on each side until warmed through. This revives the texture nicely without making the wrap soggy. If you stored extra dressing separately, drizzle some on top after warming for fresh flavor.
FAQs
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Can I make the Chicken Pesto Wraps Recipe dairy-free?
Absolutely! You can skip the parmesan in both the pesto and dressing or use a plant-based cheese substitute. For the Caesar dressing, swap out mayo with a dairy-free or vegan mayo to keep the creamy texture.
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What’s the best chicken to use for this recipe?
Leftover grilled chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken work perfectly and add great flavor. If you’re cooking from scratch, grilling the chicken adds fantastic smoky notes, but baked or pan-seared chicken works just as well.
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Can I prepare these wraps ahead of time for a party?
Yes, but I recommend assembling just before serving for the best texture. You can prep all ingredients and store them separately, then quickly assemble and toast wraps when guests arrive.
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How can I make the wraps spicier?
Add a pinch of red chili flakes to the pesto or toss a few slices of jalapeño in with the tomatoes to give your wraps a nice kick. Even a dash of hot sauce in the Caesar dressing can elevate the heat.
Final Thoughts
This Chicken Pesto Wraps Recipe is one of those sure-win dishes that I keep coming back to because it’s just so reliably delicious and easy to make. I used to struggle finding a quick lunch or dinner that felt fresh but didn’t require tons of prep, and this fits the bill perfectly every time. You’ll find that once you make it, it’s going to become a staple in your recipe rotation like it did in mine—trust me, your taste buds and busy schedule will thank you!
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Chicken Pesto Wraps Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 wraps
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Chicken Pesto Wraps combine tender grilled chicken coated in flavorful pesto with fresh romaine and cherry tomatoes, all wrapped in a soft tortilla and enhanced with a creamy homemade Caesar dressing. Perfect for a quick lunch or light dinner, they can be enjoyed cold or lightly toasted for added warmth and texture.
Ingredients
Chicken Pesto Wraps
- 2 cups cooked chicken, chopped into small bite-sized pieces
- ⅓ cup pesto (add more as needed)
- 3 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese, optional
- 4 wraps (flour tortillas or preferred type)
- 4 cups romaine lettuce, shredded
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
Caesar Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise (plain Greek yogurt can be used as substitute)
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 ½ Tbsp capers with brine
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Chop the grilled chicken into small bite-sized pieces and set aside. Shred the romaine lettuce and slice the cherry tomatoes; set them aside as well. If making homemade pesto, prepare it ahead of time and set aside.
- Make Caesar Dressing: Add all Caesar dressing ingredients into a small food processor or blender, then blend well until smooth. Taste and adjust salt as needed to balance flavors.
- Mix Salad: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the shredded romaine, sliced tomatoes, and half of the prepared Caesar dressing. Toss thoroughly to coat all the vegetables evenly.
- Toss Chicken with Pesto: In a large bowl, add the chopped chicken and the pesto, mixing well to ensure every piece of chicken is coated with pesto flavor.
- Assemble Wraps: Lay out a wrap on a flat surface. Add a portion of the salad mixture to the center, being careful not to overfill to prevent the wrap from falling apart. Next, add a generous amount of the pesto-coated chicken on top. Sprinkle extra parmesan cheese if desired, and drizzle more Caesar dressing or reserve dressing for dipping.
- Fold and Serve: Fold the wrap up like a burrito, tucking in the sides to secure the filling. You can enjoy the wrap immediately cold, or for a warm version, spritz a hot skillet with a little oil, place the wrap seam side down, and toast for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden and crisp.
Notes
- Use leftover grilled chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken for convenience.
- Chicken dryness and pesto moisture levels may vary depending on preparation; adjust pesto quantity starting with 1/3 cup and adding more as needed.
- Plain Greek yogurt is a great alternative to mayonnaise in the Caesar dressing for a lighter twist.
- Store leftover wraps in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 wrap
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 85mg


