These chicken wonton tacos are the crispy appetizer that brings Applebee's flavor home. Fried wonton shells filled with Asian-marinated chicken, coleslaw, and sweet chili sauce create this crunchy addictive bite. Takes about 30 minutes total. I make chicken wonton tacos whenever I need an applebee's chicken wonton tacos copycat that tastes just like the restaurant without the price tag.
Why You'll Love This Chicken Wonton Tacos Recipe
Real talk, this chicken wonton tacos recipe is one of the most requested appetizers I've made and they disappear in seconds at every gathering.
What Actually Works: This chicken wonton tacos applebee's copycat recipe marinates chicken in Asian flavors, fries wonton wrappers into crispy shells, then fills them with shredded chicken, Asian slaw, and drizzles everything with sweet chili sauce and cilantro. Simple ingredients, about 30 minutes from start to finish. Tastes like authentic applebee's wonton chicken tacos but costs a fraction of the restaurant price.
My teenagers who usually ignore appetizers hover around the kitchen waiting for these applebees chicken wonton tacos to come out of the fryer. They look impressive enough for dinner parties but are so simple that even nervous hosts get perfect results. People always assume there's some complicated technique involved when really it's just crispy chicken wonton tacos logic with the right frying temperature.
The thing that changed everything: Understanding that you need to fry the wrappers separately and not overfill them for chicken wonton tacos. My first attempt I tried stuffing and frying the wontons together like dumplings because I thought that's how tacos worked and packed them full of filling. The wrappers stuck together and got soggy from the chicken moisture before hitting the oil. Some were raw and doughy while others burned on the outside with cold filling inside that made a greasy mess.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Chicken Wonton Tacos Recipe
- What You'll Need for Chicken Wonton Tacos
- How to Make Chicken Wonton Tacos
- Top Tip
- Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
- Storage and Reuse Instructions
- What to Serve With Chicken Wonton Tacos
- My Chicken Wonton Tacos Journey
- FAQ
- More Recipes You'll Love
- Chicken Wonton Tacos
- Related
- Pairing
What You'll Need for Chicken Wonton Tacos
Basic ingredients you probably already have. This is the easiest copycat applebees chicken wonton tacos you'll make this month.
For the Chicken
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Soy sauce
- Rice vinegar
- Sesame oil
- Garlic, minced
- Ginger, grated
- Brown sugar
- Vegetable oil for cooking
For the Tacos
- Wonton wrappers
- Coleslaw mix
- Rice vinegar
- Sugar
- Sesame seeds
- Sweet chili sauce
- Cilantro
- Green onions
- Oil for frying
Optional Add-Ins
- Sriracha
- Hoisin sauce
- Crushed peanuts
- Lime wedges
- Extra sesame oil
- Red pepper flakes
Exact measurements in the Recipe card.
How to Make Chicken Wonton Tacos
This chicken wonton tacos recipe comes together in about 30 minutes. The technique is simple but makes all the difference.
Step 1: Marinate and Cook Chicken
Whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, and brown sugar in a bowl, then add chicken breasts and marinate for 15 minutes. Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium high heat and cook marinated chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side until golden and cooked through to 165°F. The marinade for chicken wonton tacos applebees style creates that signature Asian flavor everyone recognizes from the restaurant.
Step 2: Make the Asian Slaw
Combine coleslaw mix with rice vinegar, sugar, and sesame seeds in a bowl, tossing everything together and letting it sit while you prepare the other components. The slaw for wanton chicken tacos adds crunch and tangy sweetness that balances the rich fried wonton shells. Let the cabbage soften slightly in the vinegar dressing so it's not too crunchy and raw tasting.
Step 3: Fry Wonton Shells
Heat 2 inches of oil in a deep pot to 350°F and carefully drape wonton wrappers over a wooden spoon handle or taco mold to create a shell shape. Fry each wrapper for 30 to 45 seconds per side until golden brown and crispy, then drain on paper towels. The fried wonton shells for chicken wonton recipes need to be super crispy so they hold up under the filling without getting soggy immediately.
Step 4: Shred the Chicken
Transfer cooked chicken to a cutting board and shred it into bite-sized pieces using two forks while still warm. Toss the shredded chicken with any remaining marinade or a splash of extra soy sauce for moisture. The warm chicken for applebees copycat recipes appetizers chicken wonton tacos absorbs flavors better than cold chicken and creates tender filling everyone loves.
Step 5: Assemble the Tacos
Place a small handful of Asian slaw in each fried wonton shell, top with shredded chicken, drizzle generously with sweet chili sauce, and garnish with chopped cilantro and sliced green onions. Don't overfill or the shells will break under the weight. These apple bees wonton chicken tacos should be assembled right before serving so the shells stay crispy instead of getting soggy.
The chicken wonton tacos will be crunchy, savory, and perfectly balanced with sweet and tangy flavors. Serve immediately while the shells are still warm and crispy.
Top Tip
Fry wonton shells separately and don't overfill for perfect chicken wonton tacos:
- That separate frying technique is what makes applebees chicken wonton tacos recipe versions actually work
- Made this mistake twice trying to stuff and fry together like dumplings
- The wrappers got soggy from chicken moisture and stuck together
- They came out greasy and doughy instead of light and crispy
- Started frying empty wonton shells shaped into tacos first
- Filled them right before serving with just enough filling to hold
- Suddenly got perfect chicken wonton tacos applebees style results
- The shells stayed crispy and crunchy with the right amount of filling
Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
The base chicken wonton tacos are perfect but you can customize for different flavors.
Spicy Version
Add sriracha to the chicken marinade and drizzle extra hot sauce over the assembled tacos for crispy chicken wonton tacos with heat. Mix sriracha into the sweet chili sauce for a spicy-sweet combination that kicks up the flavor.
Peanut Sauce Style
Replace sweet chili sauce with peanut sauce and top with crushed peanuts and extra cilantro for Thai-inspired wonton chicken tacos. The creamy peanut flavor pairs perfectly with the crunchy fried shells and Asian slaw.
Baked Version
Spray wonton wrappers with cooking spray and bake at 375°F for 8 to 10 minutes until golden for a healthier chicken wonton tacos recipe. They won't be quite as crispy as fried but still work great for recipes using wonton wrappers in a lighter way.
Storage and Reuse Instructions
Yeah, chicken wonton tacos components keep okay actually.
Refrigerator: Store fried wonton shells in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Keep cooked chicken and slaw separate in the fridge for up to 3 days. The shells lose crispness over time so they're best eaten fresh the day they're made.
Freezing: Fried wonton shells don't freeze well as they get soggy when thawed. The cooked chicken freezes okay for up to 1 month. Make fresh shells and slaw when ready to serve for best wonton tacos applebees quality.
Make Ahead: You can marinate and cook the chicken up to 2 days ahead, make the slaw 1 day ahead, and fry the shells up to 4 hours before serving. Store everything separately and assemble right before eating for crispy apple bees wonton tacos recipe results.
Serving: These chicken won ton tacos must be served immediately after assembling. The longer they sit, the soggier the shells get from the filling moisture, so prepare everything ahead but wait to build the tacos until serving time.
What to Serve With Chicken Wonton Tacos
This wonton filling recipes style appetizer pairs great with other party foods.
Asian Appetizers
Serve with egg rolls, pot stickers, or edamame for an Asian-inspired appetizer spread. The variety of wonton wrapper recipes appetizers creates a restaurant-style party menu everyone enjoys.
Light Sides
Pair with cucumber salad, spring rolls, or Asian noodle salad. These fresh sides balance the rich fried wonton nachos style shells and make a complete meal.
Drinks
Serve with iced tea, Asian beer, or sake for adults, and fruit-infused water or green tea for everyone. The drinks help cut through the richness of the fried fried wonton recipes.
My Chicken Wonton Tacos Journey
First time I made chicken wonton tacos I stuffed raw wonton wrappers with chicken and tried to fry them sealed like dumplings. The filling made the wrappers soggy before they hit the oil and they stuck together into one giant mess. The outside burned while the inside stayed raw and doughy. My guests politely ate one each and filled up on chips instead.
Tried again frying empty wonton shells first and filling them after like the recipe said. Suddenly the applebees chicken wonton tacos recipe technique worked perfectly with crispy golden shells. My sister who went to culinary school said they tasted exactly like the restaurant version.
Then I assembled the tacos an hour before the party because I wanted everything ready when guests arrived. The shells got completely soggy and limp from sitting with the filling. Started waiting until serving time to fill them and got perfect crispy chicken wonton tacos that everyone devoured in minutes.
Now I make this chicken wonton tacos recipe for every party because I know the tricks: fry shells separately, don't overfill, assemble last minute, and keep oil temperature steady.
Similar Asian-Inspired Appetizers Worth Making
Crispy Egg Rolls: Cabbage and pork wrapped in crispy shells with sweet and sour sauce for classic Chinese takeout appetizer everyone loves.
Cream Cheese Wontons: Fried wontons stuffed with sweetened cream cheese for crab rangoon style appetizer that's always a hit.
Asian Lettuce Wraps: Ground chicken with water chestnuts and hoisin sauce served in crisp lettuce cups for lighter appetizer option.
These wonton wrapper recipes all use similar techniques and deliver that same satisfying Asian-inspired flavor as chicken wonton tacos.
FAQ
What kind of sauce is on wonton tacos?
The sauce on chicken wonton tacos applebee's style is sweet chili sauce, which is a Thai condiment made from chili peppers, sugar, vinegar, and garlic. Some applebees chicken wonton tacos recipe versions also add a drizzle of sesame oil or soy glaze. The sweet chili sauce provides both sweetness and mild heat that complements the savory chicken and crispy shells perfectly.
What are Chicken Wonton Tacos?
Chicken wonton tacos are fried wonton wrappers shaped into taco shells and filled with Asian-marinated chicken, coleslaw, and sweet chili sauce. This applebee's wonton chicken tacos appetizer became popular as a fusion dish combining Asian flavors with taco presentation. The crispy chicken wonton tacos feature crunchy shells that contrast with tender chicken and tangy slaw.
What is a good marinade for chicken tacos?
A good marinade for chicken wonton tacos includes soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and brown sugar for authentic Asian flavor. The copycat applebees chicken wonton tacos marinade should sit on the chicken for at least 15 minutes. Some recipes add hoisin sauce or oyster sauce for deeper umami flavor in the chicken filling.
How do you make chicken filling for wontons?
To make filling for chicken wonton tacos recipe, marinate chicken breasts in Asian seasonings, cook until done, then shred while warm and toss with extra marinade. The chicken for applebees chicken won ton tacos should be tender and flavorful with visible pieces of garlic and ginger. Don't make the filling too wet or it will make the fried shells soggy when assembled.
More Recipes You'll Love
Once you've nailed this chicken wonton tacos recipe, try my Banana Nut Bread Recipe for easy moist baking with overripe bananas and walnuts. My Shrimp Tacos Recipe makes seasoned shrimp with cabbage slaw in soft tortillas. And my American Goulash Recipe cooks ground beef and pasta together in one pot for comfort food everyone requests.
Chicken Wonton Tacos
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Whisk together soy sauce, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, and brown sugar in a bowl, then add chicken breasts and marinate for 15 minutes.
- Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a skillet over medium high heat and cook marinated chicken for 6 to 7 minutes per side until golden and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Combine coleslaw mix with 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, sugar, and sesame seeds in a bowl, tossing everything together and letting it sit.
- Heat 2 inches of oil in a deep pot to 350°F and carefully drape wonton wrappers over a wooden spoon handle to create a taco shape.
- Fry each wrapper for 30 to 45 seconds per side until golden brown and crispy, then drain on paper towels.
- Transfer cooked chicken to a cutting board and shred it into bite-sized pieces using two forks while still warm.
- Toss shredded chicken with any remaining marinade or a splash of extra soy sauce for moisture and flavor.
- Place a small handful of Asian slaw in each fried wonton shell, being careful not to overfill.
- Top with shredded chicken, drizzle generously with sweet chili sauce, and garnish with chopped cilantro and sliced green onions, then serve immediately.
Nutrition
Notes
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with chicken wonton tacos:
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