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Barbecue Chicken Wraps (Red Robin Imitation)

Craving one of Red’s excellent wraps? This Red Robin Whiskey River Barbecue Chicken Wraps imitation recipe is tasty, easy, and takes about 25 minutes to make!

Barbecue Chicken Wraps (Red Robin Imitation)

We just recently remade these and updated the photos! Good news – they’re still as good as they were back at the beginning of 2013! 

As regular Catz readers know, Chels and I love to imitate meals we enjoy when eating out. Oftentimes, that means imitating Chevy’s or California Pizza Kitchen, a couple of the casual dining establishments nearby that our whole family can enjoy, but the menu at Red Robin is another one that we enjoy reverse engineering from on occasion. Most people are familiar with Red’s excellent burger menu, due to their national presence, but have you ever taken the time to look at their chicken entrees? If you have, one item undoubtedly caught your eye – the Whiskey River Barbecue Chicken Wrap. If you’ve never tried it, order it the next time you’re at Red Robin – you won’t be sorry!

Barbecue Chicken Wraps

 In the meantime, though, we’ve been working on an imitation to share with you, and, if I may say so myself, it’s pretty dead on. We didn’t try to recreate Red’s Whiskey River Barbecue Sauce – that’s some secret recipe of theirs, and while it’s very tasty, we’ve been just as happy using whatever good quality barbecue sauce we happen to have stocked in the fridge. This was probably one of the easier “imitation” recipes that Chels and I have ever done, and now we make it all the time!

Barbecue Chicken Wraps recipe

The key “barbecue” element of these wraps is the barbecue sauce, so if you’re not in a position to grill the chicken, it’s not the end of the world. That being said, however, if you can, do it. The last couple of times we’ve made these for dinner, we’ve marinated the chicken breast in barbecue sauce for at least two hours and then grilled it over charcoal while basting it with additional barbecue sauce. I like to get a good, dark sear on the chicken breast first over direct heat to really caramelize the barbecue sauce, and then let it cook through over indirect heat so that it stays nice and moist inside. Serve with chips, or, better yet, serve them Red Robin style – with steak fries!

how to roll a wrap

The hardest part of this meal? Learning how to properly roll a wrap (at least, if you’ve never done it before!). I learned several years ago from the back of a package of Mission wraps. If you don’t have Mission wraps available, here’s the snapshot that taught me!

Barbecue Chicken Wraps up close
Barbecue Chicken Wraps

Barbecue Chicken Wraps

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Craving one of Red's excellent BBQ chicken wraps, but lack the cash or time to get one? Solution!

Ingredients

  • One bottle of barbecue sauce
  • One boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • Half head chopped green leaf or iceberg lettuce
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (Tillamook!)
  • 4 tbsp ranch dressing
  • 1 cup tri-color tortilla strips
  • 4 spinach wraps

Instructions

  1. Optional step for additional flavor: marinate chicken breast in barbecue sauce for 2-3 hours prior to grilling.
  2. Preheat grill to medium heat. Grill chicken breast until cooked through, basting with additional barbecue sauce while cooking.
  3. Chop chicken breast into small pieces.
  4. Heat wraps one at a time on a skillet over medium heat for about ten seconds.
  5. Remove wraps to prep surface, spread 1 tbsp of ranch and 1-2 tbsp of barbecue sauce on the wrap, top with one quarter of chicken, one quarter of cheese, one quarter of tortilla strips, and one quarter of lettuce.
  6. Roll up wrap, cut in half, and serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 476Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 721mgCarbohydrates: 54gFiber: 5gSugar: 6gProtein: 21g

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.

Kristen

Friday 6th of January 2023

I made these last night because I really wanted one and haven't been to Red Robin in ages. I didn't figure my kids would be interested but on occassion i try to make things that *I* want no matter how others feel about them. Turns out I had nothing to worry about, they were a hit all around!

Chelsia Rief

Monday 16th of January 2023

Kristen, this is amazing! I'm so glad this was an unexpected hit for you family! It's been ages since we've been to a Red Robin too. We usually only go about once a year. I'm going to have to put these wraps on my menu soon because now I'm craving them!

JoAnn

Saturday 10th of October 2020

Yummy, I made just one, That is what I get at red Robin and it tasted the exact same. Will definitely be making these again

Joshua Rief

Monday 12th of October 2020

So glad to hear it! I can't tell you how many times we've made this recipe. It's so easy and so yummy!

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Chris

Monday 8th of May 2017

These were amazing, a hit with everyone. Cooked my chicken in barbecue sauce in my instant pot. Then just put it on my grill pan for a couple minutes with extra barbecue sauce. Definitely saving this one! Love your weekly menus also.

Chelsia Rief

Monday 8th of May 2017

Hi Chris, That's a great idea with the instant pot! I'm so glad you liked the wraps - they're always a hit here too! So glad you find the weekly menu helpful! That made my day :)

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