Szechuan Chicken Lettuce Wraps
These Szechuan Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a crispy, sweet-spicy Canadian Cactus Club-inspired copycat made with baked panko-crusted chicken, crunchy iceberg lettuce, crispy wonton strips, peanuts, herbs, and creamy spicy mayo. They deliver restaurant-style flavor without deep frying and are perfect for appetizers, game day, or an easy weeknight dinner.
Servings 4 servings
Calories550 kcal
Ingredients
For the Crispy Chicken
- 2 Pieces chicken breasts cut into thin strips
- 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
- 1½ cups panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoons rice vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 count large egg
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
For the Lettuce Wraps
- 1 cup wonton wraps strips, pre-cut
- 2 counts finely chopped green onions
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped, fresh
- ⅓ cup peanuts chopped
- ½ cup sweet chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- 1 count lime cut into wedges
- 1 head iceberg lettuce separated into leaves
For the Spicy Mayo
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sriracha or less
- 1 tablespoon lime juice fresh
Instructions
- Toast the panko: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Heat the sesame oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the panko breadcrumbs and cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring often, until lightly golden.
- Season the panko: Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the soy sauce, rice vinegar, salt, and black pepper. Let the panko cool slightly before coating the chicken.
- Bread the chicken: Place the flour in one shallow bowl. In a second bowl, whisk together the egg and mayonnaise. Place the seasoned panko in a third bowl. Coat each chicken strip in flour, dip into the egg mixture, then press into the panko until evenly coated.
- Bake the chicken: Arrange the breaded chicken strips on the prepared baking sheet in single layer. Bake for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through to 165°F internally.
- Fry the wontons and prepare the lettuce: Meanwhile, fry the pre-cut wonton strips in hot oil for30–60 seconds until crispy and lightly golden. Drain on paper towels. Separate the iceberg lettuce into cup-shaped leaves.
- Make the spicy mayo and assemble: Whisk together the mayonnaise, sriracha, and lime juice until smooth. Toss the baked chicken with the sweet chili sauce, green onions, cilantro, chopped peanuts, and some crispy wonton strips. Spoon into the lettuce leaves, drizzle with spicy mayo, and garnish with sesame seeds and lime wedges.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Toast the panko before coating the chicken. Since the chicken is baked instead of fried, pre-toasting gives the coating a golden color and deeper flavor.
Cut the chicken into even strips. Uneven pieces cook at different speeds, which can leave some pieces dry and others underdone.
Let the toasted panko cool slightly before breading. Hot crumbs can clump when they touch the egg mixture.
Use one hand for dry coating and one hand for wet coating. This keeps the breading cleaner and prevents gummy fingers.
Do not over-sauce the chicken too early. Toss it close to serving so the coating stays crisp.
Separate the lettuce leaves gently. Iceberg lettuce tears easily, so cut through the core first and loosen the leaves slowly.
Serve the spicy mayo on the side if entertaining. This keeps the wraps crisp and lets guests control the heat.
Nutrition
Calories: 550kcal | Carbohydrates: 85.2g | Protein: 16.2g | Fat: 38.7g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 20.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10.5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 21.3mg | Sodium: 1776.1mg | Potassium: 433.3mg | Fiber: 5.7g | Sugar: 19.8g | Vitamin A: 794.7IU | Vitamin C: 10.2mg | Calcium: 120.3mg | Iron: 5.2mg
** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.
Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Comment and rate the recipe. Also follow us on Pinterest at @easyanddelish for more delish recipes.