Sweet & Spicy Cashew Chicken Salad Wrap
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This Sweet & Spicy Cashew Chicken Salad Wrap is a quick and easy backpacking lunch idea that will fill you up and get you back out on the trail in no time.
When we’re out hiking, lunch is often a pretty quick affair. We rarely want to dig into our packs, break out the stove and cookware, and cook a warm meal for ourselves (much less clean dishes afterward!).
Instead, we find ourselves drawn to backpacking meal ideas that are “assembled” rather than “cooked.”
And for us, this Sweet and Spicy Cashew Chicken Salad Wrap hits just the right spot!
All it takes is a few minutes to prepare this meal (and the cleanup is even faster!).
So, if you’re struggling to come up with ideas for a backpacking lunch, this is a great one to try.
Cashew Chicken Salad Wrap Ingredients
Pre-Cooked Chicken: You can use chopped home-cooked chicken breast (stored in a small tupperware) if you’re taking this wrap on a day hike, or bring along a pouch of chicken if you’re planning this as a backpacking meal.
Cashews: Chopped roasted cashews give this wrap a wonderful crunch, so don’t skip them! Trader Joe’s always has great prices on nuts, or you can pick them up in the bulk section of your grocery store.
Mayo: Nothing is worse than a dry chicken salad wrap, but mayo is here to save the day! These individual packets are perfect for backpacking and hiking trips.
Honey: Adding a little sweetness to balance the spice, a packet or two of honey really rounds out this chicken salad.
Sriracha: Add as much or as little as your palate desires. You can buy single serving Sriracha packets for backpacking here.
Cilantro: For backpacking, opt for dried cilantro. If you’re bringing this on a day hike, you can mix some freshly chopped cilantro with the chicken for better flavor.
Wraps: Any wrap or flour tortilla will do!
How to make Cashew Chicken Salad Wraps
Making this wrap really could not be easier. Simply mix the chicken (drained, if using pouch chicken) with the mayo, honey, Sriracha, and cilantro, then spoon the chicken salad into the wrap. Roll it up burrito style and lunch is ready!
If you’re making this for a day hike or for a camping lunch and you don’t have to rely on shelf-stable food as you would on a backpacking trip, the chicken salad can be prepared at home and stored in a small Tupperware. Pack the wraps separately so they don’t get soggy during your hike.
Other Backpacking Lunch & Snack Ideas
↠ Teriyaki Beef Jerky
↠ Tropical Fruit Leathers
↠ Backpacker’s Hummus Bowl
↠ 11 Easy Trail Mix Recipes
↠ Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars
↠ more backpacking food ideas
Ingredients
- 1 7oz packet cooked chicken
- 2 tortillas or wraps
- ½ cup chopped cashews
- 2 mayo packets, about 2 tablespoons
- 2 honey packets, about 2 tablespoons
- 1-2 Sriracha packets
- 1 teaspoon dried cilantro
- Salt
Instructions
- At home, place the cashews, honey, mayo, Sriracha packets, cilantro, and salt into a bag. Pack this bag along with the chicken pouch and the cashews.
- In camp, drain the chicken if needed. Add the cashews, honey, mayo, Sriracha, cilantro, and salt to the chicken and stir to combine. Spoon the chicken mixture into the tortillas. Roll them up burrito style and enjoy!