Applebee’s Chicken Wonton Tacos (Copycat Recipe)

I first tried Applebee’s Chicken Wonton Tacos during a late-night dinner with friends after a long workweek. We were all exhausted but craving something different – not quite Asian, not quite Mexican. The conversation stopped when these little crispy wonton shells filled with savory chicken and topped with tangy slaw arrived at our table. One bite, and I knew I had to recreate these at home. After several attempts and tweaks to get the perfect balance of flavors, I’m excited to share this spot-on copycat recipe with you!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Unlike other copycat recipes that rely on store-bought sauces, this version uses fresh ingredients you can easily find at your local supermarket. The sweet and salty chicken pairs perfectly with the slightly tart Asian slaw, while the crunch of the crispy wonton shell makes these addictive!

• These versatile tacos work beautifully as:
• Part of an Asian-fusion feast
• An impressive appetizer for guests
• Game-day snacks that everyone will fight over
• A fun weeknight dinner paired with simple sides

Applebee’s Chicken Wonton Tacos Ingredients

For the Wonton Taco Shells:

• Wonton wrappers – The foundation of our tacos, providing a delicate, crispy shell that’s lighter than traditional corn tortillas
• Non-stick cooking spray – Creates a barrier between the wrapper and the stand, while helping the shells crisp up beautifully in the oven

You will also need oven-safe taco stands to form the taco shells from the wonton wrappers. 

For the Asian Slaw Mix, you’ll need:

For the Asian Slaw Mix:

• Coleslaw mix with carrots – Provides crunch, color, and a fresh vegetable base that absorbs the dressing flavors
• Dried ramen noodles (broken into small pieces) – Add surprising crunch and texture contrast to the slaw
• Green onions – Contributes mild onion flavor and fresh color as a garnish
• Sesame oil – Delivers nutty depth and authentic Asian flavor to the slaw dressing
• Apple cider vinegar – It adds brightness and acidity that balances the sweet and savory elements
• Soy sauce – Provides umami depth and saltiness to the dressing
• Honey – Balances the acidity with natural sweetness and helps bind the dressing

For the Asian Chicken:

• Chicken breasts (skinless) – The protein base that absorbs all the delicious flavors while staying tender and juicy
• Hoisin sauce – Adds sweet, tangy, umami-rich flavor that gives the chicken its signature taste
• Sesame oil – Contributes nutty, toasty notes that are essential in Asian cuisine
• Soy sauce – Provides saltiness and depth of flavor to the chicken marinade
• Garlic cloves – Adds aromatic pungency that enhances all the other flavors
• Fresh ginger – Brings warmth, slight spice, and authentic Asian flavor profile

For Topping:

• Sweet chili sauce – Adds a sweet-spicy finishing touch that ties all the flavors together
• Sesame seeds – Contribute subtle nuttiness and appealing visual texture
• Cilantro – Provides fresh, bright flavor and color contrast as a finishing touch

How to Make Chicken Wonton Tacos

To make the wonton taco shells:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Lightly spray four stainless steel taco stands with cooking spray.
3. Put the taco stands on a baking sheet and drape one wonton wrapper over each top ridge of the stands, with the corners of each square wrapper pointing downward.
4. Spray the wonton wrappers lightly with cooking spray and put the baking tray in the oven.
5. Bake in a preheated oven until the wonton wrappers are golden brown with a few darker spots. 
6. Remove the baking tray from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool.
7. Once the wonton wrappers are at room temperature, remove them from the taco stands and keep them for later. 

To make the Asian Slaw Mix:

1. Combine all the ingredients for the Asian Slaw Mix in a large bowl.
2. Mix well.
3. Cover the bowl and place it in the fridge until needed. 

To cook the Asian chicken:

1. Dice chicken breasts into one-half-inch cubes. 
2. Toss the diced chicken with the hoisin sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, minced garlic, and grated ginger in a mixing bowl. Let the chicken sit for at least 10 minutes in the fridge. 
3. Warm a large, non-stick skillet over medium heat.
4. Add the Asian chicken mixture to the hot pan. Cook until the chicken is done, about five to seven minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent the sauce from burning. 
5. Remove the Asian chicken mixture and stir-fried sauce from the heat and transfer it to a bowl. Set aside until later. 

To assemble Applebee’s wonton chicken tacos:

1. Place the empty crispy wonton shells in the taco stands with the opening facing up. 
2. Spoon one or two tablespoons of the warm Asian chicken into each wonton shell. 
3. Add an equal amount of the Asian coleslaw mixture to the chicken. 
4. Garnish with a sprinkle of shredded fresh cilantro, sesame seeds, and a drizzle of sweet chili sauce. 

What to Serve With Applebee’s Chicken Wonton Tacos

These tacos make great appetizers or snacks; you can serve them alone or as part of a party platter with sweet chili sauce. These mini tacos would fit with finger-friendly food like Asian chicken wings, pizza rolls, and sliders.

Better-Than-Applebee’s Chicken Wonton Taco

Crispy wonton shells filled with sweet-savory chicken and topped with tangy Asian slaw. This homemade version of Applebee's famous appetizer is surprisingly easy to make and tastes even better than the restaurant original!

5 from 4 votes

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Applebees Recipes

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 16

Calories: 172kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

Wonton Taco Shells

• 16 wonton wrappers
• nonstick cooking spray

Chicken

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts diced into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger

Asian Slaw

• 1/2 bag coleslaw mix
• 1 cup dry crumbled ramen noodles
• 3 green onions chopped
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey

Toppings

• 1 cup sweet chili sauce
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375°F and place 4 metal taco stands on a large baking sheet, with 3 corners of each stand pointing upright.
• Drape the wonton wrappers over the taco stands so that each wonton forms a taco shape. Gently spray each wonton wrapper with nonstick cooking spray and place the baking sheet in the oven for 6 to 8 minutes, until the wonton wrappers are golden brown and have a bubbled crust.
• In a medium skillet over medium heat, combine all the ingredients for the chicken. Toss well and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove the chicken from the pan and discard any excess sauce.
• Place all the ingredients for the Asian slaw into a large mixing bowl and toss to combine.
• To assemble the tacos, place 1 or 2 spoonfuls of chicken into the bottom of each wonton shell. Top with the slaw mix. Add the sweet chili sauce, sesame seeds, chopped cilantro, and any other desired toppings before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1taco | Calories: 172kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 624mg | Potassium: 131mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 77IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg

How to Store the Leftovers 

Keep the cooked chicken and the Asian Slaw Mix in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to three days. Store the wonton shells in an airtight container on the counter overnight. They will soften up, but see the next section for how to crisp them up again.

What’s the Best Way to Reheat Chicken Wonton Tacos

To reheat copycat Applebees Wonton Tacos:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Put the wonton shells on a baking tray and heat them until crispy, about three to four minutes. 
3. While the wonton shells are warming up, heat the Asian chicken on the stovetop over medium-low heat. You may want to add a few tablespoons of water or chicken stock to prevent the chicken from burning,
4. When the wonton taco and Asian chicken are warm, assemble the tacos as in the main recipe above. 

More Applebee’s Copycat Recipes

• Applebee’s French Onion Soup
• Bourbon Street Chicken
• Bourbon Street Steak
• Cheeseburger Quesadilla
• Oriental Dressing

Favorite Appetizer Recipes

• Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
• Bloomin Onion
• Buffalo Chicken Sliders
• Cajun Wings
• Chicken Liver Pate
• Homemade Pizza Rolls
• Pizza Monkey Bread
• Southwest Egg Rolls

Check out my easy appetizer recipes and the best copycat restaurant recipes on CopyKat!