The Ultimate Guide to Delicious Chicken Rolls

 

Chicken rolls make for a tasty and convenient meal or snack. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore everything you need to know about making delicious chicken rolls at home.

What are Chicken Rolls?

Chicken rolls consist of spiced chicken and vegetables wrapped in bread or rice paper. They take inspiration from egg rolls and spring rolls found in various Asian cuisines.

The chicken filling typically contains shredded chicken, onions, carrots, cabbage, bean sprouts, garlic, ginger and various spices. This filling gets wrapped up tight into a roll using bread, rice paper or egg roll wrappers before frying or baking.

The end result is a flavorful, portable chicken meal or appetizer. The crispy outside wraps around a moist and aromatic chicken interior. Chicken rolls make for great snacks, appetizers, meals or party food.

Benefits of Chicken Rolls

There are many benefits to whipping up a batch of chicken rolls, including:

• Portability – Chicken rolls are handheld and easy to pick up and eat on the go. This makes them a convenient option for busy families or brown bag lunches.
• Nutritious – Chicken rolls can pack a nutritious punch, with protein from the chicken, fiber from the vegetables and whole grains from the wrapper. Use brown rice paper or whole wheat wraps to make them even healthier.
• Endless variety – The filling can be altered to suit any taste by using different vegetables, spices, herbs and sauces. You can make the rolls spicy, tangy, savory or sweet.
• Make-ahead friendly – Chicken rolls can be assembled ahead of time and cooked right before serving. They also reheat well. Both factors make them a great option for meal prepping.
• Kid-friendly – Children love dipping chicken rolls in sweet chili or duck sauce. Making cute shapes out of the rolls can encourage picky eaters to give them a try.
• Customizable – Chicken rolls are highly adaptable depending on your dietary needs. They can easily be made gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, etc.

As you can see, chicken rolls are a versatile and convenient option that can suit a wide range of tastes and diets. Now let’s learn how to properly make them at home.

Ingredients Needed for Chicken Rolls

Chicken rolls contain two main components – the wrapper and the filling. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

Wrapper Options:

• Egg roll wrappers
• Rice paper sheets
• Flour or corn tortillas
• Wonton wrappers
• Spring roll pastry
• Pizza dough

Chicken Filling Ingredients:

• Diced, cooked chicken (rotisserie chicken works great)
• Finely chopped onion
• Minced garlic
• Grated ginger
• Shredded cabbage
• Julienned or grated carrot
• Chopped green onions
• Bean sprouts
• Soy sauce or aminos
• Sesame oil
• Rice vinegar
• Salt and Pepper

Other Possible Fillings:

• Shrimp
• Tofu
• Pork
• Vegetables (mushrooms, spinach, water chestnuts, etc.)
• Glass noodles
• Cheese
• Herbs

Those are the basics you’ll need. From there, feel free to alter the fillings to suit your tastes by using different proteins, produce or seasonings. Now let’s get into the steps of actually making chicken rolls.

How to Make Chicken Rolls Step-By-Step

Follow these simple steps for perfect chicken rolls every time:

1. Prepare the wrapper

Take your wrappers of choice out of the freezer or fridge and let them come up to room temperature. This prevents cracking or sticking. Lay them out on a clean workspace.

2. Cook the chicken

If starting from raw, dice chicken breasts into small pieces and cook through until no longer pink inside. Shred the cooked chicken into thin strands using two forks. You can also used canned or pre-cooked chicken.

3. Prepare the veggies

Thinly slice, shred or julienne your vegetables of choice. The thinner you cut them, the easier they will be to roll up.

4. Make the filling

In a large bowl, mix together the chicken, prepared vegetables, minced garlic and ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar and any other seasonings until thoroughly combined.

5. Roll ‘em up

Take a wrapper and spoon 2-3 tablespoons of filling onto the middle. Fold the sides over top, then roll up from the bottom, sealing the edges with a dab of water. Place sealed side down on a baking sheet. Repeat until all filling is used up.

6. Cook the rolls

For fried chicken rolls, heat oil to 350°F and fry for 2-3 minutes per side until crispy and golden brown. For baked, brush with oil and bake at 400°F for 15 minutes, flipping halfway.

7. Sauce it up

Serve chicken rolls warm alongside dipping sauces like sweet chili, duck or hot mustard. Enjoy!

As you can see, making chicken rolls is easy. The assembly requires no special culinary skills, just a bit of time. Now that you know how to make chicken rolls, let’s discuss some FAQs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common chicken roll inquiries:

How do you prep the wrappers so they don’t tear?

Letting the wrappers come up to room temp before rolling prevents cracking. A dab of water seals the edges. Don’t overfill them or roll too tightly or the wrappers can tear.

Can you freeze chicken rolls?

Yes! Assemble uncooked chicken rolls in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze solid. Transfer to freezer bags or airtight containers. Cook frozen rolls straight from freezer by adding a few extra minutes to the cook time.

What’s the best chicken to use?

For convenience, rotisserie chicken works great. The meat is already cooked and shredded. Alternatively dice and cook chicken breasts, thighs or tenders until no longer pink inside.

What’s the difference between egg rolls and spring rolls?

Egg rolls use egg roll wrappers and are deep fried for a crispy texture. Spring rolls use rice paper and are typically fresh and not fried. Filling also differs slightly. But when it comes to chicken rolls, you can use either wrapper interchangeably.

What dipping sauces go well with chicken rolls?

 

Some tasty sauces for chicken rolls include:

• Sweet & sour sauce
• Duck sauce
• Soy sauce
• Sweet chili sauce
• Hot mustard
• Hoisin sauce
• Plum sauce
• Peanut sauce

Get creative with your dipping sauces! A flavorful sauce balances out the savory chicken filling perfectly.

Should you bake or fry chicken rolls?

You can cook chicken rolls either way. Frying makes them crispy and decadent while baking is a healthier cooking method. If baking, brush the rolls lightly with oil before cooking.

Can you meal prep chicken rolls?

Absolutely! Assemble uncooked chicken rolls ahead of time and store rolled in parchment then freezer bags. Take them out as needed and cook from frozen. Baked or fried chicken rolls also reheat well for meal prepping.

Conclusion

As you can see, chicken rolls are incredibly versatile. Follow this guide and you’re sure to have delicious chicken rolls anytime. Preparation is easy – just mix up a flavorful filling, wrap in your preferred wrapper and fry or bake.

With the endless potential combinations, consider making an array of different chicken rolls. Try buffalo chicken rolls, teriyaki chicken rolls or Southwest chicken rolls. Serve alongside dipping sauces for a perfect anytime appetizer or meal.

So get rolling with chicken rolls! This guide covers everything you need to know for fantastic chicken rolls. Looking for more great recipes? Be sure to check back for more meal ideas, tips and homemade solutions from www.lifestylewithhina.com