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The Healthier Homemade Crunchwrap Supreme…taking everyone’s favorite fast food and making it healthier…and at home too. Plus all the fixings. Because loaded crunchwraps are just better. Ground meat (chicken or beef) seasoned with a homemade taco seasoning mix, layered up with cheese, peppers, crispy baked tostadas, and more! Cook these up in the skillet until they’re crispy on the outside, but warm and cheesy inside. Serve each Crunchwrap with a mix of your favorite taco toppings. They come together in minutes and are so delicious…the perfect weeknight dinner. And honestly? A whole lot better than the fast-food version.
I would never have thought I would be typing these words, but today’s recipe is inspired by Taco Bell! Well, Taco Bell and every other brother and cousin in my life. My family has been begging me to recreate the Crunchwrap for well over a year. And after some serious convincing over Christmas, I caved in.
I know, I know. Everyone loves the Crunchwrap. it’s such a thing, but honestly? I’ve never had one. I was that very, very strange child that really didn’t care for fast food…other than Dairy Queen that is, which I of course loved. I was a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup or Cookie Dough Blizzard kind of girl. How about you? I’ve been told that I really missed out on the cookies n’ Cream Blizzard…
Anyway, I wasn’t much into fast food, but thankfully I have brothers and cousins. A few of whom, have really expressed the need for me to create this recipe. So here we are. And you know something? I’ve got to say, this homemade version is pretty darn good. I guess I can’t say it tastes just like the Taco Bell original, but it passed the test of every last family member, and they always tell it like it is.
The final word? Better than the original.
All the details on making a healthier crunchwrap…
I had to do a bit of research on these, but after making well over three dozen Crunchwraps, I kind of developed my own method.
First though, the recipe. I wanted these to be similar to a Crunch, but with more flavor, more color, and less grease. I also wanted a bit more crunch in the center.
For the taco meat, I used my chipotle chicken taco seasoning mix because it’s always everyone’s favorite. You can make these using ground beef or chicken, I’ve done it both ways now and both are equally delicious.
Once the meat is made, the rest is really just assembling.
The “Doritos” Seasoned Tostada
Well, actually, you need to make the tostadas! They are the crunchy, cheesy middle layer, and trust me, you need them. I oven-baked mine to keep them a bit healthier, then seasoned them up two ways. First with plenty of lime zest and flaky sea salt.
And second, with a simple “Doritos” seasoning blend, which is a simple as mixing garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, and chili powder with salt. It. Is. DELICIOUS when sprinkled on the warm tostada. And only just a little bit addicting…
The layers are as follows…
Large Burrito Size Tortillas…I love to use Siete Foods Grain Free Burrito Size Tortillas, which I usually just order online or pick up at Whole Foods. Not only are these healthier, but I actually prefer the taste and texture over a regular flour tortilla.
Taco Meat…but homemade, of course.
Nacho Cheese Sauce…instead of a heavy cheese sauce, I use a mix of Mexican cheeses and poblano peppers. So. Delicious.
Extra Crunchy Tostadas…but oven-baked and very well seasoned.
Sour Cream…I swapped in Greek yogurt, but if you love sour cream, go for the sour cream!
Lettuce and Tomatoes…go heavy on these. They add crunch and keep things a little more balanced.
Small Taco Size Tortillas…again, I love to use these smaller Grain Free Tortillas. But whole wheat tortillas are another great option!
Now we can assemble
Here is what I will say, these take a second to assemble because of the multiple l layers, tacking, and then some folding at the end. BUT trust me, the extra effort is going to be worth it in the end.
I took as many photos of the stacking and wrapping as I could to help give you some visuals, but basically, you’re just layering everything up, then enclosing it all in one giant tortilla. Your first Crunchwrap will be the trickiest to assemble, but by the second, you’ll have it all figured out. And really, it’s pretty easy!
You can add in any additional sauces or more cheese, or keep it classic. I want heavy on the cilantro and lettuce and the cheese and peppers too!
Cook the Crucnhwraps in a skillet with a bit of olive oil, then serve them up with your favorite toppings. I ad avocado mashed up with lime and sea salt, plus hot sauce. My brothers do extra sour cream, hot sauce, and a little dip in some salsa too.
The Key? Serving these hot off the skillet so the tortillas are crispy and the cheese inside is warm and melty.
SO. GOOD. Better than the original because you can taste the flavor and not just lots of grease!
If you’re looking for a fun family dinner, try these! Not only are they delicious, but you can make a night out of it and get everyone in the kitchen to help assemble the CrunshWraps. They’ll be able to customize them to their liking too!
And for the adults, maybe add a nice margarita tas well. My current favorite is the very wintery frosted mistletoe margarita, but this spicy cucumber margarita is another great option! So you see? The perfect January Wednesday night at home. Homemade Crunchwraps and a margarita in hand. Hard to beat that.
Looking for fun takeout favorites recipes? Here are my favorites:
Instant Pot Pesto Zuppa Toscana
30 Minute Spicy Indian Butter Chicken
Better Than Takeout Dan Dan Noodles
Lastly, if you make this Healthier Homemade Crunchwrap Supreme, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Healthier Homemade Crunchwrap Supreme
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 675 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
Taco Meat
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound ground chicken, beef, or turkey
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2-3 teaspoons chipotle chili powder use to your taste
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper use to your taste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
For Assembling
- 6 corn tortillas
- extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup cubed Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 poblano or jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
- 6 large (burrito size) whole wheat or gluten-free tortillas
- 6 mini taco size whole wheat or gluten free tortillas
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, chopped
- fresh cilantro, limes, avocado, and hot sauce, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400° F.2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the ground meat and onion. Cook, breaking up the meat as it cooks, until the chicken is browned, about 5 minutes. Add the chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, and salt. Add 3/4 cup water. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the sauce has thickened slightly around the chicken, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.3. Meanwhile, make the tostadas. Line the corn tortillas up on a sheet pan and rub lightly with olive oil. Transfer to the oven and bake 6 minutes. Flip, and bake another 4-5 minutes, until crisped. While warm, sprinkle with sea salt and lime zest or the "Doritos" seasoning blend (recipe in notes) for extra flavor. 4. To assemble, warm a large tortilla for 20 seconds in the microwave, then brush with water to dampen. Lay flat on a surface. In the center, layer the meat, a sprinkle of cheddar, a few cubes of Monterey Jack, and a sprinkle of peppers. Add 1 tostada on top, spread with yogurt, hot sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, and cilantro. Place 1 small tortilla on top, brush with water, then fold the edges of the large tortilla in, pressing to seal (see above photos). Repeat with the remaining wraps. 5. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a skillet, add 1 crunchwrap and cook 2-3 minutes per side until crisp and golden brown. Serve warm with any amount of desired toppings, avocado, hot sauce, yogurt, cilantro, salsa, whatever you love!
Notes
Doritos Seasoning: In a small bowl, mix 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Add cayenne pepper for even more kick. Sprinkle over the warm tostadas.
Tortillas: I love to use Siete Foods Grain Free Burrito Size Tortillas and their smaller Grain Free Tortillas. You can get these at Whole Foods or order online. I also love the Whole Foods Brand whole wheat tortillas.
This post was originally published on January 6, 2021
Awesome! Just made it. Haha my tortillas weren’t big enough so i had to use 6! Haha but all worked well:)
Hey Tremayne,
I am so thrilled the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a go! Happy Friday! xTieghan
Delish! The first ones didn’t look very pretty but I got the hang of it!
Hey Pamela,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan
I recently started following you and I am so impressed! Made this tonight and it was amazing! My fiancé is already sharing the recipe with his family.
Hey Jessica,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
These are AMAZING! I used pickled jalapenos instead of fresh, but that’s the only change I made. I will definitely make this recipe again!
Hey Jessie,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
These were delicious! I run a cooking class for some of my high school kids and we find your recipes so easy to create. Additionally, we love the ease that we can make substitutions. I made mine with shrimp and one of my students made hers with a chicken substitute. We added cilantro, lime and Dorito seasoning to the Greek yogurt, it was fabulous! Thanks for the great ideas.
Hey Jen,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
Delicious! Couldn’t access some ingredients in the UK so used Parmesan instead of Monterrey jack and rather than making my own tostadas I got some hard shell tacos from the shops
Hey Maire,
I am thrilled you enjoyed this recipe, thanks so much for trying it out! xTieghan
We tried this recipe and it was so delish!! I am going to attempt again…Everything went well until we went to fry them on the pan and they started to unfold and ended up being less of a wrap. Any tips on having them not open up when you fry them in the pan? We did warm the tortillas in the oven not the microwave? Maybe that had something to do with it? Any tips would be appreciated! As always, love your creative recipes that I always look forward to try!
Hey Tori,
Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a go, I am so delighted that it was enjoyed! I try using the water to help keep them sealed, I have videos on IG stories if you need more of a visual. Have a great week:) xTieghan
Absolutely ADORED this recipe! My partner and I try to avoid meat where we can, so we subbed black beans for the beef but still used the same seasoning. Since the tortillas came in packs of 10, we’ve had a good excuse to make this several times this month — it’s very quickly become a household favorite! Also adapted slightly for a breakfast version by adding in some scrambled eggs with the beans, and that was delicious, too 🙂
Hey Veronica,
Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a go, I am so delighted that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
This recipe is AWESOME! I was really skeptical I’d be able to fold them but it actually wasn’t too bad! I just kept brushing water at spots where it wasn’t holding. I made this using your dorito seasoning and it was sooooo good! Got rave reviews. Would definitely make again!!
Hey Dani,
Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a go, I am so delighted that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
So, the real boon would be a recipe for the tortillas!! It was 80$ for 36 tortillas. That’s over 2$/per!!
Hey Rebecca,
You do not have to use that brand of tortillas, it is just what I used:) You are welcome to use an tortilla you like. I hope you love the recipe:) xTieghan
These were great! The Doritos seasoning is perfect. We used sour cream and omitted the tomatoes, and just used spinach leaves instead of lettuce because that’s what we had in the fridge.
Hey Gloria,
Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a go, I am so delighted that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
I consider myself an avid Taco Bell-Er but I am forever changed after making this recipe it is SO. GOOD. Plenty leftover so we kept all items separate in tubaware containers and will have more today!
Hey Kayla,
Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a go, I am so delighted that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
Way too much salt between the tsp for the beef and tsp for the doritos seasoning. But if you cut that in half it’s pretty tasty as an elevated fast food recipe.
Hey Lex,
Thanks for trying the recipe, sorry it was too salty for you, just reduce it next time:) xTieghan
I made these and they are REALLY good. I liked them because my son has a hard time keeping taco fillings inside when he eats them. So these were perfect! I had some plain tortilla chips that I used as the crunch layer for convenience, but I was sure to make the dorito seasoning. So good! I also love the taco seasoning for the meat, very tasty. I will admit, the assembly was a little messy the first few times (which I was warned it would be), but even the messy ones are not that bad. They only open slightly, and once they are crispy, the stay somewhat closed, and you can still enjoy eating them ? Thanks for such a great and healthy family friendly recipe!
Hey Kristin,
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for trying it out!! xTieghan
Made this tonight and it was AMAZING! We will be making them again. One thing though, our corn tortilla/tostados got soggy after assembling everything and cooking the crunchwraps on the stovetop. Any suggestions on how to avoid that next time?
Hey there,
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for trying it out!! xTieghan