Looking for easy wrap ideas for lunch? There are so many tasty options and the best part, you can usually use whatever’s in the fridge!

getty in the kitchen showing cut side of a veggie filled wrap — So many delicious options when you have wraps and leftovers!

With a simple formula and a few fresh ingredients, you can turn leftovers and various odds and ends into a quick, satisfying lunch in minutes. This isn’t just one recipe, it’s a flexible way to make something delicious out of what you already have – including some of those unique sauces you’ve had in the fridge since forever!

cut open wrap showing chickpea filling with assorted veggies on white plate with extra veggies on the side — Combine chickpeas with BBQ Mayo for a delicious spread.

What Leftovers Can You Use for Wraps

What’s in your fridge right now that needs to be used up? Here are some ways you can create wraps with what you have:

Switch up the spread (this is where the flavour starts)
cranberry sauce or hot pepper jelly
leftover salsa
BBQ mayo (from the Haloumi Sheet Pan Dinner) or store bought aioli
hummus or cream cheese
pesto

Change the protein
leftover chicken, ham or turkey
chickpeas or tofu
halloumi
eggs — fried, poached, scrambled or hard-cooked eggs

Play with veggies and greens
spinach, lettuce, kale, arugula or coleslaw
cucumbers, tomatoes, avocado, mushrooms or peppers
add fresh herbs like green onions, cilantro or parsley

Try a new combo
spinach + apple + dried cranberries
rice + beans + salsa + avocado (warm it up for a burrito-style wrap)
scrambled eggs with peppers, cilantro, black beans and hot sauce

cranberry sauce with chicken and red cabbage inside a wrap on white plate with extra veggies — What leftovers do you have?
Cranberry sauce and cabbage? Chickpeas and veggies? Hot pepper jelly and chicken?

How to Build A Wrap

When it comes to wraps, you don’t need a recipe – you need a formula.

1. Start with a Spread (this is your flavour & “glue”

Flavorful Spreads: Start with a spread or sauce to add flavour and help hold the ingredients together. Options include cream cheese, hummus, nut butter or flavoured mayonnaise. Try the BBQ Mayo from this Sheet Pan recipe.
For a cream cheese filling, heat cream cheese in microwave for 10 seconds to make it easy to stir in fresh herbs like dill, chives, garlic powder, salt, pepper and grated cheddar.

2. Add protein

Chicken, turkey, eggs, tuna, ham, cooked taco meat, chickpeas, tofu or whatever you hav

3. Add crunch + colour

Peppers, cabbage, apples, carrots, cucumbers.

4. Add cheese (optional – but worth it!)

Shredded cheddar, feta, mozzarella, goat cheese, Parmesan, blue cheese.

5. Finish with greens

Spinach, lettuce, arugula, kale, sprouts, etc.

6. Final Flavour

Add your favourite finishing touch – hot sauce, herbs, pickles, pickled red onions, salt and pepper

7. Roll it Up

This is probably the hardest part! The key is not to overfill your wrap – something I do ALL the time!

four frames showing different steps of rolling a wrap — Line fillings across, tuck the bottom, fold in sides and roll tight.

How to Roll a Wrap

1. Don’t overfill (seriously)
Keep filling in the centre, leaving space around the edges.
Lay your ingredients in a line from left to right (side to side), not top to bottom.

2. Fold the bottom edge up
Bring the bottom edge (the wided edge closest to you) up over the filling and tuck it in snug.
Gently pull back slightly as you tuck to keep everything tight.

3. Fold in the sides
Bring both sides in to hold the filling in place.

4. Roll it forward tightly
Keep it snug as you roll to the top.

How to Store, Freeze and Thaw Tortilla Wraps

Wraps are easiest to work with when they’re soft and flexible. Here’s how to keep them that way:

Store wraps
Store-bought wraps will last 5-7 days oon the counter. Keep them well sealed to prevent drying out
Freeze wraps
Freeze wraps for 2-3 monhts. Store in a sealed freezer bag and remove as much air as possible.
PRO TIP: Roll each wrap up (like a cigar). This keeps them from cracking and makes it easy to grab one at a time.
Thaw with a little moisture
Microwave wraps covered with a damp paper towel for 20–30 seconds. This gently steams them so they stay soft and pliable.
No microwave? No problem
Warm in a dry pan over medium heat for about 20 seconds per side.
If you have a gas stove, you can warm them briefly over the flame.
Keep them covered
Once warm, stack and cover with a clean towel until ready to use.

pinwheel sandwiches using tortillas on platter with veggies and crispy tortilla chips with fruit salsa — To turn your wraps into pinwheels, roll your wrap extra tight, chill for 20-30 minutes before slicing into rounds with a serrated knife. These pinwheels had seasoned cream cheese, grated carrot, purple cabbage, julienne zucchini, shaved turkey meat and a little spinach. Oh and check out the fruit salsa with crispy sweet tortilla chips.

Recipe for Wraps Using Leftovers

Check out Lunch in 15 for more quick and easy lunch ideas.This is just one example to give you an idea.

chicken, spinach, peppers, cream cheese hot pepper jelly in tortilla wrap next to carrots on plate

Print Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Wraps Using Leftovers

Use this recipe as an idea guide to build your own wrap with whatever is in your fridge. We love the combination of cream cheese with a tasty, zippy sauce like hot pepper jelly or cranberry sauce, fresh chopped or shredded veggies and a healthy handful of greens. We most often have leftover chicken – but go ahead and use deli meat, turkey, ham, pork, roast beef, tempeh, tofu or whatever! Heck, I've even used leftover meatloaf!

Prep : 10

Total Time: 10

Servings: wrap

Author: Getty Stewart

Ingredients

tortilla wrap
3 tbsp cream cheese
2 tsp hot pepper jelly
1/2 cup chicken fully cooked
1/2 cup sliced sweet peppers
1/2 cup fresh spinach

Instructions

Spread cream cheese on tortilla wrap.
Spread hot pepper jelly over cream cheese.
Top with chicken then veggies then spinach.
Roll up tortilla and enjoy.

Notes

Make it yours with whatever you have on hand try:

cranberry sauce instead of hot pepper jelly
mayo aioli, hummus or shredded cheddar instead of cream cheese
lettuce greens, kale or arugula instead of spinach
add red onions, green onions, cilantro or parsley
swap the veggies for cucumbers, tomatoes, avocado, jicama
use ham, turkey, deli meat, tofu, chickpeas instead of chicken

Tried this recipe?Mention @GetGettyS or tag #GetGettyS

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Course: lunch

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken leftovers, leftovers, Thanksgiving leftovers

Another version using cranberry sauce and red cabbage.

Ooh, I can’t wait to hear what your favourite wrap combo is! Let me know below, share your photo and tag @getgettys so I can see it and like it!

Cook with the seasons, effortlessly! I’m Getty, a food educator and Professional Home Economist, helping you select, store, and serve seasonal ingredients in delicious, simple, everyday meals. Sign up for seasonal tips and recipes delivered straight to your inbox, and dive deeper with my books, guides, or YouTube content.

Easy Wrap Ideas for Lunch Using Leftovers