Southwest BBQ Chicken Salad Wrap Bento Boxes

Meal prep that works for my nutrition and makes sure my son will eat some vegetables

My 18-year-old son lifts. Me too. And well, we need a little more. Higher levels of calories & protein to support our bodies.

And well… His sisters want fruit and yogurt. They are the sweets people in the house… he wants savory. Meat and cheese. And well… me too.

These wraps are barbecue chicken, real salad, eggs, and cheese. Things that hit his macros and actually taste like food he wants to put in his mouth. The crockpot does the heavy lifting… literally just throw the chicken in and let it go all day. Assembly is fifteen minutes. Four bentos packed for both of us plus extra wraps for the week.

The crockpot does the heavy lifting on the chicken. You throw it in before you start your day, and by lunch it’s ready. Everything else is assembly. Fifteen minutes to pack four bento boxes and make six more wrap halves for the week.

INGREDIENTS (makes 4 bentos + 6 wrap halves)

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
1/4 cup honey barbecue sauce
4 hard-boiled eggs
1 southwest salad kit
1 bag carrot sticks
4 oz cheddar cheese block
4 whole wheat tortillas
1/4 cup southwest dressing

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place chicken breast and honey barbecue sauce in crockpot. Cook on low for 6.5 hours. Remove chicken and slice or shred depending on preference.

2. While the chicken finishes, cube cheddar cheese into bite-sized pieces and set aside.

3. Empty southwest salad kit into a large bowl and toss according to package instructions.

4. Lay a wrap flat on a clean surface. Scoop 1/2 cup of Southwest salad mix onto the center of the wrap. Add 100g of cooked BBQ chicken on top. Fold in edges and roll tightly from bottom up. Slice in half.

5. Place one wrap half into a bento box. Add one hard-boiled egg, 28g of cubed cheddar cheese, and 100g of carrot sticks alongside.

6. Seal and store in the refrigerator until ready to eat. These will keep for up to 4 days.

Per bento: 426 cal | 39g Protein | 28g Carbs | 17g Fat

Why this works: The crockpot does the work so you’re not stress-cooking. The wraps are satisfying because of the higher protein level and the volume from the salad mix and the veggies on the side. And at this price point… around $6.50 per bento… it fits our big family grocery budget.