These Chicken Summer Rolls are packed with flavor, protein, and veggies, wrapped in light spring roll papers. Quick and easy to prepare, they’re perfect for lunches, school lunches, or after-school snacks. With savory ground chicken, crunchy carrots, zesty lime, and a hint of sesame, these rolls are fun and delicious. Plus, they’re customizable, so your little chefs can get creative in the kitchen.

Why You’ll Love Chicken Summer Rolls
- Customizable & Kid Friendly! Kids enjoy being able to assemble their own roll. Everyone in the family can make the same version or each person can choose their favorite fillings.
- Nutritious & Delicious! Packed with lean protein and veggies, summer rolls are a fantastic way to sneak in a few extra nutrients that kids might not even notice.
- Quick & Easy! The rolls may look intimidating, but they come together super quick. Definitely a stress-free meal that is perfect for any day of the week.
Spring Roll vs Summer Roll
It is common to think that spring and summer rolls are the same, but they do have a few distinct differences. Spring rolls are typically fried after being assembled with vegetables, meats and/or seafood. The wrappers are made of wheat or rice flour and turn into a delicious crunchy appetizer that is served warm. On the other hand, summer rolls are made with rice paper wrappers and filled with a combination of fresh herbs, vegetables, and protein like chicken. They are not fried and can be served warm or chilled.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 cup carrot sticks
- 1 pound ground chicken ✅
- 1 bunch green onions sliced, divided
- 1/2 lime
- 1/4 cup gluten-free soy sauce or tamari
- 6 spring roll papers
Gluten-Free Guide: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten.
How To Make Summer Rolls
Heat 1 Tablespoon of sesame oil in a medium-sized skillet. Add 1 cup carrot sticks and cook for 2 minutes. Next, add the 1-pound ground chicken and cook for a couple of minutes. Add 1/2 of the green onions.
Once the chicken is cooked through add the 1/2 cup soy sauce and squeeze the juice of 1/2 of a lime. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the meat no longer has liquid in the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat.
Fill the pie pan with warm water and place a clean kitchen towel close by. Place a spring roll wrapper into the warm water, leaving for just about 15 seconds or when it starts to soften. Remove and place onto the kitchen towel. Fill with some of the meat mixture. Fold in the sides then carefully roll. Repeat.
Serve with your favorite sauce. We used Terry Ho’s Yum Yum Sauce. A peanut dipping sauce for summer rolls can also be an excellent option!
Favorite Ways to Serve Our Summer Rolls Recipe
Make the night before and serve in a lunchbox warm, or cold! Here are some other creative ways to consider serving summer rolls:
- Bento Box Style: Add the rolls in a sectioned lunchbox, alongside produce like edamame, sliced fruits and veggie sticks.
- Pre-Sliced: Assemble the rolls then slice in half to store in the fridge for a later time. Kids can enjoy the rolls later in the day or next day for snack when their hunger strikes.
- Paired with Dipping Sauces: Terry Ho’s Yum Yum Sauce and peanut sauce just skim the surface of options! Hummus or a yogurt-based tzatziki also complement the rolls and boost protein at the meal.
- With Sides: Serve side dishes such as cold noodle salads, quinoa, steamed edamame or fresh fruit for a more substantial and balanced meal.
Recipe Tips and Variations
Veggie summer rolls – swap the ground chicken with crumbled tofu to keep the protein content similar but incorporate vegetarian options. Add additional vegetables such as bell peppers to the rolls.
Use leftover chicken – this is a great recipe to consider if you have leftover ground chicken from the night before or leftover Rotisserie chicken.
Swap protein – ground turkey, beef, diced shrimp or thinly sliced steak are other proteins to consider beyond ground chicken.
Soften the rice paper – Dipping the rice paper in water for 5-10 seconds will allow it to soften properly. It should feel slightly firm when removed from the water as it will continue to soften as you fill and roll. If the paper starts to tear, reduce the soaking time.
Don’t overfill – it can be really exciting for kids to assemble and roll so showing them how to add a small amount of filling to avoid tearing the roll is important.
FAQs
Yes, make up to a day in advance for best tasting results. It is possible to store up to 3 days, but you will see the quality of the rice paper start to diminish with each day.
We don’t recommend freezing because of the delicate rice paper wrappers. They tend to become sticky and soggy when thawed. If on the search for an excellent freezer meal, check out Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal.
Kids In The Kitchen
Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.
- It is important to fully cook the ground chicken before adding to the rolls. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, while breaking up the chicken into small pieces until meat has browned.
- Adults should help kids with rolling the summer rolls to help them learn this new skill. Older kids can then take charge and instruct younger kids to further enhance the learning experience.
- Ensure the rice paper is wet yet slightly firm when you remove it from the pie pan filled with water. This will help with the success of the wrappers not tearing when rolled.
Storage Instructions
Store in an airtight container for 1-2 days. To prevent the rolls from sticking together, wrap each roll in plastic wrap or parchment paper. This will also help them from drying out. Covering the rolls with a damp paper towel is another option to keep the rolls moist.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
Chicken is a staple in our home and finding creative ways to keep meals interesting for the family is always at top of mind. If searching for more ground chicken recipes, we highly recommend Parmesan Ground Chicken Pasta, made with gluten-free pasta, marinara sauce, fresh garlic, and lots of cheese. Other fun family-friendly recipes include Chicken Kabobs In Oven, Chicken Pot Pie with Red Lobster Biscuits and Cheesy Crockpot Chicken and Rice.
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Ground Chicken Summer Rolls Recipe
Equipment
- clean kitchen towel
- pie dish or wide bottomed dish
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 cup carrot sticks
- 1 pound ground chicken ✅
- 1 bunch green onions sliced, divided
- 1/2 lime
- 1/4 cup gluten-free soy sauce or tamari
- 6 spring roll papers
Instructions
- ⭐️ Cook the ground chicken. Heat the sesame oil in a medium-sized skillet. Add the carrots and cook for 2 minutes. Add the ground chicken and cook for a couple of minutes. Add 1/2 of the green onions. Once the chicken is cooked through add the soy sauce and squeeze the juice of 1/2 of a lime. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the meat no longer has liquid in the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat.1 tablespoon sesame oil, 1 cup carrot sticks, 1 pound ground chicken, 1 bunch green onions, 1/2 lime, 1/4 cup gluten-free soy sauce
- Wrap the summer rolls. Fill the pie pan with warm water and place a clean kitchen towel close by. Place a spring roll wrapper into the warm water, leaving for just about 15 seconds or when it starts to soften. Remove and place onto the kitchen towel. Fill with some of the meat mixture. Fold in the sides then carefully roll. Repeat.6 spring roll papers
- Serve. Serve with your favorite sauce. We used Terry Ho's Yum Yum Sauce. Make the night before and serve in a lunchbox warm, or cold!
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Notes
Nutrition
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