Introduction
Chicken lettuce wraps are a delicious and healthy meal option that can be enjoyed as an appetizer or main course. They are easy to make and can be customized with your favorite ingredients. The combination of juicy chicken, crunchy vegetables, and flavorful sauces wrapped in a crisp lettuce leaf makes for a satisfying and nutritious meal. The best part is that you can make them in just minutes! Whether you’re looking for a quick lunch or dinner, or a tasty appetizer for a party, these chicken lettuce wraps are sure to please.
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Chicken lettuce wraps are a delicious and healthy meal that can be prepared in minutes. The combination of juicy chicken, crunchy vegetables, and flavorful sauces make this dish a favorite for lunch or dinner. Plus, it’s a great way to use up leftover cooked chicken.
Ingredients
- 1 pound cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1/2 cup diced bell pepper
- 1/2 cup diced carrots
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 head butter lettuce, leaves separated
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked chicken, onion, bell pepper, and carrots.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ground ginger, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken mixture and stir to combine.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is heated through, about 5 minutes.
- To serve, spoon the chicken mixture into the lettuce leaves and enjoy!
Asian chicken lettuce wraps are super easy to make and ready in under 30 minutes! The meat and veggies are stir-fried, tossed in a delicious savory sauce, and scooped into crisp pieces of lettuce.
Table of Contents
Chicken lettuce wraps are a must when dining at Chinese restaurants, but making them at home is easier than you might think. Yep, it’s a fast and flavorful meal that comes together in one large pan. The key is in the ingredient preparation, so you can drop it in the wok and let it cook for 10 minutes.
This healthy low-carb recipe is perfect for serving as an appetizer for a party and hearty enough to feed a hungry family for dinner. I like to pair it with my favorite Chinese dishes like potstickers and crispy egg rolls for a complete meal.
Chicken selection
I use lean ground chicken in the recipe as a quick-cooking protein option. You’ll need to purchase a 1-pound package. You can also use pieces of chopped chicken breasts or thighs but cut them into small, ¼-inch dice for stir-frying.
Alternatively, you can try my ground turkey lettuce wraps or substitute ground beef to switch things up! I also have tofu lettuce wraps for a vegetarian option.
Add vegetables to the filling
Chicken has a neutral flavor and is low in fat, about 4%. Without mix-ins, the taste will be bland. I add colorful vegetables like carrots, water chestnuts, yellow onions, and green onions. Briefly stir-fry them until crisp-tender.
I cook them in sesame oil with garlic, and ginger, to bring out the natural sweetness of the root vegetables and alliums. Other types of vegetables can be added, like red bell pepper, brown mushrooms, and bamboo shoots.
Cook the chicken
The ground chicken cooks very quickly, especially when using a wok. To get a flavorful browned surface on the meat, ensure the oil and pan are hot and ready to sear. Quickly break the protein down to make bite-sized pieces.
Let it sear until a golden crust forms, then stir-fry to ensure that the poultry is fully cooked, flavorful, and doesn’t dry out. The process takes about 4 minutes. I season with a bit of salt and pepper before tossing in the sauce.
Add savory sauces
To make a simple three-ingredient umami-packed sauce for the lettuce wraps, all you need is hoisin, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. The combination of various fermented soybean products, balanced with sweet and tangy ingredients, makes the savory taste of the chicken stand out.
Just add it directly to the stir-fried chicken, and mix it in! Stir in the vegetables, and you’re ready to fill the lettuce cups.
Lettuce selection
For tender lettuce wraps, butter lettuce is the best choice. The outer and middle leaves make big boats to hold plenty of filling. Other types of lettuce can be used, like bibb, iceberg, or romaine hearts.
How to make chicken lettuce wraps
Once you combine the stir-fried ground chicken and vegetables with the sauce, it’s ready to wrap. Fill one lettuce cup with the meat mixture, then top with fresh slices of green onion and crunchy cashews or peanuts. If needed, you can double up on the lettuce to make a thicker or larger wrap.
The lettuce wraps taste the best when served warm, or you can chill them to meal prep for a quick lunch or dinner. If you have leftover filling, serve it on top of steamed rice for a heartier meal with extra vegetables like bok choy.
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FAQ
Ground chicken meat stir-fried with a mixture of vegetables then tossed in a savory soy sauce. The filling is served wrapped inside lettuce cups, topped with chopped nuts and green onions, and enjoyed as an appetizer or light meal.
For sturdy and foldable lettuce wraps, butter leaf lettuce works best. The leaves are curved to hold the filling and are pliable to cover it up, making it easy to eat. If you prefer a crisp option, iceberg or romaine are excellent choices but are much more rigid.
To make the chicken filling spicy, you can add dried red chili flakes, chili oil, or chili paste like sriracha. Add it at the end of cooking, using a tiny amount, ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon at a time to gradually increase the heat.
Wait to add the garlic and ginger
In traditional Chinese stir-fry dishes, garlic and ginger add aromatics and intensity to the dish. When using minced pieces, they can burn quickly in the wok and oil. Saute the vegetables first, so there is residual moisture in the pan. Add aromatics, and it will gently infuse.
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Cook the Vegetables – Heat a wok or large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and sesame oil. Once hot, add the carrots and onions, and cook until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Add the water chestnuts, ¼ cup green onion, garlic, and ginger, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer to a medium bowl, and set aside.
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Cook the Chicken – Return the wok to the stovetop, and heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over high heat. Add the ground turkey, break into smaller chunks, and stir-fry until the meat is no longer pink, about 3 to 4 minutes—season with salt and pepper.
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Add the Sauces – Stir in the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. Add the stir-fried vegetables—season with salt and pepper to taste.
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Plate & Serve – Evenly divide the chicken filling among the lettuce cups. Garnish with peanuts (if using) and remaining green onions. Top with additional hoisin sauce if desired.
- Recipe Yield: 3 cups of filling
- Serving: 1 wrap
- Storing: Store cooked chicken filling in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheating: Cover and cook on high heat in 15 to 30-second intervals until hot.
- Make it Spicy: Stir in red chili flakes, sriracha, or chili oil. Add ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon at a time until the desired heat level is reached.
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Nutrition Facts
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Amount Per Serving
Calories 104
Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Trans Fat 0.02g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 33mg11%
Sodium 316mg13%
Potassium 324mg9%
Carbohydrates 7g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 8g16%
Vitamin A 1383IU28%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 21mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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