These chicken lettuce wraps are quick and easy to prepare with a savory ground chicken filling, a simple homemade sauce, and your choice of toppings. Serve them as a tasty appetizer, a quick lunch, or as a light dinner.
Why You’ll Make These Chicken Lettuce Wraps Often
- Flavor: Sweet, savory, and crunchy, these wraps have a classic restaurant-style Asian flavor you’ll love.
- Skill Level: This is an easy beginner-friendly recipe that comes together in just one skillet.
- Technique: Brown and break up the meat well, then simmer briefly with the sauce so it coats every bite.
- Swaps: Ground turkey can be used in place of chicken, and if you don’t have fresh ginger on hand, use a sprinkle of ground ginger instead.
- Serving: For a hungry crowd, serve with lemon rice or a Thai quinoa salad, or with white rice, soba noodles, or some wonton crisps.
Ingredients That Matter Most
- Filling: Buy ground chicken or turkey. Add fresh garlic, ginger, and some red peppers, along with water chestnuts for some crunch.
- Sauce: A savory combination of hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and a little sriracha for an extra spicy kick. Use more or less to taste.
- Wrap: Iceberg or bibb lettuce makes a low-carb, tasty wrap. Both types of lettuce are mild-flavored, crisp, and tend to have large leaves that form a ‘bowl’ to hold the filling.
Variations
- Add some crushed cashews or peanuts to the filling, or sprinkle with some black or white sesame seeds.
- Optional garnishes include julienned carrots, cucumbers, or other vegetables like celery. Try chopped cilantro, crunchy noodles, or green onions for a tasty topping.
Quick Step-by-Step Overview
- Prepare the sauce and set it aside.
- Cook the chicken and seasonings. Then add in the remaining ingredients (full recipe below).
- Stir in the prepared sauce and add to the lettuce leaves with toppings.
Storage, Reheating, Leftovers
- Store: Keep the filling in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, and store it separately from the lettuce and toppings so everything stays fresh and crisp when you serve it.
- Reheat: Warm the filling in a skillet over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. Add a small splash of water if it needs a little help loosening up.
- Freeze: Freeze the cooked filling without the lettuce for up to 6 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge, then reheat in a skillet until hot.
- Leftover Ideas: Spoon the filling over rice for a simple bowl, add it on top of a salad, or tuck it into tortillas for an easy wrap with a whole new twist.
Easy Weeknight Chicken Wins
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Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe
Sweet-savory chicken lettuce Wraps with crunchy water chestnuts and a quick hoisin sauce.
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ Tablespoon oil
- 1 pound ground chicken or turkey
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger root grated, or 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
- 1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts diced
- ½ red bell pepper diced
- 1 head lettuce iceberg or bibb lettuce (washed)
Sauce
- 3 Tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce low sodium preferred
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon sriracha or to taste (or a couple dashes tabasco)
Optional Garnishes
- julienned cucumbers
- julienned carrots
- chopped fresh cilantro
- crunchy ramen soup noodles
- peanuts or cashews (chopped if desired)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sriracha together. Set aside.
- In a large skillet on medium high, heat oil and saute ground chicken, garlic, and ginger, breaking up with a meat chopper (or a wooden spoon). Continue to stir occasionally and break up the meat for 7-8 minutes.
- Add water chestnuts and red pepper. Stir. Cook until pepper is tender, about 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sauce and cook until heated through.
- Spoon warm filling into lettuce leaves. Top with your favorite garnishes and extra hoisin sauce if desired.
Notes
- Nutrition calculated without optional garnishes.
- Try to peel each lettuce leaf back gently so it stays intact.
- Use large leaves and ones without holes or tears.
- Smaller leaves are perfect for bite-sized portions.
- Refrigerate filling separately from lettuce. It will keep for about 3-4 days.
- Reheat filling on the stovetop.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 269 | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 572mg | Potassium: 785mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 486IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
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