Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

These Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a healthy, light meal that takes just minutes to make! Ground chicken is simmered with a flavorful Asian-inspired sauce, then spooned into crisp lettuce leaves.

 

Do you ever order lettuce wraps at Asian restaurants? They’re so good, and such a nice break from the standard carb-heavy fare restaurants put on their appetizer menus—but once you see how easy it is to make them at home, you might never want to order them again when you go out!

This is a recipe where it’s all about the sauce, and we’ve got a good one here—it’s sweet, savory, and just a little bit spicy to keep things interesting. Simmer the sauce with ground chicken, then tuck the filling into lettuce leaves with all of your favorite toppings. (Dinner’s always a lot more fun when you can add toppings to customize your meal!)

Why You’ll Love These Asian Lettuce Wraps

There’s a lot to love about these Asian chicken lettuce wraps. Here’s what makes them a favorite in my home:

• Simple. This recipe is so easy to make, with minimal ingredients and no complicated steps.
• Healthy. The lettuce wraps are packed with protein-rich chicken and plenty of healthy veggies. They’re low carb and with some simple tweaks, they can be keto-friendly too.
• Customizable. Choose your favorite toppings and adjust the heat level in the sauce to customize these lettuce wraps to your liking.
• Versatile. Serve them up as an appetizer, as a light meal, or use them for meal prep lunches.

Ingredients for PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps

Here are all the ingredients you need to make these Asian chicken lettuce wraps. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page to see the exact amounts for each ingredient.

For the Filling 

• Avocado oil: or any other neutral oil such as olive oil will work.
• Ground chicken: You can also use ground turkey or ground pork if you prefer.
• White onion: you could also use sweet or red onion if you prefer/
• Red bell pepper: yellow or orange are also fine; I prefer those to green peppers in this recipe because they add a bit more natural sweetness to the filling.
• Carrots: Buy pre-shredded carrots and save yourself some prep time.

For the Sauce 

• Soy sauce: low-sodium soy sauce or tamari is fine too. Coconut aminos is a great soy-free alternative.
• Hoisin sauce: this adds depth and flavor to the sauce. Double-check and use a gluten-free brand if needed.
• Toasted sesame oil: make sure you use toasted! It has a nutty flavor, unlike regular sesame oil.
• Rice vinegar: unseasoned rice vinegar is best.
• Liquid sweetener: this can be honey or sugar-free maple syrup if keto.
• Garlic: freshly minced garlic is best.
• Sweet chili sauce: this adds a touch of sweet and spicy flavor to the sauce.
• Fresh ginger: Fresh ginger adds warmth and flavor to the sauce.

To Serve 

• Butter lettuce: Butter (also called Boston) or Bibb lettuce are your best bets for lettuce wraps, but big leaves of romaine lettuce will work in a pinch. If crunch is your favorite, consider making little bowls with iceberg lettuce.
• Toppings: My favorite toppings are green onions, crushed peanuts or water chestnuts, maybe some crushed red pepper flakes. You may choose to add salt and pepper to taste, and spice lovers may like a drizzle of sriracha!

How to Make Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Here’s how easy it is to make your own Asian chicken lettuce wraps at home. You will just need a large skillet, spatula, and small jar or bowl to make the sauce. I’ve documented the entire process so you can see each step to make the best homemade lettuce wraps!

Make the Sauce

The first step is to make the sauce. This does not require any special equipment or extra time. Simply combine all of the sauce ingredients in a jar and screw the lid tight. Shake vigorously until the ingredients are well-combined and the sauce is smooth. If you are using honey as the sweetener it may be necessary to microwave the sauce 10-15 seconds to help the honey incorporate into the sauce. You could use a small bowl and whisk instead of the jar if you prefer.

Brown the Chicken

Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add the avocado oil and ground chicken and cook, breaking up as you go, until the chicken is browned. Drain off any grease, there probably won’t be very much, but just in case remove it from the skillet.

Add the Vegetables

Next, stir the onion, bell pepper, and carrots into a skillet and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the vegetables have softened. Depending on how tender you like your vegetables or how you have chopped them.

Add the Sauce

The final step is to make sure you grain any grease remaining grease from the pan and add the sauce to the skillet and toss to coat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the sauce has thickened slightly, stirring occasionally. After the chicken mixture has simmered in the yummy Asian sauce for a few minutes it is ready to serve!

Serve

Spoon the chicken salad filling into the lettuce and top with green onions, peanuts, and red pepper flakes. These Asian chicken lettuce wraps are delicious served on their own as a light dinner, but if you’re looking for a side dish to go along with them, here are some options:

• Cauliflower Fried Rice: this is a veggie-packed low carb and keto-friendly side dish.
• Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts: these Asian-inspired sprouts are served with a homemade yum yum sauce everyone loves!
• Sesame Noodles: so easy and always delicious!
• Sesame Green Beans: an easy foil pack recipe that has barely any cleanup!

Tips and Variations

Here are some hints and tips to help you make perfect Asian chicken lettuce wraps:

• Mix the sauce well. If needed, you can microwave the jar of sauce for 30 seconds to help the sweetener break down.
• Simmer until the sauce thickens. You don’t want the ground chicken to be too saucy, or it will make the lettuce wraps messy and difficult to eat.
• Add some heat. If you like a bit of heat in your food, add some red pepper flakes to the avocado oil just before you add the chicken; this will infuse the oil with fiery red pepper and make the filling spicy. A drizzle of sriracha or spicy mayo can also be delicious.
• Switch it up. Feel free to get creative and try different veggies and toppings. Diced mushrooms are a great addition to the filling, or try topping the lettuce wraps with additional red bell pepper for some crunch. If you’re not watching your carbs, crispy wonton strips are a tasty topping too! If you don’t have ground chicken, cubed chicken breasts or chicken thighs could also work (we just love the texture of ground meat).

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

The filling for these Asian chicken lettuce wraps can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, microwave the filling until it’s warmed through or heat it in a skillet over medium heat.

Can I Freeze This Recipe?

This is a recipe that’s best served fresh, although you can freeze the filling in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Let it thaw in the refrigerator, then reheat it according to the instructions above.

Lettuce Wrap FAQ

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• Chicken Bacon Wrap
• Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps
• Chicken Caesar Wrap
• Greek Chicken Wrap