Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps
If I’m going to eat healthy, it better be flavorful – and that’s one thing today’s recipe has wrapped. A flavor- and protein-packed Ground Chicken Lettuce Wrap recipe that tastes like it came straight out of a restaurant kitchen – but takes less than 20 minutes to whip up at home!
Sesame Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe
Today I am sharing with you one of my favorite summertime recipes, although this recipe is wonderful year-round.
In the summer, I want light and healthy lunch and dinner options. I don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen (it’s hot and I already have enough demands on my time with school being out), but I still need to ensure we’re getting enough protein in our day, especially with my daughter training 20 hours a week to be the next Cirque de Soleil star.
These chicken lettuce wraps fit the bill perfectly. They are ready in less than 20 minutes, are not too heavy to eat in the summertime heat and deliver plenty of protein in their portable, eat-with-your-hands lettuce wraps.
Sweet, savoury and umami ground chicken is nestled into lettuce wraps that are perfect to eat on the porch or at the beach. Wherever your summer adventures take you.
They are naturally low-carb, gluten-free and dairy-free, making them the perfect option when you have summer guests that have dietary preferences or restrictions.
PF Chang’s has a similar version of these chicken lettuce wraps on their menu, but I wouldn’t say that ours is exactly the same as I think the PF Chang’s version features hoisin sauce. I can’t stand anything with a licorice flavor – anise, fennel, etc – so hoisin sauce is an ingredient you will never find in my kitchen! If you want your Asian chicken lettuce wraps to be more similar to theirs, add a dash of hoisin sauce.
The ground chicken filling can be used in a variety of different ways – make them into traditional (tortilla) wrap sandwiches, dumplings or use them to top protein bowls. (Or simply serve on top of rice.)
Water chestnuts add a delicious contrasting crunch and a light sweetness to these ground chicken lettuce wraps and are usually found in a can in the vegetable or international aisles of your grocery store. You may have had them before wrapped in bacon as an appetizer during the holidays.
Asian Chicken Lettuce Wrap Variations:
- Add more veggies: edamame, red bell peppers, shredded carrots, micro greens, etc.
- Swap out the ground chicken for chicken tenders
- Coconut aminos in place of soy sauce, or use a low-sodium soy sauce
- Serve over rice or in taco shells, if desired
- Swap out the water chestnuts for cashews, peanuts, or a crunchy vegetable like carrots or snap peas
- If short on time, use a premade marinade or sauce like teriyaki or honey garlic for the meat
- Add a drizzle of honey for added sweetness.
- Garnish with green onions, red Chile flakes or sriracha if you want more kick
Chicken Lettuce Wraps FAQs
Can I use a different lettuce for the lettuce wrap? Yes! PF Chang’s uses iceberg lettuce, and while I prefer butter lettuce (also known as Bibb lettuce), for this set of pictures I ended up using romaine lettuce and it worked great. Use what you like, what’s available and what’s affordable.
How to store leftover chicken lettuce wraps: Store the chicken filling in the fridge separate from the lettuce for up to 4 days. To store the lettuce, clean and dry the leaves well, then store in a bag or container with paper towels to absorb additional moisture.
How to freeze the sesame chicken filling: Freeze the cooked ground chicken mixture for up to three months in an airtight freezer container or ziptop freezer bags. (This set of freezer containers is a crazy bargain.)
Ingredients for Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Olive Oil
- Onion, diced
- Garlic Cloves, minced
- Ginger, minced
- Ground Chicken
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
- Soy Sauce, to taste
- Rice Wine Vinegar
- Sesame Oil
- Water Chestnuts, drained and sliced
- Butter Lettuce or Romaine
- Green Onions, thinly sliced, optional garnish
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Tip: carefully measure and start out light-handed with the rice wine vinegar, soy sauce and sesame oil to prevent them from overpowering your dish.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Sharp Kitchen Knife
- Cutting Board
- Cast Iron Skillet <– I love the versatility of a good cast-iron pan – you can make everything from eggs to dessert in them and they transition easily from the stove to the oven. This one is pre-seasoned and great for even heating
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Wooden Spoon or Spatula <– I like these spatulas because they are one solid piece and don’t have removable heads for bacteria to get trapped underneath. Plus they are heat-resistant and have a lifetime warranty.
How to Make Sesame Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Place the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Once hot, add the onions and cook for 2 minutes, until translucent.
Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute, then add in the ground chicken, salt and pepper.
Cook for 5-8 minutes, using a spatula or wooden spoon to stir and break up clumps. The mixture will seem watery at the midway cooking point, but continue to cook until liquid has disappeared and chicken is slightly browned.
Add the rice wine vinegar and sesame oil. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes, then taste and adjust seasoning.
Stir in the water chestnuts and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Clean the lettuce and arrange individual leaves on your serving plates. Scoop approximately 2-3 Tablespoons of the chicken mixture on to the middle of each leaf and garnish with optional green onions if you want a bit more kick.
Grab your free printable recipe card for our sesame chicken lettuce wraps recipe:
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Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Onion, diced
- 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 1/2 Tablespoon Ginger, minced
- 1 lb Ground Chicken
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
- 2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce, to taste
- 2 Tablespoons Rice Wine Vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon Sesame Oil
- 1 can Water Chestnuts, drained and sliced
- 1 head Butter Lettuce or Romaine
- 2 Green Onions, thinly sliced, optional garnish
Instructions
- Place the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Once hot, add the onions and cook for 2 minutes, until translucent.
- Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute, then add in the ground chicken, salt and pepper.
- Cook for 5-8 minutes, using a spatula or wooden spoon to stir and break up clumps. The mixture will seem watery at the midway cooking point, but continue to cook until liquid has disappeared and chicken is slightly browned.
- Add the rice wine vinegar and sesame oil. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes, then taste and adjust seasoning.
- Stir in the water chestnuts and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Clean the lettuce and arrange individual leaves on your serving plates. Scoop approximately 2-3 Tablespoons of the chicken mixture on to the middle of each leaf and garnish with optional green onions if you want a bit more kick.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 155Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 304mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 14g
Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.
I hope your family loves this easy ground chicken lettuce wrap recipe as much as mine does!
For more ways to enjoy chicken, check out our full chicken recipe collection here:
For more scrumptious sandwiches, check out our full sandwich recipe collection here:
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