Make restaurant-quality lettuce wraps at home with this quick and easy recipe! As an appetizer or weeknight meal in a flash, these lettuce wraps will be your new go-to!
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P.F. Chang’s has nothing on these Asian lettuce wraps that have a sauce you’ll basically want to drink right out of the skillet.
First, pick your protein. Whether you choose ground pork, chicken, turkey or beef – your crew will devour these. Make lettuce wraps in large or small batches, pack leftovers for lunch, and assemble them in less time than it would take you to order takeout. Yes, I told you, these are a WIN, WIN, WIN!
Take them up a notch with a dollop of my Dad’s famous Peanut Sauce and a side of Baby Bok Choy for a complete meal. Or serve them as part of a fun family-style spread with homemade Shrimp Tempura Rolls that are just as good as your favorite sushi restaurant’s.
So let’s start wrappin’!
Lettuce Wraps Recipe Ingredients and Substitutions
Here’s everything you need to make the BEST lettuce wraps – and a few substitutions and variations to customize them just how you like it!
- Bibb lettuce or romaine hearts – I personally like Bibb lettuce leaves that are extra pliable. But romaine leaves are great for those who like crunchier wraps!
- Ground pork, chicken, turkey, or beef – choose your meat! I love lean ground pork that’s buttery and flavorful (and also inexpensive). But you can absolutely use ground chicken, turkey or beef depending on your preference!
- Yellow onion – onion adds sweet and tangy texture.
- Shredded carrots – for a pop of color and sweetness, pre-shredded carrots that you can get right in the produce section are the perfect addition!
- Garlic – do I even need to say why garlic makes lettuce wraps better?
- Avocado oil – to sauté your veggies, use a little avocado oil. Don’t have it? Use another flavorless oil, or even olive oil!
- Sauce ingredients: for a sauce that’s literally drinkable, make sure you get these ingredients. Fresh ginger adds kicky freshness. Hoisin sauce thickens things up. Seasoned rice wine vinegar adds tanginess. Soy sauce and fish sauce bring a salty, umami punch, and sesame oil brings a buttery toastiness. Don’t forget the red pepper flakes for a kick!
- Optional toppings: you can’t go wrong with a sprinkle of peanuts and fresh scallions and a squeeze of citrusy acidity from lime wedges!
How to Make Lettuce Wraps
Here’s how to make lettuce wraps, with photos of the steps to help you out. This is an outline; the recipe card below includes the detailed steps and ingredients!
Make the sauce. Mix together the hoisin, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, fish sauce, and hot pepper flakes. Set aside.
Cook the meat. Cook and crumble the meat over medium-high heat. Once cooked through, drain the meat and set aside.
Sauté the veggies. Drain the pan. Add avocado oil, and then the onion, carrots, garlic, and ginger. Sauté over medium-high heat for 2 minutes.
Mix it together. Add back in the sauce and meat. Season with salt, and stir.
Simmer. Simmer the mixture, uncovered over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Serve. Arrange lettuce leaves on a serving dish. Using a slotted spoon, top each piece of lettuce with the meat mixture. Then top each with crushed peanuts and scallions. Serve right away with lime wedges!
My Pro Tip
Make Ahead and Reheating Tips
Make the filling up to 4 days ahead, storing in an airtight container in the fridge once cooled completely. Store the lettuce leaves separately, rinsed and patted dry, gently wrapped in damp paper towels in a plastic bag for up to 4 days ahead as well. Assemble right before serving!
Reheat the meat mixture in the microwave, in increments of 30 seconds stirring every increment, until warmed through. Add a dash extra avocado oil to rejuvenate if needed!
Serving Suggestions for Lettuce Wraps
Serve these lettuce wraps as an appetizer before a Salmon Rice Bowl or Orange Chicken! Or serve them as the main dish with a side of steamed rice, Peanut Noodles, or with a simple Asian Cucumber Salad. Yum!
FAQs
Bibb lettuce leaves are perfectly pliable. But romaine leaves are great for those who like crunchier wraps!
A sprinkle of crushed peanuts and chopped scallions are *chef’s kiss* the best toppings.
Keep the meat mixture and lettuce leaves separate until you’re ready to eat them. Fill the lettuce leaves right before serving.
More Ground Meat Recipes You’ll Love!
Easy Weeknight Dinners
BEST Chicken Quesadilla Recipe
Easy Weeknight Dinners
Juicy Baked Chicken Meatballs
Easy Weeknight Dinners
Easy Turkey Chili
If you’ve tried this Lettuce Wraps Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from you. Please consider leaving a 🌟 star rating while you are here!
Asian Lettuce Wraps (Pork or Chicken!)
Ingredients
- 1 head Bibb lettuce, or 2 romaine hearts (8-10 large leaves)
- 1 pound ground pork, or ground chicken, turkey, or beef
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- ¾ cup shredded carrots
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce
- 3 tablespoons seasoned rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon fish sauce
- Red peppers flakes, optional to taste
- Salt, to taste
Optional Toppings
- ½ cup peanuts, crushed
- 1 bunch scallions, trimmed and chopped
- 2 limes, cut into wedges
Instructions
- Mix together the hoisin, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, fish sauce, and hot pepper flakes. Set aside the sauce.
- Cook and crumble the pork (or whichever meat you chose) in a large, dry skillet over medium-high heat. Once cooked through, use a slotted spoon to drain the meat and set it aside in a separate bowl.
- Drain any liquid fat from the pan. Add avocado oil, and then the onion, carrots, garlic, and ginger. Sauté over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes until just fragrant.
- Pour the sauce over the veggies, and add back in the ground meat. Season with salt, and stir.
- Simmer the mixture, uncovered over medium heat, for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sauce will thicken slightly and the flavors will meld together!
- Arrange lettuce leaves on a serving dish. Using a slotted spoon, top each piece of lettuce with a generous (but not overflowing) amount of the meat mixture. Then top each lettuce wrap with a sprinkle of crushed peanuts and scallions. Serve right away with lime wedges!
Video
Notes
- Bibb lettuce leaves are more pliable and soft whereas romaine leaves are crunchier and studier. Either option works!
- Ground pork has a buttery flavor and is inexpensive. I LOVE ground pork! You can also use ground chicken, turkey or beef, depending on your preference.
- Don’t have avocado oil? Any other flavorless oil works well, or even use a splash of olive oil in a pinch!
- Watch my video for tips on how to crush peanuts.
- Assemble right before serving, or else your lettuce will get soggy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made these with a side of your dad’s peanut sauce for dipping. The perfect pairing! Will bring them as an app to my next family gathering.
So good right?! Thanks for letting me know!
Cheers,
Grace
Mouthwateringly good! Love the crunch of the lettuce and it’s low carb too!
Yay!! So glad you like them 🙂
Grace
Made for dinner and absolutely loved! I could drink this sauce! My husband said he’s going to put it on his eggs tomorrow morning.
The sauce is the best!! Thanks for letting me know!
Grace