Name: Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce; 2 tbsp fish sauce; 2 ½ tbsp brown sugar; 2 tbsp lime juice; 1 tsp sesame oil; 2 tsp cornstarch; 5 green onions, sliced (keep light and green parts separate); 1 tbsp minced garlic; 1 tbsp minced ginger; 1 ½ lbs 92% lean ground chicken or turkey; 1 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil; 1 red bell pepper, cored and diced; 1 ½ cups matchstick carrots, roughly chopped; ⅓ cup chopped cilantro; ¼ cup chopped unsalted dry roasted peanuts; Lettuce leaves (e.g., Romaine hearts, artisan Romaine, iceberg, or butter lettuce); Hot sauce and/or peanut sauce (optional, for serving)

Jump to Recipe

Introduction

Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps offer a fresh, flavorful twist on a classic appetizer. Combining tender ground chicken with vibrant vegetables and a tangy sauce, these wraps are perfect for a light lunch or fun party snack.

The image shows three fresh green lettuce cups placed on a white plate with a slight rim. Each lettuce cup acts as a bowl, holding a colorful mix of ingredients. The bottom layer is crisp green lettuce, layered with a vibrant mixture of cooked chicken pieces, small orange carrot cubes, green chopped herbs, and green onions. This filling is topped with light brown cashew nuts and sprinkled with white sesame seeds. A woman's hand is holding the edge of the plate on the right side. The plate is set on a white marbled surface with a hint of a textured fabric at the bottom left corner. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 tbsp fish sauce
2 ½ tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp cornstarch
5 green onions, sliced (keep light and green parts separate)
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp minced ginger
1 ½ lbs 92% lean ground chicken or turkey
1 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil
1 red bell pepper, cored and diced
1 ½ cups matchstick carrots, roughly chopped
⅓ cup chopped cilantro
¼ cup chopped unsalted dry roasted peanuts
Lettuce leaves (e.g., Romaine hearts, artisan Romaine, iceberg, or butter lettuce)
Hot sauce and/or peanut sauce (optional, for serving)

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the sauce by whisking together soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, sesame oil, and cornstarch in a small bowl. Set aside.
Step 2: Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the light parts of the green onions, garlic, and ginger, sautéing for about 30 seconds.
Step 3: Add the ground chicken and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until nearly cooked through. There’s no need to drain excess liquid.
Step 4: Stir in the diced red bell pepper and cook for 2 minutes until it softens slightly. Then add the chopped carrots to the skillet.
Step 5: Give the sauce a quick whisk again and pour it over the chicken mixture. Toss everything together and cook for about 1 minute, until the sauce thickens and the chicken is fully cooked. Taste and season with salt if needed.
Step 6: Stir in chopped cilantro, green onion greens, and peanuts.
Step 7: Spoon the chicken mixture into whole lettuce leaves. Serve topped with hot sauce, extra peanuts, and peanut sauce if desired.

Tips & Variations

For extra crunch, try adding chopped water chestnuts or toasted cashews instead of peanuts.
Use ground turkey as a leaner alternative to chicken.
Serve with a side of jasmine rice for a more filling meal.
Adjust the amount of hot sauce to suit your preferred spice level.

Storage

Store any leftover chicken mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep the lettuce leaves separate to prevent sogginess. Reheat the filling gently in a skillet or microwave before assembling the wraps for serving.

How to Serve

Three lettuce wraps are placed on a white plate with a light brown rim, set on a white marbled surface. Each wrap has one large bright green leafy lettuce base, topped with shredded light brown chicken mixed with small orange carrot sticks, chopped green onions, and sprinkled with chopped cashews and white sesame seeds. A few cilantro leaves add extra green color for garnish. A woman's hand is gently touching one of the wraps from the side. In the background, two more plates with similar wraps are partially visible. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these wraps vegetarian?

Yes, you can substitute ground chicken with firm tofu or textured vegetable protein (TVP) and adjust the cooking time accordingly. Add a splash of soy sauce for extra flavor.

What type of lettuce works best for wraps?

Crisp lettuces like Romaine hearts, iceberg, butter lettuce, or artisan Romaine hold up well and make ideal cups for the filling without tearing easily.