Name: Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons coconut or olive oil; 1 pound ground chicken (ground turkey also works); 3 tablespoons tamari sauce (soy sauce or coconut aminos also work); 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar; 2 tablespoons sugar or keto sugar; 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; 1/2 teaspoon fish sauce; 4 large cloves garlic, crushed; 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger; 1 head butter or Bibb lettuce; 1/4 medium red onion, thinly sliced; 1 small carrot, julienned; 1 green onion, thinly sliced green and white parts; 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, chopped; Fresh lime wedges, for squeezing on top

Jump to Recipe

Are you trying to recreate some of your favorite Asian takeout dishes? I’ve got the perfect recipe for Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps. it’s ready in just 20 minutes and you can substitute ingredients to make it even better than takeout!

I love ordering fresh lettuce wraps when I go to Asian restaurants like Pei Wei. It’s a little bit crunchy, a little bit savory, and a lot of delicious. Thai lettuce wraps make quick and healthy weeknight dinners or crowd-pleasing gluten-free appetizers made from fresh ingredients.

This article contains affiliate links. We earn from qualifying purchases.

Thai Lettuce Wraps Recipe

This simple recipe for Thai lettuce wraps is perfect for quick weeknight dinners. Store the chicken mixture and lettuce separately for on-the-go lunches. It’s even carb and keto friendly.

Can’t read now? Pin for later!

Asian Lettuce Wraps Ingredients

You probably already have all the ingredients you need for this chicken lettuce wraps recipe in your kitchen.

Coconut or olive oil
Ground chicken or ground turkey
Tamari sauce (soy sauce or coconut aminos also work)
Rice wine vinegar
Sugar or keto sugar
Crushed red pepper flakes
Fish sauce
Garlic clove
Fresh ginger
Butter or Bibb lettuce
Red onion
Carrot
Green onion
Roasted peanuts
Fresh limes or lime juice
salt and pepper

How to Make Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

First, heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once melted, add the ground chicken and cook until browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon as it cooks to break up the meat.

Next, mix the tamari sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, crushed red pepper flakes, fish sauce, garlic, and ginger in a small bowl. Pour it over the chicken.

Cook 2 minutes over medium heat. Stir constantly to prevent burning. Season with salt and pepper as needed.

Spoon the meat mixture into lettuce leaves and top with the red onion, carrot, green onions, and peanuts. Serve along with the lime wedges for squeezing on top.

Ingredient Alternatives

Ground Chicken: Use ground turkey if you can’t find ground chicken. Another option is to use shredded cooked chicken breast or leftover rotisserie chicken.
Tamari Sauce: Substitute soy sauce or coconut aminos depending on your dietary needs.
Sugar: Make this recipe keto friendly by using keto sugar, coconut sugar, or stevia/erythritol blend as the sweetener.
Chili Sauce: Thai dishes usually carry a little bit of heat. Add peppers as directed in the recipe or use Sriracha for an easy way to customize the spice.
Sesame Seeds: Personally, I like the way sesame seeds add a little finesse to the presentation of Asian dishes. I always sprinkle a few on the top of mine.

Related: Peanut Butter Rice

Pei Wei Chicken vs. Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

I love ordering lettuce wraps when we go to Pei Wei’s. I think my own recipe is actually better though. This Thai chicken lettuce wrap incorporates more vegetables such as carrots and green onions.

The peanuts also give a little bit of extra protein to the dish.

Of course, the best reason to make your own chicken lettuce cups is that you can customize it for your family. My family doesn’t like water chestnuts, so we leave that out completely. Some of us like a little more heat, so sometimes I add peppers.

Looking for more chicken recipes? Try these:

Other easy wrap recipe ideas:

Can’t read now? Pin for later!

What to Serve with Lettuce Wraps

When I make a full meal of these Thai lettuce cups, I try to pair them with other fresh options. We love Asian cucumber salads, pickled carrots, and kale salads.

I try to highlight Asian flavors with soy sauce, chili, ginger, and fresh vegetables. Try a bowl of cauliflower rice as well or wonton soup as well.

Should I make ground turkey or ground chicken lettuce wraps?

I’ve made these with both ground chicken and ground turkey. Either will work really well. I buy ground chicken at Walmart or another local grocery store. Ground turkey tends to be readily available if you’d rather use that.

What’s the best lettuce for wraps?

I prefer Bibb or butter lettuce because it holds together really well. Opt for iceberg if If you want both sturdy and a crisp crunch. If you can’t find any of these, use Romaine lettuce with its long leaves. Serve it open-faced as it can be hard to roll, especially the smaller leaves.

Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

This is a fast way to make delicious lettuce cups at home for a quick weeknight dinner or a fresh, gluten-free appetizer.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons coconut or olive oil
1 pound ground chicken (ground turkey also works)
3 tablespoons tamari sauce (soy sauce or coconut aminos also work)
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar or keto sugar
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon fish sauce
4 large cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
1 head butter or Bibb lettuce
1/4 medium red onion, thinly sliced
1 small carrot, julienned
1 green onion, thinly sliced green and white parts
2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, chopped
Fresh lime wedges, for squeezing on top

Instructions

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once melted, add the chicken or turkey and cook until browned, about 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon to break up the meat.
Add the tamari sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, crushed red pepper flakes, fish sauce, garlic, and ginger and cook 2 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly.
Spoon the meat mixture into lettuce leaves and top with the red onion, carrot, green onions, and peanuts. Serve along with the lime wedges for squeezing on top.

Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe

Thai Lettuce Wraps Recipe

Asian Lettuce Wraps Ingredients