Chicken Lettuce Wraps - Budget Bytes

Chicken Lettuce Wraps are not only one of my personal favorites, but also one of the simplest small plate recipes to prepare. The combination of saucy ground chicken and vegetables nestled in crisp lettuce leaves offers a burst of freshness and bold flavors in every bite. If you share my passion for Asian-inspired dishes, you might already have most of the ingredients in your pantry, making this recipe even more convenient, fuss-free, and utterly gratifying.

Ingredients Needed For Chicken Lettuce Wraps

This recipe consists of three basic components: a sauce, a chicken and vegetable filling, and an optional yet strongly suggested dressing drizzled on top.

What Lettuce Is Best For Lettuce Wraps?

There are several options for lettuce when making chicken lettuce wraps, such as bibb lettuce, butter lettuce, green leaf lettuce, or romaine lettuce. In our case, we chose to use iceberg lettuce boats which were on sale, and they perfectly hold the chicken filling. Bibb lettuce is a great choice as it wraps nicely around the filling and presents beautifully on a plate, but it can be more expensive.

Ingredient Substitutions

I have a great fondness for recipes that can be effortlessly tailored to suit the ingredients readily available in your fridge or pantry. Here are a few recommendations:

What to Serve With Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Chicken lettuce wraps can be enjoyed as either an appetizer or a main dish. They can also be complemented by various side dishes such as coconut rice, a simple and convenient vegetable lo mein, sesame cucumber salad, crispy rice noodles, or a refreshing cold peanut noodle salad. The noodle salad incorporates the same delightful peanut lime dressing, allowing you to prepare a generous amount and use it for both dishes by simply drizzling it on top.

How To Store Leftovers

In the fortunate event of having any leftovers, it is advisable to store the chicken filling and lettuce individually. The chicken filling can be preserved in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Similarly, any surplus lettuce can be stored in a food storage bag in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Share this recipe

Facebook Tweet Pin Email

How To Make Chicken Lettuce Wraps – Step By Step Photos

To begin, prepare the chicken sauce by combining 1/4 cup of hoisin sauce, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame oil, 1 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger, and 2 minced garlic cloves in a small bowl. Stir the mixture thoroughly and set it aside.

Chop a red bell pepper into small dice. Drain and dice a can of water chestnuts, which should weigh approximately 8 ounces. Slice two green onions, and give the peanuts a rough chop as well. Place all of these ingredients to the side.

In a large skillet, heat 1 Tbsp of cooking oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, crumble and brown 1 lb of ground chicken.

Add diced bell pepper and water chestnuts to the skillet, then sauté for a duration of 2 minutes.

Add the sauce mixture into the skillet, ensuring it is evenly distributed. Stir thoroughly and cook for an additional 2 minutes, maintaining a consistent stirring motion.

Take the pan off the stove and incorporate 2 green onions that have been sliced and 1/4 cup of chopped peanuts. If desired, you can set aside a portion of the green onions and peanuts to sprinkle on the lettuce wraps individually.

Afterward, prepare the peanut dressing by mixing 1.5 tablespoons of natural style peanut butter, 1/2 tablespoon of brown sugar, 1 minced garlic clove, 1/4 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger, 1 tablespoon of lime juice, 1 teaspoon of soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons of neutral oil in a small bowl. Ensure all ingredients are thoroughly combined.