Easy & Healthy Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps: Your Go-To Low-Carb Meal

Discover the ultimate recipe for delicious, guilt-free homemade Chicken Lettuce Wraps. These low-carb, high-protein delights are perfect for a quick lunch or a satisfying dinner, keeping you full and energized for hours!

Craving something incredibly flavorful yet wonderfully light and healthy? Look no further than these fantastic homemade Asian-inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps! Imagine tender, skillet-sautéed ground chicken, combined with finely diced mushrooms and savory onions, all coated in a vibrant, tangy, and subtly spicy sauce. This isn’t just any sauce; it’s a harmonious blend featuring sriracha for a kick, fragrant sesame oil, classic soy sauce, and other incredible ingredients that elevate the humble lettuce wrap to an absolutely top-tier meal.

These wraps are a game-changer for anyone looking to maintain a balanced diet without sacrificing taste. They are designed to be waistline-friendly, packed with protein to keep you satiated for hours, and remarkably low in carbohydrates. Whether you’re aiming for a summer bod or simply seeking a nourishing meal, these chicken lettuce wraps hit all the right notes, allowing you to enjoy every bite without a shred of guilt.

The Ultimate Solution for Easy, Portable Meals

Life can get busy, and finding meals that are both delicious and convenient for on-the-go consumption can be a challenge. This recipe excels in that department. Picture this: you prepare a batch of the flavorful chicken filling, pack it into a small airtight container, and tuck some crisp butter lettuce leaves into a separate zip-top baggie. Voila! You have an incredibly satisfying, protein-packed desk lunch ready to go. Bid farewell to the dreaded 3 PM energy slump, as this meal provides sustained energy without the heavy feeling often associated with less healthy options.

The versatility of these lettuce wraps extends far beyond lunch. They make an ideal light dinner for any night of the week, especially those busy weeknights when time is of the essence. Planning ahead? Prepare a double batch on a Sunday afternoon, and you’ll have delicious leftovers to enjoy for quick lunches or dinners throughout the entire week. For those moments you’re feeling a little more indulgent or serving a crowd, the filling can also be served over a bed of fluffy rice, topped with shredded lettuce, and a sprinkle of crunchy wonton or sesame sticks.

Customizing Your Protein: Chicken, Turkey, or Beef

While this recipe champions ground chicken, its adaptable nature means you can easily swap in other proteins to suit your preference. Ground turkey or even ground beef work beautifully with this flavor profile. I personally lean towards lean ground white meat chicken for its lightness, but for those who favor a richer taste, ground chicken thighs will undoubtedly impart more depth and moisture. One of the many delightful surprises about this filling is that it actually tastes *better* the next day! For those of us who aren’t usually big fans of leftovers, this is truly a revelation. The flavors meld and deepen as it sits, making subsequent meals even more delicious than the first. It’s a culinary win!

It’s no wonder these chicken lettuce wraps have become a household favorite, with requests for them almost every weekend. When a meal is low-carb, high-protein, incredibly tasty, and gets the seal of approval from even the pickiest eaters, it’s a definite keeper!

Ingredients Spotlight: Crafting the Perfect Filling and Sauce

Let’s delve into the star ingredients that make these chicken lettuce wraps truly special. The filling starts with a base of minced mushrooms. These aren’t just for bulking; they add a wonderful earthy umami flavor and a pleasant texture. If you’re aiming for a taste and crunch similar to the popular P.F. Chang’s version, I highly recommend adding chopped water chestnuts for that signature crisp bite. The cooking process begins by sautéing the minced mushrooms until they’ve reduced in size and released their moisture. Once done, they’re set aside.

Next, we build the aromatic foundation: chopped shallots (or onions for a more readily available alternative) are sautéed until fragrant, followed by a burst of minced garlic. This step ensures that the ground chicken, when added, absorbs these incredible flavors right from the start, creating a rich and savory base for our wraps.

The Signature Asian-Inspired Sauce

The magic truly happens with our homemade sauce – it’s incredibly simple yet delivers a complex, balanced flavor profile. Forget complicated steps; all you need to do is combine the following in a mason jar:

Toasted sesame oil for its distinct nutty aroma.
Low sodium soy sauce for savory depth.
Freshly grated ginger for a zesty, warm spice.
Rice wine vinegar for a delightful tang that brightens the entire dish.
Sriracha sauce for a customizable level of heat.
A touch of granulated sugar to balance the savory and spicy notes.
Oyster sauce for its rich, umami depth.
A tablespoon of hoisin sauce for a touch of sweetness and glaze.

Once all ingredients are in the jar, simply screw on the lid and give it a few vigorous shakes until everything is perfectly combined. This method makes sauce preparation a breeze! When the chicken is fully cooked, the sautéed mushrooms are reintroduced to the skillet, and then the prepared sauce is drizzled over the mixture. A quick minute or two on high heat allows the sauce to coat the filling beautifully and meld all the flavors together.

A personal note on hoisin sauce: I tend to use it sparingly, as I find its strong, sweet flavor can sometimes overpower a dish. I believe less is more here, allowing other delicious components to shine. However, if you are a true hoisin enthusiast, feel free to drizzle extra sauce directly onto your individual lettuce wraps for an added layer of sweetness and complexity. To enhance the texture even further, I love to top my wraps with a sprinkle of crushed peanuts and sesame seeds, adding a satisfying crunch that complements the tender filling.

Seriously, give these a try! They are outstanding in so many ways – from their incredible flavor to their healthy profile. Plus, they’re light enough to leave you with plenty of room for a delightful dessert, perhaps a blueberry peach crisp? Enjoy!

Yield: Enough filling to fill 12-14 large lettuce leaves

Easy Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe

Easy homemade Chicken Lettuce Wraps. These are low in carbs but loaded with protein so it’ll keep you full for hours without all the guilt! Great for a light lunch or dinner.

Ingredients

Chicken Filling:

2 tablespoons oil
8 baby bella mushrooms, finely chopped
1 pound ground chicken (or turkey or beef)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 small chopped shallot (or 1/2 red onion)

Sauce:

1 tablespoon EACH: toasted sesame oil, hoisin sauce, sriracha sauce, AND rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons EACH: low sodium soy sauce AND oyster sauce
1 1/2 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar

Instructions

PREPARE THE CHICKEN FILLING BASE: Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the finely chopped mushrooms and sauté them for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they have reduced to about half their original size and are tender. Remove the cooked mushrooms from the skillet and transfer them to a bowl; set aside.
MIX THE ASIAN SAUCE: While the mushrooms cook, combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a mason jar (toasted sesame oil, hoisin sauce, sriracha, rice wine vinegar, low sodium soy sauce, oyster sauce, grated ginger, and granulated sugar). Screw on the lid tightly and give it a good, vigorous shake until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined and emulsified. Set this flavorful sauce aside.
COOK THE CHICKEN AND ASSEMBLE: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the same skillet and return it to medium-high heat. Add the chopped shallots (or red onion) and cook for 1 minute until they soften slightly and become fragrant. Stir in the minced garlic and let it cook for another 30 seconds until aromatic, being careful not to burn it. Add the ground chicken to the skillet. Using a wooden spoon, break the lumps in the ground chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the chicken is completely cooked through and no longer pink. Once the chicken is cooked, return the sautéed mushrooms to the skillet. Drizzle the prepared sauce evenly over the chicken and mushroom mixture. Let it cook for just 1-2 minutes on high heat, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and coat the filling beautifully.
SERVE: Remove the skillet from the heat and allow the filling to cool for a few minutes. This makes it easier to handle and prevents the lettuce from wilting too quickly. Spoon the warm, flavorful chicken filling into fresh butter lettuce leaves. For an extra layer of texture and flavor, top with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and crushed peanuts before serving immediately.

Notes

Storage: Leftover filling can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It often tastes even better the next day as the flavors deepen!
P.F. Chang’s Style: To achieve a crunchier texture reminiscent of P.F. Chang’s lettuce wraps, stir in 1 (4-6 ounce) can of chopped water chestnuts (drained) when you add the sauce to the chicken.
Spice Level: Adjust the amount of sriracha to your preferred level of heat.

Have you made this recipe?

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a comment below. You can also share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #LITTLESPICEJAR, I’d love to see what you made!

*Please note: The nutritional facts calculated are an estimate based on the ingredients I’ve used. If you’d like a more accurate count, please calculate them using the specific ingredients/brands you’ve used to prepare the recipe. The nutritional facts are for 1/14th of the recipe, including the butter lettuce leaf.

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