Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a quick and easy recipe the whole family will love! It’s a super tasty dinner idea that’s on the table in less than 30 minutes! This one-pan recipe is also gluten-free and dairy-free. Some say it’s even better than PF Chang’s version!

Other one-pan family favorites are sheet pan chicken fajitas, sheet pan honey garlic chicken, Mexican chicken, and rice and casserole.

Asian lettuce wraps on a plate with carrots.

This Asian Chicken Wrap recipe is so delicious and very flexible. I just add some fresh veggies (your choice) and a whole grain, like brown rice, and dinner is done. A hearty and healthy one-pan meal is on the table in less than 30 minutes!

Other one-pan family favorites are Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, Sheet Pan Honey Garlic Chicken, and Mexican Chicken, Rice and Veggie Casserole.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Quick & Easy
  • Family Friendly
  • One Pan
  • Gluten-Free
  • Dairy-Free
  • Low-Carb
  • Weeknight Favorite

Natural and Fresh Ingredients

Since I try to eat healthy food recipes, especially when it’s a family meal, this Chicken Lettuce Wraps recipe is perfect! They do not have questionable ingredients or added sugar.

Chicken

  • Boneless chicken thighs (or chicken breasts): Chicken is a lean protein that pairs perfectly with the sauce in this recipe. You can also use leftover rotisserie chicken.
  • Sesame oil: To saute your chicken, use sesame oil. Extra virgin olive oil can be substituted.

Sauce

  • Garlic cloves: When cooked, this aromatic gives the sauce a lovely, nutty, sweet flavor. 
  • Onion: Diced onion enhances the overall flavor profile.
  • Hoisin and soy sauce: The two ingredients form the base of the yummy sauce.
  • Rice vinegar: Vinegar gives the dish a slight acidity and brings the other flavors together.
  • Freshly grated ginger: Ginger provides a little spicy flavor to the sauce.
  • Sriracha: If you like spice, add a bit of Sriracha; if not, leave it out. 

Veggies

  • Water chestnuts: You’ll drain and diced water chestnuts, which add a little crunchy texture to the chicken filling.
  • Green onions
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
  • Butter or leafy green lettuce:  You’ll serve the chicken in lettuce cups.
  • Garnish: Top with sesame seeds if you’d like.

Find the full recipe and instructions in the printable recipe card below.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Grab your favorite pan, and let’s get started. 

  1. Prep Chicken: Cut your chicken into small chunks. Heat a large skillet to medium-high heat. Then, place the chicken in the pan with the sesame oil. Cook for approximately 3-5 minutes.
  2. Add Sauce Ingredients and Cook: Stir in minced garlic, minced onion, and ginger, and cook for 1-2 minutes. Then stir in hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and Sriracha (optional). Cook for 1-2 minutes more.
  3. Add Remaining Ingredients (besides lettuce): Stir in diced chestnuts, cut green onions, and cook until tender, about 1-2 minutes—finally, season with salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Assemble: Now, spoon a large scoop (about 1/4 cup) of chicken filling into the center of each washed and dried lettuce leaf. Serve your Asian lettuce wraps immediately with rice while hot.

Pro Tip: If you don’t have sesame oil, you can substitute olive oil. I recommend extra virgin olive oil.

Chopped chicken being cooked in a pan with sauce.

Expert Tips and Substitutions

  • Meat: We like using chicken thighs in this recipe, but chicken breast would also be good. Just make sure to watch it, as it will cook fast! Ground chicken, ground turkey, or leftover rotisserie chicken are options for these Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps. We also love this recipe with ground pork!
  • Pan: You can cook the chicken and sauce with a Wok, Sauté pan, or a cast-iron skillet.
  • Sauce: If you don’t have Hoisan sauce, readers have substituted sweet chili sauce with good results. However, it’s usually easy to find in the Asian section of the grocery store.
  • Ginger: In a pinch, you can use dried ginger, but the flavor is enhanced with fresh ginger.
  • Soy Sauce: You can use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce for your easy lettuce wraps
  • Other Vegetables: Bell pepper, cut into small pieces, or mushrooms can also be added to this recipe.
  • Make it Hot or Not: The Sriracha sauce is optional. Use it if you like a little kick. Red pepper flakes are also a good option to take up the heat.
  • Make-Ahead: This PF Chang copycat recipe is also a great make-ahead meal. Make your chicken mixture and then assemble when ready to eat.
Healthy chicken lettuce wraps on a plate with a bowl of rice.

What Lettuce is Used for Wraps?

So, it’s a somewhat personal preference, but Iceberg, Boston, romaine lettuce, and butter lettuce seem to be the most popular, my favorites being iceberg and butter.

Asian wraps seemed to use iceberg lettuce a bit more. This type of lettuce gives them a nice crispness but can be hard to roll and fall apart, hence why some softer lettuces — like butter lettuce are used more regularly.

Some say this recipe is just like PF Changs lettuce wraps. Since this recipe is healthy and delicious with fresh ingredients, our family thinks it’s better!

Serving Suggestions

We love these healthy lettuce wraps with just the lettuce to eat them. However, this Asian chicken recipe would also be good over brown rice, quinoa, noodles, or cauliflower rice for a low-carb dinner. This easy recipe also works as an appetizer.

How to Store

Refrigerator: If you have leftovers, store the chicken meat separately from the lettuce in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. 

Freezing: The chicken filling can be frozen for 2-3 months if stored in an airtight, freezer-safe container or ziploc bags sealed tightly.

More 30-Minute Easy Recipes

Do you love this Chicken Lettuce Wrap recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down.

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Chicken lettuce wraps on a plate.
5 from 6 reviews

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Author: Erin @ Suburban Simplicity
Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a quick and easy recipe the whole family will love! A super tasty dinner idea that's on the table in less than 30 minutes! Better than PF Chang's!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Leave a Review

Ingredients
 

Chicken

  • 1 pound boneless chicken thighs, or chicken breasts, ground chicken or turkey
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil

Sauce

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • ¼ cup Hoisin sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon rice wine vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon freshly grated ginger
  • 1 Tablespoon Sriracha, optional

Veggies

  • ½ cup whole water chestnuts, drained and diced
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Butter or leafy green lettuce, for serving

Equipment

  • pan
  • Spatula or cooking spoon

Instructions
 

  • Cut chicken into small chunks. Heat pan to medium-high heat. Place chicken in the pan with the sesame oil. Cook for approximately 3-5 minutes.
  • Stir in garlic, onion, and ginger and cook for 1-2 minutes. Then stir in hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and Sriracha (optional). Cook 1-2 minutes more.
  • Stir in chestnuts and green onions and cook until tender, about 1-2 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Spoon a large scoop (about ¼ cup) of chicken mixture into the center of each lettuce leaf. Serve immediately.

Notes

    • Chicken: We like using chicken thighs in this recipe, but chicken breast would also be good. Just make sure to watch it, as it will cook fast! Ground chicken, ground turkey, or leftover rotisserie chicken are also options for these Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps. 
    • Pan: You can use a Wok, Sauté pan, or a cast-iron skillet to cook the chicken and sauce.
    • If you don’t have Hoisan sauce, readers have substituted sweet chili sauce with good results. 
    • Ginger: In a pinch, you can use dried ginger, but the flavor is enhanced with fresh ginger.
    • Other Vegetables: Bell peppers, cut into small pieces, or mushrooms, can also be added to this recipe.
    • Make it Hot or Not: The Sriracha sauce is optional. Use it if you like a little kick.  
Nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Calories: 354kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 20g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 111mg, Sodium: 958mg, Potassium: 362mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 150IU, Vitamin C: 6.4mg, Calcium: 28mg, Iron: 1.5mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @suburbansimplicity on Instagram or use the hashtag #suburbansimplicity!

The recipe was originally published on October 23, 2016. We updated it with enhanced instructions on February 20, 2020, and again on February 19, 2024.

Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a healthy comfort food recipe the whole family will love! A dinner idea that can be on the table in less than 30 minutes!