Chicken Lettuce Wraps Made in 30 Minutes

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

We have a family tradition in our house. Each week one of the kid’s plans, shops for and cooks a healthy dinner. We started this tradition a few years ago for several reasons….and not just so we could get out of cooking!

One of the important reasons is to teach our kids how important it is to eat healthily and make good choices when it comes to food. A recipe they came up with is Chicken Lettuce Wraps – the perfect dinner.

Fresh and delicious!

Other Healthy Family Favorites are Crock Pot Taco Soup, Sheet Pan Honey Garlic Chicken, and Mexican Chicken, Rice and Veggie Casserole. A recent favorite is Sheet Pan Sesame Chicken and Veggies because it’s so flavorful and easy.

Natural and Fresh Ingredients for Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Since we try to eat healthy food recipes especially when it’s a family meal, this recipe is perfect!

We try to instill in the kids that its nice to know what’s in your food and where it comes from.

This recipe is very flexible, too. Just add some fresh veggies and whole grain, like brown rice, to go with your Chicken Lettuce Wraps and you’ve got yourself a hearty and healthy meal that’s on the table in less than 30 minutes!

The Recipe for Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Grab a pan and let’s get started. 

Step 1

Cut your chicken into small chunks. Heat your pan to medium-high heat. Place chicken in the pan with the sesame oil. Cook for approximately 3-5 minutes.

Tip: if you don’t have sesame oil, you can substitute olive oil. We recommend extra virgin olive oil.

Step 2

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 1-2 minutes more.

Step 3

Stir in diced chestnuts and cut green onions and cook until tender, about 1-2 minutes. Finally, season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Step 4

Now, spoon a large scoop (about 1/4 cup) of chicken mixture into the center of each washed and dried lettuce leaf.

Serve immediately while hot.

You’ll see. Your family will like this recipe so much, they’ll go back for seconds and maybe even thirds!

Tips for Making Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

• 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 is also an option for these Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps. 
• 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. 
• In a pinch, you can use dried ginger, but the flavor is enhanced with fresh ginger.
• Bell peppers, cut into small pieces can also be added to this recipe.
• The Sriracha sauce is optional. Use it if you like a little kick. 

What Lettuce is Used for Wraps?

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

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

Some say this recipe is just like PF Chang’s lettuce wraps. Since this recipe is healthy and delicious with fresh ingredients, we think it might be better and the kiddos agree!

How to Serve Chicken Lettuce Wraps

We love these wraps with just the lettuce to eat them. However, this Asian chicken recipe would also be good over rice or noodles. For little kids, this might be better since the wraps can be hard to handle. 

How to Store Asian Chicken Wraps

If you have leftovers, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. 

How Kids Can Help

If your kids want to help in the kitchen, have them wash the lettuce and other vegetables. Of course, they can also help set the table!

We Love to Hear From You!

If you try this Chicken Lettuce Wraps recipe or any other recipe on Suburban Simplicity then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let us know how it went in the comments below, we love hearing from you! Better yet, use the hashtag  #suburbansimplicity if you make the recipe.

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Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a healthy comfort food recipe the whole family will love! An easy dinner idea that’s on the table in less than 30 minutes!

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

0 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 354kcal

Author: Erin Henry

Equipment

• pan

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 pound chicken thighs
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 onion (diced)
• 1/4 cup Hoisin sauce
• 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 Tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 1 Tablespoon Sriracha (optional)
• 1/2 cup whole water chestnuts (drained and diced)
• 2 green onions (thinly sliced)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Butter or leafy green lettuce (for serving)

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 1/4 cup) of chicken mixture into the center of each lettuce leaf. Serve immediately.

Notes

• 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!
• If you don't have Hoisan sauce, readers have substituted sweet chili sauce with good results. 
• In a pinch, you can use dried ginger, but the flavor is enhanced with fresh ginger.
• 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.

★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!

Nutrition

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

Course: dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese

Tried this recipe?Mention @Suburban_Simplicity or tag #suburbansimplicity!

Recipe originally publish on October 23, 2016. It was updated with enhanced instructions on February 20, 2020. 

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