Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps — EASY, ready in 20 minutes, and layered with FLAVOR galore!! High protein, gluten-free, and the Thai twist is AMAZING! Your NEW GO-TO chicken wrap recipe!!
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Healthy Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Goodbye Christmas cookies, hello lettuce wraps. These Thai lettuce wraps are a great fast and easy meal option when you’re trying to focus on high protein meals that are still satisfying and full of flavor galore. Even better, this healthy chicken lettuce wraps recipe is naturally gluten-free.
THE most popular recipe on my website in 2017 were these P.F. Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps {Copycat Recipe}. Everyone who makes them raves about them, tells me that it’s their new go-to asian chicken lettuce wraps recipe, and that they taste even better than P.F. Chang’s.
I couldn’t help but adapt that recipe to have a Thai twist because I’m into all things Thai. I talked about my love for Thai red curry paste in this post and it plays a starring role in this healthy lettuce wraps recipe as well. You’d never guess these Thai chicken lettuce wraps are ready in just 20 minutes because there are so many layers of flavor from the Thai red curry paste, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, green onions, and cilantro.
The wraps are perfect for anyone who’s looking for skinny recipes this time of year.
What’s in Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps?
To make these Asian chicken lettuce wraps, you’ll need:
- Olive oil
- Sesame oil
- Ground chicken
- Onion
- Thai red curry paste
- Hoisin sauce
- Soy sauce
- Chili garlic sauce
- Rice vinegar
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Green onions
- Cilantro
- Shredded carrots
- Butter lettuce leaves
How to Make Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Cook the ground chicken in an oiled skillet until cooked through. Then, add the diced onion and cook until soft. Next, add in the garlic and ginger, followed by the remaining ingredients.
Add the fresh cilantro last so it doesn’t cook down too much. Spoon the mixture into lettuce cups and garnish with extra cilantro and green onions.
Can I Use Ground Turkey?
Yes, I’ve made these Thai lettuce wraps using both ground chicken and ground turkey and both are excellent.
Tips for Making Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Both the Thai red curry paste and the chili garlic sauce add a perfect amount of heat that we enjoyed, but if you’re sensitive to spices you can always reduce the amount.
I can find all the ingredients in the Asian section of my regular grocery store. They all play their own role to add authenticity to the recipe and I recommend using them all. As an aside, the Thai curry flavor profile is nothing like Indian curry, at least for me.
Lastly, be sure to use all the oil called for in this ground chicken lettuce wraps recipe. Ground chicken doesn’t contain much fat, so you need the oil to prevent the filling from drying out.
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Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps
EASY, ready in 20 minutes, and layered with FLAVOR galore!! High protein, gluten-free, and the Thai twist is AMAZING! Your NEW GO-TO chicken wrap recipe!!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 pound ground chicken (I’ve also used ground turkey with great results)
- 1 medium/large sweet Vidalia or yellow onion, diced small
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger or 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger, or to taste
- 1/3 cup hoisin sauce, plus more if necessary
- 2 to 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Thai red curry paste, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or lime juice
- 1 tablespoon Asian chili garlic sauce, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups shredded carrots
- about 3 green onions, sliced into thin rounds; reserve 1 tablespoon for garnishing
- 1/4 cup finely minced fresh cilantro; reserve 1 tablespoon for garnishing
- butter lettuce leaves (sometimes called living lettuce), for serving
Instructions
- To a large skillet, add the oils, chicken, and cook over medium-high heat until chicken is cooked through; stir intermittently to crumble while cooking.
- Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes, or until onion is soft and translucent; stir intermittently.
- Add the garlic, ginger, stir to combine, and cook for about 1 minute, or until fragrant.
- Add the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, Thai curry paste, rice wine vinegar or lime juice, chili garlic sauce, pepper, and stir to combine.
- Add the carrots, green onions, and cook for about 2 minutes, or until carrots are crisp-tender. Taste filling and make any necessary flavor adjustments, i.e. more hoisin sauce (add additional if your mixture is on the dry side), soy sauce, Thai curry paste, etc.
- Add 1/4 cup cilantro and stir to combine.
- Spoon about 1/4 cup of the mixture into each of the lettuce leaves, evenly garnish with reserved green onions and cilantro, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Recipe is best warm and fresh but filling will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Adapted from P.F. Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps {Copycat Recipe}
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 440Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 122mgSodium: 1097mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 3gSugar: 10gProtein: 30g
More Easy Asian Chicken Recipes:
Favorite CHICKEN RECIPES HERE
Chicken Pad Thai — EASY, ready in 20 minutes, and BETTER than takeout!! Tender rice noodles, juicy chicken, with crisp-tender carrots, cabbage, and more for an IRRESISTIBLE and AUTHENTIC chicken pad Thai!!
P.F. Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps {Copycat Recipe} — Skip the restaurant version and make at home in 20 minutes! Easy, healthier because you’re controlling the ingredients, and they taste way better!
Better-Than-Takeout Cashew Chicken – Juicy chicken, crisp-tender vegetables, and crunchy cashews coated with the best garlicky soy sauce! Skip takeout and make your own restaurant-quality meal that’s easy, ready in 20 minutes, and healthier!
Easy Better-Than-Takeout Chicken Fried Rice – One-skillet, ready in 20 minutes, and you’ll never want takeout again after tasting how good homemade is! Way more flavor, not greasy, and loads of juicy chicken!
Chicken Egg Roll Bowls – Deconstructed egg roll bowls reduce the calories, fat, and carbs of traditional egg rolls without sacrificing flavor! Easy, ready in 15 minutes, and way better than takeout!
Sesame Mango Chicken – An easy Asian-inspired recipe with tender sesame chicken, juicy mango, and soy-garlic-ginger infused cabbage and carrots! One skillet, ready in 15 minutes, and perfect for busy weeknights!
Mandarin Orange Chicken Stir Fry — An easy Asian stir fry with tender chicken, juicy oranges, and veggies! Skip takeout and make this one skillet recipe that’s ready in 15 minutes and perfect for busy weeknights!
Skinny Chicken Cauliflower Fried Rice — Even people who don’t like cauliflower will be amazed at how authentic and DELICIOUS this SKINNY version of chicken fried rice tastes!! Easy, ready in 15 minutes, and so much HEALTHIER than calling for takeout!!
Peanut Chicken with Peanut Noodles — The dish is easy, ready in 20 minutes, and packed with so much flavor from the peanut butter, ginger, and sesame oil.
This recipe sounds lovely but hoisin sauce contains gluten. Have you found a GF option? I’d love to know!
https://amzn.to/2zUmnTi
I followed this recipe exactly and omg it came out so good!!Thanks for your sharing!!
I made this for my husband and I, and we both really enjoyed the recipe! Thank you:)
I just made Chicken Lettuce Wrap last week. I did mine with oyster sauce and fish sauce. Me and my mon use to wrap the chicken up with rice together. Thanks for your sharing.
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad you were able to try these!
Seriously, you have THE BEST and tastiest and super simple recipes. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad you feel that way! I really appreciate comments like yours, thank you :)
YES!!! They are amazing!! Thank you so much for sharing! I’m loving all the wonderful recipes I see in your site and I can’t wait to try many more!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad you will be trying more recipes!
Maybe I’m missing it… but when does the rest of the cilantro get put in? I see the instructions for the garnish but not the rest?!? Thanks!!
I just updated the recipe. It’s cilantro, not really a ‘picky’ type of ingredient as to when you add it, but I clarified it better :)
Red curry AND chili garlic sauce?? Love it! I bet this chicken is just bursting with flavor.
The flavor is AWESOME! I am in love with the Thai red curry paste. I want it on all the things!
Sounds just the thing for our family’s meal plan this month. Time to trim those extra calories gained from our Xmas feasting and get back to seriouly healthy eating. I like the Thai spices as well. Thanks
This recipe is definitely my family favorite. We usually make it for Saturday lunch, the kids always ask for more. Thanks for sharing.
I never thought about using ground meat – that’s brilliant and easier to cook quickly. Thank you!
Definitely fast and easy!
Can’t wait to try recipe this weekend. I’m definitely on the red curry paste bandwagon! I made your Sweet Potato and Chickpea Coconut Curry twice- it’s so good on cauliflower rice! Thanks and Happy New Year!
Happy to hear you’ve made the Sweet Potato and Chickpea Coconut Curry twice! I love that recipe too. I also recently posted https://www.averiecooks.com/2017/12/thai-chicken-coconut-curry.html which is similar and excellent. LMK how this recipe goes this weekend!
Lettuce wraps are one of our favorite things! I need to try this one, love how easy this is.
Easy, pretty healthy, and so flavorful! Happy New Year :)
this looks divine! I love all things Thai too! And it’s ready in 20 minutes! Perfect for a weeknight dinner! thanks for sharing!!
Glad you love all things Thai too! Can’t beat a 20 minute dinner either!
Um, yum? These look delicious. Love the idea of the richly flavored meat with the crispness of the greens. What a perfect meal!
It’s a great contrasting combo and fast to make, too!
This looks positively delicious! I am trying it this weekend–we love lettuce wraps and I am excited for another recipe with curry paste!
I think you’ll love it since you’ve jumped on the red curry paste bandwagon with me! Let me know what you think!
We loved this!! Very flavorful with just the right amount of heat for us. I had leftovers and just ate them cold over chopped lettuce today–still delicious! I think I’ll try it with turkey so I can make it again next weekend:)
I totally agree that just adding the filling over chopped lettuce is just as good (and way less messy…haha!) Glad you loved these and that the heat was just right!