Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a savory mix of ground chicken, vegetables, and a delicious, umami-packed sauce, all wrapped in a crisp, fresh lettuce wrapper. Easy to make and ready in under 25 minutes!
Jump to:
- "Better than Takeout" Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Step-by-Step: How to Make Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Tips for the Best Lettuce Wraps at Home
- Healthier than Restaurant Lettuce Wraps
- Substitutions & Variations
- Serving Suggestions for Lettuce Wraps
- FAQ: Making Lettuce Wraps at Home
- More Asian-Inspired Recipes to Try
- Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (PF Chang's Copycat)
"Better than Takeout" Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
If you've ever sat down at PF Chang's and devoured their famous chicken lettuce wraps before the main course even showed up, you know how addictive they are. Savory ground chicken, a punchy sauce, and that cool, crisp lettuce crunch - it's the kind of dish that makes you wonder, why don't I just make these at home?
Why We Love This Lettuce Wrap Recipe
That's exactly what we started doing years ago, and now Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a regular at our table. They're bold in flavor, practically foolproof, and check all the right boxes:
- Ready in about 25 minutes
- Budget-friendly
- Light yet satisfying
- Easy to make ahead
Perfect for a weeknight dinner, a game-day appetizer, or any time you want a flavorful, satisfying, hands-on meal.
Ingredients You'll Need
One of the most appealing things about this easy lettuce wraps recipe is all that fresh flavor!
- Ground chicken: Use a good quality ground chicken.
- Lettuce: Use a sturdy lettuce with thick ribs in the leaves; iceberg, bibb, Boston, and butter lettuces are all good choices.
- Ginger: For this recipe, please use fresh ginger. Do not use ground or paste ginger. (Paste ginger contains additional ingredients that can change the flavor of the sauce, including sugars, salt, and ascorbic acid.)
- Garlic, green onion, and onion: Fresh is best. Use sweet or red onions.
- Seasoned rice wine vinegar: Seasoned rice wine vinegar is sweeter than regular rice wine vinegar, and brings bit more flavor to the overall dish.
- Water chestnuts: Use canned whole or sliced water chestnuts. (I find the sliced ones easier to chopped.)
- Sriracha: If you like your lettuce wraps spicy, just a little more Sriracha to the chicken mixture.
- Hoisin sauce: Sometimes called Chinese barbecue sauce, Hoisin sauce is a key ingredient in many Asian dishes.
- Sambal oelek (dipping sauce ingredient): Sambal Oelek is a mildly spicy Indonesian chili paste made with hot red peppers.
- Pantry Staples: Olive oil, Sesame oil, Light soy sauce
Step-by-Step: How to Make Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Make the Dipping Sauce
Whisk dipping sauce ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside.
Cook the Chicken Filling
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the ground chicken, breaking it up as it cooks. Cook until it is no longer pink.
Add onions and garlic and sauté 2-3 minutes; and then add the ginger, vinegar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and Sriracha, and stir to mix.
Cook, stirring constantly, for 4-5 minutes, until the sauce changes from watery to the consistency of warm honey. Stir in chopped water chestnuts and sliced green onions.
Assemble and Serve the Wraps
Allow filling to cool slightly so that it doesn't cook the lettuce.
Serve with fresh lettuce leaves and dipping sauce on the side. Garnish with additional green onions.
Tips for the Best Lettuce Wraps at Home
Choosing the Right Lettuce
Sturdy leaves with thick ribs hold the filling best. Our first choice is always Iceberg, for its fresh, crisp bite. Bibb, Boston, or butter lettuce all work beautifully, too. Avoid flimsy leaves that tear easily.
Keep it crisp: To prevent soggy wraps, always wash and dry lettuce thoroughly. Serve the leaves separately from the filling and assemble just before eating.
Easy Party Hack: Endive Wrappetizers
Endive makes a great substitute for lettuce and an easy party app hack, too! Layer a plate with endive leaves and fill them up with prepared lettuce wrap filling, and you're good to go!
Make-Ahead and Meal Prep Tips
These lettuce wraps are a lifesaver on busy nights because the filling holds up so well. Here's how to prep ahead:
- Cook the filling up to 2 days in advance and store it in the fridge.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through.
- Keep lettuce separate until just before serving so it stays crisp.
- Lunch prep: Pack the filling in a small container and lettuce leaves in a bag or box. Assemble at work for a fresh, no-sog lunch.
With everything ready to go, you can have dinner on the table in about five minutes.
Storing and Reheating Lettuce Wraps
Store any leftover filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Store lettuce separately.
Healthier than Restaurant Lettuce Wraps
One of the best parts about making homemade lettuce wraps is how much lighter they are than the restaurant version. You control the oil, the sodium, and the spice, which means fewer calories and less salt without losing that bold, savory flavor. Serve them with crisp lettuce leaves and fresh veggies, and you've got a high-protein, low-carb meal that feels indulgent but is actually pretty wholesome.
Substitutions & Variations
- Ground Chicken: The best substitute is finely chopped raw chicken. Light-meat ground turkey will also work, but you will notice a hint of turkey flavor in it. Ground pork is also an option.
- Sriracha: The best substitute for Sriracha is sambal oelek. Gochujang sauce will also work.
- Seasoned Rice Vinegar: Use rice wine vinegar, or white wine vinegar.
- Hoisin sauce: There is no easy substitute for hoisin; however, if you are in a bind, oyster sauce will work.
- Sambal oelek: Sriracha, gochujang, or crushed red chili flakes.
Vegetarian and Vegan Options
No chicken? No problem. This lettuce wraps recipe works beautifully with plant-based swaps:
- Mushrooms (chopped small) give the filling that same savory "meaty" bite.
- Firm tofu can be crumbled and sautéed with the same seasonings.
- Lentils or even finely chopped tempeh are another great way to bulk it up.
Just follow the recipe steps as written and swap in your favorite meat-free base. With hoisin, soy sauce, and ginger in the mix, you'll never miss the chicken.
Serving Suggestions for Lettuce Wraps
Since these Asian chicken lettuce wraps are light and fresh, they pair best with sides that complement their crisp texture and bold flavor. Think of it as building your own takeout-style spread at home:
- Rice and Noodles: Steamed jasmine rice, fried rice, or cold sesame peanut noodles make the wraps feel more like a meal.
- Dim Sum Favorites: Potstickers, wontons, or steamed dumplings are perfect alongside lettuce wraps.
- Light Salads: A cucumber salad, carrot-ginger slaw, or Vietnamese noodle salad adds extra crunch and freshness.
- Cozy Soups: A simple wonton or egg drop soup rounds out the table without weighing it down.
Mix and match a couple of sides, and you'll have a restaurant-style dinner at home that's healthier, faster, and easier on the wallet.
FAQ: Making Lettuce Wraps at Home
Those are fried rice stick noodles, also called "maifun." (Look for "Maifun" rice sticks or vermicelli rice noodles at your grocery store or Asian market.)
To make them at home, simply deep fry them in hot oil, a little at a time. They will puff up immediately when they hit the fryer oil. Remove them with a wire spider as they puff up. They're optional, but fun for presentation.
Sriracha or sambal oelek adds heat, but you can dial it up or down depending on your taste. For a milder version, reduce the chili or omit entirely.
Yes! Simply skip any rice or noodles on the side and focus on the lettuce cups with the chicken filling. They're naturally high in protein and low in carbs.
More Asian-Inspired Recipes to Try
If you love these chicken lettuce wraps, you'll also enjoy our other flavorful, easy-to-make Asian-inspired recipes. From light salads to cozy dinners, these dishes are perfect for weeknight meals or casual entertaining:
- Spicy Thai Shrimp Salad
- Carrot Ginger Dressing
- Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp (Kahuku Truck-style)
- Vietnamese Banana Tapioca Pudding (Chè Chuối)
- Vietnamese Chicken Salad (Goi Ga)
- Korean-style Pan Fried Fish (Saeng Sun Jun)
- Sweet Potato Pad Thai with Shrimp
- Easy Wonton Egg Drop Soup
Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (PF Chang's Copycat)
Equipment
- 1 Enameled Cast Iron Skillet or heavy skillet
Ingredients
Dipping Sauce
- 3 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons seasoned rice wine vinegar
- 1½ tablespoons sambal oelek
- 1 whole green onion thinly sliced; divided
- 1½ teaspoons sesame oil
Lettuce Wrap Filling
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium onion finely chopped; about 8 ounces
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 1½ tablespoon seasoned rice wine vinegar
- 1½ tablespoons grated fresh ginger
- 2 teaspoons Sriracha or more, to taste
- 8 ounces water chestnuts drained & finely chopped (1 can)
- 2 whole green onions thinly sliced
- 1 head lettuce iceberg, bibb, Boston, or butter
Instructions
- Make the dipping sauce: Whisk ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Cook chicken: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium. Add ground chicken, breaking it up as it cooks, until no longer pink.
- Add aromatics & sauces: Stir in onion and garlic, cook 2-3 minutes. Add ginger, vinegar, soy sauce, hoisin, and Sriracha. Stir 4-5 minutes until sauce thickens like warm honey.
- Finish filling: Mix in chopped water chestnuts and half the sliced sliced green onions. Remove from heat.
- Assemble wraps: Spoon filling into lettuce leaves. Top with dipping sauce and remaining green onions. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Best lettuce: iceberg, butter, Boston, or Bibb for sturdy cups.
- To prep ahead: make filling up to 2 days early; reheat before serving.
- For parties: serve filling in endive leaves for "wrappetizers."
- Spice it up: add extra Sriracha or sambal oelek.
Nutrition
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
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Originally published October 15, 2014. This post has been updated with new content, images, and recipe instructions to improve reader experience.
Gina Abernathy says
Made this for lunch last week and it was fabulous! I love how light and tasty this recipe is and so easy to make.
Renée B. says
Thank you - I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Elizabeth says
The garlic and green onions give these wraps a delicious flavor! So easy to make too. Thanks for sharing!
Maggie says
So so yummy! I have been looking for a good chicken lettuce wraps recipe. Can't wait to try this.
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
This was such a hit! Thank you for loving all the ingredients, can’t wait to try this!
Kristen says
Can the filling be made a day ahead?
Renée ♥ says
YES! Absolutely. It will keep for a couple of days in the fridge.
Isernio's Sausage Company says
Wow! We LOVE this recipe! We'd like to send a package of goodies your way and also invite you to join us sometime in the test kitchen! Thanks!
Renée ♥ says
So glad you like it, Nicole - that sounds great!!
Marlynn @UrbanBlissLife says
I love this twist -- much more party food friendly than a big ol' lettuce wrap, and it looks absolutely delicious!
Pech says
This looks amazing! I'll have to pin this as a possible future wine party nibble to serve!
kelsey says
these look delicious!
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