Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
These Chicken Lettuce Wraps are quick, easy and rival even the best restaurant version! Made with ground chicken, and water chestnuts in a savory sauce.
Looking for a quick and easy light meal, or appetizer with Asian flare? Then these Chicken Lettuce Wraps are everything you need. A copycat of the appetizer you can get at Chinese Restaurants like PF Changs, they are loaded with flavor.
This recipe has ground chicken, crunchy water chestnuts, spicy jalapeño and onions all tossed in a savory sauce thats made with Chinese Five Spice, soy sauce and sesame. And the best part is that they can be ready in under 20 minutes and make great leftovers. So if you are short on time, this recipe is definitely for you!
Let’s talk about what you’ll need to make it.
Chicken Lettuce Wraps Ingredients:
There might be a few things on the ingredient list that you are unfamiliar with, however you should be able to find them all in your grocery store.
- OIL: A neutral flavored oil to brown the chicken in.
- GROUND CHICKEN: Ground chicken is traditional for lettuce wraps. In a pinch, you could also use finely minced chicken if you cannot find ground.
- GARLIC
- WATER CHESTNUTS: You will find these canned in the Asian aisle of the grocery store. You can buy them sliced or whole. For this recipe I use whole and diced them small.
- ONION: Yellow onion or white will work for this recipe.
- JALAPEÑO: Optional but they do add a little bit of heat.
- SOY SAUCE: Will add salty, umami flavor.
- CHINESE FIVE SPICE: A blend of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns and fennel. It is sweet, spicy and aromatic.
- RICE VINEGAR: Popular in Asian cooking and made from fermented rice. If you don’t have any you can substitute apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar or sherry vinegar.
- SESAME OIL: Will add a nutty flavor.
- GARLIC CHILI SAUCE: Will add flavor and a bit of heat.
- GREEN ONIONS/CHOPPED PEANUTS: Optional for garnish.
- LETTUCE: I prefer to use a lettuce that has a nice cup shape like bib, boston or iceberg.
Step by Step Photos and Instructions:
Making Chicken Lettuce Wraps is a cinch! Simply brown the chicken then add the sauces, jalapeños and onion then serve in crisp lettuce leaves. Follow along with these step by step photos and instructions.
Brown chicken and drain. 
Add remaining ingredients, except lettuce. Cook until warmed through. 
Spoon filling into wraps.
- STEP #1: Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add in ground chicken and 1/2 of the garlic. Cook until browned and cooked through about 7 minutes. Drain and return the chicken to the pan.
- STEP #2: Add in remaining garlic, water chestnuts, onion, jalapeños, soy sauce, Chinese Five Spice, rice vinegar, sesame oil and garlic chili sauce. Mix well and continue cooking just until onions and jalapeños start to soften. Adjust seasoning with salt, if needed.
- STEP #3: Rinse and pat dry lettuce leaves. Spoon chicken mixture into the leaves, top with green onions and chopped peanuts. Serve.
Storage and Leftovers:
This makes great leftovers! Simply warm the chicken filling over low heat (or a zap in the microwave) and serve with fresh lettuce wraps.
Recipe FAQ:
The best kind of lettuce for lettuce wraps has sturdy, cup shaped leaves. This could be bibb, boston, and iceberg.
These can be a meal by themselves! If you want a little more, I recommend serving them alongside some steamed white rice.
Love these Chicken Lettuce Wraps or looking for something to serve with them? Check out these other Asian inspired recipes:
Shrimp and Pork Wontons in Spicy Sauce are one of my favorite copy cat recipes. Inspired by Din Tai Fung, these are scrumptious.
Hot and Sour Soup would be a great side dish to serve along side these lettuce wraps!
Peanut Sauce Noodles are creamy, flavorful and come together in a flash!
Note: Originally posted in 2009. Updated in 2024 with a new recipe, new photos, step by step photos and nutrition information.
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup water chestnuts chopped
- 1/2 yellow onions
- 1 jalapeño diced (optional)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce
- 1 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
- kosher salt to taste
- 2 green onions chopped plus more for garnish
- 8 Boston lettuce leaves can substitute iceberg or Bibb lettuce
- chopped peanuts optional
Instructions
- Heat canola oil in a large skillet. Add chicken and 1/2 of minced garlic, cook until chicken is no longer pink. Transfer to a colander to drain liquid. Return the cooked chicken to the pan.
- To the pan add jalapeno (if using), water chestnuts, yellow onion, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, garlic chili sauce and Chinese five spice. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until bean sprouts are softened, about 5-7 minutes. Season to taste with salt. Stir in green onions.
- Gently rinse and pat dry lettuce leaves.
- Spoon mixture into leaves just before serving. Or place chicken mixture in a bowl next to lettuce leaves and let people dish up for themselves. Garnish with more green onions and chopped peanuts if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
KTC
December 5, 2010 at 11:23 amI made these last night for dinner with fried rice, they were delicious! http://thisiswhyktcishot.blogspot.com/2010/12/saturday-night-dinner.html
Alyson
April 7, 2010 at 8:24 pmWow Des! I have a new favorite! It was so easy to make and super healthy. If steve leaves me any of the leftovers when he gets done with work, then my plan is to make it into a salad tomorrow and try your Sesame Vinaigrette dressing since I already have all of the ingredients at home. Thanks for a great dinner!
Deseree
April 13, 2010 at 7:53 pmYou’re welcome Alyson! Hopefully Steve left you some leftovers, if not maybe you’ll have to make it again. I’d love to know what a salad version of this would taste like. :)
yellie
November 17, 2009 at 5:26 pmvery nice recipe, made it tonight, every one loved it, the flavors bended really well, added some ginger, use the pepper, gives it the kick
thank you
Deseree
November 21, 2009 at 9:35 amYou’re welcome Yellie! I am glad everyone enjoyed these :)
Deseree
August 21, 2009 at 2:43 pmThanks Selba!
Selba
August 21, 2009 at 3:46 amI love to wrap stuff with lettuce! Nice recipe :)
Deseree
August 20, 2009 at 6:06 pmhaha Soma I do the same thing! :)
Soma
August 19, 2009 at 1:40 pmI have seen the wraps in the Asian restaurants & I always eye one in another table..LOL fresh protein filed salad like this is good.