Healthy Asian Lettuce Wrap Recipe - House of Nash Eats (2024)

These Asian Lettuce Wraps are made with savory, seasoned ground turkey or ground chicken and crunchy veggies wrapped up in fresh lettuce leaves to make for a satisfying bite that your family will love! They are super flavorful, healthy, and the perfect appetizer, lighter, or lunch.

Healthy Asian Lettuce Wrap Recipe - House of Nash Eats (1)

Asian Wraps

Craving lettuce wraps but don’t want to go out? These Asian-inspired lettuce wraps are every bit as delicious as the ones you get from your favorite restaurant but you can make them at home for healthy and satisfying main dish or appetizer and fill them to your liking with your favorite toppings and sauces.

They are fresh, crisp, and loaded with savory flavors of garlic, ginger, and soy sauce and you can make them in under 30 minutes!

Looking for more easy appetizer recipes? Be sure to try ourCrispy Loaded Potato Skins,Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers, and Homemade Egg Rolls next!

Healthy Asian Lettuce Wrap Recipe - House of Nash Eats (2)

Asian Lettuce Wrap Ingredients

  • Lettuce
  • Ground Chicken
  • Olive Oil
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Soy Sauce
  • Hoisin Sauce
  • Ginger
  • Rice Wine Vinegar
  • Sesame Oil
  • Green Onions
  • Water Chestnuts
  • Carrots
  • Fresh Mint leaves
  • Roasted Peanuts
  • Bean Sprouts

What is the best lettuce for lettuce wraps

The most commonly used lettuce leaf for Asian wraps is Iceberg lettuce because its extra crisp and holds its shape nicely. It's what is served at restaurants like P.F. Chang's or The Cheesecake Factory with their lettuce wraps.

But softer lettuces like butter lettuce (also known as Bibb or Boston lettuce) are fantastic too and have wonderful flavor. Plus, they provide more nutrients than Iceberg lettuce.

Healthy Asian Lettuce Wrap Recipe - House of Nash Eats (3)

How to make Asian lettuce wraps

  1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil. After that, brown the ground chicken or ground turkey, crumbling it with a wooden spoon, until done. Drain any extra liquid from the pan and then transfer the meat to a plate.
  2. Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the same skillet and then cook the onion until soft and translucent. Add in the garlic, cooking and stirring for 1 minute. Add the meat back into the pan with the onions.
  3. Add the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, fresh ginger, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, green onions, and water chestnuts. Mix well, cooking for 1 minute longer, before removing from heat. Adjust the seasoning as needed.
  4. Fill your lettuce with the chicken mixture and serve with matchstick carrots, mint leaves, and bean sprouts for assembly.
Healthy Asian Lettuce Wrap Recipe - House of Nash Eats (4)

Asian Wraps Recipe Substitutions

Really, you could use almost any ground meat in this asian lettuce wraps recipe, not just chicken or turkey. Ground beef, ground pork, or even ground lamb will work with the same seasonings and method, depending on what you have on hand and what you prefer for flavor.

You could also use different vegetables like very thinly sliced red bell peppers, shaved cabbage, green onions, or other veggies, so long as they are sliced or chopped small.

Healthy Asian Lettuce Wrap Recipe - House of Nash Eats (5)

What to Eat with Asian Lettuce Wraps

Asian Lettuce Wraps can be served with just about anything with a similar or complementing flavor. Teriyaki glazed chicken, sesame chicken, rice or yakisoba noodles would all be great options!

Healthy Asian Lettuce Wrap Recipe - House of Nash Eats (6)

How to Store Asian Lettuce Cups

If you plan on eating your lettuce wraps cold, chill your filling before adding to the lettuce bowls and keep them in a covered container or on a plastic wrap covered plate in the fridge. If you want your filling to be enjoyed warm, keep the lettuce and filling separate so the lettuce doesn’t wilt. You can serve the lettuce wraps family style with a big plate for the lettuce leaves, bowls for the veggie add-ins, and another plate or bowl with the meat filling, so everyone can assemble their own lettuce wraps.

Store prepared lettuce in a large plastic baggy with a paper towel to absorb moisture and keep your prepared filling in a plastic bag or airtight storage container and reheat before using. Keep both stored in the fridge, then warm the meat and assemble the lettuce wraps before eating.

Asian Lettuce Wraps Recipe FAQs

How do you crisp lettuce for lettuce wraps?

To crisp the lettuce for your lettuce wraps, rinse the lettuce leaves under cold water to remove any dirt or debris, then immerse the lettuce leaves in a bowl of ice water for a few minutes. This can help refresh and crisp up the leaves. After soaking, drain the lettuce and pat dry with paper towels.
If you're not using the lettuce leaves right away, store by wrapping them loosely in paper towels and place them in a plastic bag or container in the fridge until just before serving.

How do you keep lettuce wraps crisp?

To keep the lettuce wraps crisp, assemble them just before serving. Let guests assemble their own or lay out the lettuce leaves on a serving platter, add the fillings, and roll or fold the leaves tightly around the fillings. Serve immediately.

How do you make lettuce wraps that don't fall apart?

To make sure the lettuce wraps don’t fall apart, assemble them right before eating and don’t overfill them. You could also use two lettuce leaves instead of one for more support to hold the fillings in.

Healthy Asian Lettuce Wrap Recipe - House of Nash Eats (7)

More like this Asian Wrap Recipe

  • Slow Cooker Asian Pulled Pork Sliders
  • Oven Baked Korean BBQ Chicken Wings
  • Grilled Thai Pork Tenderloin with Coconut Lime Peanut Sauce
  • Better Than Take Out Chinese Sweet and Sour Pork
  • Easy Honey Walnut Shrimp
  • Asian Slaw with Ginger Peanut Dressing
  • Garlic Rice with Fried Egg

Appetizers

Korean Pancakes with Scallions (Pajeon or Pa Jun)

Chicken & Poultry

Yakitori Chicken Recipe

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.

Healthy Asian Lettuce Wrap Recipe - House of Nash Eats (11)

PrintPinRate

Asian Wrap Recipe

Amy Nash

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Asian

Servings 4 -6 Servings

These Asian Lettuce Wraps are made with savory, seasoned ground turkey or ground chicken and crunchy veggies wrapped up in fresh lettuce leaves to make for a satisfying bite that your family will love! They are super flavorful, healthy, and the perfect appetizer, lighter, or lunch.

Ingredients

  • 12-16 bibb or butter lettuce leaves, washed and dried
  • 1 pound ground chicken or ground turkey
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tablespoon reduced sodium soy sauce
  • ¼ cup hoisin sauce
  • 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced
  • 1 Tablespoon rice wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 1 (8-ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
  • Carrot matchsticks
  • Fresh mint leaves
  • Roasted peanuts
  • Bean sprouts

Instructions

  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, then brown the ground chicken, crumbling with a wooden spoon until done. Drain any extra liquid and transfer to a plate.

  • Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the same skillet and cook the onion in it until soft and translucent. Add garlic, cooking and stirring for 1 minute, then add the meat back into the pan with the onions.

  • Add the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, ginger, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, green onions, and water chestnuts. Mix well, cooking for 1 minute longer, then remove from the heat. Adjust seasoning as needed.

  • Serve the filling with the lettuce leaves, matchstick carrots, mint leaves, and bean sprouts for assembly.

Notes

  • You can use ground beef, ground chicken, ground pork, or ground lamb in place of the ground turkey.
  • You could probably double the sauce ingredients and use ½ of it to marinate chicken breasts, then grill and slice thinly if you don't have ground chicken or ground turkey to use. Use the rest of the sauce to drizzle over the sliced chicken in the lettuce wraps.

Recipe adapted only slightly from The Foodie Affair.

Nutrition

Calories: 339kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 489mg | Potassium: 881mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1552IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 2mg

Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @HouseOfNashEats or tag #houseofnasheats!

More Freaky Friday Recipes

  1. An Affair from the Heart –Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies
  2. Aunt Bee’s Recipes –Homemade Loaded Queso
  3. Bowl Me Over –Crispy Smashed Potatoes
  4. Hostess at Heart –Chocolate Coffee Cake
  5. Lemoine Family Kitchen –Easy Homemade Flour Tortillas
  6. Life, Love & Good Food –Italian Grilled Burgers
  7. Lisa’s Dinnertime Dish –Lemon Garlic Brussels Sprout Linguine
  8. Or Whatever You Do –Air Fryer Shrimp
  9. Take Two Tapas –Fried Mac and Cheese Balls
  10. The Foodie Affair –Strawberry Bread
  11. The Speckled Palate –Chicken Pesto Pasta
  12. West Via Midwest –Loaded Baked Potato Skins – Air Fryer Recipes

Related Recipes

Chinese

Homemade Wonton Soup

Side Dish

Crispy Smashed Potatoes

Appetizers

Cheesy Garlic Bread

Appetizers

Crispy Goat Cheese Bites

About the author

Healthy Asian Lettuce Wrap Recipe - House of Nash Eats (16)

Hi, I'm Amy

I enjoy exploring the world through food, culture, and travel and sharing the adventure with mostly from-scratch, family friendly recipes that I think of as modern comfort cooking.

Learn More

Healthy Asian Lettuce Wrap Recipe - House of Nash Eats (2024)

FAQs

Are lettuce wraps healthy for weight loss? ›

Wraps are a simple and easy lunch option that have the potential to be super healthy. Making your own wrap ensures that you control the ingredients and create a diet-friendly meal that you can feel good about eating. Swapping a carb-heavy tortilla with lettuce is a great way to save on calories and carbs.

What is the best lettuce for lettuce wraps? ›

Crispy iceberg is light and refreshing (and we love it for a wedge salad), but we opted more heartier lettuces for these recipes, like romaine and butterhead lettuce. Smoother butterhead lettuce leaves are ideal for wrapping as they're super flexible and wide enough wrap around and keep all the toppings inside.

How many carbs are in Chinese lettuce wraps? ›

Asia Restaurant Chicken Lettuce Wraps (1 serving) contains 31g total carbs, 25g net carbs, 14g fat, 62g protein, and 500 calories.

What is the best lettuce for weight loss? ›

If you're looking for one of the lowest-calorie vegetables, romaine lettuce has only 8 calories per cup. The downside is that it is pretty low in fiber too, with just 1 g per cup. But it's a great "catch-all" vegetable, says registered dietitian Jennifer Fiske, M.S., RDN, LD.

What are the healthiest greens for wraps? ›

Iceberg has a higher water content (great for hydration!) than most leafy greens, but feel free to swap it for a more nutrient-dense leaf, like romaine or kale. Cooking the turkey and vegetables for the filling in one pan keeps your dirty dishes to a minimum.

What kind of lettuce for Korean lettuce wraps? ›

You can use any lettuce you like for these wraps, but I'd recommend crispier lettuce leaves, such as romaine, as they hold together better. Tip: If you want to make these wraps more substantial, you can add a spoonful of cooked rice to each wrap.

Are lettuce wraps healthier than bread? ›

Lettuce wraps are much lower in calories than bread, and they are very fresh. Corn Tortillas → Corn tortillas tend to be cleaner than regular bread. You can even use a tortilla to replace a pizza crust which is much lighter option.

What type of lettuce is the healthiest? ›

Why is lettuce healthy? There are five different categories of lettuce: loose-leaf, cos/romaine, butterhead, crisphead, and asparagus-stem lettuce. Romaine lettuce and lettuce greens are the most nutritious types of lettuce.

Where do Asian lettuce wraps come from? ›

Believed to be of Chinese origin, lettuce wraps went on to infiltrate Southeast Asia before coming to America, where they were made popular by P.F. Chang's. One of the most copied menu items in restaurants, not only in the U.S. but globally, these fan favorites are easy to recreate at home, plant-based 411 style.

How do you eat Chinese lettuce? ›

To prepare cut the base, wash the leaves in cold water and dry them. Shred or tear to your desired size. You can eat it raw in a salad, stir fry briefly or add to hot food such as a pilaf.

Why are PF Chang's lettuce wraps so high in carbs? ›

Why Are PF Changs Lettuce Wraps So High in Carbs? Sugar. Many of the ingredients are loaded in sugar. The main culprit is hoisin sauce.

How many calories are in PF Chang's lettuce wraps? ›

Menu Nutritionals
ServingsCalories
Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps2330
BBQ Pork Spare Ribs (6)2430
Northern Style Spare Ribs (6)2380
Crispy Green Beans2500
4 more rows

How many calories are in a Szechuan lettuce wrap? ›

Cactus Club Cafe Szechuan Chicken Lettuce Wraps (1 serving) contains 69g total carbs, 62g net carbs, 59g fat, 67g protein, and 990 calories.

Can I eat wraps and lose weight? ›

A lean protein and vegetable wrap can be a healthy lunch for weight loss. When you are trying to lose weight and avoid high-calorie fast food, wraps are options that you can pack and carry with you for lunch.

Are sandwiches or wraps better for weight loss? ›

Both can be a healthy option,” says Sara Haas, RDN, LDN, a chef and registered dietitian. “It really depends on what the wrap or sandwich is made with, how big it is and what's inside! For example, a wrap filled with cured meats and cheeses made with a burrito-size wrap will pack loads of sodium and saturated fat.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Msgr. Refugio Daniel

Last Updated:

Views: 5731

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Msgr. Refugio Daniel

Birthday: 1999-09-15

Address: 8416 Beatty Center, Derekfort, VA 72092-0500

Phone: +6838967160603

Job: Mining Executive

Hobby: Woodworking, Knitting, Fishing, Coffee roasting, Kayaking, Horseback riding, Kite flying

Introduction: My name is Msgr. Refugio Daniel, I am a fine, precious, encouraging, calm, glamorous, vivacious, friendly person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.