Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps

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These healthy chicken lettuce wraps are packed full of a sweet and savory umami flavor, make the perfect healthy snack, appetizer, or meal, and are on the table in less than 30 minutes!

This post was originally published in August 2017. It has been updated for content and photos.

I had chicken lettuce wraps for the first time many years ago at this Vietnamese fusion restaurant in Ocean Beach, CA (OB Noodle House).  They were AH-MA-ZING.  I loved them.  And the fact they are healthy?  Extra bonus, am I right?  It's not often that I fall in love with a food that's healthy.

Anyways, the chicken in these ground chicken lettuce wraps is cooked with awesome flavors like garlic, hoisin sauce, chili sauce and my favorite shiitake mushrooms. It SO GOOD.

The cool lettuce adds a perfect freshness to the dish to complement the strong umami flavor of the ground chicken mixture. You want these healthy chicken lettuce wraps...I promise.

Why This Recipe Works

Hoisin sauce is used to give the ground chicken a sweet and savory flavor.

Water chestnuts are added for their slightly crunchy texture.

The chicken mixture is spooned into butter lettuce cups to make it easy to wrap up.

The Ingredients

You should be able to find all the ingredients at your local grocery store, or Asian market if you have one. If not, I've included links in the recipe card to buy the ingredients on Amazon (affiliate links). 

If you've never tried hoisin sauce, you are in for a treat. Sweet and savory in flavor, this thick sauce is awesome as a flavoring ingredients, but also as a dipping sauce for some dishes. We use it to flavor the chicken in this recipe.

Shiitake mushrooms are a meaty mushroom that are often bought dried (if you can find fresh they are even more amazing). They are reconstituted by soaking them in warm water until soft, then chopped to be used.

Soy sauce, rice wine vinegar and chili garlic sauce are all easy to find in your local grocery store and add the perfect amount of spice, umami and acid to the ground chicken.

Water chestnuts add a nice crunch to this recipe, while the sesame oil finished the dish with a nice butty flavor. Butter lettuce is used because it is easy and comes in the perfect shape for lettuce wraps. However, any lettuce can be substituted.

What Lettuce do you Use for Chicken Lettuce Wraps?

I use butter lettuce in this recipe as it comes in the perfect shape and size for these ground chicken lettuce wraps. However, any lettuce can be substituted - just tear into pieces 5" in diameter and it should work fine.

Step By Step Instructions

This recipe takes less than 30 minutes...it only takes me 20 minutes max. 

First, heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the chicken until it is no longer pink.  Make sure the chicken crumbles in small pieces.

Stirring often will help keep the chicken separated.  Add the garlic when chicken is almost done.

While the chicken is cooking, cover the dried mushrooms with hot water and let sit for 5-10 minutes.  Remove and squeeze out any excess water.

Remove the tough stems and chop.  When the chicken is done, add the mushrooms and water chestnuts and cook for 30 seconds.

Then add the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and chili garlic sauce.  Mix well and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until thickened.

How to Eat Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Spoon 2-3 tbsp. of the mixture into a piece of lettuce and fold up the edges. Garnish with green onions if desired. See photo below for an example.

Cook's Tips

Use butter lettuce for the perfect shape and size. Regular lettuce can be substituted, but it won't be as easy to wrap.

Any kind of cooking oil will work, however, I like to use coconut oil for it's benefits and flavor.

When cooking the chicken, make sure it crumbles in small pieces. Stirring often will help keep the chicken separated. You can also use a fork to separate it while cooking.

Can You Make Chicken Lettuce Wraps Ahead of Time?

You can make the ground chicken mixture in advance and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove-top. If mixture is dry when reheated, add a ¼ cup of chicken broth for some moisture while it heats.

Freezing Instructions

Make the ground chicken filling according to the recipe instructions. Place in a airtight container and freeze for up to one month for the best results.

Thaw in the fridge overnight and heat in the microwave or on the stove-top. If mixture is dry when reheated, add a ¼ cup of chicken broth for some moisture while it heats.

Tools Use

Rate the recipe and leave a comment to let me know how it turned out!

Did you make these chicken lettuce wraps? Follow me on Instagram, post a photo and tag @wenthere8this or #wenthere8this. I love to see what you're making!

Healthy Asian Style Chicken Lettuce Wraps

These asian style chicken lettuce wraps are easy to make and healthy - plus packed full of flavor!

5 from 19 votes

Print Rate

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 5 servings

Calories: 217kcal

Author: Danielle Wolter

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 Package butter lettuce
• ▢ 1 lbs. ground chicken
• ▢ 1 tbsp. cooking oil
• ▢ 7 dried shiitake mushrooms
• ▢ 4 tbsp. hoisin sauce
• ▢ 2 tbsp. rice wine vinegar
• ▢ 1 tsp. sesame oil
• ▢ 2 tbsp. soy sauce
• ▢ 8 oz. water chestnuts, chopped
• ▢ 4 garlic cloves, minced
• ▢ 1 tbsp. chili garlic sauce
• ▢ Minced green onions (optional for garnish)

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

• First, heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the chicken until it is no longer pink.  Make sure the chicken crumbles in small pieces.  
• Add the garlic when chicken is almost done.  
• While the chicken is cooking, cover the dried mushroom with hot water and let sit for 5-10 minutes.
• Remove and squeeze out any excess water.  Remove the tough stems and chop.  
• When the chicken is done, add the mushrooms and water chestnuts and cook for 30 seconds.
• Then add the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and chili garlic sauce.  
• Mix well and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until thickened.  
• Garnish with green onions.  Serve with the butter lettuce.

Expert Tips:

1. I use butter lettuce in this recipe as it comes in the perfect shape and size for these ground chicken lettuce wraps. However, any lettuce can be substituted - just tear into pieces 5" in diameter and it should work fine. 
2. Any kind of cooking oil will work, however, I like to use coconut oil for it's benefits and flavor.
3. When cooking the chicken, make sure it crumbles in small pieces.  Stirring often will help keep the chicken separated. You can also use a fork to separate it while cooking.

Nutrition

Calories: 217kcal

Tried this recipe?Mention @went_here_8_this or tag #wenthere8this!

[nutrifox id="29709"]