Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce and Crispy Toppings Recipe
Introduction
Chicken lettuce wraps are a fresh and flavorful dish perfect for a light lunch or a casual dinner. Packed with juicy ground chicken, crisp vegetables, and a tangy sauce, these wraps offer a delightful mix of textures and tastes.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground chicken
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon peanut oil (can substitute avocado or olive oil)
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup julienned carrots
- ½ red bell pepper, finely diced
- 1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter (optional)
- 8 butter lettuce leaves (or romaine or iceberg)
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon sriracha (can substitute hot sauce)
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/3 cup honey roasted peanuts
- 3 green onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Step 1: Whisk together chicken broth, soy sauce, honey, lime juice, sriracha, ground ginger, sesame oil, and cornstarch in a bowl. Set aside. Make sure the liquid is not warm to prevent the cornstarch from activating prematurely. Measure out remaining ingredients before cooking.
- Step 2: Season the ground chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the peanut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, stirring continuously, for about 6 minutes.
- Step 3: Add the minced garlic, julienned carrots, and diced red bell pepper to the skillet. Cook an additional 1 minute until the chicken is fully cooked. Drain any excess liquid from the skillet if necessary.
- Step 4: Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet with the chicken mixture. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Stir in the peanut butter if using, and cook until the sauce thickens, about 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Step 5: Spoon the chicken filling into the lettuce leaves. Top each wrap with honey roasted peanuts, sliced green onions, and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
Tips & Variations
- Try swapping ground chicken for ground turkey or pork for a different flavor.
- Use other crisp lettuce varieties like romaine or iceberg if butter lettuce isn’t available.
- Add chopped water chestnuts for extra crunch and texture.
- For a vegetarian version, use crumbled tofu or cooked lentils instead of chicken.
- Adjust the spiciness by increasing or decreasing the amount of sriracha or hot sauce.
Storage
Store any leftover chicken filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Lettuce leaves are best kept separate and added just before serving to maintain crispness. Reheat the filling gently in a skillet or microwave until warmed through. Do not reheat the wraps assembled to avoid soggy lettuce.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I make the sauce ahead of time?
Yes, you can whisk the sauce ingredients together up to a day ahead and refrigerate it. Just give it a good stir before adding to your cooked chicken.
What can I substitute for peanut butter?
If you have a peanut allergy or prefer a different flavor, you can leave out the peanut butter or substitute it with almond butter or tahini. The sauce will still be delicious but slightly different in taste.
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Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce and Crispy Toppings Recipe
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
These Chicken Lettuce Wraps offer a deliciously fresh and flavorful appetizer or light meal option. Ground chicken is cooked with crunchy vegetables and coated in a savory, slightly sweet sauce made with soy, honey, and lime, then spooned into crisp butter lettuce leaves and topped with crunchy peanuts, green onions, and toasted sesame seeds for a satisfying crunch and burst of flavor.
Ingredients
For the Filling
- 1 lb. ground chicken
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon peanut oil (can substitute avocado or olive oil)
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup julienned carrots
- ½ red bell pepper, finely diced
For the Sauce
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon sriracha (can substitute hot sauce)
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter (optional)
To Serve
- 8 butter lettuce leaves (can substitute romaine or iceberg)
- 1/3 cup honey roasted peanuts
- 3 green onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare Sauce: Whisk together the chicken broth, soy sauce, honey, lime juice, sriracha, ground ginger, sesame oil and cornstarch in a bowl. Make sure the liquid is cool or at room temperature to prevent the cornstarch from activating prematurely. Set aside. Measure and prepare all other ingredients before cooking.
- Cook Chicken and Vegetables: Season ground chicken with salt and pepper. Heat peanut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 6 minutes, stirring continuously to break it up and ensure even cooking. Add the minced garlic, julienned carrots, and finely diced red bell pepper and cook for an additional 1 minute until the chicken is fully cooked and vegetables begin to soften. If excess liquid accumulates, drain it off.
- Add Sauce and Thicken: Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet with the chicken and vegetables. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. When boiling, stir in the smooth peanut butter if using. Continue to cook and stir until the sauce thickens, which should take one to two minutes. Remove from heat immediately to prevent overcooking.
- Assemble Wraps: Spoon the warm chicken mixture into individual butter lettuce leaves. Top each with honey roasted peanuts, sliced green onions, and toasted sesame seeds for added texture and flavor. Serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- You can substitute the peanut oil with avocado or olive oil if preferred.
- For a spicier wrap, increase the sriracha or add fresh chili flakes.
- Use romaine or iceberg lettuce if butter lettuce is unavailable.
- To make this dish vegan, substitute ground chicken with crumbled tofu or a plant-based meat alternative and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- For extra crunch, toast the peanuts and sesame seeds before adding them on top.
- Store leftovers separately—keep the chicken mixture and lettuce leaves apart to prevent sogginess.
- This recipe can be doubled easily for larger gatherings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
Keywords: chicken lettuce wraps, ground chicken recipe, Asian chicken wraps, healthy chicken wraps, peanut sauce chicken, easy appetizers
