• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Get our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide
freezer meal quick start guide

Get Our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide

Loading

About
Free Resources
Contact

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

YouTube

TikTok

Thriving Home

Food & Lifestyle

  • Recipe Index
    • Course
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch & Dinner
      • Sides & Salads
      • Soups & Chilis
      • Appetizers
      • Snacks
      • Desserts
      • Baked Goods
      • Beverages
      • Condiments
    • Method
      • Freezer Meals
      • Stovetop
      • Oven
      • Slow Cooker
      • Instant Pot
      • Grill or Smoker
      • 6 Ingredients or Less
    • Diet
      • Gluten-Free
      • Dairy-Free
      • Vegetarian
    • Ingredients
      • Chicken & Turkey
      • Beef
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Pasta & Pizza
    • Holiday
      • Birthday
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Valentine's Day
    • All Recipes
  • Freezer Cooking
    • Start Here
    • Freezer Meal Recipes
    • 1 Hour Freezer Prep
    • Cookbooks
  • Menu Plans
  • Shop
    • Cookbooks
    • 1 Hour Freezer Prep
    • Shop Our Favorites
    • Gift Guides
Search...
Home Recipe Index Appetizers

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

★★★★★ 4.9 /5
Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe
Rachel Tiemeyer
By: Rachel TiemeyerPosted: 6/27/22Updated: 2/9/23

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Inspired by P.F. Chang’s recipe, these Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a hit with all ages! Easy to make, filled with good-for-you ingredients, and easy to freeze.

a platter with chicken lettuce wraps on it
Contents hide
About This Recipe
Featured 5-Star Review
Video: How to Make Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients Needed
Step-by-Step Tutorial: Making Lettuce Wraps
How to Freeze as a Meal Kit
How to Use Leftover Filling
What to Serve with Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Did you make this?

About This Recipe

My inspiration for this recipe came years ago after having P.F. Chang’s Lettuce Wraps which are divine!

a plate with two lettuce wraps on it

I wondered if I could make them just a little healthier by adding in more veggies and replacing the rice sticks with brown rice. The result was a comparable (dare I say even better) recipe that friends, family, and our readers have now been making for 12+ years!

a plate with two lettuce wraps on it

Featured 5-Star Review

“So easy! Great flavor. Spice it up to your liking. Light, fast dinner. Any lettuce you prefer will work. One of my favorite go-to meals.”

– Dawn

★★★★★

Video: How to Make Lettuce Wraps

Watch this super short vide to see how to put together this recipe that tastes like P.F. Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps…

Ingredients Needed

This is not a hard recipe, but it does involve quite a few ingredients that make up the delectable sauce. That’s why it’s a good idea to make a double batch to freeze one for later (see instructions below).

overhead shot of ingredients for asian lettuce wraps in individual bowls
  • Lettuce – You’ll want one with large leaves, like iceberg, Romaine, Boston Bibb, or butter leaf.
  • Ground chicken – I like to use the leanest cut, but it’s up to you.
  • Yellow onion
  • Garlic
  • Ginger – Either a fresh ginger knob or ginger paste.
  • Soy sauce – For gluten-free, use Tamari gluten-free soy sauce or coconut aminos.
  • Hoisin sauce – Look for an all-natural version like Wok Mei (which also happens to be gluten-free).
  • Rice wine vinegar – This should be the unseasoned version.
  • Sesame oil
  • Sriracha chili hot sauce – Or substitute any hot sauce.
  • Water chestnuts
  • Green onions
  • Shredded carrots and cabbage – Use coleslaw mix as a shortcut.

Then, when you’re ready to serve it, you can also add in some brown rice, chopped peanuts, and extra sliced green onion to the wraps.

Step-by-Step Tutorial: Making Lettuce Wraps

Here’s the 30,000 foot view of how this recipe comes together each step of the way.

Brown the Ground Chicken and Set Aside

ground chicken being browned in a skillet

Saute the Onions

diced onions beting sauted in a pan

Combine and Simmer Rest of Sauce Ingredients

onions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, hoisin, and chili sauce sauteing in a pan

Stir in Chicken and Veggies

individual ingredients for lettuce wraps in a skillet

Simmer Until Filling Mixture Is Done

lettuce wrap filling in skillet with veggies

Serve

Set out the filling in a bowl along with lettuce leaves, brown rice, chopped peanuts, and more sliced green onions on the side.

a serving bowl with chicken lettuce wrap filling in it

Each individual can personalize their lettuce wrap with whatever they want in it. Wrap it up like a taco, prepare to get messy, and enjoy!

two lettuce leaves filled with browned chicken and veggies and topped with hot sauce

Or you can prefill each wrap and set them out on a platter.

prepared chicken lettuce wraps on a platter with a hand grabbing one

How to Freeze as a Meal Kit

For years, my freezer club made this recipe for one another because it was dubbed a “home run” freezer meal. Here’s how to make a batch for later.

Freeze For Later: Make the filling according to Steps 1-4 and let it cool completely. Store tightly and freeze in a freezer meal bag or container. You can also freeze cooked rice and chopped peanuts along with the meal.

Prepare From Frozen: When ready to serve, thaw the meal completely (here’s how to thaw chicken). Then, warm up the filling over low heat on stove, in microwave, or in the crockpot. If it’s dry, add a splash of chicken broth or water. Serve according to Step 5 in the recipe below.

Take a peek at all 70 recipes on our round-up of healthy freezer meals.

chicken lettuce wrap filling in freezer bag

How to Use Leftover Filling

Now here’s a fun idea. If you have leftovers or a family member who isn’t into the whole lettuce leaf thing, then try using the filling to make Asian Chicken Wraps.

asian chicken filling inside a tortilla

Wrap up the chicken and veggie filling, a little lettuce, brown rice, and some chopped peanuts in a whole grain tortilla for a delicious meal. You can offer both lettuce leaves and tortillas when serving to a crowd.

a hand holding an asian chicken wrap that's been cut in half

What to Serve with Chicken Lettuce Wraps

While lettuce wraps can be a meal unto themselves, here are a few other topping or side dish ideas.

How to Cook Brown Rice in the Instant Pot

pickled red onions in a mason jar

Easy Pickled Red Onions

Asian Slaw

How to Cook Corn on the Cob in the Microwave

These healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps are easy to make (almost foolproof!) and full of healthy ingredients for the most part. Enjoy!

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

two lettuce leaves filled with browned chicken and veggies and topped with hot sauce
★★★★★ 4.9 from 8 reviews

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

These Chicken Lettuce Wraps are incredible! Make them for a crowd or make and freeze for later. So easy and yummy!

Yield: 8 appetizer servings; 4 main dish servings 1x
Prep: 15 minutesCook: 25 minutesTotal: 40 minutes
Print Recipe Rate Pin for Later
  • Email
Units:
Scale:

Ingredients

  • 16 Boston Bibb, butter leaf, or Romaine lettuce leaves
  • 1 lb lean ground chicken (sub: ground turkey or beef)
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
  • 1/2 large yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger (or ginger paste)
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce, or to taste
  • 1/2 cup all-natural hoisin sauce (check the ingredients to make sure they are recognizable)
  • 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 4 teaspoons sesame oil
  • Sriracha chili hot sauce, to taste (sub: any hot sauce)
  • 1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and finely chopped
  • 1/2 bunch green onions, sliced
  • 1 cup shredded carrots (sub: 1 cup coleslaw mix)
  • 1 cup shredded cabbage (sub: 1 cup coleslaw mix)
  • Optional for serving: 2 cups cooked brown rice, chopped peanuts, more sliced green onions

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

Make It Now:

  1. Rinse whole lettuce leaves and pat dry, being careful not to tear them. Set aside. (Tip: Also, make sure you’ve prepped all your veggies according to the ingredient list above, so they are ready and waiting.)
  2. In a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat, brown the ground chicken in 1 tablespoon of oil, stirring often. Drain, and set aside to cool. 
  3. Saute the yellow onion in the same pan until tender, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, and hot sauce to the onions, stir, and let simmer 1-2 minutes.
  4. Stir in chopped water chestnuts, green onions, shredded carrots, shredded cabbage, and browned chicken, and continue cooking until the green onions, carrots, and cabbage begin to wilt, about 3-4 minutes. If mixture seems too dry, add a little more hoisin sauce and/or soy sauce to taste (but be cautious so it doesn’t get too salty). Add in water if the mixture gets too salty. (Freezing instructions begin here.)
  5. To serve, spoon a portion of rice (optional) and the meat mixture into a lettuce leaf. Top with chopped peanuts, more green onions, and more hot sauce, if desired. Wrap the lettuce around the meat like a burrito. Prepare to get messy and enjoy! 

Freeze For Later: Follow Steps 1-4. Let the veggie/meat mixture completely cool. Store tightly in a freezer meal bag or container.

Prepare From Frozen: When ready to serve, thaw veggie/meat mixture completely. Warm up over low heat on stove, in microwave, or in the crockpot. If it’s dry, add a splash of chicken broth or water. Serve according to Step 5.


Notes/Tips

Gluten-Free Version: In place of soy sauce, use Tamari gluten-free soy sauce or coconut aminos. Make sure your hoisin sauce is gluten-free.

Crock Pot Instructions: In large pan, saute the chicken and onions in cooking oil over medium-high heat until cooked through. Add chicken/onion mixture to slow cooker insert, along with the rest of the ingredients (garlic through cabbage), except the lettuce and rice. Cook on LOW for 2-3 hours. Serve as directed.

Instant Pot Instructions: Using the saute setting, saute the chicken and onions in the oil until the chicken is done and the onions are softened, about 5 minutes. Press Cancel. Stir in the ginger, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, hot sauce, water chestnuts, green onions, shredded carrots, and shredded cabbage to the onions. Cook at high pressure for 3 minutes and quick release the pressure. Follow Step 5.

© Author: Rachel Tiemeyer
Cuisine: Asian Method: Stove Top

Did you make this?

Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Rate Recipe

Tag Us on Instagram

582 shares
  • Share
  • Email
Rachel Tiemeyer

Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

Read more...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. AvatarMindy says

    Posted on 1/9/23 at 3:30 pm

    Yummy

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Carla from Thriving HomeCarla from Thriving Home says

      Posted on 1/10/23 at 9:33 am

      So glad you like it Mindy!

      Reply
Older Comments

sidebar

polly and rachel

Welcome

We’re moms, cookbook authors, and freezer cooking evangelists. Our mission is to help your home thrive, one delicious meal at a time. Let’s make the most of your time in the kitchen! Read more.

Follow Us On Instagram!

freezer cooking

Order On:

Amazon • Target

Autographed Copy

Learn More

freezer to table

Order On:

Amazon • Target

Autographed Copy

Learn More
dump and go freezer meal email cta

Make 6 Dump-and-Go Freezer Meals in 1 Hour

  1. Shopping & equipment lists
  2. Step-by-Step instructions & video tutorial
  3. Serving suggestions & dietary substitutions & more

Try Session 18 (a $6.99 value) for free!

Loading

Trending Recipes

Overhead portrait photo of tomato bisque soup

Tomato Bisque

cheesy chicken and rice casserole being scooped out of casserole dish

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

cooked mexican soup

Crowd Pleaser Mexican Soup

Easter Favorites

ham sliders

Ham and Cheese Sliders

Cheesy hashbrown casserole

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole

Fruit Pizza Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

spiral sliced crockpot ham slices on a platter with pineapple sauce on the side

Crockpot Ham with Pineapple Sauce

Popular Round-Ups

marinades for chicken breasts in freezer bags

7 BEST Chicken Marinades

freezer meal

100+ Best Freezer Meals on the Planet

6 mason jars with various overnight oats in them

7 Overnight Oats Recipes

smoothie packs

7 Frozen Smoothie Packs (+ Printable with Shopping List)

freezer meal update
New to freezer cooking?

Grab Our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide!

5 days of recipes & tips from freezer meal experts.

Loading

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

YouTube

TikTok

About
About Us
Work With Us
Press
Recipes
All Recipes
Freezer Meals
Menu Plans
Shop
Cookbooks
1 Hour Prep Sessions
Gift Guides
Explore
Free Resources
Shop Our Favorites
Facebook Group
Privacy Policy
Accessibility
Disclaimers
Contact
© 2023 Thriving Home
Site Credits
Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top
582 shares