Chicken Lettuce Wraps

If you are looking for more easy recipes for healthy meal ideas, then you've come to the right place. Today, we are sharing these heart-healthy, low-sodium chicken lettuce wraps. Bursting with flavor and easily customizable, these lettuce wraps are the perfect meal when you need something healthy and fulfilling in 20 minutes.

So whether you are looking for P.F.Changs copycat lettuce wraps or a flavorful and fulfilling meal option for those with heart or renal diet restrictions, we've got you covered! Stick around as we show you how to make the best chicken lettuce wraps you've ever tasted.

Recipe Video

Why This Recipe Works

This chicken lettuce wrap recipe works for several excellent reasons. It's easy to make, easily customized, and an incredibly healthy meal option for those with dietary specifications.

These chicken lettuce wraps are an excellent go-to meal for a busy weeknight when you need a quick and easy meal. Ready in less than 20 minutes, hungry diners won't have to wait long for this meal.

Additionally, you can experiment with a variety of different options to make these lettuce wraps uniquely yours. Whether that means swapping the chicken for mushrooms, the peanuts for crispy noodles, or the red bell peppers for carrots and cucumbers, this recipe is incredibly easy to customize to your specific tastes.

Finally, these easy chicken lettuce wraps are also incredibly healthy and suitable for a number of different dietary needs. For those with heart and renal diet restrictions, low-sodium soy sauce is used, making these chicken lettuce wraps a heart- and kidney-friendly meal option. Increasing the proportion of fresh vegetables in your wraps will make for an even healthier, meal option.

Ingredients

Sesame Oil:

Sesame oil is used in the recipe for its distinctive nutty flavor and aroma, which add depth and authenticity to Asian-inspired dishes like chicken lettuce wraps. Another flavorful oil, such as peanut oil or olive oil, would be a suitable substitute for sesame oil. While they may not replicate the exact taste of sesame oil, they can provide richness and enhance the overall flavor profile of the dish.

Low-Sodium Soy Sauce:

The key to making this chicken lettuce wrap recipe so healthy is using low-sodium options where you can, and soy sauce is one of those places where you can. However, if you are interested in using something other than soy sauce in your lettuce wraps, you can consider using tamari, Worcestershire sauce, broth, coconut aminos, liquid aminos, or miso paste instead.

Sriracha Sauce:

This spicy chili garlic sauce adds the perfect amount of heat to these Asian lettuce wraps, and you can add as much or as little as you'd like depending on your personal taste. For some extra heat, try experimenting with adding red chili flakes, paprika, cayenne, or your favorite hot sauce to the mix

Rice Vinegar:

Rice vinegar adds acidity and tanginess to this chicken lettuce wrap recipe. Alternatives that offer a similar acidic punch, such as apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or lemon juice, can also be used.

Honey:

Honey is used in the recipe to add sweetness and balance the flavors. For an alternative, you can use maple syrup, agave nectar, or brown rice syrup. These options provide similar sweetness without using animal-derived products, making them suitable options for a vegan lettuce wrap recipe.

Chicken:

While this recipe uses ground chicken, you can make an equally healthy and satisfying lettuce wrap filling with ground turkey, tofu, tempeh, chickpeas, lentils, or jackfruit.

Vegetables:

The addition of onion and red bell pepper gives these healthy chicken lettuce wraps additional flavor, color, and nutrients. This is just a starting point for the different vegetables that you can add to your own lettuce wraps. Finely chopped carrots or cucumbers can be incorporated for their color and crunch. Water chestnuts offer a delightfully crisp texture, while shredded cabbage or radishes add a peppery bite. Incorporate mushrooms for a savory umami taste, thinly sliced green onions or scallions for their mild flavor, or bean sprouts for some added crunch and freshness. 

Peanuts:

To keep your lettuce wraps on the healthier side, opt for unsalted peanuts or any other nut that you prefer. This will help lower the overall sodium content of the recipe greatly.

If you want to substitute the peanuts with something that will offer a similar nutty flavor and crunchy texture, there are a number of options. Unsalted sesame seeds and cashews are heart-healthy alternatives to peanuts that offer similar results. For something nut-free, crispy noodles are an alternative that contributes something slightly different yet equally delicious to your homemade chicken lettuce wraps.

Lettuce:

The best lettuce for chicken lettuce wraps is butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce, both of which have sturdy, crisp leaves that hold the filling well. Alternatively, you can consider using large spinach leaves, collard greens, or Swiss chard, which offer a slightly tougher yet nutritious wrap.

How to Make Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Step One: 

Add sesame oil, soy sauce, sriracha sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a bowl and whisk to combine.

Step Two: 

Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat.

Step Three: 

Spoon the chicken into the hot pan and cook until browned, breaking the meat into smaller pieces as it cooks. Drain any excess liquid from the pan.

Step Four:

Add the onions, red peppers, and peanuts to the pan. Cook until the onions and red peppers have softened.

Step Five: 

Stir the sauce into the pan until the contents are coated, then remove from heat.

 

Step Six: 

Spoon some of the chicken mixture into each lettuce leaf and fold like a taco.

Step Seven: 

Serve topped with peanuts, and enjoy!

Tips

• For extra flavor, marinate the ground chicken for at least 30 minutes with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and a touch of sesame oil.
• For a unique twist, feel free to customize by adding other ingredients like mushrooms, bean sprouts, carrots, water chestnuts, or even pineapple.

What to Serve With Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Chicken lettuce wraps pair well with a variety of side dishes to create a balanced and flavorful meal. Consider serving them with steamed edamame, which adds a healthy protein boost, or a fresh Asian-inspired slaw for a crunchy texture contrast. A light serving of grilled vegetables or a simple miso soup made with low-sodium soy sauce and broth can complement the wraps perfectly, providing additional layers of flavor and nutrients. For a more fulfilling option, add some jasmine or brown rice to your chicken lettuce wraps, to make them heartier and complete the meal.

FAQs

Can I make vegan lettuce wraps?

For a vegetarian option, you can substitute tofu, tempeh, jackfruit, or a mix of finely chopped mushrooms and water chestnuts for the chicken. Additionally, ensure you are using a low-sodium vegan soy sauce or tamari, while the honey can be swapped out for maple or agave syrup.

How do I keep the chicken filling moist?

To keep the chicken filling moist, avoid overcooking the chicken, and consider adding a little broth or water if it starts to dry out during cooking.

For how long can leftover chicken lettuce wraps be kept fresh?

Leftover chicken lettuce wraps can be kept fresh in the refrigerator for up to three days, with the ingredients stored separately. To freeze, store the chicken filling in an airtight container for up to three months.

More Healthy Recipes

These healthy chicken lettuce wraps are a flavorful and fulfilling dish to incorporate into a low-sodium, low-fat, and low-potassium diet. For more deliciously healthy recipes, check out this collection of some of our favorites.

Buffalo Chicken Wrap

Egg White Wraps

Egg Roll In A Bowl

Instant Pot Chicken Burrito Bowl