Skip to Content

Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Wondering what to make with ground chicken? Make these easy Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps! These will become one of your family’s favorite recipes in no time.

Asian Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps

One of my most favorite additions to my cookbook shelf in the past year has been The Steamy Kitchen Cookbook: 101 Asian Recipes Simple Enough for Tonight’s Dinner. And out of that cookbook, our most repeated recipe has been these Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps (or Lettuce Cup Appetizers, as Jaden calls them in her book) and Chinese Beef Broccoli.

I love Asian food, but until the past couple of years I didn’t have much experience cooking it but instead preferred to go out for Asian. The Steamy Kitchen Cookbook has really demystified Asian cooking for me.

Where before it seemed too complicated and with recipe lists full of difficult to find ingredients, now it is simple and fast and only requires a trip to your neighborhood grocery store.

These Asian chicken lettuce wraps are loaded with vegetables and lean protein, not to mention flavor. The way all of the different flavors and textures play off one another in this recipe makes it all the more like-able.

With the soft rice, crunchy water chestnuts, crisp bell pepper, salty marinade, and sweet, juicy mandarin oranges, I can’t think of anything that’s missing from the ingredient list.

asian ground chicken lettuce wraps

Click HERE to save this recipe for Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps!

Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps Ingredients

While the ingredient list may look long, don’t let let that stop you from trying this recipe. It comes together incredibly fast and you’re taste buds will certainly thank you afterward. Don’t be surprised if this becomes a regular at your dinner table. It’s certainly one at ours!

Here’s what you’ll need to make these Asian lettuce wraps:

  • Ground chicken
  • Soy sauce
  • Chinese rice wine
  • Cornstarch
  • Canola oil
  • Garlic
  • Fresh ginger
  • Red onion
  • Shiitake mushrooms
  • Water chestnuts
  • Bell pepper
  • Rice vinegar
  • Oyster sauce
  • Lettuce
  • Cooked rice
  • Canned mandarin oranges

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

What’s the Best Lettuce for Lettuce Wraps?

Personally, I prefer using butter lettuce when making these Asian ground chicken lettuce wraps. Butter lettuce holds its shape well and doesn’t tear easily when stuffed with rice, chicken, and veggies.

Iceberg also works well, though and it lends a nice crunch. TIP: stack two lettuce leaves together for each lettuce wrap. You’ll get more crunch and the wrap will be sturdier!

Smaller variety Romain Lettuce or Green Leaf would work fine if that is what is available. Look for varieties that have a cup like shape and can fold like a taco.

How to Make Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Making these healthy chicken lettuce wraps couldn’t be simpler. Here are the basic steps to mastering this recipe:

  1. Marinate the chicken in a mixture of soy sauce, rice wine, and cornstarch.
  2. In a hot wok or skillet, fry up the garlic, ginger, and red onion in a little oil.
  3. Add the chicken and cook until browned.
  4. Add in the remaining ingredients and cook until the veggies soften.
  5. Assemble the ground chicken lettuce wraps and enjoy!
asian ground chicken lettuce wraps

Click HERE to save this recipe for Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps!

Can I Make Ground Turkey Lettuce Wraps Instead?

Absolutely! Ground turkey or even ground pork would taste delicious in place of the ground chicken.

If you are vegetarian or vegan, I would try preparing tofu, tempeh, or lentils but omitting the oyster sauce. I haven’t prepared this ground chicken lettuce wrap recipe with these substitutions myself before, so I don’t have any recommendations for how to cook the tofu, tempeh, or lentils.

Can I Add Other Veggies?

Yes, you’re welcome to add any other veggies you’d like into these ground chicken lettuce wraps. Baby corn and greens (like bok choy) would be especially tasty additions.

What Readers Are Saying

“Refreshing and light! EXACTLY what this bod needs right about now!

“I love this recipe and your photographs are beautiful!”

“This recipe looks perfect for the post-holiday period when you are trying to find food that is healthy but delicious! Can’t wait to give it a try!”

Tips for Making Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps

The addition of some jasmine rice is the perfect way to turn this delicious appetizer into a quick weeknight meal. If you’re aiming for ultra-health conscious, you can substitute brown rice for the jasmine rice, but I personally love the flavor and scent the jasmine rice brings to the dish

If desired, you could even turn these ground chicken lettuce wraps into rice bowls. Omit the lettuce if you have none on hand and simply spoon the chicken mixture over a bed of rice.

If you have any leftovers, be sure to store the lettuce, rice, and chicken separately to keep them fresher for longer. The chicken can be reheated in an oiled skillet or in the microwave.

What are you favorite make-at-home Asian favorites?

Love this recipe for Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps? Sign up for Good Life Eats email updates and never miss another recipe!

easy asian lettuce wraps

Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Yield: 4-6 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

This meal is loaded with vegetables and lean protein, not to mention flavor. The addition of some jasmine rice is the perfect way to turn this delicious appetizer into a quick weeknight meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground chicken
  • 4 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons canola oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated on a microplane
  • 1/2 cup chopped red onion
  • 8 shiitake mushrooms, diced
  • 4 peeled water chestnuts, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 4 teaspoons rice vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 1 head Butter lettuce
  • 1 1/2 cups cooked jasmine rice
  • 1 - 11 ounce can mandarin orange sections, drained

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, marinate the ground chicken with the soy sauce, wine, and cornstarch for 10 minutes at room temperature.
  2. Heat a wok or large frying pan over high heat. When hot, add the oil, swirling to coat. Stir in the garlic, ginger, red onion. Fry for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
  3. Add the ground chicken, cooking and stirring until lightly browned, about 2-4 minutes. Stir in the mushrooms, water chestnuts, rice vinegar, and oyster sauce. Simmer for 2 minutes, or until the meat is cooked through. Stir in the red bell pepper and simmer until it is tender-crisp, about 30 seconds to a minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper, if desired.
  4. Assemble the lettuce wraps by spooning a heaping tablespoon of rice and filling onto each lettuce leaf. Top with 2-3 mandarin orange sections.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 492Total Fat 16gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 121mgSodium 880mgCarbohydrates 56gFiber 8gSugar 16gProtein 34g

GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.

Did you make this recipe?

I’d love it if you let me know what you think! Snap a photo and tag me on Instagram at @goodlifeeats with the hashtag #goodlifeeatsrecipes so I can see what you’re cooking up in YOUR kitchen!

Tag @goodlifeeats and include the hashtag #goodlifeeatsrecipes so I can see what you’re cooking up in YOUR kitchen!

Click HERE to save this recipe for Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps!

MSkrintney

Monday 10th of October 2022

I don't mean to sound stupid, but how do you marinate ground chicken? Do you just drop it in a bowl with the marinate or do you mix it in or what?

Katie

Tuesday 11th of October 2022

Not a stupid question at all! Just combine the two in a bowl, stir the marinade into the meat, and let it soak in.

maggie everett

Sunday 2nd of December 2012

I am having a fit to get the lettuce wrap recipes. I don't see a PRINT logo on this page?

Katie

Sunday 2nd of December 2012

in the recipe box there is a blue circle with a printer icon in it. click that and it takes you to the print page:

https://www.goodlifeeats.com/2010/12/ground-chicken-lettuce-wraps.html/print/

Deborah Dowd

Monday 17th of January 2011

This recipe looks perfect for the post-holiday period when you are trying to find food that is healthy but delicious! Can't wait to give it a try!~

Frankie

Wednesday 5th of January 2011

Lettuce wraps are such a staple after New Years... Here's to resolutions, yeah? :D

Leola Lloyd

Tuesday 28th of December 2010

I love Asian food and Jaden's book is fantastic. Great dinner idea! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Skip to Recipe