This post is all about the best and easiest lettuce wraps that are delicious every single time. They’re restaurant-quality, come together in 30 minutes, and are loaded with veggies. You will undoubtedly love them!
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Quick and Easy Lettuce Wraps that are Delicious Every Single Time
This recipe yields approximately 8-12 lettuce wraps. It is dependent upon the size of the lettuce leaves used, and if you decide to add rice to the meat mixture.
Additional notes will be under the recipe and indicated by asterisks.
Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon Cooking Oil (vegetable, canola, avocado, etc.)
1 pound (lb) Ground Turkey or Beef
1 medium Yellow Onion, chopped
2 Garlic Cloves, minced* (Spice World Minced Garlic)
2 Tablespoons Lime Juice**
2 Tablespoons Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce
1 – 2 Tablespoons Chili Garlic Sauce (or more or less depending on your desired spice level)
2 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Hoisin Sauce
1 Cup Cooked Rice (optional)***
8-12 Lettuce Leaves (Iceberg****, or Bibb)
1 Cup Cucumber julienned or chopped (or more or less depending on preference)
1 Cup Matchstick Carrots***** (or more or less depending on preference)
Instructions:
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cooking oil and the chopped yellow onion. Cook until soft and slightly translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
- Once onions are cooked, add in the ground meat of choice. Break it up until it crumbles, and cook until you no longer see any pink. Approximately 7-10 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- While the meat cooks, prepare the lime juice**, the lettuce leaves, and the cucumber if you have not done so already.
- Once the meat is cooked through and no longer pink, add in the minced garlic and stir. Let it cook for 30 seconds.
- Then, add in the lime juice, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, light brown sugar, and the hoisin sauce. Stir until combined.
- If you’re adding cooked rice, do this now and stir until combined. Let it sit for a couple of minutes if the rice needs to be heated through.
- Scoop the desired amount of mixture onto the lettuce cups****.
- Top with matchstick carrots and cucumber.
- Enjoy!
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Notes for Lettuce Wraps Recipe:
* Fresh garlic does taste better, don’t get me wrong. But to make my life easier and this recipe that much faster, I use the jarred minced garlic, such as Spice World Minced Garlic.
** Unlike the garlic, I highly recommend using fresh lime juice. Fresh lime juice is worlds better than bottled lime juice. That being said, zero judgment. If you want to use bottled because it’s easier, go forth and conquer. Tip for using fresh limes, if you roll them against a hard surface first it’s easier to juice.
*** In addition, using cooked rice is optional. I will sometimes add it to help bulk up the mixture so that I don’t have to use as much meat to get twice the amount of mixture. In this economy meat is expensive, so I try to stretch it out where I can. You could use leftover white rice. I love using microwave rice. It’s fast and easy. My go-to is Microwave Ready Seeds of Change Organic Quinoa & Brown Rice with Garlic. The taste complements the flavor, and it’s an easy way to sneak in some extra protein and fiber.
**** I gravitate towards using iceberg lettuce because I always have it on hand. It can be difficult to get perfect lettuce cups out of it. I also recommend using the trick of hitting the bottom of the lettuce on a hard surface and then tearing it out. That way, it is no longer holding the leaves together. It makes it easier to separate the leaves. If the iceberg does tear, you can just double up the leaves for more stability.
***** Using matchstick carrots makes my life a million times easier. I highly recommend them. Plus, it makes it easy to sprinkle them into other recipes. That being said, you could julienne, chop, or grate carrots and that would work perfectly fine.
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More Easy and Delicious Weeknight Meal Ideas:
- The Best and Easiest Buffalo Chicken Wraps That are Amazing Every Time
- Easy and Delicious Taco Bell-Inspired Quesadilla with Creamy Chipotle Sauce
- Easy and Flavorful Chicken Tacos with Taco Bell Creamy Baja Sauce
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There you have it, The Best and Easiest Lettuce Wraps
These lettuce wraps sincerely come together so quickly and easily.
These lettuce wraps are the quintessential easy weeknight meal.
It comes together quickly and is a simple way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet because it actually tastes good.
It’s also great as leftovers, or pack it up to take for lunch.
I love it when something is delicious and indulgent, but doesn’t sit heavy in your stomach. That describes these lettuce wraps perfectly.
That’s also why these lettuce wraps work great as a meal on a hot spring or summer day. They’re light and refreshing with loads of flavor.
These lettuce wraps are perfect for any occasion. I know that they will become a part of your meal rotation.
Lettuce wraps used to seem so intimidating to me. They have a depth of flavor that I never thought I could mimic at home. But the ingredients aren’t that scary, and are easy to find at your local grocery store.
This is also a great recipe for anyone who is new to cooking, or is wanting to gain confidence in the kitchen.
There is no greater feeling than making a simple meal at home that is also restaurant-quality and tastes amazing.
Not to mention, something light and refreshing and is actually good for you.
My adult life has consisted of finding ways to incorporate more vegetables into my diet that actually taste good and are enjoyable.
Not going to lie, I have struggled with this. I’ve gotten better as I’ve gotten older, but there are still a lot of vegetables I cannot eat by themselves. Whether it’s the texture, the taste, or both.
Cucumbers are a perfect example of this. I cannot simply eat a slice of cucumber.
But when they’re sprinkled onto these lettuce wraps the flavor and combination of textures makes it possible for me to sneak some in.
I also love that these lettuce wraps are a nice change in pace flavor-wise of meals I make at home.
I usually don’t find it worth it to try and make any Asian food at home. It never tastes as good, and is more effort than I’m willing to do. Or, I don’t always have the ingredients in my pantry.
These lettuce wraps, however, are the exception. They’re restaurant-quality, have simple ingredients, and are so easy to make. I never regret making these.
Looking for another restaurant-quality recipe? Try these Taco Bell-Inspired Quesadilla with Creamy Chipotle Sauce. It’s only 4 ingredients, and super easy to make.
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They’re perfect for a weeknight meal, easy leftovers for lunches, family-friendly, an after-school snack, to serve to guests, and everything else in between.
Your family will love them. Or make this when you have guests over. They’re flavorful, but enjoyable for any palate.
Plus, you can prep everything, set everything out, and everyone can make their own lettuce wraps. For one, that makes your life easier, but also everyone can assemble them to their liking. You don’t have to worry about everyone’s preferences.
This would also be a great meal to teach your kids how to make.
Depending on age and skill-level, you would need to supervise preparing the vegetables. Other than that, it helps build confidence in the kitchen, independence, important skills, and a bonding experience between you and your kids.
Interested in another recipe to make with your kiddos? Try these Simple and Delicious Slider Sandwiches. It’s only 5 ingredients, comes together quickly, and are customizable.
You, as well as your child, can get creative with ingredient and topping preferences. Really make them your own. And create lasting memories.
Needless to say, you cannot go wrong with these lettuce wraps!
What is your go-to weeknight dinner? Do you see yourself adding these lettuce wraps to your meal rotation? Have any questions or comments? I’d love to hear them!
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