Print

Fresh Chinese Chicken Lettuce Cups Recipe Easy Homemade Crunchy Veggie Wraps

fresh chinese chicken lettuce cups - featured image
Print Recipe

These fresh Chinese chicken lettuce cups are a quick, easy, and delicious mix of savory ground chicken, crunchy veggies, and flavorful sauce wrapped in crisp lettuce leaves. Perfect for light lunches, appetizers, or casual dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground chicken (organic or free-range recommended)
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or sesame oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup water chestnuts, diced
  • 1 medium carrot, grated or finely chopped
  • 3 green onions, sliced thinly (white and green parts separated)
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
  • 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
  • 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 head butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce leaves, washed and separated
  • Optional: chopped fresh cilantro or mint for garnish
  • Optional: crushed peanuts or toasted sesame seeds for extra texture

Instructions

  1. Wash and separate the lettuce leaves, setting them on a plate lined with paper towels to keep them crisp.
  2. Mince the garlic, grate the ginger, chop the onion, shred the carrot, dice the water chestnuts, and slice the green onions, keeping white and green parts separate.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and toasted sesame oil. Set aside.
  4. Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic, grated ginger, and white parts of green onions. Stir for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Add ground chicken, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook for 5-7 minutes until no longer pink and slightly browned.
  6. Add chopped onion, diced water chestnuts, and grated carrot. Stir and cook for 3 minutes until onion softens but veggies remain crunchy.
  7. Pour in the sauce mixture and stir well to coat. Cook for 2-3 minutes until flavors meld and mixture thickens slightly. Add a tablespoon of water if too dry.
  8. Remove from heat and stir in green parts of sliced onions. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  9. Spoon chicken filling into lettuce leaves. Garnish with cilantro or mint and crushed peanuts or toasted sesame seeds if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Keep heat medium-high but not scorching to brown chicken gently without drying it out. Add sauce towards the end to keep veggies crunchy. Pat lettuce leaves dry and chill for extra crispness. Filling can be made a day ahead and reheated gently with a splash of water. For a saucier filling, add more hoisin sauce or chicken broth. Avoid overfilling lettuce cups for easier eating.

Nutrition

Keywords: Chinese chicken lettuce cups, crunchy veggie wraps, easy chicken wraps, healthy lettuce cups, low carb chicken recipe, gluten free chicken wraps

Find it online: https://forkifyfun.com/fresh-chinese-chicken-lettuce-cups-recipe-easy-homemade-crunchy-veggie-wraps/