Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (better than P.F. Chang's)! (2024)

By Laura

Posted Feb 29, 2016, Updated Jul 19, 2024

4.99 from 903 votes

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Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (better than P.F. Chang’s)! A quick (less than 30 minutes), easy, and healthy dinner that tastes delicious! Gluten and dairy-free!

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I know that’s a pretty bold claim…Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps you can make at home that arebetter than thebeloved dish from P.F. Chang’s?! It may be bold, but it’s true! This Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps recipe is one that took meyears of trial and error, and lotsof taste-testing, to get it just right.

These Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps wraps are one of my favorite dinners (along with this cashew chicken stir fry). They are quick and easy and my whole family loves them. Even my kids eat them, and have tons of fun doing it!

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Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps: Ingredients & Substitutions

Asalways I recommend making this recipe exactly as it’s written! Like I said, I tested and retested this recipe more times than I can count to achieve lettuce wrap perfection! However, here are a few potential substitutions!

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  • Ground chicken:Finely diced chicken breasts are a great substitute for ground chicken! You can also use ground turkey or ground beef!
  • Peanut Oil:Any oil can be used here if you don’t keep peanut on hand or if you have a peanut allergy. I recommend olive oil or avocado oil!
  • Soy Sauce:If you have a soy allergy you can substitute coconut aminos for the soy sauce.
  • Peanut Butter:If you have a peanut allergy any nut or seed butter could work here, but peanut butter definitely gives the best results!
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How to Make Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Let’s walk through the process of making this chicken lettuce wraps recipe step-by-step. Don’t forget to watch the video too!

Make the Sauce

The first step in this lettuce wrap recipe is making the sauce. The sauce is thekeyto the flavor of this recipe. I do not suggest tampering with the sauce. It is the part of this recipe that took me years to perfect, and is absolutely delicious as-is.

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It’s really simple to make! Just whisk all the ingredients together. If you use a thicker peanut butter that is solid at room temperature, you may need ot warm it slightly before using it to make this Asian lettuce wraps recipe!

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Make the Lettuce Wrap Filling

Begin by cooking the onion, minced garlic and ground chicken until the chicken is lightly browned.

Use a Wok, Sauté pan, or a cast iron skillet.For traditional Asian recipes I love pulling out my wok. But as you can see in the photo above, a regular sauté pan or cast iron skillet works perfectly.

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Next, add the vegetables and cook until they are soft.

Finely Dice Vegetables

This is one of the keys to making sure every bite is bursting with both texture and flavor! Sometimes I even let my food processor do the chopping for me!

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Then, add the sauce and cook until slightly thickened.

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Serve

I prefer to enjoy this recipe the traditional way – as lettuce wraps! However, I usually serve these Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps to my kids over noodles or rice, or with a side of our favorite homemade fried rice, because it’s much easier for them to eat with a spoon than wrapped in a piece of lettuce.

They’re also a great appetizer, along with these spring rolls dipped in peanut sauce, to some of our favorite Asian meals, like cashew chicken, vegetable stir fry, Asian quinoa salad, and this baked crispy tofu.

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Store

Store any leftover lettuce wrap filling in an airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Store leftover lettuce separately in the refrigerator, because storing them together will make the lettuce soggy.

Freeze

The lettuce wrap filling can be frozen for up to 2 months in an airtight container. Thaw it by warming it in a pan on the stovetop over low heat.

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Lettuce Wraps Recipe FAQs

What lettuce is best for wraps?

There are three varieties of lettuce that I recommend to use when making these chicken lettuce wraps:
– Butterhead lettuce
– Green Leaf Lettuce
– Romaine Lettuce
Just be sure to choose a head of lettuce that has large and flexible enough leaves to use as a wrap!

How do you cut lettuce for lettuce wraps?

It’s actually very simple! Just cut the bottom part of the head of lettuce off. Then carefully peel away each lettuce leaf! Don’t forget to wash and dry the lettuce leaves before serving!

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If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!

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Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (better than P.F. Chang’s)!

Laura

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (better than P.F. Chang’s)! A quick, easy, and healthy dinner that tastes delicious! Gluten and dairy-free!

Course Main Course

Cuisine asian

Servings 6 Lettuce Wraps

Calories 209.1

Prep Time10 minutes minutes

Cook Time20 minutes minutes

Total Time30 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • 1 Tablespoon peanut oil
  • ½ onion (finely diced)
  • ½ Tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 cup red or green pepper (finely diced)
  • 8 ounces water chestnuts (drained & finely diced)

For the Sauce:

To serve

  • ¼ cup peanuts (crushed)
  • Lettuce or your favorite Asian salad

Instructions

  • Whisk together sauce ingredients until well combined. If you use a firmer peanut butter you may need to microwave the mixture for 30-60 seconds in order to melt it and ensure everything is well-mixed.

  • Heat 2 Tablespoons peanut oil in a frying pan. Once hot, add ground chicken, onion and minced garlic.

  • Cook until chicken browns and the onions are translucent, cook for 5 to 10 minutes.

  • Add the peppers and water chestnuts and cook about 5 minutes or until peppers are slightly soft.

  • Add the sauce and simmer on low heat until the chicken and veggies are evenly coated and everything is heated through.

  • Serve in lettuce leaves, on top of your favorite Asian salad, or over noodles or rice!

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Ground chicken:Finely diced chicken breasts are a great substitute for ground chicken!
  • Peanut Oil:Any oil can be used here if you don’t keep peanut on hand or if you have a peanut allergy. I recommend olive oil or avocado oil!
  • Soy Sauce:If you have a soy allergy you can substitute coconut aminos for the soy sauce.
  • Hoisin sauce: **be sure to choose a gluten-free hoisin sauce to keep this recipe gluten-free, like this one.
  • Peanut Butter:If you have a peanut allergy any nut or seed butter could work here, but peanut butter definitely gives the best results!

Store

Store any leftover lettuce wrap filling in an airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Store leftover lettuce separately in the refrigerator, because storing them together will make the lettuce soggy.

Freeze

Freeze the filling in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1lettuce wrap | Calories: 209.1kcal | Carbohydrates: 14.3g | Protein: 18.7g | Fat: 9.2g | Saturated Fat: 1.9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 26g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 43.6mg | Sodium: 675mg | Potassium: 112.5mg | Fiber: 1.4g | Sugar: 8.6g | Vitamin A: 665IU | Vitamin C: 55.2mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

try these recipes

Asian Chicken Salad

Fresh Spring Rolls Recipe

Asian Flank Steak Marinade

Easy Fried Rice Recipe

Stir Fry Vegetables

Vegetable Lo Mein Recipe

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (better than P.F. Chang's)! (2024)

FAQs

What is the best tasting lettuce for wraps? ›

Here are some of my favorite lettuce types for making wraps:
  • Romaine. Romaine is nice and thick, with big leaves. ...
  • Iceberg. Iceberg lettuce doesn't have much flavor, but I just love the texture. ...
  • Butter lettuce leaves. Butter lettuce has a natural bowl shape, so it can hold a lot of ingredients. ...
  • Endive.
Mar 7, 2023

Why are PF Chang's lettuce wraps so high in carbs? ›

Excess amounts of sugar are why lettuce wraps are high in carbs at restaurants. So, to ensure this recipe was healthier than other lettuce wraps recipes (including P.F. Chang's), I skipped the added sugar altogether.

How many calories in the chicken of a lettuce wrap at PF Chang's? ›

Menu Nutritionals
ServingsCalories
Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps2330
BBQ Pork Spare Ribs (6)2430
Northern Style Spare Ribs (6)2380
Crispy Green Beans2500
4 more rows

What kind of lettuce for Korean lettuce wraps? ›

You can use any lettuce you like for these wraps, but I'd recommend crispier lettuce leaves, such as romaine, as they hold together better. Tip: If you want to make these wraps more substantial, you can add a spoonful of cooked rice to each wrap.

Is eating lettuce wraps healthy? ›

Wraps are a simple and easy lunch option that have the potential to be super healthy. Making your own wrap ensures that you control the ingredients and create a diet-friendly meal that you can feel good about eating. Swapping a carb-heavy tortilla with lettuce is a great way to save on calories and carbs.

Does PF Chang's use MSG in their food? ›

I started at P.F. Chang's in 2005 as a server and left in 2009 as a Key Manager and can tell you that no, they don't and are very proud of it.

How many carbs are in Chinese lettuce wraps? ›

Asia Restaurant Chicken Lettuce Wraps (1 serving) contains 31g total carbs, 25g net carbs, 14g fat, 62g protein, and 500 calories.

What are PF Changs lettuce wraps made of? ›

Juicy chicken, shiitake mushrooms, and water chestnuts combined in a killer Chinese sauce, nestled in a lettuce leaf and garnished with fried rice noodles.

What is a Korean lettuce wrap called? ›

Ssambap are Korean lettuce wraps made of boldly-flavored seasoned meat, rice, a zingy sauce called ssamjang, and crisp vegetables. Ssam means "wrap" in Korean, and bap means "rice." Besides the rice and the wrap (lettuce most of the time), many variations exist when it comes to the filling of this tasty pocket.

Where did Asian lettuce wraps originate? ›

Believed to be of Chinese origin, lettuce wraps went on to infiltrate Southeast Asia before coming to America, where they were made popular by P.F. Chang's. One of the most copied menu items in restaurants, not only in the U.S. but globally, these fan favorites are easy to recreate at home, plant-based 411 style.

Why are there so many carbs in PF Chang's lettuce wraps? ›

Why Are PF Changs Lettuce Wraps So High in Carbs? Sugar. Many of the ingredients are loaded in sugar. The main culprit is hoisin sauce.

What oil does PF Chang's use? ›

A deep dive into PF Chang's menu reveals a gastronomic landscape painted with broad strokes of soybean oil. It's not just a minor player; it takes center stage in the preparation of an array of dishes.

Which lettuce is best for wraps? ›

Use Bibb or butter lettuce: The leaves of Bibb or butter lettuce are the perfect size for these hand-held wraps, and they have a tender texture with bit of crunch.

What lettuce leaves are best for wraps? ›

Use Bibb or butter lettuce: The leaves of Bibb or butter lettuce are the perfect size for these hand-held wraps, and they have a tender texture with bit of crunch.

What kind of lettuce is best for sandwich wraps? ›

Iceberg lettuce gives the most satisfying crunch! You can also use romaine lettuce, butter lettuce, Boston lettuce, green leaf, or whatever lettuce that you can roll up. You can even use kale or collard greens if that's what you have in your fridge.

Which lettuce has the best flavor? ›

MY FAVOURITE LETTUCE TO GROW FOR FLAVOUR
  • LITTLE GEM. ...
  • ROUGE D'HIVER. ...
  • LATTUGHINO. ...
  • MESCHER. ...
  • RADICCHIO VARIEGATA DI LUISA. ...
  • RADICCHIO PALLA ROSSA PRECOCE. ...
  • ENDIVE PANCALIERI A COSTA BLANCA. ...
  • SCAROLE VERDE A CUORE PIENO. Another very important addition to my winter diet is this type of endive known as escarole.

Which lettuce is tastier? ›

Boston lettuce is one of the more popular types of butterhead lettuce. Its mild, tender leaves are often used for wraps or paired with light vinaigrettes. Unlike the bitter tastes of the chicory family, butterhead lettuce is on the sweeter side.

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