Experience the classic flavors of Pf Chang’s famous chicken lettuce wraps in your kitchen. This easy copycat recipe is a perfect mix of savory and sweet, packed with fresh ingredients and bursting with flavor.
Are you looking for a delicious and nutritious meal option? Try this easy recipe for lettuce wraps! Packed with plenty of protein from ground chicken and fresh vegetables like onion, red pepper, garlic, water chestnuts, and butter lettuce, this satisfying and healthy dish is perfect as a main meal or appetizer.
We love to cook and eat Asian dishes. Most Asian recipes have a healthy balance of meat and vegetables and many different layers of flavors and textures. If you like this recipe, try my Szechuan beef, Mongolian chicken, chicken yakisoba, and chicken chow mein.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Hoison sauce: Often referred to as Chinese ketchup but more flavorful
- Soy sauce: Preferably low-sodium
- Rice vinegar: It is also used in my pork stir fry and vegetable stir fry. Substitute apple cider vinegar or champagne vinegar.
- Grated ginger: Ginger paste works just as well as fresh ginger, and once opened, it lasts about one month in the fridge.
- Chili sauce or sambal oelek: Sambal oelek is ground fresh chili paste, which you find in the Asian food section of your local grocery store. It is pretty spicy, but when paired with other ingredients like soy sauce and hoisin sauce, it tames it, and the overall taste is very flavorful and satisfying. Store in the refrigerator for up to two months or freeze in small containers for up to six months.
- Lettuce: Use Butter lettuce, Boston lettuce, or Bibb lettuce, which are essentially almost the same as they come from the same family. You can also try iceberg lettuce or romaine lettuce.
How to Make Chicken Lettuce Wraps
This is the summary version; see the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and the instructions.
Whisk the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, and chili sauce in a medium bowl. Set the bowl aside for a bit.
Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and break it up as it browns. When the chicken is about halfway browned, add the minced yellow onion and red bell pepper. Cook for several minutes or until the onions and bell pepper soften. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic and water chestnuts, cooking for about one minute.
Whisk the sauce you set aside and add it to the skillet with the chicken and veggies. Stir to coat and simmer for a few minutes to heat everything. Spoon several tablespoons of the mixture into the lettuce leaves. Top with the sliced green onion and chopped peanuts. For best results, enjoy promptly.
Preparation Tips
- You can substitute ground beef, turkey, or pork for the ground chicken.
- Other vegetables to add to the chicken mixture while cooking are chopped mushrooms or matchstick carrots.
- If making in advance, store the ground chicken mixture separately from the lettuce. When ready to serve, wash the lettuce and spoon the mixture into the leaves.
What to Serve with Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Soup – egg drop soup, wonton soup, hot and sour soup, miso soup
Salad – Asian noodle salad, Asian cucumber salad, Asian chopped salad, kale salad
Appetizers – gyoza, cream cheese wontons, classic egg rolls, spring rolls
Storage and Reheat
It is best to store the chicken mixture separately from the lettuce leaves. The lettuce leaves do not hold up for that long. Store the chicken mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Store the lettuce leaves, preferably unwashed, in the crisper vegetable drawer of the refrigerator. Reheat over low heat on the stovetop or microwave at reduced power.
These flavor-filled delights make for a healthy light supper or the perfect party appetizer. You can make the filling ahead of time. Then reheat and spoon into the lettuce leaves when ready to serve.
More Asian Recipes
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
Sauce
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce
- 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger or ginger paste
- 1 teaspoon chili sauce or sambal oelek
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 lb ground chicken
- ½ yellow onion minced
- 1 red pepper finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 (8-ounce) can water chestnuts drained and finely chopped
- 2 green onions thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup dry roasted peanut coarsely chopped
- 1 head Butter lettuce Bibb lettuce
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, and chili sauce together. Set the bowl aside for a bit.
- Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and break it up as it browns. When the chicken is about halfway browned, add the minced yellow onion and red bell pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the onions and bell pepper soften.
- Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic and water chestnuts, cooking for 1 minute while stirring constantly.
- Whisk the sauce that you set aside and then add it to the skillet with the chicken and veggies. Stir to coat and simmer for 1-2 minutes to heat everything through.
- Spoon several tablespoons of the mixture into the lettuce leaves. Top with the sliced green onions and chopped peanuts. For best results, enjoy promptly.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef, turkey, or pork for the ground chicken.
- Other vegetables to add to the chicken mixture while cooking are chopped mushrooms or matchstick carrots.
- If making in advance, store the ground chicken mixture separately from the lettuce. When ready to serve, wash the lettuce and spoon the mixture into the leaves.
Nutrition
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Karey K
These chicken lettuce wraps are soooo delicious…Just amazing…better than any restaurant I have tried…even PF Changs. Thanks for an outstanding recipe.
Yolanda
Having not tried a lettuce wrap I was very eager to make these. We all really loved all of the ingredients used, the wraps have a refreshing crunch and are full of flavour!
Beth Pierce
I agree, Yolanda! They are delicious!
Melanie Goodman
This is such a yummy dish. I love that it’s easy to make and healthy. I am going to add these as a regular to our spring and summer meals!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Melanie! Enjoy!
Tamara Dean
I have actually never had PF Changs but these were so good. So much flavor and easy to make! They are hearty enough to be the main entree.
Beth Pierce
So true!
Janice P
You know, I really loved these lettuce wraps. I had my doubts that I would like them because they are so healthy but they were fabulous!
Beth Pierce
They really are so darn yummy!
Suzanne T
We adore these lettuce wraps with the perfect blend of savory and sweet, crafted with fresh ingredients that burst with flavor. Get ready to savor every bite and impress your taste buds with this delectable dish!
Crissy
Omg! These chicken lettuce wraps were so amazing. I love recipes like this. The flavors were out of this world good! Thanks for sharing!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Crissy!
Sacha K
These are the best lettuce wraps I think I have ever had! So much easier than I thought they would be! I will make these often!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Sacha! So glad that you liked them.
Ambra Mills
These chicken lettuce wraps are a delicious and healthy option for any mealtime! Thanks for sharing the recipe, we all loved it.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Ambra!
Amari
Made these for dinner last night and they were a hit! Loved how simple they were and healthy, too.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Amari! We love them too!
Melissa W
One of my favorite recipes! Easy and healthy and so delicious!
Ben R
Man, these are good. I’ve been trying to eat healthier, and if I can keep making things as good as these wraps, I’ll have no issues!
Elisa
Such an incredible meal! I’m definitely making this again! This is my new favorite!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Elisa!
Stevie
I can eat this anytime of the day! Lots of flavor and I love the texture! It was really good!
Beth Pierce
And healthy too! What’s not to love about these!
Audrey
These are such a delicious healthy option for dinner! I highly recommend them!
Gail
I love that we can enjoy these flavors without having to venture out for the night. The whole family absolutely loves this dinner. It is tasty, healthy, and hearty!