Easy Chicken Lettuce Wraps (Printable)
Crisp lettuce cups filled with savory Asian-style ground chicken, crunchy vegetables, and aromatic spices in a glossy hoisin-based sauce.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken Filling
01 - 1 pound ground chicken
02 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
03 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1 cup shiitake or cremini mushrooms, finely chopped
07 - 1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and diced
08 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
→ Sauce
09 - 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
10 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
11 - 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
12 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
14 - 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili garlic sauce
15 - 1 teaspoon brown sugar
→ To Serve
16 - 1 head butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated, washed, and dried
17 - Extra sliced green onions and sesame seeds for garnish
# How-To:
01 - Whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sriracha, and brown sugar in a small bowl until well combined. Set aside for later use.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 2 minutes until softened and translucent.
03 - Stir in minced garlic and grated ginger. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
04 - Add ground chicken to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spatula. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes until fully browned and no longer pink, ensuring even cooking throughout.
05 - Add chopped mushrooms to the chicken mixture. Cook for 2 minutes until softened. Stir in diced water chestnuts and sliced green onions, cooking for an additional minute.
06 - Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken mixture, stirring thoroughly to coat evenly. Continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce is absorbed and the filling appears glossy.
07 - Remove from heat immediately. Spoon warm filling into individual lettuce leaves. Garnish with additional sliced green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Serve while warm for best texture.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The filling comes together in one pan and makes enough for a crowd or easy leftovers
- That perfect balance of salty, sweet, and fresh makes these impossible to stop eating
02 -
- Drain your canned water chestnuts well or the filling gets watery
- Let the filling cool slightly before spooning into lettuce leaves so they don't wilt
03 -
- Mix the sauce right before you need it so the sugar doesn't settle to the bottom
- Use a large skillet, not a small one, so the chicken browns instead of steams