These Thai chicken lettuce wraps have the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy in every bite!
Lettuce wraps are a great light alternative to a flour-based wrap.
These food vehicles are common in Thai culture and they pack so much punch that you won’t even notice that there’s no bread.
They’re light, healthy, and a fun way to enjoy Thai flavors.
The juicy chicken is marinated in a chili-lime-honey mix, stir-fried with aromatic lemongrass and ginger, and topped with fresh mango, cilantro, and cashews for a vibrant finish.
This creates a beautifully balanced flavor profile that has a very satisfying texture variety.
Why you will love this Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps recipe…
Sweet and Spicy Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
For the Marinade:
- 1 lb ground chicken or chicken breast, finely diced
- 1 tbsp Thai chili paste (or Sriracha for milder heat)
- 2 tbsp honey
- Juice of 1 lime
- 2 tsp fish sauce
For the Stir-Fry:
- 1 tbsp sesame oil (or neutral oil)
- 1 stalk lemongrass, finely minced (white part only)
- 1-inch piece of ginger, grated
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup diced ripe mango
- 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
For Serving:
- 1 head of butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce, separated into leaves
- 2 tbsp Thai sweet chili sauce
- 2 tbsp chopped cashews (or peanuts)
- Fresh cilantro leaves
- Lime wedges
Instructions
Ingredients
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken with chili paste, honey, lime juice, and fish sauce. Let it marinate for 10–15 minutes while you prep other ingredients.
- Heat sesame oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add minced lemongrass, ginger, and garlic, stirring for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the marinated chicken and cook until golden brown and fully cooked, about 6–8 minutes.
- Once the chicken is cooked through, stir in the diced mango and cook for another 1–2 minutes to warm it slightly while keeping it juicy. Remove the skillet from heat.
- Place a spoonful of the chicken mixture in each lettuce leaf. Top with a few cucumber slices, a drizzle of Thai sweet chili sauce, chopped cashews, and fresh cilantro.
- Arrange the wraps on a platter with lime wedges on the side. Serve immediately and encourage everyone to squeeze lime juice over the wraps for an extra zesty kick!
Nutrition
Serving Suggestions
This dish is very versatile and can be served in many different settings. Smaller portions can be served as an appetizer or as finger food for a gathering. But, if served in larger portions, these Thai chicken lettuce wraps can be a filling main meal.
For a refreshing twist, pair it with an Iced Limoncello – the citrusy sweetness will complement the spicy and sweet flavors of the wraps perfectly!
🧑🍳 Expert Tips
Storage Suggestions
Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps FAQs
What goes with Thai lettuce wraps?
You can customize these wraps by adding egg noodles, salsa, or avocado. You can also play with flavors and use beef or pork as the protein.
Is eating lettuce wraps healthy?
Lettuce wraps are considered healthy because the vessel (the lettuce) is much healthier than flour-based wraps. The lettuce is low-calorie, and rich in calcium, dietary fiber, iron, manganese, and potassium.
How to roll lettuce wraps?
These lettuce wraps are intended to be served almost like open tacos or cups rather than wrapped like a burrito. Fill the lettuce cup with chicken and pull the sides closed so the filling doesn’t escape, then take a bite, and enjoy!
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