This copycat PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps recipe is a quick 30-minute meal that tastes just as good as the real thing. It’s simple to make and serve, using lettuce leaves as wraps for the savory Asian meat filling. You’ll love this low-carb, high-protein recipe for lunch or dinner.
PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps recipe on a white plate with green onion garnish
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Chicken Lettuce Wraps Video
YouTube video player
Video Muted
My favorite thing on the menu at PF Chang’s restaurant was their Chicken Lettuce wraps, but sadly the restaurant near our house closed. With this chicken lettuce wraps recipe, I can recreate those flavors at home in less than 30 minutes.
PF Chang’s Copycat Chicken Lettuce Wraps
The recipe is easy–mix a simple Asian sauce, brown your chicken, stir in the crunchy water chestnuts, and serve it in large lettuce leaves. You can also serve the meat filling deconstructed over lettuce or over Cooked Rice or Quinoa to eat with a fork, similar to my Egg Roll in a Bowl recipe.
I love recreating restaurant recipes, like my Zuppa Toscana, Pasta e Fagioli, and Chicken Madeira recipes, because I am able to make them cheaper, tastier, and usually with better ingredients compared to eating out. This PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wrap copycat recipe is easy, authentic, and less expensive than going out.
Ingredients for Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Ground chicken – dark meat (thigh meat) is the best for this recipe since the extra fat won’t dry out as much as breast meat. You can also substitute ground turkey (avoid extra lean) or any ground meat you prefer.
Aromatics – yellow onion, garlic, and grated ginger
For the Stir Fry Sauce – you’ll need just 6 ingredients: Hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and sriracha (or swap with Gochujang). Just 1 Tbsp of sriracha keeps it mild; add more to taste. I also add a bit of water to thin the sauce.
Water chestnuts and green onions – for mixing in at the end of cooking. Gives an amazing punch of flavor and crunch!
ingredients for Asian 30-minute meal including ground meat, ginger, onion, hoisin sauce, sou sauce, rice wine vinegar, water chestnuts and green onions
The Best Lettuce for Lettuce Cups?
There is a variety of lettuce that can be used for lettuce wraps. All work really well, so you can use what you have on hand.
Boston Lettuce – a.k.a. Bibb or Butter lettuce. They have vibrant green, soft leaves that form perfect cups for lettuce wraps. They can be more delicate.
Iceberg Lettuce – Trim away the core and peel away the whole leaves. They are sturdy and perfect for cups.
Petite Romaine – a.k.a. Baby Romaine, or Hearts of Romaine – these are small heads of romaine lettuce that pull away from the core to form easy hand-held cups.
Butter lettuce and romaine lettuce heads on a wooden table.
How to Make Chicken Lettuce Wraps
My Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps recipe comes together in just a few steps and in under 30 minutes, so you’ll love how easy it is!
Make the sauce by mixing all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
Sauté the meat in a cast-iron skillet or heavy skillet with oil until it is just cooked through (no more pink remains), then add onions and sauté until the chicken is browned.
Add aromatics – stir in garlic and ginger and cook for 30 seconds
Add the sauce to the meat mixture and stir to coat for 1 minute.
How to make ground chicken filling for Asian chicken lettuce wraps
Add Water Chesnuts and green onion and stir until evenly coated and hot.
Serve the filling scooped into the lettuce leaves, and then garnish with green onions, if desired.
Chicken lettuce wrap filling in a cast iron pan with water chestnuts and green onions
Lettuce Wrap Toppings & Sauces
Hot sauce – Sriracha sauce, or Gochujang drizzle
Sauces – soy sauce, or Tamari
Crunchy nuts – add chopped peanuts or cashews
Fresh veggies – add grated carrot, julienned jicama, sliced radish, bean sprouts, or chopped jalapenos.
Asian chicken lettuce wraps in butter lettuce cups
What to Serve with Chicken Lettuce Wraps
This low-carb meal is filling all on its own and can even be served as an appetizer, but it can be served with Asian-inspired sides to feed a crowd. Here are some of our favorites:
Chicken Fried Rice
Vegetable Stir Fry
Korean Carrot Salad
Chow Mein
Roasted Cauliflower
Egg Rolls
Spring Rolls
Romaine Asian cups with ground meat filling and green onion garnish
My copycat PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps recipe will become a quick go-to meal for your family, because it’s a quick recipe that’s so tasty and satisfying! My kids love the novelty of eating the lettuce cups, so try this easy recipe this week!
