These delicious Gluten-Free Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a healthier version of the PF Chang's classic appetizer, full of flavor and made without any gluten, dairy, or msg!
Gluten-Free chicken lettuce wraps are the perfect low carb main meal or appetizer. Unlike most chicken lettuce wrap recipes, this recipe is made with zero hoisin sauce! What is hoisin sauce? Hoisin sauce is a thick brown glaze used in a lot of Asian cuisines, often paired with stir-fries, beef, and chicken. It gives a unique salty-sweet flavor, but the ingredients are not very clean. In this recipe, you’ll find a secret ingredient to help replicate that delicious hoisin flavor. Enjoy!
Jump to:
- Gluten-Free Chicken Lettuce Wrap Ingredients
- How to Make Gluten-Free Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- How can I avoid soggy lettuce cups?
- What is the best lettuce to use for lettuce wraps?
- What if I can't find ground chicken?
- What side dishes go well with chicken lettuce wraps?
- For Other Tasty Recipes, Click The Links Below
- Recipe
- Reviews
Gluten-Free Chicken Lettuce Wrap Ingredients
This asian chicken lettuce wraps recipe is made with wholesome ingredients, no msg.
- Ground Chicken: You can a variety of ground meats such as ground pork, chicken thighs, chicken breasts, ground turkey, or beef.
- Oil: I love to use either garlic-infused olive oil or sesame oil.
- Mushrooms: For both texture and flavor.
- Onion: For both texture and flavor.
- Water Chestnuts: Chopped water chestnuts give an extra crunch throughout the filling.
- Green Onions: The green onions help flavor the chicken.
- Lettuce: Our favorite lettuce cups to use is from butter lettuce.
Chicken Lettuce Wrap Sauce
- Coconut Aminos: A gluten-free soy sauce substitute.
- Black Strap Molasses: Molasses is my secret ingredient, which serves as the Hoisin sauce replacement. One tablespoon is all you need.
- Rice Vinegar: The acid helps balance the flavors.
- Minced Garlic: Gives these wraps a delicious savory flavor.
- Chili Garlic Sauce: This sauce provides a touch of heat and flavor.
- Ground Ginger: Ground ginger helps provide a subtle flavor to the sauce. If using fresh ginger, start with half the amount.
- Salt: Helps bring out the sweetness.
How to Make Gluten-Free Chicken Lettuce Wraps
These healthy chicken lettuce wraps are such an easy recipe to make, perfect weeknight dinner or appetizers when hosting.
- Using a cutting board and sharp knife, dice the onion, green onion, mushrooms, and chestnuts into small pieces. Add the chopped vegetables and oil to a large skillet or frying pan.
- On medium-high heat, cover the pan with a lid and steam/sauté for around 10 minutes. Stirring every few minutes until the vegetables are tender (add a splash of water if needed).
- Once the vegetables are cooked, add the ground chicken. Continue to cook until the chicken has fully browned.
- In a small bowl whisk together the ingredients for the sauce. Reserve a quarter of the sauce for later, then pour the remaining sauce over the chicken mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon until fully coated.
- When ready to serve, spoon a few tablespoons of the chicken mixture onto a fully washed lettuce cup. Add more dipping sauce as needed. Garnish with crispy rice noodles, sesame seeds, or extra green onions for more crunchy textures.
- Store leftover filling in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
How can I avoid soggy lettuce cups?
Do not assemble the wraps prior to serving. Instead, have the guests serve themselves, storing the chicken mixture in a small bowl with a spoon, and placing the lettuce wraps folded neatly onto a platter. This will allow the lettuce to stay crisp and not soggy.
What is the best lettuce to use for lettuce wraps?
The kind of lettuce you use is important because it needs to provide a firm structure for the filling. to use for chicken lettuce wraps is Iceberg lettuce, butter lettuce leaves, or romaine lettuce.
What if I can't find ground chicken?
There are two ways to make ground chicken:
- If you have a food processor, throw 1 package of raw or cooked chicken in a food processor and pulse into a crumble.
- Another option would be to dice the raw chicken into tiny pieces with a knife.
What side dishes go well with chicken lettuce wraps?
You can serve this dish alone as an appetizer or main meal. Other side dishes that go well with lettuce wraps include pot stickers, egg rolls, or roasted vegetables such as roasted kabocha squash, sweet potatoes, and yukon potatoes.
For Other Tasty Recipes, Click The Links Below
- Gluten-Free Oven Baked Spicy Italian Herb Chicken Thighs (Boneless, Skinless)
- Gluten-Free Orange Chicken (Dairy-Free)
- Gluten-Free Zuppa Toscana Soup (Dairy-Free)
- Sweet Potato Chili
- Gluten-Free Butternut Squash Soup
- Arugula Salad with Lemon Balsamic Vinaigrette
Recipe
Gluten-Free Chicken Lettuce Wraps (Dairy-Free)
Ingredients
For The Filling
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- ½ onion
- 1 cup mushrooms
- ½ cup water chestnuts
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 2 tablespoons green onion
For The Sauce
- ⅓ cup coconut aminos, or tamari
- 1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon chili garlic sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ginger powder
To Serve
- 1 head butter lettuce
Instructions
- Dice the onion, green onion, mushrooms, and chestnuts into small pieces, then add the chopped vegetables and oil to a large frying pan.
- On medium-high heat, cover the pan with a lid and sauté the vegetables until tender, around 8-10 minutes. Stir every few minutes to avoid the vegetables from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Once the vegetables are cooked, add the ground chicken. Continue to cook until the chicken has fully browned.
- In a small bowl whisk together the ingredients for the sauce. Reserve a quarter of the sauce for later, and pour the remaining sauce over the chicken vegetable mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon until fully coated.
- Serve immediately by spooning a few tablespoons of the chicken mixture onto a fully washed lettuce cup. Add extra sauce as needed.
- Store leftover filling in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Heidi Preston says
Our new favorite recipe! You know when you try something new and it instantly becomes a classic? This is that! It is absolute, lick the bowl perfection and full of healthy ingredients to boot! Thank you, Rebecca!
Rebecca Taig says
Thank you Heidi!
I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe.
Becca