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Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps are packed with flavor and nutrients, making them a guilt-free meal. The combination of lean ground beef, crisp lettuce, and homemade sauce will be a weekly favorite.
Why Make These Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps
Lettuce wraps are always a MUST order when I am out to eat. I love them, I love the customization of them and how they are a lightened up nutritious meal.
- Veggie Loaded.
- Easy To Make.
- Made From Scratch Sauce.
- Low Carb & Dairy Free!
Ingredient Notes
All other ingredients and measurements can be found in the recipe card towards the bottom of this post.
- Ground Beef. I use lean ground beef for this recipe. Ground turkey or chicken would also work well.
- Peppers. I use bell peppers and jalapeños. You can omit the jalapeño if needed.
- Water Chestnuts. I use canned water chestnuts found in the international aisle at the store. They add a fresh crisp to the dish.
- Seasonings. salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.
- Fresh Garlic & Ginger. Minced for extra flavor.
- White Rice. This is totally optional! It helps soak up the sauce and stablize the beef mixture so it’s not so messy.
- Bibb Lettuce. This is my favorite lettuce for this recipe but romaine or a head of iceberg lettuce will also work.
- Green Onions. This is for garnish and a little flavor.
- Peanuts. This is optional for a crunchy garnish.
Sauce Ingredients
- Soy Sauce. Low sodium is best.
- Hoisin Sauce. This is found in the international asile and adds a depth of flavor.
- Sesame Oil. This adds a nice flavor and helps the sauce not burn.
- Brown Sugar. The sweetness ties things together well.
- Rice Vinegar. Adds a nice flavor to the sauce you will love.
- Cornstarch. This is used to thicken the sauce when it simmers, you can also use arrowroot powder to make it gluten free.
Steps To Make This Recipe
- Step One. If using rice, cook the rice according to the package. This typically takes 20 minutes.
- Step Two. Heat a large skillet on medium heat, spritz with oil and add ground beef, seasonings, chopped onion, jalapeños and bell peppers. Brown everything for about 5 minutes. Add in the garlic, ginger. and water chestnuts. Sauté for another 3 minutes.
- Step Two. While things are simmering, make the sauce. Whisk the soy sauce, hoisin, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, water and cornstarch together.
- Step Three. Pour the sauce over the cooked beef. Let it come to a simmer and thicken for a minute or two. Take the beef mix off the heat and set aside.
- Step Four. Build the lettuce wraps! I typically use two lettuce cups for more support. Layer the rice lightly, add the ground beef and garnish with a little chopped peanuts & green onions(optional).
What To Serve With Beef Lettuce Wraps
Wanting to bulk this meal up a bit? Pair it with my Kale Crunch Salad or Asian Coleslaw. Both would make a yummy side or appetizer to this meal. A spicy Cucumber Salad or Shrimp Fried Rice would also be great.
Recipe Tips
- Chop up everything finely. From the onions and water chestnuts to the peanuts and green onions, this help incorporate all the flavors and make sure you get it all in one bite.
- Use sturdy wide lettuce for serving and double the leaves. This will help with keeping things together. Also don’t overstuff!
- Be sure to cook the beef through. This way you can drain any excess fat from the beef if there is any before adding the sauce is desired.
- The sauce for ground beef lettuce wraps can be made up to 24 hours in advanced and stored in a sealed container in the fridge. Be sure to whisk it before cooking with it as the cornstarch can settle.
- Make It Healthier! Use cauliflower rice or skip the rice if you want to cut some calories down and make it low carb.
Recipe FAQs
Can this be made gluten free?
Yes, make beef lettuce wraps gluten free by using tamari or coconut aminos in place of the soy sauce.
Can Ground beef lettuce wraps be made ahead of time?
Yes! Cook the beef mixture ahead of time. Warm it up before serving over the lettuce.
Other Healthy Dinners To Enjoy
Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps
Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps are packed with flavor and nutrients. Lean ground beef, crisp lettuce, and homemade sauce come together in one meal.
Equipment
- large skillet
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
Ground Beef Filling
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 bell pepper
- 1 Jalapeño, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 inch ginger, minced
- 1 8 oz can water chestnuts drained and chopped , drained and chopped
- ¼ cup green onions, chopped, for garnish
- bibb lettuce , or iceberg
- ¼ cup peanuts, chopped , optional for garnish
- 1 cup white rice, cooked, optional for serving
Lettuce Wrap Sauce
- ⅓ cup soy sauce, low sodium , or tamari
- 3 Tbsp brown sugar, or honey
- 1 Tbsp hoisin sauce
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes , optional
- 2 tsp cornstarch
Instructions
- If using rice, cook the rice according to the package. This typically takes 20 minutes.
- Heat a large skillet on medium heat, spritz with oil and add ground beef, seasonings, chopped onion, jalapeños and bell peppers. Brown everything for about 5 minutes. Add in the garlic, ginger. and water chestnuts. Sauté for another 3 minutes.
- While things are simmering, make the sauce. Whisk the soy sauce, hoisin, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, water and cornstarch together.
- Pour the sauce over the cooked beef. Let it come to a simmer and thicken for a minute or two. Take the beef mix off the heat and set aside.
- Build the lettuce wraps! I typically use two lettuce cups for more support. Layer the rice lightly, add the ground beef and garnish with a little chopped peanuts & green onions(optional).
Notes
- Chop up everything finely. From the onions and water chestnuts to the peanuts and green onions, this help incorporate all the flavors and make sure you get it all in one bite.
- Use sturdy wide lettuce for serving and double the leaves. This will help with keeping things together. Also don’t overstuff!
- Be sure to cook the beef through. This way you can drain any excess fat from the beef if there is any before adding the sauce is desired.
- The sauce for ground beef lettuce wraps can be made up to 24 hours in advanced and stored in a sealed container in the fridge. Be sure to whisk it before cooking with it as the cornstarch can settle.
- Make It Healthier! Use cauliflower rice or skip the rice if you want to cut some calories down and make it low carb.
- Store leftover ground beef in a an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge or freeze for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
Serving: 3 lettuce cups | Calories: 418kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 1294mg | Potassium: 610mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1132IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 4mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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