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These Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps are a copycat recipe that tastes just like the restaurant version you love! We're making it a lighter lettuce wrap recipe by using lean ground beef and veggies mixed with a delicious Asian sauce. It's Low Calorie + Gluten Free + Low Carb.
You know I LOVE chicken lettuce wraps. They're one of my easy go-to meals for a quick lunch or dinner. I make them all the time! Now enter easy lettuce wraps made with ground beef!
They are similar to PF Chang's lettuce wraps only this version is made with lean ground beef, veggies, and an easy Asian sauce that has delicious flavors.
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Why I Love Healthy Lettuce Wraps with Beef
- Lower Calorie: There are only 252 calories in these copycat PF Changs lettuce wraps.
- Adequate Protein: Each serving contains 27 grams of protein which is adequate protein for most individuals in a meal to help prevent hunger and snacking.
- Higher Fiber: There are 4 grams of fiber in each serving from the veggies. Including more fiber in meals makes them more filling and prevents hunger after the meal.
- Gluten-Free: All the ingredients are naturally gluten-free.
- Quick To Make: Although this "looks" like a lot of ingredients, the recipe is actually quick and easy to make!
- Versatile Recipe: There are lots of options to change up this recipe to make it to your tastes, use ingredients you have on hand, or adapt it to your dietary needs.
Looking for more healthy copycat recipes? You're going to love this lightened-up Zuppa Toscana and my Olive Garden Salad Recipe!
Ingredients
Here's what you need to make Healthy Beef Lettuce Wraps! Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the blog post for the ingredient measurements, full instructions, nutritional data and to print this recipe.
- Ground Beef: I used 95% lean ground beef for this recipe. I don't recommend using fattier ground beef as the fat from the beef will dilute the sauce and flavor.
- Carrots: Great for color and to boost the fiber and veggies in your lettuce wraps.
- Water Chestnuts: I bought chopped water chestnuts for this recipe. Can't find chopped chestnuts? No problem! Use sliced water chestnuts, toss them in a food processor, and roughly chop them by pulsing them a few times.
- Coconut Aminos: Coconut aminos are similar to soy sauce and great if you are gluten-free or Paleo. If not, you can use low-sodium soy sauce or Tamari. Whatever you do, do not omit this ingredient as it will alter the flavor.
- Garlic: I prefer the flavor of freshly minced garlic but you can use a half teaspoon of garlic powder instead if this is easier.
- Chili Paste: This makes the sauce more flavorful and I highly recommend not leaving it out.
- Rice Wine Vinegar: Adds a bit of acid to the beef mixture that balances out the salty and sweet flavors of the other ingredients added for flavor.
- Sriracha: This gives the sauce for the beef lettuce wraps a bit of a spicy kick. You can leave it out if you prefer a milder version.
- Gluten-Free Hoisin Sauce: Regular hoisin sauce works if you are not gluten-free. Do not omit this sauce though as it gives the sauce much of its flavor.
- Butter Lettuce: The best lettuce for lettuce wraps because its leaves naturally form a cup shape. Romaine lettuce is sturdy and foldable and will work in a pinch.
- Green Onions: Mainly for garnish and you can eliminate them if you want. Other garnish options include chopped cilantro or diced red bell pepper.
Variations
- Turkey Lettuce Wraps: Swap out the ground beef for ground turkey.
- Other Filling Options: Instead of beef you can use ground pork, ground chicken, tempeh, tofu, or shrimp. They all work well with this recipe too!
- Additional Veggies: You can easily pack more veggies into this meal by adding diced mushrooms, diced zucchini, or finely chopped bell pepper.
- Don't Need It Low Carb: You can mix in some cooked quinoa, brown rice, cooked sweet potato, or other whole grains.
How To Make Lettuce Wraps With Ground Beef
Step One: Add the garlic, carrots, and meat to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook 7-8 minutes breaking up the meat with a spatula while it cooks.
Step Two: Add the chili paste, coconut aminos, Sriracha, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and water chestnuts to the pan. Stir to combine and simmer for 5 minutes.
Step Three: Add the sliced green onions to the beef mixture. Stir and serve with lettuce!
What To Serve With Lettuce Wraps
These Asian ground beef lettuce wraps can be made as an appetizer or as a meal. I always enjoy it as a meal! Here are a few ideas of what you can serve with it.
- More Veggies: Edamame, grilled vegetables, or some Roasted Broccoli all work well if you're looking to boost your veggies.
- Grains: It's great served with white or brown rice or some quinoa on the side.
- Other Appetizers: When serving these up for a party, these Buffalo Chicken Meatballs and this Healthy French Onion Dip go great!
Storing Suggestions
- Refrigerator: Store the leftover beef mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Store any remaining lettuce separately in a large plastic storage bag lined with paper towels or in a salad spinner. Assemble the lettuce wraps when ready to eat.
- Freezer: You can freeze the beef mixture for lettuce wraps in an airtight container for up to 30 days. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating: Reheat the beef filling in a microwave or on the stovetop in a skillet until warmed through.
Expert Tips
- Use Lean Ground Beef: Not only is this the healthiest option but it also keeps the sauce flavorful. If you do happen to use ground beef that isn't as lean, be sure to drain it well after browning it and before adding the sauce ingredients.
- Avoid Eliminating Ingredients: The coconut aminos, hoisin sauce, and chili paste are essential to the flavor of the beef mixture for these healthy beef lettuce wraps. You can use one of the recommended substitutions but don't leave them out.
- Keep Lettuce Separate: Don't fill the lettuce wraps up until you are ready to serve. It will get soggy from the juice and heat of the ground beef if it sits too long.
Recipe FAQs
It's best not to overfill the lettuce wraps with the meat mixture. This will prevent the lettuce from breaking. Fill each piece of lettuce with no more than 1/4 cup of the beef mixture and do not let them sit for too long. They will make the lettuce soggy causing it to break.
Boston lettuce is best for lettuce wraps but can be hard to find. Butter lettuce, Boston lettuce, romaine, or iceberg can all be used though!
Do not cut lettuce for lettuce wraps. Instead, break the lettuce off from the head or slice very close to the head of the lettuce. Discard the lettuce head then wash the lettuce leaves well and pat dry with a paper towel.
Lettuce wraps vary wildly in calories and depend on the type of meat they contain. This healthy version has 252 calories per serving.
More Low Carb Recipes
If you tried this healthy ground beef lettuce wraps recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below.
Healthy Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
- 1 lb Lean Ground Beef 95%
- ½ cup Carrots shredded and roughly chopped
- 8 oz Water Chestnuts sliced and roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons Garlic minced
- 1 ½ tablespoons Chili Paste
- 1 tablespoon Rice Wine Vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Coconut Aminos
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha
- 2 tablespoons Gluten Free Hoisin Sauce
- 2 Green Onions diced
- 1 head Butter Lettuce
Instructions
- Bring a large skillet to medium heat on the stove.
- Add the garlic, carrots and meat to the skillet. Cook 7-8 minutes breaking up the meat with a spatula while it cooks until the meat it cooked fully.
- Add the chili paste, coconut aminos, Sriracha, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar and water chestnuts to the pan. Stir to combine.
- Simmer another 5 minutes in the pan then add the sliced green onions. Stir and serve with lettuce!
Notes
- Use Lean Ground Beef: Not only is this the healthiest option but it also keeps the sauce flavorful. If you do happen to use ground beef that isn't as lean. Be sure to drain it well after browning it and before adding the sauce ingredients.
- Avoid Eliminating Ingredients: The coconut aminos, hoisin sauce, and chili paste are essential to the flavor of the beef mixture. You can use one of the recommended substitutions but don't leave them out.
- Keep Lettuce Separate: Don't fill the lettuce wraps up until you are ready to serve. It will get soggy from the juice and heat of the ground beef if it sits too long.
Nutrition
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