Get ready to fall in love with Flavorful Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps – Light, Easy & Delicious! This fresh and vibrant recipe takes everything you adore about classic teriyaki chicken and reimagines it as a crisp, refreshing handheld meal. These wraps come together in under 30 minutes, bursting with savory-sweet flavors and plenty of satisfying crunch. Whether you’re looking for a lighter dinner or an appetizer that wows, this dish is equal parts fun, healthy, and totally craveable.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this recipe is in its simplicity—each ingredient has a starring role, balancing flavor, texture, and color. No fancy-pants pantry items here, just straightforward components that work together to create a seriously memorable meal.
- Ground chicken: Lean and quick-cooking, it soaks up the teriyaki flavor perfectly.
- Sesame oil: Adds irresistible toasty depth to every single bite.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic brings that sharp, aromatic punch you expect.
- Fresh ginger: Essential for a warm, zippy background note—don’t skip it!
- Low-sodium soy sauce: Deep, salty savoriness, but never overpowering—plus easy to swap for tamari if gluten-free.
- Honey or maple syrup: Natural sweetness that helps balance the salt and acidity in the sauce.
- Rice vinegar: For a gentle tang that keeps things lively on your palate.
- Cornstarch slurry: Whisked with water, this handy mix thickens the sauce until it glazes the chicken just right.
- Water chestnuts: A must for crunch! Their mild flavor and snap keep things interesting.
- Green onions: Fresh, grassy brightness both cooked in and sprinkled on top.
- Red pepper flakes (optional): A fiery zip for those who like a little heat with their sweet.
- Butter lettuce or romaine leaves: These make super sturdy, naturally gluten-free wraps and add refreshing crunch.
- Sesame seeds and extra green onions: The perfect garnish for restaurant-worthy appeal and more flavor.
How to Make Flavorful Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps – Light, Easy & Delicious!
Step 1: Brown the Chicken
Start by heating your sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot and shimmering, add in the ground chicken. Use your spatula to break up any larger pieces, cooking until it’s browned all over with no pink left—about 5 to 7 minutes. This is where the chicken picks up tons of flavor and gets those lovely crispy edges.
Step 2: Add Aromatics
Stir in the minced garlic and grated fresh ginger, letting them sizzle with the chicken for about 1 minute. The smell at this stage is out of this world and sets the stage for the teriyaki transformation!
Step 3: Mix Up the Sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together the low-sodium soy sauce, honey (or maple syrup), rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes if you’re using them. This sauce is the soul of the wraps—sweet, tangy, and just a touch spicy.
Step 4: Make It Teriyaki—Add Sauce & Veggies
Pour your sauce over the cooked chicken and stir well to coat every morsel. Add in the diced water chestnuts and sliced green onions, working them evenly into the filling. Let it all come together, allowing the flavors to mingle deliciously.
Step 5: Thicken the Sauce
Give your cornstarch slurry a quick stir, then add it to the pan. Let the whole mixture simmer for 1–2 minutes, until the sauce thickens and clings to the chicken, turning beautifully glossy. Remove the skillet from heat when everything’s coated and oh-so tempting.
Step 6: Assemble and Serve
Spoon the savory teriyaki chicken mixture into crisp butter lettuce or romaine leaves. Sprinkle generously with sesame seeds and extra green onions for crunch and color. Trust me, the first bite is unstoppable!
How to Serve Flavorful Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps – Light, Easy & Delicious!
Garnishes
A sprinkle of sesame seeds and some extra sliced green onions on top add crunch, color, and a pop of fresh flavor. If you love extra brightness, a squeeze of lime or a little shredded carrot is a fun touch.
Side Dishes
For a complete meal, pair your wraps with steamed jasmine rice, brown rice, or even a chilled noodle salad. If you’re craving more veggies, quick-sautéed snap peas or a cucumber salad work perfectly alongside.
Creative Ways to Present
Lay out all the filling and toppings buffet-style and let everyone build their own Flavorful Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps – Light, Easy & Delicious! This interactive setup is always a hit at dinner parties or family-style meals. You can also make “mini” wraps for appetizers—just use smaller lettuce leaves for bite-sized treats!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Cool the filling completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, making lunch or a quick dinner practically effortless.
Freezing
If you love meal prep, freeze the cooked teriyaki chicken mixture (without the lettuce) in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating
Warm the filling gently in a skillet over medium heat or pop it in the microwave in 30-second bursts. If the sauce seems a bit thick after chilling, add a tablespoon of water to loosen it back up before spooning into fresh lettuce leaves.
FAQs
Can I substitute the ground chicken with another protein?
Absolutely! Ground turkey, lean ground pork, or even crumbled tofu work beautifully with the teriyaki flavor. Just adjust the cook time as needed for your chosen protein.
How do I make this recipe gluten-free?
Simply swap the soy sauce for gluten-free tamari. Every other ingredient in Flavorful Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps – Light, Easy & Delicious! is naturally gluten-free, especially when you use lettuce leaves as the wrap.
Can I prep these wraps ahead for a party?
You sure can! Make the filling in advance and keep it chilled. Right before serving, warm the mixture and set out fresh lettuce leaves and garnishes for easy assembly.
What type Main Course
Butter lettuce is my personal favorite for its tender texture and perfect cupping shape, but romaine hearts are crunchier and hold their shape well, too. Go with what you love—or serve both!
Is this recipe kid-friendly?
Yes! The sweet-savory teriyaki sauce makes it a hit with kids. Just skip the red pepper flakes for little ones, and let them help assemble their own wraps for a fun, hands-on meal.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a fast, fresh way to shake up weeknight dinners, give Flavorful Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps – Light, Easy & Delicious! a spot on your menu. They’re endlessly adaptable, taste incredible, and make healthy eating feel like a treat. I hope you love every bite as much as I do—let’s get wrapping!
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Flavorful Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps – Light, Easy & Delicious! Recipe
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Description
These Flavorful Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps are light, easy, and delicious. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, these Asian-inspired wraps are packed with savory flavors and are gluten-free and dairy-free.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (slurry)
Additional Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup water chestnuts, diced
- 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- butter lettuce or romaine leaves for serving
- sesame seeds and extra green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Heat sesame oil: In a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook chicken: Brown the ground chicken, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Add flavor: Stir in garlic and ginger, cook briefly.
- Make sauce: Whisk together soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes.
- Cook with sauce: Pour sauce over chicken, add water chestnuts and green onions. Thicken with cornstarch slurry.
- Assemble: Spoon mixture into lettuce leaves, garnish, and serve.
Notes
- Make it gluten-free by using tamari instead of soy sauce.
- Great for meal prep—store filling separately and assemble wraps fresh.
- Serve with rice or noodles for a heartier meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 2–3 lettuce wraps
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
