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.
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Chicken Lettuce Wraps Video
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!
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.
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.
- 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.
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.
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
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!
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
For the sauce
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 2 Tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce, or tamari sauce for gluten-free
- 2 Tbsp water
- 1 1/2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp sriracha or gochujang, to taste (optional, for spice)
For the filling
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 pound ground chicken, or substitute ground turkey
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp freshly grated ginger
- 8 oz can water chestnuts, drained and diced
- 1/4 cup chopped green onion, plus more to serve
- 1 head butter lettuce, or romaine hearts, separated into cups
Instructions
- Make the sauce: In a small bowl, combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce, water, rice wine vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and sriracha or gochujang if using. Set aside.
- Cook the meat: Heat olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet or heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground chicken or turkey and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks, until just cooked through. Add the diced onion and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until the onions are softened and the chicken is browned.
- Add aromatics: Stir in the garlic and freshly grated ginger and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Add the sauce: Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet and sauté for 1 minute, stirring to coat the meat evenly.
- Finish the filling: Stir in the diced water chestnuts and green onions. Cook for 1 more minute. Season with kosher salt and fresh black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Spoon the warm chicken mixture into lettuce cups and garnish with the remaining green onions.
Notes
- To refrigerate: Cool filling and store in an airtight container in the fridge within 2 hours. Eat within 4 days. Store lettuce leaves wrapped in a paper towel in an open zip-top bag for 2-3 days.
- To freeze: Pack cooled filling (within 2 hours) in a zip-top bag or airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
- To reheat: reheat filling in a sauté pan until warmed through (165°F). Serve in the lettuce cups or over rice.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Restaurant Copycat Recipes
If you love re-creating your favorite restaurant meals, you’ll definitely enjoy this list of easy dishes that I think are even better than takeout.
- Shrimp Lettuce Wraps
- Chicken Piccata
- Taquitos
- Mongolian Beef
- French Onion Soup
- Kung Pao Chicken
- Beef and Broccoli
I followed this recipe except for a few changes. I used ground turkey bc I couldn’t find ground chicken. The sauce and added vegetables were spot on. I had some shredded carrots leftover from another recipe, so I through a few in. It added some color and another crunch. I used butter lettuce for the cups. I will make this again, but I would use ground beef instead as I thought the turkey tasted too bland and fell apart when cooking it so it was too soupy after I added the sauce. The butter lettuce was too flimsy to actually cup lit in your hand and eat it, so I’ll use romaine next time.
Hi Kirsten! Thanks so much for sharing that with us. I think you’ll love this with beef too and romaine lettuce. They are so versatile!
Natasha, I made these again last night and they were delicious. Have had them many times and the leftovers will be used again soon on a night I don’t want to cook. The leftovers are now frozen!
That’s great! They are such a treat. We love making them.
Delicious. I made the recipe exactly as written and I wouldn’t change a thing. I will definitely make these again
Thank you for trying the recipe as written. I’m so glad it was a huge success!
Absolutely perfect! My family loved it! So delicious!!!
I unfortunately did not like this. I followed the recipe exactly and the taste was just overwhelming. My husband, who likes everything didn’t even like it. It’s not comparable to P.F. Chang’s by any means.
Hi, I’m sorry to hear this one didn’t meat the mark for you. Normally the flavors are very balanced. Did you make any changes or substitutions to the sauces or possibly use too much ginger? That can often create an overwhelming flavor if too much is added.
Made this! So awesome! Used chicken thighs cut up in small pieces. Used Boston lettuce…. so delicious!!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Jankie!
This was so good! Very easy to prepare! I wouldn’t change anything. We served ours with bob lettuce.. you could also serve over rice too.
Would making extra sauce to use on the side as a dipping sauce, only maybe thin it with a little water or vegetable broth do you think that would work? Would you add a little brown sugar? Or honey?
Hello! Yes, that would definitely work. You can add a little water or vegetable broth, start with 1–2 tablespoons and whisk until it reaches the consistency you like. You can then a touch of sweetness can make a great dipping sauce (honey or brown sugar)
This was a hit. It had just the right amount of heat and the sauce is so tasty! My husband wasn’t into lettuce cups, so I sauteed some cooked ramen noodles with some soy sauce, green onions, sesame oil and seeds to go under. He loved it.
Thank you for sharing that with us, Carol. I’m happy that the recipe was a huge hit!
Very good thank you! Quick easy to put together. Very economical recipe. I didn’t have the sesame oil. Figured it was only a teaspoon,so hopefully it didn’t make a big difference. Thanks again Natasha.
If one were to make a dipping sauce for these, what would you suggest?
You can try my Fresh Homemade Salsa recipe or a classic Soy-Ginger Dipping Sauce.
Can ground turkey be used? This looks amazing!
Yes you can use ground turkey. Enjoy!
How many individual wraps equal a serving?
Hi K, I have this on the recipe post “Makes 12 lettuce wraps (4 servings as a meal) with 2-3 Tablespoons of filling in each.” I hope it helps.
I always order lettuce wraps when I go to P.F. Chang’s. I just made Natasha’s version and now it’s the only recipe I will use for lettuce wraps
Oh these are must when we go also! I’m so glad you gave my recipe a try! Thank you for your review, Gerry!
Loved these! So would Paul Flemmimg (PF Chang a dear family friend). Your recipes never disappoint Natasha. 😍
Thank you Lori!! You are too kind! I’m so glad to hear you’re loving my recipes.
Hi Natasha, under chicken lettuce wrap recipe you mentioned mix beef till is brown instead chicken.
You’re totally right, Martha! Thank you for pointing that out! We used chicken for this recipe.
You are right…it’s better than PF Changs!!!
I’m so happy you loved it, Alina!
Hi Natasha,
Could you please name some brands of reduced soy sauce and hoisin sauce that you have used and had good results with.
Thank you so much!
PS I love your recipes!
Hi Julie, I ususally go off of what the grocery store has in stock. Typically they have Kikkoman or San-J in stock.
Recipe sounds really good. What can be used in place of Seseme Oil? I’m allergic.
Hi Kim, I’m sorry to hear you’re allergic to it, it helps the recipe with a rich nutty aroma to the dish. You can possibly omit it or substitue it with toasted peanut oil, peanut butter. If you have a general nut allergy, you can just do a splash of soy sauce.
I love their chicken wraps but I am always wondering what is in them. Here i can control the ingredients though everything you are using is stuff I would eat alone. Since there is no longer a pf change ne
These are a must try! I hope you love them, Dawna!