Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (Better than P.F. Chang’s)!

Name: Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (better than P.F. Chang's)!
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 pound ground chicken; 2 Tablespoons peanut oil; ½ onion ((finely diced)); ½ Tablespoon minced garlic; 1 cup red or green pepper ((finely diced)); 8 ounces water chestnuts ((drained & finely diced)); 3 Tablespoons soy sauce*; 3 Tablespoons hoisin sauce**; 1 Tablespoon sesame oil; 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar; 1 Tablespoon peanut butter; 1 Tablespoon honey; 2 teaspoons sweet chili sauce; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ¼ teaspoon powdered ginger; ¼ cup peanuts ((crushed)); ¼ cup sliced green onions; Lettuce or your favorite Asian salad

By Laura Sandford

Updated Sep 27, 2026

4.99 from 1058 votes

1,069 Comments

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These Asian chicken lettuce wraps are even better than P.F. Chang’s! Ground chicken and veggies are cooked in the most delicious sauce that makes this recipe the best, then served in crisp lettuce leaves topped with crunchy peanuts and green onions. These lettuce wraps are easy to make in just 30 minutes – perfect for a quick dinner or delicious appetizer!

4 asian chicken lettuce wraps on a white ceramic plate in fresh lettuce topped with crushed peanuts and green onions. On a dark wood surface

I know that’s a pretty bold claim…Asian chicken lettuce wraps you can make at home that are more delicious than the beloved dish from P.F. Chang’s?! It’s bold – but its true! These lettuce wraps are packed with flavor and texture thanks to water chestnuts, bell peppers, garlic and ginger. The sweet and savory homemade lettuce wraps sauce is the secret to this recipe – and what makes it truly the best!

These Asian chicken lettuce wraps are one of my favorite dinners (along with this cashew chicken stir fry). They are quick and easy and my whole family loves them. Even my kids eat them, and have tons of fun doing it! I spent years testing and perfecting this Asian chicken lettuce wraps recipe, and it has been a reader favorite since I first published it in 2016. Check out this review from Lisa,

We’ve made this at least 20 times. We absolutely LOVE this recipe! The sauce is where the magic is. This is sooo perfect!
– Lisa

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Why You’ll Love These Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Better than P.F. Chang’s. No notes. It’s true.
Quick and easy. Ready in 30 minutes.
Super flavorful. The sauce, the garlic, the ginger, all so good.
Easy to customize. Adjust the spice level, swap the ground chicken for turkey or pork, or use your favorite lettuce or different vegetables.
Great for meal prep. Make the filling ahead of time and reheat it for an easy lunch or dinner.
A tried-and-true favorite. I first shared this recipe in 2016, and since then thousands of readers have made and loved these chicken lettuce wraps.

front view of four asian chicken lettuce wraps on a white ceramic plate in fresh lettuce topped with crushed peanuts and green onions. On a dark wood surface

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps: Ingredients & Substitutions

As always I recommend making this recipe exactly as it’s written! Like I said, I tested and retested this recipe more times than I can count to achieve lettuce wrap perfection! However, here are a few potential substitutions!

overhead photo of the ingredients in this Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps recipe in bowls and labeled like ground chicken, peanuts, peanut butter, bell peppers, onion, water chestnuts, and more

Ground chicken: Finely diced chicken breasts are a great substitute for ground chicken! You can also use ground turkey or ground beef!
Peanut Oil: Any oil can be used here if you don’t keep peanut on hand or if you have a peanut allergy. I recommend olive oil or avocado oil!
Soy Sauce: If you have a soy allergy you can substitute coconut aminos for the soy sauce.
Peanut Butter: If you have a peanut allergy any nut or seed butter could work here, but peanut butter definitely gives the best results!

Best Lettuce for Lettuce Wraps

The best lettuce for lettuce wraps has large, sturdy leaves that are flexible enough to fold around the filling. Here are my favorite varieties:

Butter lettuce (Bibb or Boston lettuce): Soft, flexible leaves with a mild flavor that are perfect for wrapping.
Green leaf lettuce: Large leaves that hold plenty of chicken filling.
Romaine lettuce: Crisp and sturdy, although the leaves are more boat-shaped than wrap-shaped.
Iceberg. can be used in a pinch, not my favorite but still works.

3 Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps on a long serving platter in fresh lettuce topped with crushed peanuts and green onions. On a dark wood surface with the cast iron skillet with the rest of the lettuce wraps filling in the background and a bowl of crushed peanuts in the bottom right corner.

How to Make Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Let’s walk through the process of making this chicken lettuce wraps recipe step-by-step. Don’t forget to watch the video too!

Make the Lettuce Wraps Sauce

The first step in this lettuce wrap recipe is making the sauce. The sauce is the key to the flavor of this recipe. I do not suggest tampering with the sauce or making substitutions because it’s the part of this recipe that took me years to perfect, and is absolutely delicious as-is.

making lettuce wraps sauce - hoisin sauce being poured into a ceramic bowl with soy sauce already in it

making lettuce wraps sauce - rice vinegar being poured into a ceramic bowl with soy sauce and hoisin sauce already in it

It’s really simple to make! Just whisk all the ingredients together. If you use a thicker peanut butter that is solid at room temperature, you may need to warm it slightly before using it to make this Asian lettuce wraps recipe!

making lettuce wraps sauce - peanut butter, powdered garlic, powdered ginger added to the sauce mixture in a ceramic bowl before mixing

asian chicken lettuce wraps sauce recipe being whisked together in a ceramic bowl with a metal whisk

Make the Lettuce Wrap Filling

Begin by cooking the onion, minced garlic and ground chicken until the chicken is lightly browned.

Use a Wok, Sauté pan, or a cast iron skillet. For traditional Asian recipes I love pulling out my wok. But as you can see in the photo above, a regular sauté pan or cast iron skillet works perfectly.

making lettuce wraps recipe - raw ground chicken, onion and minced garlic in a cast iron skillet before cooking

making lettuce wraps recipe - ground chicken, onion and minced garlic in a cast iron skillet after cooking being stirred with a wooden spatula

Next, add the vegetables and cook until they are soft.

Finely Dice Vegetables

This is one of the keys to making sure every bite is bursting with both texture and flavor! Sometimes I even let my food processor do the chopping for me!

making lettuce wraps recipe -finely chopped red bell pepper and water chestnuts added to the cooked ground chicken mixture in a cast iron skilling before cooking the vegetables

making lettuce wraps recipe - filling after the vegetables have been stirred in and cooked in a cast iron skillet being stirred with a wooden spatula

Then, add the sauce and cook until slightly thickened.

making asian chicken lettuce wraps recipe - sauce being poured into the filling mixture in a cast iron skillet

making asian chicken lettuce wraps recipe - final filling mixture after cooking in the sauce being stirred by a wooden spatula in a cast iron skillet

How to Serve Lettuce Wraps

I prefer to enjoy this recipe the traditional way by serving the warm filling in cold, crisp lettuce leaves. However, I usually serve these Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps to my kids over noodles or rice, or with a side of our favorite homemade fried rice, because it’s much easier for them to eat with a spoon than wrapped in a piece of lettuce.

You can serve these Asian lettuce wraps on their own as an appetizer or light meal, or turn them into a complete dinner by serving them with:

Spring rolls dipped in peanut sauce,
Easy chicken stir fry or cashew chicken stir fry
Beef and broccoli
Chicken fried rice and chicken lo mein.

chicken lettuce wrap filling in a black cast iron skillet with a bowl of peanuts and green onions in the top right corner

How to Store Lettuce Wraps

Store any leftover lettuce wrap filling in an airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Store leftover lettuce separately in the refrigerator, because storing them together will make the lettuce soggy.

Freeze

The lettuce wrap filling can be frozen for up to 2 months in an airtight container. Thaw it by warming it in a pan on the stovetop over low heat.

Reheat

Warm the chicken filling in a skillet over medium-low heat until heated through, or microwave individual portions.

More Asian Recipes

If you love these meatballs, you need to try these recipes. Skip the takeout and make these instead!

The best homemade fried rice or chicken fried rice.
Ground beef stir fry or chicken stir fry are must-makes.
Beef and broccoli so much better than takeout,
Easy Asian meatballs made with ground beef or teriyaki chicken meatballs!
This crock pot teriyaki chicken has been a go-to forever!
Or, make this Asian chicken salad, so good!
Chicken lo mein is a fave!

up close overhead view of an Asian chicken lettuce wrap on a plate

Lettuce Wraps Recipe FAQs

What lettuce is best for wraps?

There are three varieties of lettuce that I recommend to use when making these chicken lettuce wraps:
– Butterhead lettuce
– Green Leaf Lettuce
– Romaine Lettuce
– Iceberg Lettuce
Just be sure to choose a head of lettuce that has large and flexible enough leaves to use as a wrap!

How do you cut lettuce for lettuce wraps?

It’s super simple. Cut off the bottom of the head of lettuce, then carefully separate the individual leaves. Wash and thoroughly dry the leaves before filling them.

Can I make chicken lettuce wraps ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare in advance in a couple ways.
1) Chop all the veggies ahead of time and make the sauce. Store the prepped ingredients in the fridge so they’re easy to grab when you’re ready to cook the lettuce wraps and serve them fresh.
2) Cook the filling in advance, store in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop to serve.

How do you keep lettuce wraps from falling apart?

Use large, sturdy lettuce leaves and don’t overfill them. You can also layer two smaller leaves together to make a stronger wrap.

Can I substitute the ground chicken?

Yes, you can finely dice chicken breast meat. Or use ground turkey or pork.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes. Use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari and make sure your hoisin sauce is certified gluten-free.

Can I make lettuce wraps without water chestnuts?

Yes, although I recommend using them because they add the best crunchy texture. If you omit them, you can add extra finely diced bell pepper if you want or even celery.

overhead view of four chicken lettuce wraps on a plate

If you make and love my recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so I can see your creations!

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps (Better than P.F. Chang’s)!

Why You’ll Love These Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps: Ingredients & Substitutions

Best Lettuce for Lettuce Wraps