Lettuce leaves are filled with a saucy, peanutty ground chicken filling and topped with shredded carrots, chopped peanuts, and sliced scallions for one satisfying bite.  

This handheld meal will be on the table in under 20 minutes, start to finish! These 20-Minute Peanut Chicken Lettuce Wraps are fresh, flavorful, and require minimal effort.  

A pound of ground chicken sears quickly in a hot pan with plenty of freshly chopped garlic and ginger.

As the meat begins to caramelize, it’s tossed in a rich, homemade peanut sauce made from creamy peanut butter, coconut aminos, lime juice, maple syrup, and sesame oil.

Add a squeeze (or two) of Sriracha if you like a little heat. 

Once everything is cooked, it’s time to assemble. Spoon the mixture into a lettuce cup, and finish with crunchy toppings like shredded carrots, chopped peanuts, and scallions.

And there you have a light yet satisfying, high-protein meal in 20 minutes. Enjoy! 

Key Ingredients for Peanut Chicken Lettuce Wraps

One of the best parts about this meal is that I almost always have the ingredients on hand. It makes dinnertime so much simpler knowing I can pull together a quick, healthy meal in just minutes without an extra trip to the store. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Ground Chicken: Ground chicken is lean, high in protein, and cooks up fast in a hot skillet. Ground turkey would be equally delicious. 
• Garlic and Ginger: Classic aromatics for basically any Asian-inspired dish.
• Peanut Butter: This makes the most delicious and versatile savory sauce for Asian-inspired dishes like this one.

• Coconut Aminos: This gluten-free soy sauce alternative is slightly sweet and pairs well with the salty peanut butter.
• Lime Juice: Adds the perfect amount of acidity.
• Maple Syrup: This natural sweetener will help balance all the salty notes of the peanut butter and coconut aminos. Add more or less depending on your sweetness preference. 

• Sesame Oil: This amps up the nutiness of peanut sauce, enhancing its overall flavor. 
• Sriracha: For a bit of heat, I like to add a good squeeze of Sriracha. Feel free to omit if you’re serving this dish to kids or prefer a milder, tamer flavor profile.   

How to Make Peanut Chicken Lettuce Wraps

To start, heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Add ground chicken and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, 5 to 6 minutes until mostly cooked through.

Next, add garlic, ginger, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant and fully cooked. If there’s excess liquid, let it cook off so the mixture isn’t watery.

Then, move on to the sauce. In a bowl, whisk peanut butter, coconut aminos, lime juice, maple syrup, sesame oil, and Sriracha (if using). Add warm water a tablespoon at a time until smooth and spoonable.

Add about two-thirds of the peanut sauce to the chicken and toss to coat. Let it cook for 1 to 2 minutes.

When ready to eat, spoon chicken mixture into bibb lettuce leaves. Top with cucumber, carrots, peanuts, and scallions. Drizzle with remaining sauce and serve with additional toppings of choice. Enjoy!

Even More Lettuce Wrap Recipes: 

• Rotisserie Chicken Caesar Lettuce Cups
• Sticky Saucy Pork Lettuce Wraps
• No Mayo Spicy Tuna Salad
• Peanut Satay Chicken Salad Cups