THAI BASIL LETTUCE CUPS
on Sep 17, 2026
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This super-simple weeknight meal starts with a pound of ground chicken, fresh veggies, and a few pantry staples for a healthy, easy dinner that comes together in 20 minutes.
These Thai Basil Lettuce Cups are the kind of dinner I come back to again and again: fast, fresh, and made almost entirely from things I already have in the fridge and pantry.
Ground chicken is my weeknight go-to because it cooks quickly, takes on any flavor, and is budget-friendly. If you need more inspiration, check out my roundup of 30 Easy, Healthy Ground Chicken Recipes.
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Everything cooks in one pan, then gets served into crisp butter lettuce leaves, and topped with extra basil, green onion, and a drizzle of sriracha.
Give them a try and let me know what you think! Cheers!
Key Ingredients for Thai Basil Lettuce Wraps
With a few kitchen staples on hand, this meal can be ready from start to finish in less than 20 minutes. Here’s what you’ll need for these chicken lettuce wraps.
- Green Onion: The white parts go into the pan first for flavor; save the green tops for serving.
- Ground Chicken: A pound of ground chicken makes this fast, lean, and family-friendly. Ground turkey or pork works too.
- Garlic and Fresh Ginger: Non-negotiable aromatics for any Asian-inspired dish!
- Red Bell Pepper and Carrot: Thinly sliced and diced for color, crunch, and our daily veggie intake.
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Pin It- Fresh Basil: A generous half cup stirred in at the end, plus more for serving.
- Coconut Aminos: A soy-free, gluten-free base for the sauce that’s slightly sweet and deeply savory.
- Rice Vinegar, Lime Juice, and Sesame Oil: For brightness, acidity, and a toasty finish.
- Sriracha and Honey: A little heat balanced by a little sweetness. Adjust both to taste.
- Arrowroot Starch: Whisked into the sauce so it thickens and sticks to the chicken.
- For Serving: Butter lettuce leaves, extra basil, sliced green onion, and more sriracha.
How to Make Spicy Thai Basil Lettuce Cups
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the white parts of the green onion, cooking until fragrant.
Add the ground chicken and salt, breaking it apart as it cooks, until browned and cooked through.
Stir in the garlic, bell pepper, and carrot, and cook a few minutes more until the veggies are just tender.
Whisk together the coconut aminos, rice vinegar, sesame oil, lime juice, ginger, sriracha, honey, and arrowroot starch, then pour into the skillet.
Simmer until the sauce thickens and coats the filling, then remove from the heat and stir in the chopped basil.
Spoon into butter lettuce leaves and top with reserved green onion, more basil, and a drizzle of sriracha. Enjoy!
More Healthy Lettuce Wrap Recipes:
- 20-Minute Peanut Chicken Lettuce Cups
- Sticky Saucy Pork Lettuce Wraps
- Rotisserie Chicken Caesar Lettuce Cups
- Peanut Satay Chicken Salad Cups
Thai Basil Lettuce Cups
Ingredients
Ground Chicken Filling:
- ¼ cup white parts of the green onion (green parts reserved for garnish)
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 large carrot, diced
- ½ cup chopped basil leaves
- ½ teaspoon salt
Sauce:
- ⅓ cup coconut aminos
- 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon sriracha
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot starch
For Serving:
- Butter lettuce leaves
- Sriracha
- Basil
- Green onion
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the white parts of the green onion and cook until fragrant.
- Add the ground chicken and salt, breaking it apart as it cooks, until browned and cooked through.
- Stir in the garlic, red bell pepper, and carrot. Cook a few minutes more, until the vegetables are just tender.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the coconut aminos, rice vinegar, sesame oil, lime juice, ginger, sriracha, honey, and arrowroot starch. Pour into the skillet.
- Simmer until the sauce thickens and coats the filling. Remove from the heat and stir in the chopped basil.
- Spoon the filling into butter lettuce leaves and top with reserved green onion, more basil, and a drizzle of sriracha. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
