chicken lettuce wraps recipe

I used to have a serious addiction to those famous chicken lettuce wraps from that popular Asian restaurant chain. My weekly takeout habit was getting expensive, so I challenged myself to create a homemade version. After several attempts (and a few memorable failures), I finally nailed a recipe that my family swears tastes even better than the restaurant version. The best part? It comes together in about 20 minutes using ingredients I usually have on hand.

The secret is getting the sauce just right – that perfect balance of salty, sweet, and umami flavors that make you keep going back for more. I use ground chicken because it cooks quickly and soaks up all those amazing flavors, but the water chestnuts are the unsung heroes here, providing that essential crunch in every bite. My husband, who typically views lettuce as "rabbit food," now requests these wraps regularly, carefully creating the perfect lettuce cup to sauce ratio with each serving.

Last month when my sister visited with her picky kids, I served these without much hope they'd be a hit. To my surprise, my 8-year-old nephew not only cleaned his plate but asked if he could help make them next time. Even my teenage daughter, who normally texts through dinner, puts her phone down when these are on the menu. We've turned it into a build-your-own dinner where everyone adds their favorite toppings – extra green onions for me, more sriracha for my husband.

Ready to break your takeout habit with a healthier, faster, and dare I say tastier alternative? Click below for my full chicken lettuce wraps recipe that will have your family gathering around the table any night of the week. Fair warning: you might want to double the recipe – leftovers disappear quickly!