Sweet and Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps

A sweet, spicy and savory chicken lettuce wrap is a fresh and quick dinner with items straight from your pantry. My better half and I met when we were just 18 years old and dated all four years in college. He quickly became a part of my family and I almost can’t remember a time without him in my life.

When we graduated college, Bill’s first job took him from PA to NY. By pure coincidence, my dad was commuting and staying in an apartment in a nearby town in NY. My dad and my boyfriend…hanging out like buddies for dinner after work. Pretty comical, yet very special.

Once I completed my Masters in Teaching in PA, I moved to NY to be with Bill. I had a big decision to make with that move…live with my boyfriend or live with my dad?

At the time, the right thing to do was to live with my dad and so I did. The year was spent with the three of us essentially living as roommates during the weekdays before my dad would head back home to be with my mom on the weekends. We would meet after work, grab a bite to eat, watch a show together on the couch in my dad’s apartment, then say good night to Bill as he headed a few miles down the street to his apartment.

One of our favorite go-to restaurants at the time was P.F. Changs. It was just around the corner and a convenient place for all of us to meet for dinner. I can’t believe we didn’t tire of eating the chicken lettuce wraps on the menu, but they were just so fresh and reliable so we ordered them every time we visited.

Fast forward almost 17 years to today and chicken lettuce wraps are still a favorite of ours. With no P.F. Changs nearby, I was pretty determined to find a copycat recipe that would be both delicious and nostalgic. This version takes me back to those. And while I have tried many different versions, like this Thai one, this is the one that my family prefers the most.Isn’t it nice to have a meal that involves so many pantry items, that you are so comfortable making, that just falls into the rotation, and that is perfect for a no-fuss, busy night? These chicken lettuce wraps are one of those!

What’s easier than tossing all these ingredients in with ground chicken and wrapping them up in some crunchy fresh lettuce leaves?Bonus for me! Everyone in the family loves them and devours them every time I make them.

My girls are happy playing with their food and wrapping up the chicken in their lettuce cups, but The Boy…there’s a chance the lettuce might poison him (rolling my eyeballs as I write that) so his alternative is to make a noodle bowl. I love this healthy noodle option from Costco.I’m happy to be sharing these chicken lettuce wraps with my family of 5. I haven’t had the chance to make these for my dad…I’ll have to do that and see if he remembers these from our days of “rooming” together.

Do you have another version of a deliciously sweet and spicy chicken lettuce wrap?

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

A sweet, spicy and savory chicken lettuce wrap is a fresh and quick dinner with items straight from your pantry.

Lettuce leaves
1 lb ground chicken breast
1 large onion (chopped)
2 tbsp garlic (minced)
1 tbsp fresh ginger (minced)
1 tbsp soy sauce
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
3 tsp Sriracha sauce (more if desired)
8 ounces chopped water chestnuts (drained)
1 bunch green onions (thinly sliced)
1 tsp Sesame Oil
Sesame seeds for garnish
Crushed peanuts for garnish (optional)

Rinse and dry prepared lettuce leaves.
Cook chicken in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking up into small pieces.
Add onion and cook for 2 minutes.
Add garlic and ginger and cook for 2-3 more minutes.
Add soy sauce, hoisin sauce, vinegar and Sriracha and stir to combine.
Let simmer for a minute.
Stir in water chestnuts and let simmer for another minute.
Stir in sesame oil.
When ready to serve, add the green onions and a few dashes of sesame seeds.
Spoon meat mixture into lettuce leaves and top with crushed peanuts.