These Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a must try for a fresh, flavorful, and easy meal. With tender chicken, bell pepper, carrots, and onions coated in a savory and sweet peanut sauce that comes together in a crisp lettuce wrap for a light, and satisfying meal!
These are a great option for an appetizer, or a lighter lunch or dinner! I’ve made these chicken lettuce wraps for years and they are always a hit, sometimes my kids just eat the chicken on top of a pile of rice, because its a great customizable meal.
Why you’ll love these:
- Quick and Easy: With just a few ingredients, and ready in less than 40 minutes. This is a great meal any day of the week!
- Healthier Option: Loaded with protein, and not a lot of carbs on its own (though its delicious on rice, or with a little quinoa in the wrap) these are nutrient dense, and lower calorie.
- Super Customizable: Adjust the spice level, vegetable choices, or even the protein to really make this a meal you and your whole family loves!
Ingredients Needed
- Olive Oil – to cook the veggies in
- Chicken Breast – lean and flavorful, but you can also use ground chicken, if you want
- Bell Pepper – adds sweetness and a crunch
- Carrots – adds extra color, and a crunchy texture
- Yellow Onion – Adds depth to the filling
- Garlic Cloves – adds a great flavor
- Granulated Sugar + Brown Sugar – Adds some sweetness to the peanut sauce
- Rice Wine Vinegar – adds a bit of acidity to balance the flavors
- Red Pepper Flakes – optional for a slight kick
- Peanut Butter – The base of the sauce, you can use creamy or crunchy peanut butter
- Teriyaki Sauce – sweet and savory, gives that restaurant style flavor
- Butter Lettuce – you can also use Bibb Lettuce, these are good sturdy lettuce leaves for wrapping
- Rice – Optional to fill the lettuce wraps with extra oomph.
- Green Onions + Sesame Seeds – A great garnish, and a little extra flavor
How to make Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce
Step 1: Cook the Chicken. Add a little olive oil to a skillet, and cook the chicken in it over medium high heat until cooked through. Set it aside.
Step 2: Cook the Veggies. Add the additional olive oil, and the diced veggies to the pan; bell pepper, carrots, onion, and garlic. Cook for about 10-15 minutes until the veggies are tender.
Step 3: Make the Sauce. Add the sauce ingredients to a small pot and heat over medium until smooth and the sugars are dissolved.
Step 4: Combine. Add the chicken back into the pan with the veggies, and coat in the peanut sauce. Stir together and cook for another couple minutes to incorporate.
Step 5: Assemble the Lettuce Wraps. Take one lettuce leaf, add rice or rice noodles, top with the saucy chicken and veggie mixture and enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
- Make Extra Sauce: Double the sauce recipe to have even more for dipping, and drizzling over the rice.
- Customize the Filling: Add a variety of veggies, like mushrooms, zucchini, or shredded cabbage.
- Crisp Lettuce Leaves: Soak the lettuce leaves in ice water for a couple minutes, then shake them off, and dry them a bit before serving.
Storage Instructions
Store the chicken and vegetable mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 or 4 days. Reheat in a skillet, or in the microwave until warm throughout. Store the rice, and lettuce in separate containers.
These Peanut Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a game changer for a fresh, and healthy meal that everyone will love! Perfect for a light meal, or fun appetizer, they are sure to be a winner!
More Chicken Recipes
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
For the Lettuce Wrap Filling:
- 2 TBS olive oil (divided)
- 1 lb chicken breasts (diced)
- 1 cup diced bell pepper
- 3/4 cup diced carrots
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
For the Sauce:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce
- 1 1/2 TBS peanut butter
- 2 tsp rice wine vinegar
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
For Assembling the Lettuce Wraps:
- 1 head butter lettuce
- cooked rice (optional)
- fried rice sticks (optional)
- 1/2 cup chopped almonds
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
Instructions
For the Lettuce Wrap Filling:
- Add 1 TBS olive oil to a large skillet and heat it over medium high heat. 2 TBS olive oil
- Add the chicken to the pan and cook until golden on the outside, and cooked throughout. Set the chicken pieces aside. 1 lb chicken breasts
- Add the remaining olive oil to the pan, and the chopped vegetables. Cook for about 10 minutes, until tender. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute. 1 cup diced bell pepper, 3/4 cup diced carrots, 1/2 cup diced yellow onion, 2 garlic cloves
For the Sauce:
- Add all the sauce ingredients to a small pot, and heat over medium until creamy and the sugars are dissolved. 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce, 1 1/2 TBS peanut butter, 2 tsp rice wine vinegar, 1 pinch red pepper flakes
For Assembling the Lettuce Wraps:
- When the vegetables are done cooking, add the chicken back into the pan, and add in the sauce. Cook for another 1-2 minutes to incorporate it all together.
- Separate the leaves of lettuce from the head, and add rice, or rice sticks. Top with chicken and veggie mixture, and your choice of toppings, and enjoy. 1 head butter lettuce, cooked rice, fried rice sticks, 1/2 cup chopped almonds, 1/4 cup chopped green onions
Notes
- Make Extra Sauce: Double the sauce recipe to have even more for dipping, and drizzling over the rice.
- Customize the Filling: Add a variety of veggies, like mushrooms, zucchini, or shredded cabbage.
- Crisp Lettuce Leaves: Soak the lettuce leaves in ice water for a couple minutes, then shake them off, and dry them a bit before serving.
Nutrition
These Chicken Lettuce Wraps were first posted on April 3, 2013. The photos and blog text were updated for clarity on April 14, 2025.
Maggie says
Hi Aimee – my son is allergic to peanut butter. Is there a good substitute suggestion for something that won’t take away the flavor? Or even an alternate type of sauce? Otherwise, the ingredients and the concept is something my teenagers would love for sure.
Kacy Faulconer says
I crave these.
Kari says
These look so good, I’m always looking for quick dinners when I have to been in the city all day. Thanks for sharing 🙂
aimeeberrett says
Thanks Kari! They are really good, and pretty quick too (I always forget to thaw my chicken before hand and that ends up being the longest part). Let me know if you try them out!