These savory beef lettuce wraps bring a fresh twist to mealtime with bold Asian flavors and crisp Boston Bibb lettuce leaves. Inspired by popular copycat lettuce wraps Pf Changs fans enjoy, this recipe blends ground beef with hoisin sauce and water chestnuts for a satisfying, easy-to-make dish perfect for casual family dinners or small gatherings.
Savory Beef Lettuce Wraps
Course: MainCuisine: AsianDifficulty: Medium4
servings15
minutes15
minutes30
minutes350
kcal30
minutesThese beef lettuce wraps are a fun, flavorful way to enjoy dinner! Loaded with savory Asian flavors, they’re perfect for a casual family night or a small gathering.
Ingredients
16 Boston Bibb or butter lettuce leaves
1 pound lean ground beef
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 large onion, chopped
¼ cup hoisin sauce
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoons minced pickled ginger
1 dash Asian chile pepper sauce, or to taste (optional)
1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and finely chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
2 teaspoons Asian (dark) sesame oil
Directions
- Gather all your ingredients and rinse the lettuce leaves. Pat them dry carefully and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the cooking oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring frequently, until it’s browned and crumbly—about 5 to 7 minutes. Once done, drain off any excess grease and transfer the beef into a bowl.
- In the same skillet, toss in the chopped onion and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes until they’re just tender.
- Stir in the hoisin sauce, minced garlic, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, minced ginger, and the optional chile pepper sauce. Mix everything together until it’s well combined.
- Add the finely chopped water chestnuts, green onions, and the cooked beef back into the skillet. Stir everything for about 2 minutes until the green onions just begin to wilt.
- To serve, arrange the lettuce leaves around the edge of a large serving platter, and spoon the beef mixture in the center.
What You’ll Need
Gather these ingredients and equipment to create delicious beef lettuce wraps:
- 16 Boston Bibb or butter lettuce leaves
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil (vegetable or canola)
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons minced pickled ginger
- 1 dash Asian chile pepper sauce (optional)
- 1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and finely chopped
- 1 bunch green onions, chopped
- 2 teaspoons Asian (dark) sesame oil
- Large skillet
- Serving platter
Detailed Cooking Instructions
- Gather all ingredients and rinse the lettuce leaves. Pat them dry and set aside.
- Heat cooking oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook, stirring frequently, until browned and crumbly, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Drain the excess grease from the skillet and transfer the beef to a bowl.
- Add chopped onion to the same skillet. Cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, or until tender.
- Stir in hoisin sauce, minced garlic, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, minced ginger, and optional chile pepper sauce. Mix until well combined.
- Incorporate finely chopped water chestnuts and green onions into the skillet. Add the cooked beef back to the mixture and stir for about 2 minutes, until the green onions begin to wilt.
- Arrange the lettuce leaves around a large serving platter and spoon the beef mixture into the center.
- Serve immediately and enjoy your tasty wraps, being ready with napkins for any drips!
Tips & Tricks
- For a lighter version, substitute ground beef with ground turkey or a plant-based meat alternative.
- If you prefer a spicy kick, increase the amount of Asian chile pepper sauce in the beef mixture.
- To make ahead, prepare the beef mixture in advance and store it in the fridge. Just reheat before serving, and spoon into the lettuce leaves.
- To keep the lettuce fresh, wrap it in a damp paper towel and store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Consider adding thinly sliced bell peppers or shredded carrots for extra crunch and nutrition.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Beef lettuce wraps usually include ground beef seasoned with garlic, soy sauce, and ginger, combined with chopped vegetables like water chestnuts, mushrooms, and green onions. You can also add hoisin sauce or chili flakes for extra flavor.
A typical lettuce wrap contains a protein such as chicken, beef, or tofu along with fresh veggies and a flavorful sauce. Popular additions include shredded carrots, diced cucumbers, herbs, and sometimes crunchy nuts or seeds.
PF Chang’s signature lettuce wraps feature ground chicken cooked with soy sauce, hoisin sauce, garlic, and ginger, mixed with water chestnuts and green onions. They serve it in crisp iceberg lettuce cups for a refreshing crunch.
Iceberg and butter lettuce work well for burger wraps because their sturdy leaves hold the fillings without tearing easily. Romaine also makes a good choice if you want a slightly larger, crisp leaf.
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