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Asian-Style Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps

Asian lettuce wraps with saucy, fragrant ground beef cooked until browned and glossy, then piled into crisp butter lettuce cups. Topped with crunchy water chestnuts, green onions, and a sriracha drizzle for a PF Changs-style vibe without the carbs.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Asian-American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

ground beef
  • 1 lb ground beef (or turkey)
vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
aromatics
  • 4 garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
filling
  • 1 can (8 oz) water chestnuts, drained and chopped
  • 3 tbsp hoisin sauce
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp sriracha
  • 0.5 cup shredded carrots
  • 3 green onions, sliced
serving
  • 1 butter or romaine lettuce leaves for serving
  • 1 sesame seeds for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Brown the beef
  1. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until browned, then drain excess fat (you should see no pink remaining).
  2. Add minced garlic and grated fresh ginger to the skillet and cook for 1 minute. Stir until fragrant and lightly sizzling.
Build the hoisin sauce filling
  1. Stir in chopped water chestnuts, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and sriracha. Cook for 2–3 minutes until the sauce coats the beef and looks glossy.
  2. Add shredded carrots and half the sliced green onions, then toss to combine. Cook for 1 minute, just to warm the vegetables.
Assemble and serve
  1. Spoon the beef mixture into butter or romaine lettuce leaves for serving. Pack slightly so each cup holds together.
  2. Garnish with the remaining green onions and sesame seeds, then serve immediately. Finish with a fresh top so the crunch stays crisp.

Notes

For crisp lettuce cups, keep lettuce cold until serving and spoon filling right before eating. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat the filling in a skillet over medium heat until hot; assemble with fresh lettuce. Freezing: no, lettuce won’t hold its texture. Dietary swap: use ground turkey in place of the beef for a leaner option while keeping the sauce amounts the same.