30-minute Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps with coconut-lime jasmine rice, veggies, and quick “pickled” shallots.
author’s note
Weeknight Beef Lettuce Tacos That Feel Like Eating Out!
I’ve been on a huge lettuce wrap kick lately. Turkey, Buffalo Chicken, Asian Chicken, and even a vegetarian version… if it can be wrapped in lettuce, I’ve probably made it for dinner in the last month. But it hit me one night that I’d never tried a PF Chang’s-style beef version at home.
That made me laugh, because PF Chang’s lettuce wraps are my forever order. I don’t even look at the menu anymore. If we’re there, I’m getting the lettuce wraps. Every time.
So I headed straight to the kitchen and started playing around to finally recreate them. A little testing here, a few tweaks there, and the flavor finally clicked. And honestly? I think this version might actually beat the restaurant’s. It’s so straightforward and so good that it’s already earned a spot in my weeknight rotation!
Ingredients
- Rice: I use coconut-lime rice as a base for our lettuce wraps for a flavorful yet balanced meal, cooking the rice in coconut milk for added flavor.
- Beef: I cook ground beef with garlic, ginger, carrot, and green onion, then mix in a simple, from-scratch sauce for a satisfying filling.
- Lettuce: Butter lettuce for wrapping the ground beef lettuce wraps.
- Toppings: The wraps are completed with quick pickled shallots, crushed nuts, and fresh herbs (cilantro and green onion) atop the rice and saucy beef.
Featured Comment
“Hi there, It is satisfying to these, what a nice late summer meal that fills you up without loading you up with carbs.”
– Janna
How To Make Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps
- Cook ground beef: with garlic, ginger, carrots, and green onions.
- Prepare a sauce: with simple ingredients and mix it into the cooked beef.
- Lay the beef mixture: on lettuce leaves.
- Add toppings: like pickled shallots, nuts, and herbs.
- Serve and enjoy!
Storage
Can You Make Lettuce Wraps Ahead of Time?
- Yes, you can make ground beef lettuce wraps ahead of time. Prepare the beef filling and sauce, and store them in the refrigerator. Just before serving, reheat the beef and assemble the wraps with fresh lettuce and toppings. This method keeps everything fresh and tasty.
- To freeze leftovers: Freeze cooked beef filling and sauce separately. Do not freeze lettuce and toppings; prepare fresh. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat before serving.
Quick Tip
Which Lettuce Is Best For Wraps? Iceberg, green leaf, and butter lettuce (Boston or Bibb) are most commonly used for wraps. Iceberg is crisp and favored for Asian-style wraps, but it can break easily. Butter lettuce is my personal favorite due to its flavorful, crisp nature and ease of rolling.
More 30-Minute Dinner Recipes:
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Pineapple Chicken Salad
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