Asian-Style Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps Recipe
These Asian-Style Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps are a flavorful and fresh meal perfect for a light lunch or dinner. Ground beef is cooked with garlic, ginger, and vegetables, then simmered in a savory-sweet homemade sauce before being served in crisp Boston Bibb lettuce cups. Optional steamed rice or cauliflower rice adds extra substance for a complete meal, making these wraps a healthy and delicious option with a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy notes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 lettuce wraps without rice, 12 wraps with rice 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce
- ¼ cup maple syrup (or brown sugar, or coconut sugar)
- ¼ cup coconut aminos (or tamari, or soy sauce)
- 2 tsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- ¼ – ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tsp arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
Main Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 1 medium red bell pepper (finely diced)
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- 4 whole green onions (sliced into 1” pieces)
- Kosher salt (to taste)
- Ground black pepper (to taste)
For Serving
- Boston Bibb lettuce leaves
- Steamed white rice or sautéed cauliflower rice (optional)
- Sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
- Make the sauce: In a measuring cup, combine the maple syrup, coconut aminos, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and red pepper flakes (if using). Whisk until fully mixed. Add the arrowroot powder and whisk again until smooth and well combined.
- Cook the ground beef: Heat olive oil in a 10” skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until fully browned and no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
- Add aromatics: Add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the beef. Stir continuously and cook until fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Cook the vegetables: Stir in the finely diced red bell pepper and shredded carrots. Cook until they become tender but still retain some bite, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the sauce and simmer: Pour the prepared sauce over the beef and vegetables. Stir well to combine and let it simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2 to 3 minutes. Taste and season with kosher salt and ground black pepper as needed.
- Add green onions: Stir in the sliced green onions just before serving to retain their fresh flavor and crunch.
- Assemble and serve: Spoon the savory beef mixture into Boston Bibb lettuce leaves to make wraps. Optionally serve with steamed white rice or sautéed cauliflower rice. Garnish with sesame seeds. This recipe yields about 8 wraps without rice, or 12 wraps with rice.
Notes
- Arrowroot powder can be substituted with cornstarch for thickening the sauce.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to your desired spice level or omit for a milder flavor.
- Using Boston Bibb or other soft yet sturdy lettuce varieties makes wraps easier to handle.
- For a low-carb version, omit rice or use cauliflower rice as a substitute.
- Ground turkey or chicken can be used instead of ground beef for a leaner protein option.
- Leftover filling can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated on stovetop or microwave.
Keywords: Asian ground beef lettuce wraps, easy lettuce wraps, savory beef wraps, healthy ground beef recipe, low carb lettuce wraps
