Asian Style Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps for Busy Weeknights
When the family comes looking for a handout, give ’em a handful… of Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps. Easy to make and even easier to gobble down. Simply sauté your ground beef and veggies until tender, then simmer in the tangy ginger garlic sauce for flavorful Asian Lettuce Wraps.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Ingredients
Lettuce Wrap Sauce:
- 1/4 cup maple syrup, brown sugar, or coconut sugar
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos, tamari, or soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 2 teaspoons arrowroot powder or cornstarch
Ground Beef Filling:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
- 1 medium red bell pepper, finely diced
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 4 green onions, sliced into 1” pieces
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Ground pepper, to taste
- Sesame seeds, to taste, for garnish
- Boston Bibb lettuce
- Steamed white rice or sautéed cauliflower rice, optional, for serving
Instructions
1. Make the sauce. Combine the maple syrup, coconut aminos, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes (if using) in a measuring cup. Whisk until combined. Add the arrowroot powder and whisk until well combined.
2. Heat olive oil in a 10” skillet over medium high heat until it shimmers. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring continuously, until very fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
4. Add the bell pepper and carrots and cook until bite tender, 3-4 minutes.
5. Pour the sauce over the skillet contents, then stir. Simmer until the sauce is slightly thickened, 2-3 minutes. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed.
6. Stir in the sliced green onions.
7. Spoon the filling into lettuce wraps (with or without rice) and garnish with sesame seeds. Makes 8 wraps without rice, or 12 wraps with rice.
Notes
To make a dipping sauce, reserve 1/3 of the sauce before adding arrowroot powder or cornstarch.
Skip the thickener for a thinner sauce if preferred.
Feel free to add more vegetables like shredded cabbage or zucchini.
Garnish with pickled radishes for extra crunch and acidity.
Use sautéed cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.
This recipe works great with ground turkey or chicken as well.