A couple years back, my husband and I were "trapped" in the Atlanta airport. The storm was so terrible and no planes were coming or going. So many flights were cancelled and when a flight became available, we were called one by one if we made it on stand by. My name was read, but my husbands wasn't. In my emotional tired state, I acted as if I was called into the hunger games leaving Gale behind. Would I eve see him again!? He got on the plane five minutes later. It was not one of my finest moments.
Being trapped in an airport is the worst! Trying to find good in that fateful night, was the discovery of Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps. At one of the few open restaurant, we had a huge, satisfying plate of this delicious dish. Ever since, I have been determined to recreate the dish. The lettuce wraps have now become a family staple!
Creating a Masterpiece
The first step in making this delicious meal is having tender shredded chicken. I used to HATE shredding chicken. I would try to use the two fork method and would fail miserably. One day, in frustration, I threw my cooked chicken in my Kitchen Aid and discovered a better way to shred chicken! It is now the only way I'll shred chicken and using a Kitchen Aid takes seconds. The kitchen aid does all the dirty work and leaves you with beautifully shredded chicken. You can use any stand mixer you have, or a hand mixer.
Next chop the onions and carrots. To get a fine even texture, I use a small food processor to chop both. The onions and carrots cook faster and pair nicely with the chicken when chopped this way. Saute the chopped onions and carrots. If adding peanuts, this is where you would add the crushed peanuts as well. It adds a great flavor and texture to the dish.
Add the chicken when vegetables become tender.
Now it's time to make the sauce. This sauce is a perfect sweet and spicy blend. I also love the creaminess added by the peanut butter. The three flavors create a powerful flavor you won't forget.
Mix the sauce and chicken vegetable mixture together.
Assembly
My favorite lettuce to use is Living Lettuce/Artisan Lettuce! It is so delicious and has the perfect shape for holding everything. Other good lettuce's to use are any type of bib lettuce like Romaine, or even green leaf lettuce.
Assembly is super easy! Take your leaf of lettuce and put a small amount of rice in the center. Top the rice with the chicken and vegetable mixture and enjoy your delicious Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps!
This dish would pair well with the delicious flavor of Lemon Crinkle Cookies!
Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Tender, shredded chicken in a delicious sweet and spicy honey-sriracha sauce. Deliciously paired with rice, and wrapped in a lettuce leaf.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken
- 1 cup carrots, shredded
- ½ cup onions, chopped
- ¼ cup crushed peanuts
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- Lettuce leaves-Living lettuce, romaine, or green leaf
- Rice
- crushed red pepper to taste (optional)
Honey Sriracha Sauce
- 2-3 tsp sriracha (depending on how spicy you like it)
- 3 tbsp honey
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 1 ½ tbsp peanut butter
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat oil and saute onions, carrots, and garlic until tender. Add peanuts and shredded chicken and heat through and set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine sriracha, honey, soy sauce, ginger and peanut butter. Mix until smooth.
- Add sauce to chicken and vegetable skillet and mix until fully incorporated.
- Spoon a small amount of rice on top of lettuce leaf and top with chicken and vegetable mixture.
- Top with red pepper flakes for extra spice
Notes
- By nature, this isn't a saucy meal BUT... want it saucy!? Double the sauce for double the fun!
- Chop the onions, carrots, and peanuts in a food processor
- You can use any type of lettuce leaves but my favorite are living lettuce, or romaine bibs.
- Add crushed red pepper to give your wraps more of a kick
- An easy way to shred chicken is by using a stand mixer.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Asian
Keywords: Thai, Chicken, Quick and Easy, Wraps, Dinner, Healthy, Copy Cat, Sriracha, Honey, Spicy, Rice, Lettuce
Cami Wing
My girls 9,6,3and 1 GOBBLED this up. It was so easy to make and absolutely delicious
★★★★★