Name: Asian Style Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: ¼ cup maple syrup, brown sugar, or coconut sugar; ¼ cup coconut aminos, tamari, or soy sauce; 2 teaspoon rice vinegar; 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil; ¼ – ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional; 2 teaspoon arrowroot powder, or cornstarch; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 lb ground beef; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 teaspoon 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 pepper, to taste; Sesame seeds, to taste, for garnish; Boston Bibb lettuce, for wrapping; Steamed white rice or sautéed cauliflower rice, optional, for serving

Introduction

These Asian Style Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps offer a deliciously savory and slightly sweet flavor with a hint of spice. Perfect for a light lunch or dinner, they’re quick to prepare and great for customizing with your favorite vegetables or rice.

The image shows three lettuce wraps arranged closely on a white plate with a white marbled background. Each wrap consists of a large, fresh green lettuce leaf forming a cup at the base layer, filled with a mix of cooked ground meat and small diced orange and red bell peppers scattered throughout as the second layer. Thin strips of orange carrots add texture on top of the meat layer, while a sprinkling of black and white sesame seeds covers the whole filling, providing a contrasting speckled detail. On the right side of the plate, there is a small round bowl filled with a mixture of black and white sesame seeds. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

¼ cup maple syrup, brown sugar, or coconut sugar
¼ cup coconut aminos, tamari, or soy sauce
2 teaspoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
¼ – ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
2 teaspoon arrowroot powder or cornstarch
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lb ground beef
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoon 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 pepper, to taste
Sesame seeds, to taste, for garnish
Boston Bibb lettuce
Steamed white rice or sautéed cauliflower rice (optional, for serving)

Instructions

Step 1: Make the sauce by combining maple syrup, coconut aminos, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes in a measuring cup. Whisk until smooth, then add arrowroot powder and whisk again until well combined.
Step 2: Heat olive oil in a 10” skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
Step 3: Add minced garlic and grated ginger to the beef. Cook, stirring continuously, until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
Step 4: Stir in the diced red bell pepper and shredded carrots. Cook until tender but still crisp, about 3-4 minutes.
Step 5: Pour the sauce over the beef and vegetable mixture, stirring to combine. Simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2-3 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
Step 6: Stir in sliced green onions. Remove from heat.
Step 7: Spoon the filling into Boston Bibb lettuce leaves. Garnish with sesame seeds and serve with or without steamed white rice or sautéed cauliflower rice.

Tips & Variations

Use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option. Add chopped water chestnuts or mushrooms for extra texture.
For additional spice, increase the red pepper flakes or add a dash of sriracha to the sauce.
If arrowroot powder is unavailable, cornstarch works equally well as a thickener.
Try using butter lettuce or romaine hearts if Boston Bibb is not available.

Storage

Store any leftover beef filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed through. Keep lettuce separate until ready to serve to maintain freshness and prevent wilting.

How to Serve

The image shows three lettuce cups on a white plate, each cup made of pale green, soft lettuce leaves forming a bowl shape. Inside the cups, there is a mix of ground beef cooked with small pieces of orange carrots and red bell peppers, adding color contrast. The beef mixture looks juicy and textured with visible seasoning. The top layer is sprinkled with a mix of black and white sesame seeds for a crunchy texture. The plate is placed on a white marbled surface with a small black bowl of more sesame seeds nearby. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these lettuce wraps vegetarian?

Yes, you can substitute the ground beef with crumbled tofu, tempeh, or plant-based meat alternatives. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly and use the same sauce for flavor.

What if I don’t have coconut aminos or tamari?

Soy sauce is a fine substitute and widely available. If you need gluten-free options, coconut aminos or tamari are best choices. Adjust the amount to taste since soy sauce can be saltier.

Asian Style Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 130 reviews

Delicious and flavorful Asian Style Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps featuring a savory-sweet sauce with fresh ginger, garlic, and crisp vegetables, perfect for a light and satisfying meal served in crisp Boston Bibb lettuce cups.

Author: Sophie
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 8 wraps without rice, 12 wraps with rice 1x
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Asian

Ingredients

Scale

Lettuce Wrap Sauce

¼ cup maple syrup, brown sugar, or coconut sugar
¼ cup coconut aminos, tamari, or soy sauce
2 teaspoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
¼ – ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
2 teaspoon arrowroot powder, or cornstarch

Ground Beef Filling

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lb ground beef
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoon 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 pepper, to taste
Sesame seeds, to taste, for garnish
Boston Bibb lettuce, for wrapping
Steamed white rice or sautéed cauliflower rice, optional, for serving

Instructions

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 again until fully incorporated.
Cook the ground beef: Heat olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up the meat, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
Add aromatics: Stir in the minced garlic and grated fresh ginger, cooking continuously until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
Sauté vegetables: Add the finely diced red bell pepper and shredded carrots to the skillet. Cook until tender-crisp, about 3-4 minutes.
Combine with sauce: Pour the prepared sauce over the beef and vegetables in the skillet. Stir well to combine, then simmer gently until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2-3 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with kosher salt and ground pepper as needed.
Finish with green onions: Stir in the sliced green onions just before removing from heat.
Serve: Spoon the savory beef mixture into Boston Bibb lettuce leaves. Garnish with sesame seeds. Serve with steamed white rice or sautéed cauliflower rice if desired. Makes 8 wraps without rice or 12 wraps with rice.

Notes

For a vegetarian option, substitute ground beef with cooked lentils or plant-based mince.
Adjust red pepper flakes based on preferred spice level or omit for a milder flavor.
Arrowroot powder is used to thicken the sauce; cornstarch can be used as an alternative.
Serve immediately to maintain the crispness of the lettuce wraps.
Boston Bibb lettuce is ideal for wraps due to its soft but sturdy leaves; butter lettuce or romaine can also be used.

Keywords: Asian ground beef lettuce wraps, easy lettuce wraps, low carb Asian recipe, quick Asian dinner, healthy ground beef recipes, sesame beef wraps