Quick High Protein Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce – Better Than Takeout
Quick High Protein Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce are ready in just 20 minutes and taste better than takeout. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping the chicken crispy and the wraps from getting soggy. The crispy chicken, fresh lettuce, and creamy peanut sauce make this a family favorite that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips, including how to prevent the wraps from falling apart. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Fresh Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad and Slow Cooker Creamy Honey Mustard Chicken.
Why This Quick High Protein Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce – Better Than Takeout Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy chicken that stays crispy, even in lettuce wraps
- Creamy peanut sauce that's better than takeout
- Easy to customize with your favorite veggies
- High protein and low carb, perfect for meal prep
What You'll Need for Quick High Protein Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce – Better Than Takeout
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 head butter lettuce
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp grated ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp grated ginger
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- Optional: Chopped green onions
- Optional: Crushed peanuts
- Optional: Diced cilantro
- Optional: Sriracha or chili garlic sauce (optional)
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts: You can also use chicken thighs or ground chicken.
- Butter lettuce: Romaine or iceberg lettuce can also be used.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Food processor — Makes quick work of mincing garlic and ginger, and can also be used to make the peanut sauce creamy. → See on Amazon
- Meat mallet — Pounding the chicken thin ensures even cooking and helps it stay crispy in the wraps. → See on Amazon
How to Make Quick High Protein Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce – Better Than Takeout
- Prepare the chicken: Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness, about 1/4 inch. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook the chicken: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and crispy, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Make the peanut sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, grated ginger, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
- Cook the aromatics: In the same skillet, add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger and cook for an additional 1 minute.
- Combine the ingredients: Add the cooked chicken back to the skillet and stir to combine with the aromatics. Pour the peanut sauce over the chicken and stir to coat. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, until the chicken is heated through.
- Assemble the wraps: Separate the lettuce leaves and spoon the chicken mixture onto each leaf. Top with your desired toppings and serve immediately.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Quick High Protein Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce – Better Than Takeout
- Pro tip: To prevent the wraps from falling apart, make sure to pat the lettuce leaves dry before assembling. You can also use toothpicks to secure the wraps if needed.
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the chicken or it will become dry. If the chicken is not cooked through, you can finish cooking it in the microwave or on the stovetop before adding the sauce.
- Pro tip: For a spicier version, add some Sriracha or chili garlic sauce to the peanut sauce.
- Pro tip: To make ahead, prepare the chicken and sauce separately and store in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, assemble the wraps and top with your desired toppings.
Storing & Reheating Quick High Protein Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce – Better Than Takeout
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: The chicken and sauce can be made up to 1 day ahead and stored separately in the refrigerator.
Freezing Quick High Protein Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce – Better Than Takeout
Not recommended for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a lower-carb version, use lettuce leaves as the wrap and serve the chicken mixture over a bed of greens.
- Best substitution: If you don't have peanut butter, you can use almond butter or cashew butter as a substitute.
- Make-ahead: The chicken and sauce can be made up to 1 day ahead and stored separately in the refrigerator.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the chicken is not crispy, you can broil it in the oven for 2-3 minutes or until crispy.
Want to level up this recipe?
Instant Pot — Cooks the chicken quickly and evenly, and can also be used to make the sauce creamy and rich. → Check price on Amazon
Quick High Protein Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce – Better Than Takeout
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 head butter lettuce
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp grated ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
Seasonings
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp grated ginger
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
Optional Toppings
- Chopped green onions
- Crushed peanuts
- Diced cilantro
- Sriracha or chili garlic sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness, about 1/4 inch. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook the chicken: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and crispy, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Make the peanut sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, grated ginger, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
- Cook the aromatics: In the same skillet, add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger and cook for an additional 1 minute.
- Combine the ingredients: Add the cooked chicken back to the skillet and stir to combine with the aromatics. Pour the peanut sauce over the chicken and stir to coat. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, until the chicken is heated through.
- Assemble the wraps: Separate the lettuce leaves and spoon the chicken mixture onto each leaf. Top with your desired toppings and serve immediately.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a lower-carb version, use lettuce leaves as the wrap and serve the chicken mixture over a bed of greens.
- Best substitution: If you don't have peanut butter, you can use almond butter or cashew butter as a substitute.
- Make-ahead: The chicken and sauce can be made up to 1 day ahead and stored separately in the refrigerator.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the chicken is not crispy, you can broil it in the oven for 2-3 minutes or until crispy.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.
- Make ahead: The chicken and sauce can be made up to 1 day ahead and stored separately in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 18g
- Carbs: 18g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 80mg
- Sat. Fat: 3g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Quick High Protein Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce – Better Than Takeout FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the chicken and sauce ahead of time and store them separately in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, assemble the wraps and top with your desired toppings.
To prevent the wraps from falling apart, make sure to pat the lettuce leaves dry before assembling. You can also use toothpicks to secure the wraps if needed.
Yes, you can use romaine or iceberg lettuce as a substitute for butter lettuce.
Add some Sriracha or chili garlic sauce to the peanut sauce for a spicier version.
Yes, you can use ground chicken as a substitute for chicken breasts. Cook the ground chicken in the skillet until browned and cooked through before adding the sauce.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Quick High Protein Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce – Better Than Takeout and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
