Pork Lettuce Wraps
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Insanely delicious and simple Pork Lettuce Wraps ready in just 20 minutes! Boldly-flavored pork and vegetable filling wrapped in a crisp lettuce cup and drizzled with a rich Asian glaze – better than any restaurant version you’ve tasted!
For more better-than-takeout Asian recipes, head on over to my popular posts for Pork Fried Rice, Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry, and Slow Cooker Broccoli Beef.
Just call me the “ruiner.” I’m fine with it, actually! While you might think that sounds like a really bad thing to be called, in my house it’s a compliment? Why? Well because when someone refers to me as that, it just means I’ve ruined yet another restaurant meal for them by making my own version taste even better. I definitely can’t be mad at that!
My family swears these lettuce wraps blow PF Changs lettuce wraps away and they don’t use that term lightly because they used to be obsessed with their lettuce wraps! If I end up ruining them for you too, well, sorrynotsorry!
Why This Recipe Works
Lean ground pork — Did you know pork is actually a pretty lean meat (all bacon aside)? I’ve found that cooking with leaner ground meat is good for these lettuce wraps, as you end up adding a lot of sauces, veggies, and other fun ingredients and I prefer those flavors of that of residual fats and oils.
Pantry ingredients — For serious! You might think something like “fish sauce” isn’t a pantry staple, and, while it might not be in YOUR pantry right now, I’m telling you, buy it once (really easy to find in the International aisle of your grocery store), and you’ll never have a pantry without it, I promise.
Loads of veggies — I like to pile in lots of finely diced veggies like zucchini, onion, carrot, and water chestnuts to give these wraps tons of flavor, lots of crunch, and plenty of vitamins and nutrients too.
The perfect pork recipe — The pork in the lettuce wraps isn’t just amazing in the lettuce, it’s amazing as a main component for so many other things. I add this pork on top of rice, noodles, in slider buns, in tortillas and other wraps…you get the picture.
Here’s How You Make It
- First, you’ll make the sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, garlic, lemongrass, ginger, sriracha, and red pepper flakes. (not pictured)
- Next, in a skillet over medium-high heat, drizzle oil and let it heat up a minute. (not pictured)
- Add the ground pork to the oil and break it up as it cooks, until it’s all nice and browned. (photo 1)
- Now add in the veggies, and saute them for about 5-7 minutes, or until they are tender, but not overdone. (photos 2)
- Finally, pour over the sauce, reduce the heat, and let all that fabulousness simmer for about 5-10 minutes (photo 3)
- Scoop into lettuce cups and sprinkle with green onions, and dive in! (photo 4)
Frequently Asked Questions
I prefer to use iceberg lettuce because it has large leaves and holds a lot of delicious pork. Other lettuce that works just great though is romaine, bibb, butter, or another larger leaf lettuce.
Okay here’s what I do to prepare the lettuce for wrapping around these pork lettuce wraps. I’m going to use iceberg as my example.
First, pull off any outer leaves that are thin, wilty, brown, etc. to get to the better lettuce underneath.
Then, I remove the core by slamming the head of lettuce, core-side-down into the counter. The core should break free from the rest of the head so that you can wiggle it out.
Next, I carefully peel off the leaves one by one. I gently rinse them in the sink, then pat them dry with paper towels before serving them just like PF Changs lettuce wraps. Be sure to not do this too far away from eating or the leaves will start to wilt. Or you can prepare them and keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to eat.
Expert Tips
- Want some sauce on the side for dipping? Here’s an easy and delicious option: Simply whisk together 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce and 1/4 cup soy sauce. Serve on the side with the pork lettuce wraps.
- I mention some optional ingredients in my ingredients list. Why? Well, I add lemongrass paste and fish sauce almost every time I make this dish but I also have made this without them when I had run out. Still very, very tasty. Don’t think this won’t work if you are missing those two ingredients is what I’m saying — still totally worth it!
- If you have any leftovers, this pork will keep in the fridge (minus the lettuce) for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- I suggest making/peeling off/preparing fresh lettuce cups each time you serve this for the crispiest, tastiest lettuce.
More Tasty Asian Recipes
- Sweet and Spicy Thai Glazed Chicken
- Pork Fried Rice
- Shrimp Fried Rice
- Chinese Lemon Chicken
- Kung Pao Chicken
Did you make this Pork Lettuce Wraps recipe? YAY! Please rate the recipe below!
Pork Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground pork
- 1 small-medium zucchini, diced
- 1 8-ounce can water chestnuts, drained and roughly chopped
- ½ white or yellow onion, diced
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- ⅓ cup soy sauce, I used low sodium
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce, optional but HIGHLY recommended
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon lemongrass paste, optional but HIGHLY recommended
- 2 teaspoons ginger paste , OR ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons sriracha sauce
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional, leave out for mild
- chopped green onions, for garnish
- 1 head iceberg lettuce, for serving (butter lettuce or romaine will also work)
Instructions
- Whisk together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, garlic, lemongrass, ginger, sriracha, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
- Drizzle oil into a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add pork and brown, breaking apart with a spoon or spatula as it cooks, for about 5 minutes.
- Add zucchini, water chestnuts, onions, and carrots. Sauté about 5-7 minutes until veggies are tender.
- Stir in sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 5-10 minutes.
- Serve in lettuce cups and garnish with green onions if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
It is very rare to make a dish that the family could just not get enough of. This was one delicious meal. I kept to the sauce because I keep these ingredients in hand. I did not have the veggies so used sliced green onion tops from my garden and chopped multi peppers that I had in my freezer. This meal is definitely added to rotation. Thank you!
Oh that’s great! I’m so glad the whole family enjoyed this recipe! Mom for the win! 🙂
These are good, but there’s WAY too much soy sauce. I would suggest cutting it down to 1/4 cup. I used low sodium as well. I also recommend fresh ginger and lemongrass. Cilantro on top is a nice addition to these.
I like this recipe. Perfect for a family of four. A couple tweaks I made – add a table spoon on dark soy to enhance the color. Also add a tbsp or 2 of honey to balance the saltiness.
This recipe is in heavy rotation at our home, it’s our boys favorite!!! I usually only have 1 lb of pork/turkey on hand so I do reduce the soy/hoisin but I wonder if that’s why some are saying it’s too salty. Adjust to your palate! We never have leftovers!
Oh and by the way I made as per your recipe and couldn’t fault it, seasoned perfectly. Not sure what the others did to make it too salty 🤔
Can you reheat the leftovers? Not that there was much as it was absolutely gorgeous, I cooked for just one, me!
Yes, of course you don’t want to heat the lettuce, but you can take the filling and toss it in a skillet for 3-5 minutes 🙂
Can I substitute ground beef
Sure! 🙂
I thought it was good, too salty needed some acid. After tasting it I doctored it up.
Followed the directions without the optional items and I added a little extra carrots to my preference. Simple and quick meal with an amazing amount of flavor. My picky eater devoured them. This could become a regular item on our dinner menu
I made this exactly as printed but found it to be terribly salty! The flavor was amazing other than the saltiness. If I liked low-sodium soy I’d try it but I don’t like the flavor. I’m certainly trying this recipe again and taste as I go!!!! THEN, I hope to give it 5 stars.