Beef Lettuce Wraps Hoisin (Printable)

Ground beef cooked with aromatic veggies and hoisin, served in crisp lettuce leaves for a light dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef Mixture

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
07 - 1/2 cup chopped water chestnuts
08 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Sauce

09 - 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
10 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
11 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
12 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
13 - 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili sauce (optional)
14 - 1 teaspoon brown sugar

→ To Serve

15 - 1 head butter or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated, washed, and dried
16 - 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, roughly chopped (optional)
17 - Extra sliced green onions or cilantro for garnish (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sriracha if using, and brown sugar in a small bowl; set aside.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
03 - Add diced onion, minced garlic, and grated ginger to the skillet. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
04 - Stir in red bell pepper and chopped water chestnuts. Continue cooking for 2 minutes until vegetables are tender but still crisp.
05 - Pour the prepared sauce over the beef and vegetable mixture. Stir well to coat and cook for another 2 minutes until heated through.
06 - Remove skillet from heat and fold in sliced green onions.
07 - Spoon the beef mixture into individual lettuce leaves. Garnish with peanuts, extra green onions, or cilantro as desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Ready in 30 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for weeknight dinners or last-minute gatherings.
  • The crispy lettuce cups feel indulgent but taste so clean and fresh you don't feel guilty eating seconds.
  • Everyone at the table builds their own, which somehow makes ordinary ground beef taste like you spent hours in the kitchen.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining the excess fat from the beef—a little is good, but too much makes the finished wraps slide around in your lettuce cup and feel greasy.
  • Prep all your vegetables before you start cooking because once the beef hits the pan, everything moves fast and you don't want to be caught chopping garlic mid-sauté.
  • Taste the sauce before it goes into the pan and adjust—if it tastes a little strong on its own, it's perfect for seasoning the beef, so trust it.
03 -
  • Chop your water chestnuts by hand rather than buying them pre-sliced—the texture holds up better and they taste fresher.
  • Let people build their own wraps rather than pre-filling them, which keeps the lettuce crisp and makes everyone feel like they're at a fun dinner rather than being served.

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