Savory Beef Lettuce Wraps (Printable)

A fresh, flavorful hand-held meal featuring savory beef and crisp lettuce with Asian seasonings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef

01 - 1 pound lean ground beef

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
07 - 1 medium carrot, grated
08 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced

→ Sauce

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

→ To Serve

15 - 1 head butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated and rinsed
16 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
17 - Fresh cilantro leaves (optional)
18 - Lime wedges (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 2 minutes until translucent.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and grated ginger; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef, breaking it apart with a spatula. Cook until browned and no longer pink, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Stir in diced red bell pepper and grated carrot; cook for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly softened.
05 - Whisk together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, optional sriracha, and sugar in a small bowl. Pour the sauce over the beef mixture, stirring well to coat. Cook an additional 2 minutes to blend flavors.
06 - Add sliced spring onions, stir to combine, then remove from heat.
07 - Spoon the beef mixture into lettuce leaves. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and cilantro if desired. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Ready in 35 minutes from start to finish, which means you can have dinner on the table faster than delivery would arrive.
  • Each bite is interactive and customizable—your guests build their own wraps exactly how they like them.
  • The warm, umami-rich beef contrasts perfectly with cool, crisp lettuce, so every wrap feels fresh and satisfying.
  • Gluten-free and dairy-free by default, which makes it naturally inclusive for most tables.
02 -
  • Don't oversoak your lettuce leaves before serving—a quick rinse and a pat dry is all they need, or they'll turn mushy and tear when you're trying to fill them.
  • Cook the beef and vegetables at high enough heat that they brown rather than steam; if the pan looks crowded, work in batches instead of pushing everything together.
  • Taste the sauce before you finish cooking and adjust the soy sauce, vinegar, or heat level to match your preference—this is your moment to own it.
03 -
  • Mise en place is your best friend here—chop and measure everything before you start cooking, because once the beef hits the pan, there's no time to stop and dice an onion.
  • Use a wok if you have one; the sloped sides make it easier to keep everything moving and ensure even cooking across the whole pan.
  • Serve the wraps warm but let your guests assemble them themselves rather than doing it in the kitchen—the lettuce stays crisp longer that way, and everyone gets exactly what they want.

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