Name: Flavor-Packed Asian Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps
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 soy sauce, tamari (for gluten-free), or coconut aminos (for soy-free); 2 tsp rice vinegar; 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil; ¼–½ tsp red pepper flakes, optional; 2 tsp arrowroot powder or cornstarch; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 lb ground beef (or ground chicken, pork, or turkey); 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tsp fresh ginger, grated; 1 medium red bell pepper, finely diced; ½ cup shredded carrots; 4 green onions, sliced into 1-inch pieces; Salt and black pepper, to taste; Sesame seeds, for garnish; Boston Bibb, Romaine, or Iceberg lettuce leaves, for serving; Cooked white rice or cauliflower rice, optional

Description

When the craving hits for something fresh, flavorful, and fast, these Asian Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps deliver big. Juicy beef and crisp veggies are coated in a sesame-ginger garlic sauce that’s sweet, savory, and a little spicy. Wrap it all up in crunchy lettuce leaves for a healthy dinner or quick meal prep option that tastes better than takeout!

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

¼ cup maple syrup, brown sugar, or coconut sugar

¼ cup soy sauce, tamari (for gluten-free), or coconut aminos (for soy-free)

2 tsp rice vinegar

1 tbsp toasted sesame oil

¼–½ tsp red pepper flakes, optional

2 tsp arrowroot powder or cornstarch

For the Filling:

1 tbsp olive oil

1 lb ground beef (or ground chicken, pork, or turkey)

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp fresh ginger, grated

1 medium red bell pepper, finely diced

½ cup shredded carrots

4 green onions, sliced into 1-inch pieces

Salt and black pepper, to taste

Sesame seeds, for garnish

Boston Bibb, Romaine, or Iceberg lettuce leaves, for serving

Cooked white rice or cauliflower rice, optional

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Instructions

Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, sweetener, and red pepper flakes. Add arrowroot powder and whisk until smooth.
Cook the Beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking it up as it cooks (about 5 minutes).
Add Garlic & Ginger: Stir in garlic and ginger; cook 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
Add Veggies: Add diced bell pepper and shredded carrots. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until tender.
Add Sauce: Pour sauce into the pan, stirring well. Simmer 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened and glossy.
Finish: Stir in sliced green onions and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Serve: Spoon filling into lettuce leaves, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and serve as-is or with rice or cauliflower rice.

Notes

Make It Ahead: The sauce can be prepared 1 day in advance and refrigerated in a sealed container.
Low-Carb Option: Use coconut aminos and skip the cornstarch for a thinner, lighter sauce.
Meal Prep Tip: Store the filling separately from the lettuce. Reheat the beef filling before serving.
Add More Veggies: Try cabbage, mushrooms, or zucchini for extra nutrients and crunch.
Customize Your Protein: Ground chicken, pork, or turkey all work great!

Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 15 min
Cuisine: Asian