So I failed to tell you the entire culinary story of Ben’s and my Vegas Vacation…
Our first night there, feeling brave after a rather large can of Sapporo, we each dove face first into a Pinks Hotdog, whose newly opened location was strategically placed right outside our hotel. A Classic Dog for him, and a Rueben Dog for her. I know.
Whatever. One bite of the snappy casing, sour ‘kraut and salty pastrami and it was lights out. When in Vegas!
The other meal I failed to mention took place late one night after returning home from sipping cocktails and shooting craps at the casinos. I had previously turned up my nose to the P.F. Chang’s located in the lobby of our hotel, preferring to dine at non-chain restaurants for all major-meals while on vacation. But as I looked at the clock, I came to realize that it certainly wasn’t a major-meal hour of the day morning, and the smell wafting from the restaurant’s open doors smelled too good to resist.
Bring on the chain restaurant – and the Lettuce Wraps – whee!
P.F.Chang’s Lettuce Wraps – I am telling you – salty, greasy, PERFECT. If you’ve ever had them, I bet you’ll agree. But sometimes they can be a little too greasy, know what I mean?
That’s why I decided to recreate.
free email bonus
Dinner Made EASY
5 days of simple yet flavorful recipes that take the stress out of dinnertime!
P.F. Chang’s Lettuce Wraps
Description
P.F. Chang's Lettuce Wraps copycat recipe tastes just like the restaurant's version, but are made a lot healthier, and gluten-free - at home!
Ingredients
- 1lb ground chicken breast
- 1/2 onion, minced
- salt & pepper
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1" knob ginger, peeled & minced
- 2-1/2 Tablespoons gluten-free Tamari or soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 Tablespoon peanut butter
- 1/2 Tablespoon water
- 1/2 Tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce (or more if you like it hotter)
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1/2-8oz can sliced water chestnuts, drained & chopped
- 1/4 cup peanuts, chopped
- 10-12 large outer lettuce leaves, rinsed and patted dry
Directions
- Heat a large, non-stick skillet on high. Add chicken, onion, salt & pepper, then cook until chicken is nearly done, stirring often to break up the meat. Add garlic and ginger then continue cooking until chicken is no longer pink.
- Meanwhile, in a microwave safe bowl, combine gluten-free Tamari or soy sauce, rice vinegar, oil, peanut butter, water, honey, chili garlic sauce and pepper. Microwave for 20 seconds, then stir until smooth. Add into the skillet and stir to combine.
- Add green onions and water chestnuts into the skillet then cook for 1-2 minutes until the onions are soft and the water chestnuts are heated through.
- Sprinkle with chopped peanuts, and serve with cold lettuce leaves.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
I die. I die for this dish! It is FANtastic, and so much lighter than PFC’s!
Salty, crunchy and crispy – fun too! Simply pile the chicken mixture onto a lettuce leaf,
roll,
and chomp. AWESOME. The fuller you stuff ’em, the better, too. My first wrap was kind of weak sauce, so I really jammed the filling in with the others. Much better. You have to make these!
More Take-Out Fake-Out Recipes You’ll Love!
Lighter Orange Beef and Broccoli >
Thanks for this recipe! It’s been a staple at my house for over 6 years…and my whole family and all the guests I’ve served it to LOVE it! It took me a while to get on here and thank you, but really, THANK YOU!!!
Awww, so my pleasure, Joyce! I’m so glad you’ve found a recipe that everyone loves! Always a good feeling!
Hi, this sounds so good but I can have peanuts/peanut butter, do you think almonds/almond butter would work just as well/be as good?
I’m sure it would still be good!
[…] Lettuce Wraps and […]
[…] at P.F. Chang’s but never actually had them. No matter, I will happily eat Iowa Girl Eats’ copycat lettuce wraps for all eternity – I doubt I’m missing out because these things are addicting. (P.S. I like to […]
[…] On the plus side, my mom is in town, so, as I write this, the plan is to hang out at her condo and drink wine and make pork lettuce wraps for dinner. Need a good lettuce wrap recipe? I recommend this one. […]
This is one of my husband and I’s favorite meals! I wanted to beef it up with more veggies for my kid, so I doubled the sauce quantity, and added three cups of hearty veggies (this included the 1/2 onion originally called for and the remaining finely chopped carrots and cauliflower). My barely two year old LOVES IT! (My husband and I still love it too!!)
I’m so glad to hear it, Amber!! I just made this a few weeks ago and my 10 month old gobbled it up too. Who knew?! ;)
[…] PF Chang Inspired Lettuce Wraps […]
[…] P.F. Chang Lettuce Wraps recipe from Iowa Girl Eats […]
[…] Via iowagirleats.com […]
[…] Chicken in Lettuce Cups – I add chopped red pepper and zucchini for flavor and to add more vegetables. You can sub peanut butter with any nut butter of choice. – http://iowagirleats.com/2011/04/26/p-f-changs-lettuce-wraps-remade/ […]
[…] P.F. Changs Lettuce Wraps from Kristen. Â I LOVED this recipe, I had leftover bibb lettuce leaves and have really been wanting to make this copy cat P.F. Changs recipe. Â It was so good, my husband ate his in tortilla wraps, but I used the lettuce leaves and was fully satisfied. Â The homemade sauce was super simple and tasty, I don’t like using store bought sauces so I always try to find recipes where I can make my own. Â Oh and I used lean turkey instead of ground chicken, I just prefer the turkey taste over chicken. […]
Is there anywhere that lists the calorie content for these wraps? I started looking through all the contents and couldn’t find it. I made them awhile back and LOVED them. Now I’m on a diet and watching calories so I’d love to find nutritional content. Thank you!
I’m so glad you loved the recipe, Marcia!! I don’t calculate nutritional information for my recipes, but you could enter it here if you need that information! http://www.livestrong.com/recipes/create/
I have a question. Is the sesame oil supposed to be the toasted sesame oil or the plain sesame oil? I am new to using that ingredient but I saw both on the shelf at the grocery store.
Hi Adonna! I used toasted sesame oil since it’s a bit more intense in flavor, but you could use either.
[…] 13. Lettuce Wraps […]
[…] Via iowagirleats.com […]
[…] December 5 | Lettuce Wraps […]
Can you tell me where you buy your chili garlic sauce? Thanks!
It’s usually in the Asian Foods section, by the soy sauce. I hope that helps!
[…] http://iowagirleats.com/2011/04/26/p-f-changs-lettuce-wraps-remade/ […]
Every other pf changs imitation lettuce wrap recipe I’ve seen uses Hoison but you’re using peanut butter. Any comments on why you chose to go a slightly different route. I’m still inclined to try your version, because all of your recipes are on point, and a little extra protein is nice, but I was just wondering what made you go the peanut butter route.
Thanks!
Good question! I used peanut butter because I hate buying an entire bottle of something I use very infrequently (hoisin.) This recipe used pretty much everything I already had at home!
I cannot find chili garlic sauce. Would sweet chili sauce be a good substitute? Or what would you sub for it?
I would sub in a teaspoon of Siracha then taste at the end and add more if you want it spicier!