Simple and so flavorful, these Thai turkey lettuce wraps have a tangy and slightly spicy peanut sauce. Spoon the filling into crisp romaine lettuce leaves for an easy and lower in carbs dinner option.
Lettuce wraps are deliciously refreshing; I love the contrast between the heavier filling and the light, crunchy lettuce leaf. From BBQ chicken lettuce wraps to Korean-inspired lettuce wraps to this Thai version, there are tons of options to mix things up!
This recipe tosses ground turkey in a Thai-inspired peanut sauce to infuse a ton of flavor into the meat; spoon it into romaine leaves for that crunch factor. This meal is simple, easy to prep ahead and reheat, and is a reader favorite!
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Reasons you'll โก this recipe
- the Thai red curry paste and peanut sauce create bold flavors
- the contrast between the crisp romaine and ground turkey filling works well together
- you can prep the filling ahead and store in the fridge or freezer for later
Recipe video
Watch the video below to see exactly how I prepped my lettuce wraps. Itโs so easy! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel, or on Facebook.
Ingredient notes
- ground turkey- you can use any type of ground meat for this recipe; lean ground beef makes an excellent alternative
- peanut butter- look for all natural peanut butter (the only ingredients should be peanuts and maybe salt). If your peanut butter is thick or drying out, you may need to add some water to thin your sauce out. If you need a peanut-free option, consider using all natural almond butter.
- Thai red curry paste- brands I love include Thai Kitchen, Cock brand and Mae Ploy
- lettuce- we love using romaine leaves for lettuce wraps as the crunch factor is so good! You could also use butter lettuce leaves.
Step by step directions
1. Mix up peanut sauce- In a small jar or salad dressing shaker, add the peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, water, sesame oil and lime juice. Shake it up until smooth.
2. Cook the filling- (1) Heat oil in a large pan and add the onions, garlic and Thai red curry paste. Stir until red curry paste is heated through and mixed in evenly with the onions (2-3 minutes).
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(2) Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, for 5-7 minutes, until no pink remains and the turkey is cooked through.
(3) Stir in the shredded carrots.
3. Add sauce to filling- Pour the peanut sauce evenly over the cooked filling, and toss until everything is evenly coated. Set aside to cool slightly.
4. Serve- Spoon the filling into romaine lettuce leaves, and enjoy!
FAQ
Butter lettuce is the most popular option for lettuce wraps, but personally I prefer romaine leaves as they add great crunch and texture to your wraps. Iceberg lettuce is another variety you could use.
Carefully wash your lettuce by soaking in cold water, then dry it gently so you don't tear the leaves.
Not long; once the liquid from the filling comes in contact with the lettuce leaves, you need to eat them pretty quickly. You can make the filling for this recipe ahead of time and store separately from the lettuce leaves.
Meal prep & storage
While the lettuce wraps must be served quickly after adding the filling to the lettuce leaf, you can prep the filling ahead and store in the fridge or freezer:
- fridge- store in an air tight container for up to 4 days.
- freezer- store in an air tight container for up to 3 months.
- reheating- heat individual portions in the microwave until steaming hot; heat larger portions in a frying pan over medium heat until steaming hot
Recipe variations
- Chop up the lettuce and serve wrapped in a tortilla with the Thai ground turkey
- Chop up the romaine and serve as a salad with the Thai ground turkey, plus some additional veggies
- Add some shredded zucchini or sliced bell peppers to the turkey, or top with fresh bean sprouts for extra veggies
More ground turkey recipes
Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!
Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
Sauce
- ยผ cup peanut butter all natural
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce see note 1
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons water see note 2
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
Filling
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste see note 3
- 1 lb lean ground turkey see note 4
- 1 cup carrots shredded
To serve
- romaine lettuce leaves
- green onions to garnish
- peanuts to garnish
Instructions
- Mix up peanut sauce-ย In a small jar orย salad dressing shaker, add the peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, water, sesame oil and lime juice. Shake it up until smooth.
- Cook the aromatics-ย (1) Heat oil in a large pan and add the onions, garlic and Thai red curry paste. Stir until red curry paste is heated through and mixed in evenly with the onions (2-3 minutes).
- Turkey- Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, for 5-7 minutes, until no pink remains and the turkey is cooked through.
- Carrots & sauce- Stir in the shredded carrots, then the peanut sauce. Stir to combine. Toss until everything is evenly coated, then set aside to cool slightly.
- Serve- Spoon the filling into romaine lettuce leaves. Sprinkle with green onions and/or peanuts, and enjoy!
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Video
Nutrition Information
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Victoria says
Quick and tasty! Served with chopped cashews and sriracha mayo.
Melanie says
Delicious! I made it with spicy turkey sausage the first time and loved it more than regular ground turkey!
Michelle Robertson says
My whole family loves this! It is requested very often. I had never used curry paste before this, but I am so glad I went for it. The peanut butter sauce was very thin and I thought it would be watery, but it isn't at all. Trust the process! Thank you for my new family's favorite.
Denise Bustard says
Hi Michelle! That's so great to hear! Thank you so much for reporting back <3
Amanda says
I used chunky peanut butter for the crunch and left it thicker sine I had moisture in the pan from the turkey and veggies. It turned out delicious!
Denise Bustard says
Hi Amanda! That's great to hear. Thanks so much for reporting back!
Andrea says
HI Denise, I have green curry paste, does it make a big difference if I use it?
Denise Bustard says
Hi Andrea! I haven't actually tried green curry paste in this recipe, but I suspect it would turn out well? Let me know if you end up giving it a try!
Chef William says
Nice recipe with a tasty sauce. Only change I will make next time I make it is to give it a little zip... Maybe some Sriracha?
Ben | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Chef William,
We are happy to hear you enjoyed the wraps. Garlic Chilli Sauce goes very well in this recipe. add to taste ๐
Chef William says
Thanks Ben, the additional of garlic chili sauce and a couple of tablespoons of Sriracha and an extra tablespoon of red curry paste, turned the flavor and heat up to a nice balance with the creamy richness of the peanut sauce. Definitely a keeper.
Joni says
Made this recipe for dinner last night and LOVED it! It was quick and easy to pull together. My meat-loving hubby liked it just as much as I did. This was my first time using red curry paste, but it definitely wonโt be the last. We didnโt have as much left over as I hoped, so Iโm making it again tonight ๐
Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Joni, that's amazing! Glad you found a new favorite, and that you got to try something new! Thanks so much for taking the time to come back to leave a rating and review ๐
Jen puma says
Omg! Made this for dinner tonight. Amazing! So good! So healthy. (I used to the fresh ground peanut butter from fresh thyme) Thank you for sharing this! Also, for those who don't like really spicy food (like us) do not shy away from the red curry paste. It was not spicy at all, but added an incredible depth of flavor.
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Jen, awe so glad to hear that you enjoyed, and hopefully found a new favorite to come back to again and again! Thank you so much for taking the time to come back to leave a rating and review!