Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps

By: Denise Bustard105 Comments
Posted: 6/1/21 Updated: 6/7/21

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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!

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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 ♡ 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. It’s 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

spoon dripping the peanut sauce for ground turkey lettuce wraps

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).

(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.

Pouring the peanut sauce into pan with ground turkey filling for lettuce wrap recipe

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.

thai turkey lettuce wraps recipe on plate

4. Serve- Spoon the filling into romaine lettuce leaves, and enjoy!

FAQ

What is the best lettuce for lettuce wraps?

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.

How do you prepare lettuce for lettuce wraps?

Carefully wash your lettuce by soaking in cold water, then dry it gently so you don't tear the leaves.

How long do lettuce wraps last?

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

Ground turkey filling and romaine lettuce leaves in meal prep containers for thai turkey lettuce wrap recipe

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

Favorite Meal Prep Containers

Our tried and true favorite meal prep containers and jars that will keep your food fresh, help you reheat it evenly, and withstand the test of time. No more wasting your money, these are the absolute best containers out there!

Keep reading

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

Meet Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.