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Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps are a quick 20-minute dinner made in one pan with simple, affordable ingredients. Savory ground beef, crisp lettuce, and a flavorful sauce come together for a low-carb meal that’s easy to customize and perfect for busy weeknights.
This family-tested recipe is great for meal prep, light dinners, or serving as an appetizer for gatherings.
Why You’ll Love Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps!
If you’ve made our Egg Roll in a Bowl before, this is another recipe I think you’ll really enjoy. I love making these Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps on busy nights when I want something lighter but still filling. They’re simple to pull together, easy to adjust with whatever we have on hand, and everyone can build their own at the table.
The savory ground beef paired with crisp lettuce gives you all that salty-sweet flavor without needing tortillas or noodles. I’ve served these as a quick weeknight dinner and even as an appetizer when we have family over and they disappear fast every time. If you’re looking for another easy favorite, our Zucchini Taco Boats are always a hit too.
Recipe Snapshot
- Budget-Friendly: Uses affordable ground beef and pantry staples
- Family-Tested: Mild flavor that kids enjoy
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Method: One-pan skillet
- Freezer-Friendly: Filling freezes well
- Best For: Busy weeknights, low-carb meals, meal prep
Ingredients
- Ground Beef -I love using lean ground beef in this recipe but you can easily ground chicken, ground turkey, ground pork or venison
- Onion – Chop onion ahead of time and freeze onion
- Grated Carrots – Use already grated carrots or do it yourself
- Minced Garlic – Learn How to Mince Garlic Cloves
- Black Pepper – Simple spice addition
- Ground Ginger – If you are out, see The Best Ginger Substitutes. You can even use fresh ginger
- Rice Vinegar – See The Best Substitutes for Rice Vinegar
- Soy Sauce – Try coconut aminos for a gluten free variation
- Brown Sugar – See The Best Brown Sugar Substitutes
- Whole Green Onions – Slice into small pieces
- Sesame Seeds – Garnish
- Butter Lettuce or Bib Lettuce – The best lettuce to make lettuce wraps
How to Make Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps
Step 1 – In a large skillet brown ground beef with the onion and grated carrots over medium-high heat.
Step 2 – When the beef is no longer pink add in the pepper, minced garlic, ground ginger and rice vinegar. Stir to combine.
Step 3 – In a small bowl combine ½ cup soy sauce with brown sugar.
Step 4 – Stir into the skillet. Allow the mixture to cook over medium heat for 10 minutes to combine the flavors.
Step 5 – Stir in green onions and top with sesame seeds.
Step 6 – Serve on Butter lettuce leaves and enjoy.
Recipe Tips
- Ground Beef – After cooking beef drain off any excess grease to prevent soggy wraps.
- Meal Prep – This is a great recipe to meal for the week. Cook the ground beef mixture and store in individual containers. Then when ready to serve prep the lettuce wraps and enjoy.
- Preparing Veggies – Chop the veggies in uniform pieces so that everything cooks evenly.
- Adding Meat Mixture – Let filling cool slightly before spooning into lettuce.
Variations Ideas
- Add more veggies – This is a great recipe to sneak in more vegetables. Chopped red bell peppers or shredded zucchini make a great addition. We have even add in water chestnuts for added crunch.
- Change Flavor – You can easily make these Lettuce Wraps with Taco seasoning by swapping out the Asian spices.
- Mediterranean – For a bright and creamy flavor, season add in ½ tsp of oregano and cumin and top with Homemade Tzatziki Sauce Recipe.
- Spicy – Drizzle with sriracha or a pinch of red-pepper flakes for spicier wraps.
How to Serve Lettuce Wraps
Lettuce wraps can be served in many different ways. We usually serve as a main dish recipe but have also served as an appetizer. Serve with these side dish recipes to make a complete meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Since we are making this recipe with lettuce instead of regular tortilla then this recipe is considered a low carb recipe.
Butter or Bibb Lettuce gives cup-like leaves. You can also use romaine lettuce or iceberg lettuce also work.
We recommend storing the beef mixture and lettuce separately. Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Yes, you can freeze the ground beef filling for up to 3 months in the freezer safe container. Thaw in the fridge when ready to reheat.
Warm filling in a skillet or microwave until heated through. You may need refresh with a dash of soy sauce or broth if dry.
Yes. Prepare the filling up to 3–4 days in advance and store separately from the lettuce. Assemble just before serving for best texture.
Absolutely. Ground turkey or chicken works well and keeps the recipe lighter.
Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- ½ onion diced
- ½ cup grated carrots
- 2 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- ½ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 whole green onions sliced
- ½ tablespoon sesame seeds for garnish
- butter lettuce or bib lettuce
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- In a large skillet brown 2 pounds of ground beef with ½ onion (diced) and ½ cup of grated carrots.
- When the beef is no longer pink add in ½ teaspoon of black pepper, 2 teaspoon of minced garlic, ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger and 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar.
- Stir to combine.
- In a small bowl combine ½ cup soy sauce with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar.
- Stir into the skillet.
- Allow the mixture to cook over medium heat for 10 minutes to combine the flavors.
- Stir in 2 green onions (sliced) and top with ½ tablespoon of sesame seeds (garnish).
- Serve on butter lettuce leaves and enjoy
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
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If you make these Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps, please leave a comment and star rating. Your feedback helps other families and lets us know which recipes you’re enjoying most.
We love making Lettuce Wraps! They are light, healthy and make the perfect light weeknight dinner. This recipe was so good!