Vietnamese Beef Lettuce Wraps

I’m excited to tell you that these Vietnamese Beef Lettuce Wraps turned out tasting as good as they look. I think we were all pleasantly surprised with how the flavors came together… Even my daughter said the sauce was “so much better than she was expecting.” Hey there, I’ll try not to take offense that you thought my sauce would be bad or something, LOL.

Also, I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again… This recipe made my internal veggie “calculator” go check, check, check! You can never eat too many vegetables, yet I’m always feeling guilty about not buying/serving more than I do. I have to admit though, sometimes all the washing and chopping can get in the way of me realizing that dream.

So I LOVED the awesome feeling I had after serving these beef wraps for dinner, especially since everyone scarfed them down. Even the picky eaters in your family might give this a go since they can pick and choose what they want, although I’d say since the lettuce cup is a requirement, you at least know they’re eating that much green!

Make Ahead Prep Tips for Beef Lettuce Wraps

This recipe is not complicated, but all the vegetable chopping and washing can take a little time. Here are a couple of time savers I thought about while I was putting everything together:

• Buy a bag of carrot sticks (already chopped)
• Buy a pack of already sliced peppers
• Blend the sauce in advance
• Boil the noodles in advance
• Get some helpers to pitch in

Honestly, this could even be fun for a DIY gathering where each person is given a veggie to chop, and then you all gather around to assemble your lettuce cups and eat. What a pretty platter for entertaining!

No matter how you go about it, I hope you enjoy!

Does Ground Beef Go in Lettuce Wraps?

I know what you’re thinking; aren’t lettuce wraps usually made with strips of beef or chicken? You absolutely could use steak or shredded beef for this recipe, but it works just as well with ground beef.

Ground beef recipes like these lettuce wraps are a great way to stretch your grocery budget while eating real food.

Vegetarian or Vegan Alternatives

Although this recipe is for Vietnamese beef lettuce wraps, you can definitely use the sauce for meatless lettuce wraps too. Just omit the beef entirely for a vegetarian option.

To make this recipe vegan, swap maple syrup for the honey. It won’t taste exactly the same, but is still a delicious Vietnamese style sauce for lettuce wraps! 

If you’re making a vegetarian or vegan version of this recipe, I recommend stir frying a few veggies like carrots and peppers with the beef seasoning to get the full flavor of this recipe. 

Easy Vietnamese Beef Lettuce Wrap Dinner Idea

I love this technique for an easy way to serve this meal or if you have picky eaters in the house. Instead of pre-making the lettuce wraps, put all the ingredients out in a serving tray or separate dishes. Then let the family mix and match to make their own!

This trick is especially helpful with kids who aren’t very adventurous with new foods. You’d be surprised what they’re willing to try just by offering healthy options and giving them the control to pick their own.

Recipe FAQs

Vietnamese Beef Lettuce Wraps

Bring your appetite because these Vietnamese Beef Lettuce Wraps are packed with flavor and tons of veggies! Wrap them in a piece of lettuce with some Asian brown rice noodles to really bring them all together for a fun way to eat dinner.

2 Reviews / 5 Average

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 25 mins

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: Vietnamese

Diet: Dairy Free, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Picky Eaters

Print Recipe

Servings: 4 wraps

Ingredients

  

1/2x1x2x…

For the beef

• 1 teaspoon coconut oil (can sub olive oil)
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger (minced)
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper (cayenne, ground or flakes)

For the sauce

• 4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey

For the wraps and assembly

• 1 head lettuce (butter or romaine)
• 4 ounces Asian brown rice noodles (boiled and drained according to package directions)
• 4 carrots (peeled and shredded with a cheese grater)
• 1 red bell pepper (seeded, cored, halved, and thinly sliced (can sub 4 small mini sweet peppers))
• 1/2 cucumber (halved crossways and thinly sliced)
• 2 green onions (trimmed and sliced)
• 1 jalapeno (seeded and thinly sliced)
• 1 handful cilantro
• 1 handful fresh basil
• 2 handfuls roasted peanuts (chopped)

Instructions

 

For the beef

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the ginger, garlic, and beef together, while stirring occasionally, until the meat is brown and no longer pink. Drain and discard the fat from the pan.
• Add in the soy sauce, vinegar, and red pepper, and stir to combine. Cook until the sauce thickens, a minute or two, and remove from the heat.

For the sauce

• Blend together the soy sauce, peanut butter, vinegar, and honey using a countertop or hand immersion blender until smooth. Thin the sauce out with a few drops of water if desired (or after refrigeration).

For the wraps and assembly

• Arrange the lettuce, noodles, chopped veggies and herbs, and peanuts on a platter for serving. Place the beef in the middle, and the dipping sauce alongside in a small bowl. Assemble as you eat and enjoy!

Notes

We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.

Use GF tamari/soy sauce and GF brown rice noodles to make this recipe gluten-free.

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition Facts

Vietnamese Beef Lettuce Wraps

Amount Per Serving

Calories 468 Calories from Fat 261

% Daily Value*

Fat 29g45%

Saturated Fat 10g63%

Cholesterol 81mg27%

Sodium 1721mg75%

Potassium 969mg28%

Carbohydrates 25g8%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 14g16%

Protein 29g58%

Vitamin A 12055IU241%

Vitamin C 52.6mg64%

Calcium 85mg9%

Iron 4.1mg23%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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You might also like these other lettuce wraps and recipes:

• Shrimp and Lentil Lettuce Wraps
• BLT Chicken Lettuce Cups
• Slow Cooker Chicken Banh Mi
• Asian Lettuce Wraps, page # 206, from my very first book 100 Days of Real Food

Filled with a mixture of pork, carrots, ginger, and water chestnuts, these lettuce cups are infused with an Asian flavor.