Asian-inspired ground beef lettuce wraps are easy, satisfying, and better than takeout with a juicy, sweet and spicy filling wrapped in crisp butter leaves and ready in 15 minutes!

Asian beef lettuce wraps on a white platter with a bowl of sliced green onions on the side.

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Asian-Inspired Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps

Ground beef lettuce wraps are a fresh, flavorful, and fast weeknight dinner! I love a good lettuce wrap because they’re so customizable, like my Thai chicken lettuce wraps and my copycat PF Chang’s lettuce wraps; they’ve each got their own unique flavors.

This beef lettuce wraps recipe is made with savory seasoned ground beef and red bell peppers tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce wrapped in crisp fresh lettuce. They’ve got takeout style taste without the fuss which is great when you’re craving something satisfying yet light!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Great for busy weeknights, quick and filling lunches, and a low-carb, high-protein meal that is easy to make!
  • You can customize the filling with extra veggies, added spice, or ingredient swaps.

Ingredients Notes

Ingredients for ground beef lettuce wraps including butter lettuce, ground beef, red bell pepper, onion, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sesame seeds, green onions, and seasonings arranged on a white counter.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Lean ground beef: I use 80/20 (20% fat) for the best flavor without too much extra grease.
  • Aromatics and veggies: Chopped onion, minced garlic and ginger, and chopped red bell pepper.
  • Soy sauce and brown sugar: For a sweet, savory, and umami combination of flavors.
  • Sesame oil and seasoning: I love the addition of sesame oil to give it that nutty element. You’ll also need red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.
  • Bibb lettuce cups: Bibb lettuce has large leaves that are soft and pliable. They’re great for cupping and wrapping around filling, without breaking.
  • For serving: Sliced green onions and sesame seeds for garnish.

How to Make Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps

Cook and crumble the ground beef over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper then cook until meat is brown. Drain excess grease, then add the garlic and ginger to cook for a couple more minutes.

In a small bowl, whisk together the beef lettuce wrap sauce ingredients, adding more red pepper flakes for a spicier flavor if desired.

Ground beef, onions, and red bell peppers browning together in a skillet during the first step of making lettuce wraps.
Asian-style sauce for lettuce wraps in a glass measuring cup with red pepper flakes, soy sauce, and brown sugar next to a whisk.

Pour into pan then bring to a light simmer, adding a tablespoon or two of water as necessary. Season with salt and pepper.

Scoop the ground beef filling into the lettuce cups and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Drizzle with sriracha sauce, if desired. Enjoy!

Cooked ground beef mixture with onions, red bell peppers, garlic, and ginger in a large skillet with a wooden spoon.
Ground beef lettuce wraps filled with seasoned beef, red peppers, green onions, and sesame seeds on a white platter.

Recipe Tips

  • Wash and dry your lettuce. Make sure the leaves are completely dry; otherwise, they’ll get soggy.
  • Remove excess grease. This is another way to prevent sogginess. Blot it with a paper towel or drain it your way.
  • Chop or dice finely. That way the peppers and onions are small enough not to overpower the filling.
  • Make ahead. Prep the filling and store it separately in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to heat, scoop, and serve it.
Asian-style ground beef lettuce wraps filled with seasoned beef, red bell peppers, green onions, and sesame seeds on a white platter.

More lettuce wraps to try include chicken club lettuce wraps and taco lettuce wraps.

More Asian-Inspired Recipes

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Asian beef lettuce wraps on a white platter with a bowl of sliced green onions on the side.

Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps

5 from 3 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Asian-inspired ground beef lettuce wraps are easy, satisfying, and better than takeout with a juicy, sweet and spicy filling wrapped in crisp butter leaves.
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Ingredients 

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon minced ginger , or 1/4 teaspoon ground
  • 1 red bell pepper , chopped

Sauce

  • ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce , or coconut aminos
  • 2-3 Tablespoons brown sugar , or honey
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • Crushed red pepper flakes
  • Sea salt , to taste
  • Ground black pepper , to taste

To serve

  • 6 Bibb lettuce cups
  • ¼ cup sliced green onions
  • sesame seeds

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add one pound ground beef, breaking up any large pieces. Add 1 cup onion and chopped bell pepper and cook until meat is browned, stirring occasionally. Drain any grease. Then add 2 teaspoons garlic and 1 teaspoon ginger and cook 1-2 more minutes.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2-3 Tablespoons brown sugar, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, and a pinch red pepper flakes. Add more if you like spice.
  • Add sauce to skillet. Once browned, drain off any extra grease. Stir in the sauce. Bring to a light simmer 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons water, as desired. Salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Serve in lettuce cups. Top with green onions and sesame seeds and drizzle with sriracha sauce, if desired.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Storage: Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Variation: 
  • To add more vegetables, add more bell peppers and mushrooms with the onions. You could also add carrots and water chestnuts. 
  • For more heat add in red pepper flakes with the beef and add some sriracha sauce over top. 

Nutrition

Calories: 156kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 47mg, Sodium: 436mg, Potassium: 402mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 663IU, Vitamin C: 28mg, Calcium: 26mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Substitutions and Variations

  • Add extra veggies: More bell peppers, mushrooms, carrots, or water chestnuts. You can also swap the color of the bell pepper for whatever you’ve got on hand.
  • Add extra heat: Increase the amount of red pepper flakes in the beef mixture or some sriracha sauce drizzled on top.
  • Extra crunch: Use romaine lettuce or iceberg lettuce instead.
  • Substitute ground beef: Try ground turkey or ground chicken.
  • Skip the lettuce leaf: Serve the filling with cauliflower rice or white rice (if carbs aren’t an issue).
  • For gluten-free filling, use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
  • Different sweeteners: Honey can be used as an alternative to brown sugar.

Recipe FAQs

How to store leftovers?

Keep leftover meat filling in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.

Can I freeze it?

You can certainly freeze the filling. Once completely cooled, store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat for healthy ground beef lettuce wraps on demand!

Best way to reheat the filling?

Quickly and easily reheat the filling in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds. You can also reheat it on the stove. You may want to add a splash of water to prevent burning.