Flavorful Thai Basil Chicken Lettuce Wraps Easy Spicy Kick Recipe
These Thai basil chicken lettuce wraps are quick, easy, and bursting with a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and spicy flavors. They offer a fresh, vibrant meal with a satisfying crunch from butter lettuce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound lean ground chicken
- 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves, loosely packed
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small red chili, finely chopped (adjust to taste)
- 2 small shallots, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce (use mushroom sauce for vegan)
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 head butter lettuce, leaves separated
- Optional garnishes: chopped peanuts, lime wedges, extra chili slices
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients (10 minutes): Wash butter lettuce leaves gently and pat dry. Mince garlic, finely chop red chili (remove seeds for less heat), thinly slice shallots. Remove Thai basil leaves from stems and roughly chop stems.
- Heat the Skillet (2 minutes): Warm 2 tablespoons vegetable oil over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Sauté Aromatics (3 minutes): Add garlic, shallots, and chopped chili. Stir constantly until fragrant and softened, not browned.
- Add Ground Chicken (5-6 minutes): Crumble chicken into skillet, spread evenly. Let cook undisturbed for 2 minutes to sear, then stir and cook until no longer pink, breaking into small pieces.
- Season the Meat (2 minutes): Mix in soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, and chopped basil stems. Stir and cook for 2 more minutes to meld flavors and thicken sauce.
- Add Thai Basil Leaves (1 minute): Fold in fresh Thai basil leaves, stirring just until wilted. Remove from heat immediately.
- Assemble the Wraps (5 minutes): Arrange butter lettuce leaves on a platter. Spoon warm chicken mixture onto each leaf. Garnish with chopped peanuts, extra chili slices, or lime wedges if desired.
Notes
Do not overcrowd the pan when browning chicken; cook in batches if needed to avoid steaming. Add basil last and remove from heat quickly to preserve flavor. Adjust chili amount gradually to control spice level. Keep lettuce leaves dry to prevent sogginess. For gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce and mushroom sauce instead of oyster sauce for vegan option.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 3 wraps per se
- Calories: 280
- Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Protein: 28
Keywords: Thai basil chicken, lettuce wraps, spicy chicken wraps, easy Thai recipe, gluten-free Thai recipe, quick dinner, healthy wraps