These Asian Turkey Lettuce Cups are crisp, refreshing, and absolutely bursting with umami goodness. Juicy turkey, crunchy water chestnuts, sautéed mushrooms, and a bold, savory sauce come together in a healthy handheld bite that’s ready in just 25 minutes.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Light, fresh, and satisfying.
- Perfect for low-carb or gluten-aware diets.
- Meal-prep friendly and customizable.
- Packs serious flavor in every bite.
- Family-friendly and fun to eat.
Asian Turkey Lettuce Cups
Sometimes, you just want something light but packed with flavor—and these Asian Turkey Lettuce Cups hit all the right notes. They’re crunchy, juicy, savory, and totally addictive, but without the heaviness of typical comfort food. They make a stunning starter for a dinner party or a refreshing main dish for a weekday meal.
The key player here is ground turkey, which serves as a lean but flavorful canvas for a gorgeous blend of aromatics and Asian-inspired ingredients. We’re talking mushrooms for an earthy base, water chestnuts for crisp texture, and green onions to brighten it all up. Then there’s the sauce: a tangy-sweet-salty blend of low-sodium soy sauce, hoisin, chili paste, and sesame oil. It clings to every morsel of filling with just the right amount of heat.
This dish is delightfully simple to pull together. In fact, from pan to plate, it takes about 25 minutes max. That makes it a dream for weeknight dinners or impromptu gatherings. The hardest part might be not eating the filling straight from the pan.
The butter lettuce (or Bibb, or romaine) adds a crisp and refreshing crunch. Plus, it turns this into a hands-on, interactive meal that kids and adults alike can get behind. You can also bulk it up with steamed jasmine rice or pair it with a quick noodle salad if you’re craving carbs.
Aside from the main ingredients, what makes this recipe so special is its flexibility. Want to make it vegetarian? Sub in finely diced tofu or more mushrooms. Watching sodium? Go for a reduced-sodium soy sauce and skip the hoisin. Craving crunch? Add some chopped peanuts on top.
And let’s talk texture—juicy turkey, bouncy mushrooms, crunchy chestnuts, and delicate lettuce cups create a perfect storm of satisfying bites. Add the final sprinkle of sesame seeds and sliced green onion on top, and it’s pure magic.
The flavor is so punchy and complex, you’d think it simmered all day. But nope, it’s all done in under 30 minutes.
If you’ve ever had lettuce wraps at a certain popular Asian-fusion chain restaurant, this version brings all those flavors home—only healthier and easier to make.
It’s a standout choice for light lunches, party platters, or weeknight dinners that won’t leave you feeling sluggish. And leftovers? Even better the next day.
Let this recipe inspire you to build your own “lettuce cup bar” at home. Everyone can assemble their own, making dinner more fun and interactive.
Servings: 4
Time:
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Turkey Filling:
- 1 lb lean ground turkey
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms, finely diced
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced (white & green parts separated)
- 8 oz canned sliced water chestnuts, drained and chopped
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Asian Sauce:
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tsp chili garlic paste (Sambal Oelek or similar)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
To Serve:
- Butter, Bibb, or romaine lettuce leaves (washed and dried)
- Sesame seeds (optional)
- Extra green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Prep Veggies: Dice mushrooms and water chestnuts. Mince garlic and grate ginger.
- Cook Mushrooms: Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add 1 tsp sesame oil and sauté mushrooms with a pinch of salt and pepper until soft (about 3 minutes). Remove and set aside.
- Cook Turkey: In the same skillet, add the remaining sesame oil. Brown turkey, breaking it into crumbles. Once mostly cooked, add garlic, ginger, and sliced green onion whites. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Combine: Return mushrooms to the pan and stir in chopped water chestnuts.
- Make Sauce: Whisk all sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Pour over turkey mixture and stir well to coat evenly. Cook another 2-3 minutes until everything is heated through.
- Assemble: Spoon the turkey mixture into lettuce leaves. Top with green onion greens and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
Tips
- Swap turkey with ground chicken or tofu for variation.
- For extra crunch, top with crushed peanuts or fried shallots.
- Serve with a side of jasmine rice or noodles for a heartier meal.
- Add shredded carrots or red bell pepper for more color and nutrients.
- Store leftovers separately to keep lettuce crisp.
Asian Turkey Lettuce Cups
Ingredients
Turkey Filling:
- 1 lb lean ground turkey
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms finely diced
- 1 small garlic clove minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger grated
- 3 green onions thinly sliced (white & green parts separated)
- 8 oz canned sliced water chestnuts drained and chopped
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Asian Sauce:
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tsp chili garlic paste Sambal Oelek or similar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
To Serve:
- Butter Bibb, or romaine lettuce leaves (washed and dried)
- Sesame seeds optional
- Extra green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Prep Veggies: Dice mushrooms and water chestnuts. Mince garlic and grate ginger.
- Cook Mushrooms: Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add 1 tsp sesame oil and sauté mushrooms with a pinch of salt and pepper until soft (about 3 minutes). Remove and set aside.
- Cook Turkey: In the same skillet, add the remaining sesame oil. Brown turkey, breaking it into crumbles. Once mostly cooked, add garlic, ginger, and sliced green onion whites. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Combine: Return mushrooms to the pan and stir in chopped water chestnuts.
- Make Sauce: Whisk all sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Pour over turkey mixture and stir well to coat evenly. Cook another 2-3 minutes until everything is heated through.
- Assemble: Spoon the turkey mixture into lettuce leaves. Top with green onion greens and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
Notes
- Swap turkey with ground chicken or tofu for variation.
- For extra crunch, top with crushed peanuts or fried shallots.
- Serve with a side of jasmine rice or noodles for a heartier meal.
- Add shredded carrots or red bell pepper for more color and nutrients.
- Store leftovers separately to keep lettuce crisp.