These Asian lettuce wraps feature savory Asian chicken and fresh veggies wrapped in crunchy lettuce. Every bite is bursting with texture and flavor!

If you’re into sticking to a well-balanced diet full of clean, nutrient-rich ingredients, here are some flavorful recipes you’ll love without all the calories:  Asian Turkey lettuce wraps, cilantro lime shrimp lettuce wraps, or mango shrimp lettuce wraps.

Slow Cooker Asian Lettuce Wraps

These slow cooker Asian lettuce wraps evoke memories of dishes I’d typically order at a nice Chinese restaurant. Pair these flavorful lettuce wraps with a side of rice for a satisfying meal! Alternatively, for a fully Asian-inspired menu, consider making my Chow Mein or Vegetable Lo Mein. This way, your meal will be complete with a delicious fusion of flavors.

Ingredients for Asian Lettuce Wraps

Fresh ingredients make for the most flavorful dishes. Especially with this recipe, having all the flavors cooked together in the slow cooker helps create a taste that is hard to beat. Scroll to the recipe card for exact measurements.

• Chicken:  Use 2 pounds of uncooked ground chicken.
• Green onions: Use the white part of the green onions, they have a stronger “onion-like” flavor. They also give a great crunchy texture.
• Water chestnuts:  Contributes a unique crunch to the texture of the filling.
• Shredded carrots: Adds beautiful color, texture, and nutritional value.
• Frozen sweet soybeans: Contributes another layer of texture and soft flavor.
• Reduced sodium soy sauce: Be sure to use reduced sodium since many of the ingredients contain sodium.
• Chinese style hot mustard: A spicy mustard that you can buy pre-made or made fresh for each use by mixing a dry mustard powder with water, causing a chemical reaction that produces a sharp, spicy taste.
• Reduced sodium teriyaki sauce: This salty/sweet sauce gives the filling a tangy and gooey flavor and texture.
• Rice vinegar: Mild and slightly sweet flavor.
• Ground black pepper: To taste.
• Reduced sodium chicken broth: This will keep the chicken moist as it cooks.
• Hoisin sauce: A staple in most Asian meals, this sauce gives the filling the great Asian flavor you’d expect!
• Lettuce: Butter lettuce, iceberg, green leaf, or romaine lettuce all work great!  Just be sure to choose a head of lettuce that has large and flexible enough leaves to use as a wrap!

Optional for topping

• Asian Chili Sauce: I love the spice of this chili sauce that’s made with Asian hot red chilies!
• Sesame seeds: The nutty, slightly sweet taste of these seeds makes the perfect topping!
• Peanuts: Peanuts add a nice crunch if you don’t want to use peanut butter.

That’s a Wrap!

Slow cooker recipes are among my favorite meals to make. The preparation is easy, and once it’s done, you get to enjoy the delicious aroma wafting through your house. Here’s how to create this Asian-inspired dish. Note, if using a thicker peanut butter that’s solid at room temperature for the sauce, warm it slightly before use.

1. Place Ingredients in the Slow Cooker: Add the chicken, the whites of the green onions, water chestnuts, carrots, edamame, soy sauce, mustard, teriyaki sauce, vinegar, and pepper to a slow cooker.  Then, pour the broth over the top.
2. Allow to Cook: Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or HIGH for 2-2 1/2 hours.
3. Strain and Shred: Strain out the excess liquid and then break apart the chicken. After that, stir in the hoisin sauce and the green part of the green onions.
4. Sauce and Serve: Serve with lettuce leaves and then you can top with sweet chili sauce or peanut sauce.  

Tips For Slow Cooker Asian Lettuce Wraps

Here is a list of tips I found helpful when making this recipe as well as others in a slow cooker. 

• Clean and cut lettuce: To prepare the lettuce, it’s very simple! Cut the bottom part of the head of lettuce off, then carefully peel away each leaf! Don’t forget to wash and dry the lettuce leaves before serving.
• Brown ground chicken: If using ground chicken, brown it in a medium skillet with a tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat until crispy and browned, ensuring no pink remains. This step enhances the overall flavor and texture of the final dish.
• Keep the lid closed: Each time you lift the lid during cooking, it adds an extra 15-20 minutes to the cooking time. Resist the urge to stir, as it’s generally unnecessary and also slows down the cooking process.
• Do not use frozen foods: Ensure your chicken is fully thawed before preparing it for the slow cooker. This prevents food from staying in the danger zone where bacteria can grow. Always thaw meat or vegetables before placing them in the slow cooker.
• Make it sweet or spicy: For a sweeter flavor, add extra teriyaki sauce or a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar or honey. If you prefer more spice, add a pinch of red pepper flakes.

Variations for Slow Cooker Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

I love the versatility of this recipe. Customize it to match your taste preferences and what ingredients you have available.

• Cooking tool variations: Instead of your crock pot, you can use a Wok, Sauté pan, cast iron skillet, or a regular sauté pan to cook the filling.
• Allergy substitutions: If you have a soy allergy, you can use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce and omit the edamame completely.
• Other serving ideas: Try the filling over a bowl of noodles, cooked brown rice, or quinoa. Delicious!
• Protein Variations: Instead of using ground chicken, you could swap it for ground turkey or ground pork. You can also use whole chicken and just shred it at the end to make the base of your filling.
• Veggies: You can also add red bell pepper, bean sprouts, cabbage,

How to Store Leftovers:

Having Asian chicken wrap leftovers from the slow cooker is fantastic! Now I have my lunches prepared for the week, making it easy to grab and go.

• Fridge: Let your leftovers cool completely. Separate lettuce from filling. Place the filling in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Freezer: Allow wraps to cool completely. Separate lettuce from filling. Store filling in freezer-safe container or freezer bag. You can freeze filling for up to 2-3 months. **Do not put lettuce in the freezer.

More Asian-Inspired Recipes

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