Lettuce Wraps filled with tender chicken, and rice take summer eating to a whole new level. Tangy rice, crunchy nuts, currents and olives are wrapped in soft green leaves to make a fun-to-eat meal.
Your tastebuds will thank you for making these simple chicken lettuce wraps. So will your husband, kids, friends, aunts, uncles, cousin Jimmy, even your neighbors! Gratitude all around.
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This protein-style meal is no ordinary dinner. It's healthy, light, satisfying and delicious. The best part, it's very sharable.
A light vinaigrette covers a bit of rice, rotisserie chicken, olive, sweet currents and crunchy walnuts. You can eat this lovely mixture over a salad, or in lettuce cups as wraps.
P.F. Chang's chicken lettuce wraps
I love the lettuce wraps recipe at PF Chang's. I do, I'm not ashamed.
I also love bo ssam here in NY at Momofuku. It's their roast pork dinner served family style with delicious fixings you stuff in a soft lettuce leaf.
Taking those as my inspiration, I created this quick recipe with summer vibes, and much less prep.
I love lettuce wraps and have more recipes for you to enjoy:
Use rotisserie chicken
One glorious aspect of chicken and rice lettuce wraps is you can use rotisserie chicken, grilled chicken leftover from the weekend, or just poach chicken breasts as you prepare the other ingredients.
Rice is a no-brainer, taking just minutes to cook. Chop the other ingredients and shred your chicken as it simmers.
This is a Mediterranean take on Asian chicken lettuce wraps
Mediterranean chicken lettuce wraps include different flavors than your typical Asian lettuce wrap recipe.
I love all the layers of flavor that come from mixing crunchy walnuts, sweet currents, savory scallions and shallots with brined kalamata olives.
A red wine and honey vinaigrette gets tossed on the salad while the rice is still warm. This allows the rice to absorb all the flavors, creating a dish that doesn't need any extra sauce.
These Mediterranean lettuce wraps are delish served while the salad is warm, but room temp is also tasty - making this a genius picnic meal.
Oh! I hear Central Park calling my name. I'm taking this on my summer outings! Truthfully it's a secret way I trick myself into eating salad. Wrapping my salad in a lettuce leaf is way more fun than eating it with a fork!
Picnic meal
Eat these Mediterranean lettuce wraps warm or at room temperature.
You can make this ahead, and refrigerate it, but be aware the rice gets that hard, cold thing going on once chilled, so give it a little spin in the microwave to soften the rice.
Get creative too. Swap the olives for red bell pepper or the currants for fresh grapes. Make this salad your own and enjoy.
📖 Recipe
Chicken-and-Rice Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked basmati rice
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- ⅓ cup dried currants
- 1 shallot minced
- 1 scallion white and green parts sliced
- 5 kalamata olives minced
- 1½ cups shredded cooked chicken
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp honey
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
- Butter lettuce leaves
Instructions
- Mix together the warm rice, walnuts, currants, shallot, scallion, olives and shredded chicken.
- In another bowl whisk together the vinegar, salt, lemon zest, honey and olive oil. Toss vinaigrette with the rice mixture and stir in the parsley.
- Serve warm or room temperature. Spoon salad into lettuce leaves, wrap and eat!
Notes
Nutrition
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About Tara Teaspoon
I’ve been in the food publishing business for over 20 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television & advertising. Order my new cookbook & stick around for amazing things to eat.
Recipe and Photos Tara Teaspoon.
Mary says
What a great idea! Tasty!
Ben says
I love all the flavors here. I've recently gotten on a huge wrap kick, so I can't wait to give this one a try.
Veena Azmanov says
Amazing flavors, delicious combination and a Happy meal option too.
Bernice Hill says
What a nice, quick recipe. I haven't been to PF Changs or Momofuku but I sure do love lettuce wraps. They are so versatile and make the perfect quick light dinner.
Veronika says
What a great idea for lunch! Easy to make, healthy and so tasty! Thank for the idea, will make it this weekend!
GUNJAN C Dudani says
I love lettuce wraps. Its me favorite appetizer and this one looks so welcoming. definitely trying it.
Uma Srinivas says
Looks like this rice is full of flavors and I love the addition of lettuce. Never ate rice with lettuce leaves.
Paula Montenegro says
This recipe comes so handily since I always, always, always have rotisserie chicken leftovers! Beautiful idea and flavors! Thanks for sharing. Will be making it asap!
Jacqui DeBono says
Such a good use for chicken leftovers and I love adding the rice to make it a filling but healthy meal.
Jenni LeBaron says
These chicken and walnut lettuce wraps are so delicious! My favorite part is the walnuts and currents because they give such great flavor and texture to make the dish extra special!
Mary says
This recipe is absolutely wonderful! My family loves them - a real favorite at our house! Love these little wraps!!!
Veena Azmanov says
Love your delicious recipe. My family to relish every bite for sure. Flavorful.
Danielle says
I have a lot of chicken to use, so I have been looking for a good recipe for it. Here it is! 🙂 Love how easy this recipe is, and I bet it is super fun, too.
Kelly Anthony says
I'm always looking for healthy dinner and lunch options and these chicken and rice lettuce wraps look perfect.
GUNJAN C Dudani says
Ah! i can't get enough of lettuces wraps. I always have lettuce in my refrigerator so definitely making this for lunch tomorrow.
Kay says
Always on the look out for new ideas, this one is great! Tastes delicious!
Marisa F. Stewart says
What a great way to enjoy a sandwich without all of the calories of the bread. I like the addition of the rice for a little bit more heartiness. A great spring and summer dish.
Leslie says
I haven't had a lettuce wrap that I haven't loved! Haha.. I've never had one with rice before. Sounds perfect!
Daniela says
Yum! These chicken and rice lettuce wraps seem so perfect for the upcoming spring and summer months! Love the idea of wrapping in lettuce.
Nicole says
I love just about anything Meditteranean! These lettuce cups look great!
Mary Bostow says
This would be so perfect to take to work for lunch, wonderful recipe!
Natalie L says
This looks like the perfect meal I can take on a picnic! I love the Rotisserie chicken idea as well. I'm always looking for fast shortcuts to make healthy food during the week.