PF Chang's Lettuce Wraps (Better Than Takeout!)
This PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps recipe is my copycat version of the famous restaurant appetizer — and it’s been one of my most popular recipes since I first published it in 2014. These chicken lettuce wraps taste exactly like the ones you get at PF Chang’s, but they’re made with simple pantry staples and come together in about 20 minutes.
Absolute best recipe! I go back to this one time and time again and it never fails. As a great back up when I can’t think of anything else to make. -Lydia
I am a PF Chang’s girlie (ask anyone that knows me), and every time I go, I order their famous chicken lettuce wraps. Sometimes I even get them as a main meal!
What I’m trying to say is that years of eating PF Chang’s lettuce wraps helped me perfect this 5-star copycat recipe (just look at the comments!).
- Ground chicken: Lean ground chicken is what makes up the bulk of the “meat.”
- Mushrooms: Sneaky, but necessary. Umami adds so much flavor to this recipe and really gives it a unique flavor.
- Water chestnuts: This is what gives them their famous crunch.
- Lettuce: You can use any kind of lettuce for this recipe, but I prefer butter lettuce!
PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps Sauce
The sauce in these chicken lettuce wraps is truly what makes the recipe. It’s sweet, fresh, and tastes exactly like the sauce from the restaurant. Here’s what you need:
- Hoisin sauce: Hoisin is sweet and flavorful. It’s not gluten-free, but you can find a few different gluten-free hoisin sauces out there, so keep an eye open if you’re gluten-free!
- Freshly grated ginger: Ginger is a must for this sauce. I highly recommend using freshly grated ginger. If you don’t have fresh ginger, you can always sub my favorite ginger squeeze product!
- I am willow: It wouldn’t be a lettuce wrap recipe without a little bit of soy sauce.
- Minced garlic: Don’t skimp on the garlic! That is all.
- Rice vinegar: A little rice vinegar goes a long way. I’m a firm believer that vinegar of any kind should be added to most sauces because it brings out the other flavors of the sauce.
- Corn starch: Corn starch is used to thicken the sauce up a bit so it’s not so runny.
Great Jones
Cast Iron Pan
The Great Jones King Sear is our favorite cast iron pan. It’s definitely worth the splurge to add to your kitchen collection!
These copycat lettuce wraps come together fast — about 20 minutes from start to finish. Here’s the game plan:
- Cook the chicken: Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat with a drizzle of sesame oil. Add the ground chicken and cook until browned, breaking it into small crumbles as it cooks (about 5–6 minutes).
- Add the veggies: Toss in the diced mushrooms and water chestnuts and stir everything together. Cook for another 2–3 minutes until the mushrooms soften.
- Make the sauce: While the chicken cooks, whisk together the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch in a small bowl. Pour the sauce over the chicken mixture and stir until everything is coated and the sauce thickens slightly (about 1–2 minutes).
- Assemble: Spoon the filling into butter lettuce cups and top with sliced green onions and chopped peanuts. Serve immediately!
Make it a bowl: Looking for more of a hearty way to serve these lettuce wraps? Serve them as a bowl with either white rice or noodles.
Add some spice: Add some heat with sriracha or red chili garlic paste if you like it spicy.
Add more veggies: Finely dice up any other veggies you have on hand such as bell pepper, broccoli, or onion.
Go vegetarian: Swap the ground chicken for extra mushrooms, crumbled tofu, or a plant-based ground meat.
Use a different protein: Any ground meat works here — lean ground beef and ground turkey are both great swaps.
Switch up the lettuce: Butter lettuce is my favorite, but iceberg and romaine both work well if that’s what you have on hand.
What Goes Well with PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps?
Serving these PF Chang’s lettuce wraps as an appetizer? Pair them with one of my other take-out-inspired recipes!
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
Refrigerate: Store the cooked chicken filling in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Keep the lettuce cups separate so they stay crisp.
Freeze: The filling freezes beautifully for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through.
Make ahead: Prep the sauce and dice the veggies up to 2 days in advance. When you’re ready to serve, the actual cooking takes less than 15 minutes.
Meal prep: This filling is perfect for weekly meal prep. Portion it into containers and grab lettuce cups when you’re ready to eat — or serve it over rice for an easy lunch.
What is the crunchy stuff in PF Chang’s lettuce wraps?
The crunchy white pieces are water chestnuts! They’re a mild, slightly sweet vegetable that adds a satisfying crunch to the filling. You can find them canned in the Asian aisle of most grocery stores.
Can you make lettuce wraps ahead of time?
Yes! Make the filling ahead and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days. Just keep the lettuce separate until you’re ready to serve so it stays fresh and crunchy.
What sauce does PF Chang’s use on lettuce wraps?
The restaurant uses a hoisin-based sauce with soy sauce, ginger, and garlic. My copycat version uses the same base flavors plus rice vinegar and a touch of cornstarch to get that slightly thick, glossy sauce that coats the chicken perfectly.
Are PF Chang’s lettuce wraps healthy?
Lettuce wraps are one of the lighter options on the PF Chang’s menu, and this homemade version is even better. Using lean ground chicken and fresh veggies keeps the calories and fat lower than most take-out dishes, and you control exactly what goes into the sauce.
Are PF Chang’s lettuce wraps gluten-free?
This recipe is not gluten-free as written because both hoisin sauce and soy sauce contain gluten. To make it gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce and grab a gluten-free hoisin sauce — they’re easy to find in most grocery stores.
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First, make the sauce. Place all the ingredients for the sauce into a small bowl. Whisk until the corn starch has dissolved and then set aside.
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Next, cook the ground chicken. Heat a large skillet over medium/high heat and add the sesame oil. When the oil is fragrant, add the mushrooms to the pan and season them with salt. Sauté the mushrooms for 5-7 minutes so that the moisture is released from the mushrooms and then cooks off a bit.
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Add the water chestnuts to the pan and toss them with the mushrooms and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Remove the mushrooms and water chestnuts from the skillet and set aside.
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Place the skillet back over the heat and add the ground chicken. Break it up into small pieces with a spatula and cook the chicken over medium/high heat. Add the soy sauce to the skillet and mix with the chicken. Cook the ground chicken for 5-6 minutes or until fully cooked.
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Add the mushrooms and water chestnuts back to the skillet and toss with the chicken.
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Next, pour the sauce over all of the ingredients and toss the sauce with all of the ingredients. Heat the mixture over medium/high heat. Bring the sauce to a gentle boil and allow the sauce to simmer for 2-3 minutes until thickened.
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Once the sauce has thicken remove the skillet from the heat and fold in Thai basil and cilantro. Serve the chicken mixture inside of the lettuce wraps with sliced green onion for garnish.
- This recipe was slightly updated on 5/23/22. Here is a link to the old recipe.
- Make it gluten-free: use tamari instead of soy sauce and a gluten-free hoisin sauce.
- Make it vegetarian: swap the ground chicken for a plant-based ground or ground tofu.
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”JelIezJ1″ upload-date=”2022-08-17T00:00:00.000Z” name=”PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps” description=”Our copycat PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps are so easy to make and taste like the real thing!”]
Serving: 1 g, Calories: 262 kcal, Carbohydrates: 16 g, Protein: 24 g, Fat: 12 g, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 6 g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Lettuce Wraps Recipes
If you love this PF Chang’s lettuce wraps recipe, check out my other favorite lettuce wrap recipes below!
