P.F. Chang’s Copycat Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe

Tantalize your taste buds with succulent ground chicken, mingled with garlic, ginger, water chestnuts, and green onions. Infused with a harmonious blend of soy, hoisin, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and sriracha heat, this dish offers an irresistible twist. Wrap this vibrant mixture in crisp lettuce for a fresh, enticing bite.

I love making PF Chang’s Copycat Chicken Lettuce Wraps at home because they’re so quick and easy. In around 20 minutes you can whip up something that packs the same punch as the restaurant version.

I usually start by browning 1 lb of ground chicken in 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil with 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger. This not only gives a great base flavor but also adds a good mix of protein and nutrients.

I add in about 1/2 cup of chopped water chestnuts for a crunchy texture along with 3 thinly sliced green onions. Then I mix in 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of hoisin sauce, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon sesame oil and a bit of sriracha for extra heat if im in the mood.

This recipe is a health dinner option that is damn delicious and reminds me of those CPK Chicken Lettuce Wraps with every bite. Check out my blog for the full instructions.

Why I Like this Recipe

I love this recipe because it’s super quick and easy to whip up on busy weeknights – sometimes I only have like 20 minutes to make dinner and this totally fits the bill. I also really enjoy that it’s a homemade copycat of PF Chang’s chicken lettuce wraps; it gives me that restaurant feel but in my own kitchen without spending too much money. The blend of flavors is amazing too – the spicy kick from the sriracha and the crunch from the water chestnuts mix perfectly with the savory chicken, which always satisfies my taste buds. And lastly, I appreciate how flexible it is; whether I want to add a bit more spice or throw in extra greens for that fresh crunch, I can always tweak the ingredients to suit my mood.

Ingredients

• Ground chicken: it’s full of protein and makes the dish really hearty.
• Garlic: this little ingredient adds a strong, tasty kick and antioxidants.
• Fresh ginger: gives a zingy, tangy note that brightens up the flavor.
• Water chestnuts: makes the wraps crunchy with a bit of low-calorie fiber.
• Green onions: they add a light freshness and extra vitamins to the dish.
• Soy sauce: brings a salty, umami taste that really deepens the flavors.
• Hoisin sauce: it’s sweet and smokey helping balance the savory notes.
• Rice vinegar: contributes a tangy hint that cuts through the richness nicely.

Ingredient Quantities

• 1 lb ground chicken
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
• 1/2 cup water chestnuts, drained and chopped
• 3 green onions, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/2 teaspoon sriracha sauce (or more if you like it spicy)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 head of butter or iceberg lettuce, leaves separated

How to Make this

1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the minced garlic and ginger; stir them for about a minute until they get fragrant.

2. Add the ground chicken to the skillet and break it up with your spatula while cookin until it’s no longer pink.

3. Stir in the chopped water chestnuts and green onions. Let it cook for about 2 minutes so it all mixes well.

4. Pour in the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and sriracha sauce. Stir everything together really fast so the chicken gets a good coating.

5. Lower the heat a bit and let the mixture simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, then season with salt and pepper.

6. Check the taste and adjust any of the sauces if needed, like if you want it spicier use a little more sriracha.

7. Take the skillet off the heat while your lettuce leaves are being washed and dried.

8. Spoon a generous amount of the chicken mixture into each separated lettuce leaf.

9. If you like extra onion flavor, sprinkle some more green onions on top.

10. Enjoy your homemade chicken lettuce wraps while they’re warm and fresh!

Equipment Needed

1. Large skillet – nonstick works best to evenly cook while keeping nutrients intact
2. Spatula – helps break up the chicken and stir ingredients properly
3. Knife – needed for mincing garlic, ginger and chopping green onions and water chestnuts
4. Cutting board – provides a safe surface for all your chopping
5. Measuring spoons – ensure you get the sauces and seasonings just right
6. Colander – useful for washing and draining the lettuce leaves
7. Serving spoon – to scoop the chicken mixture into the lettuce leaves

FAQ

P.F. Chang’s Copycat Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• Instead of ground chicken, you can use ground turkey. It cooks similarly and has a mild taste.
• If you dont have vegetable oil, try canola or sunflower oil instead. They work just as well for stir-frying the ingredients.
• If you’re out of soy sauce or need a gluten-free option then tamari works great in its place.
• When you cant find hoisin sauce, mixing a bit of plum sauce with a teaspoon of molasses gives you a close flavor.
• In place of rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar can be used. Just note its a tad tangier so adjust the amount to taste.

Pro Tips

1. Try to add the water chestnuts near the end so they keep their crunch instead of getting mushy.
2. Make sure you get the garlic and ginger just fragrant, but don’t let them burn since that can ruin the flavour.
3. Experiment with the sriracha amount. Adding too much may ruin the balance, so add little by little until you get the kick you like.
4. Always dry your lettuce really well before assembling the wraps so you don’t end up with soggy leaves.