A refreshing summer dinner that beats the heat without turning on the stove. Featuring crisp butter lettuce cups filled with tender rotisserie chicken, fresh vegetables, and a creamy homemade peanut sauce, this meal delivers maximum flavor with zero cooking required.
TL;DR:
These no-cook peanut sauce chicken lettuce wraps take 15 minutes to assemble using rotisserie chicken, fresh vegetables, and homemade peanut sauce. Perfect for summer when you want a healthy, protein-packed dinner (25g protein per serving) without turning on the stove. The recipe serves 4-6 people and requires zero cooking skills.
Pro Tip: Make the peanut sauce up to 3 days ahead and store in the refrigerator. The flavors actually improve over time, making this perfect for meal prep.
Jump to:
- TL;DR:
- Key Summer Benefits
- What Lettuce Works Best for Wrapping?
- Ingredient List
- What Toppings Go Into Lettuce Wraps?
- How Do You Make Homemade Peanut Sauce?
- Tips & Tricks
- Can You Make These Lettuce Wraps Ahead of Time?
- Party Presentation
- What Are the Best Protein Alternatives?
- Storage Guidelines
- Peanut Sauce Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- FAQ
- Related
Key Summer Benefits
- Zero cooking required - keeps kitchen temperatures down
- 15-minute assembly - faster than delivery
- High protein (25g per serving) without heavy, hot foods
- Customizable freshness - use whatever vegetables are in season
This recipe shares a lot in common with my peanut soba noodles and my chicken ramen salad, in case you're looking for more no-cook summer favorites.
What Lettuce Works Best for Wrapping?
Butter lettuce (Boston or Bibb) is the best choice for lettuce wraps because it has naturally cup-shaped, pliable leaves that won't tear when filled. The leaves are strong enough to hold substantial fillings while remaining tender to bite through.
Best Lettuce Options Ranked:
- Butter lettuce - ideal cup shape and texture
- Iceberg lettuce - very sturdy but less flavorful
- Romaine hearts - good backup with boat-shaped leaves
What to Avoid:
- Delicate greens like arugula (tear easily)
- Tough greens like kale (difficult to bite)
- Wilted or damaged leaves (won't hold filling)
Example: When shopping, look for butter lettuce heads with bright green outer leaves, no brown spots, and leaves that feel substantial but not thick.
Ingredient List
For the Lettuce Wraps:
- Butter Lettuce Leaves
- Rotisserie Chicken
- Carrot
- Bell Pepper
- Cilantro
- Canned Water Chestnuts
- Sesame Seeds
- Homemade Peanut Sauce
See recipe card for quantities.
What Toppings Go Into Lettuce Wraps?
I've listed out my go-to's in the recipe card below. But I've also been known to add sliced cucumber, chopped peanuts, bean sprouts, thai basil and scallions when they're on hand.
How Do You Make Homemade Peanut Sauce?
The trick to perfect no-cook peanut sauce is balancing sweet, salty, tangy, and umami flavors in the right proportions. Here's how I do it:
- Step 1: Gather all the ingredients
- Step 2: Whisk them together!
For those with peanut allergies, the Food Allergy Research & Education organization suggests sunflower seed butter or soy butter as safe alternatives that provide similar texture and protein.
Tips & Tricks
The key to non-messy lettuce wraps is using two lettuce leaves per wrap and proper layering technique. This creates a sturdy base that won't fall apart when eating.
Can You Make These Lettuce Wraps Ahead of Time?
Yes, but store components separately and assemble just before serving to prevent soggy wraps. The peanut sauce actually improves in flavor when made 1-3 days ahead.
Make-Ahead Timeline:
- 3 days ahead: Make peanut sauce, store covered in refrigerator
- 1 day ahead: Julienne vegetables, shred chicken, store separately
- Day of serving: Wash lettuce, assemble wraps immediately before eating
Party Presentation
Set up a DIY lettuce wrap bar with separate bowls for each component, allowing guests to customize their own wraps.
What Are the Best Protein Alternatives?
Ground turkey, leftover grilled chicken, or cooked shrimp work excellently as rotisserie chicken substitutes. For vegetarian options, try extra-firm tofu or tempeh.
Protein Options by Cooking Method:
Vegetarian: Pressed tofu, tempeh, or chickpeas
No-cook: Rotisserie chicken, pre-cooked shrimp, hard-boiled eggs
Quick-cook: Ground turkey or chicken (5 minutes)
Storage Guidelines
- Peanut sauce: 1 week refrigerated (thin with water if needed)
- Prepped vegetables: 2-3 days in airtight containers
- Shredded chicken: 3-4 days refrigerated
- Assembled wraps: Best eaten immediately
Peanut Sauce Chicken Lettuce Wraps
- Prep Time: 15
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4-6
- Category: main
- Method: no-cook
- Cuisine: Asian
Description
No-Cook Peanut Sauce Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a healthy summer dinner ready in 15 minutes with rotisserie chicken, fresh vegetables, and homemade Asian peanut sauce.
Ingredients
For the Peanut Sauce:
- ยฝ tsp ginger paste (or ยฝ-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated)
- 1 garlic clove, minced (or ยฝ tsp garlic powder)
- ยผ cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 2 Tbsp honey or agave nectar
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 ยฝ Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp water (more as needed for consistency)
For the Lettuce Wraps:
- 2 heads butter lettuce, leaves separated and washed
- 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, skin removed
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 2 medium carrots, julienned
- ยฝ cup water chestnuts, chopped
- 2 Tbsp sesame seeds
- ยผ cup fresh cilantro leaves (optional, for garnish)
- 2 green onions, sliced (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Make the Peanut Sauce:
- Prepare aromatics: If using fresh ginger, peel with a spoon and grate finely. Mince garlic until paste-like or grate with a microplane.
- Whisk all of the ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, water, honey, sesame oil, grated ginger, and minced garlic until smooth. Add more water as needed if the sauce is too thick. It does thicken as it sits.
Prepare the Wraps:
- Prep vegetables: Julienne carrots into thin matchsticks. Slice bell pepper into thin strips. Chop water chestnuts into small pieces.
- Prepare chicken: Remove skin from rotisserie chicken and shred meat into bite-sized pieces using your hands or two forks.
- Wash lettuce: Separate butter lettuce leaves, rinse gently, and pat completely dry with paper towels.
Assemble the Wraps:
- Build each wrap: Place 2 lettuce leaves together (for extra strength). Add โ cup shredded chicken to center, leaving ยฝ-inch border around edges.
- Add vegetables: Top with bell pepper slices, julienned carrots, and chopped water chestnuts.
- Finish and serve: Drizzle 2-3 tablespoons peanut sauce over filling. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and optional cilantro and green onions. Serve immediately.
Notes
Store leftover sauce covered in refrigerator for up to 1 week. Thin with water if needed before using.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 wrap
- Calories: 354
- Sugar: 12.3 g
- Sodium: 542.5 mg
- Fat: 19.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 20.9 g
- Fiber: 3.5 g
- Protein: 25.2 g
- Cholesterol: 52.5 mg
FAQ
Yes, substitute with almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or tahini. You may need to adjust sweetness and add extra water for proper consistency. Almond butter creates the closest flavor profile to traditional peanut sauce.
Use a sharp chef's knife to cut vegetables into thin planks first, then stack and slice into matchsticks. For carrots and cucumbers, a vegetable peeler works well to create ribbon-like strips. Aim for pieces about โ -inch thick for the best texture.
Store all components separately in airtight containers and pat vegetables completely dry before storage. Assemble wraps just before eating, and consider packing sauce in small individual containers to control portions and prevent premature mixing.
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