Chinese BBQ Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a fresh, healthy, and flavorful dish that brings together the savory goodness of BBQ chicken with the light, crisp crunch of lettuce. These wraps are the perfect balance of tender, sweet, and savory flavors, offering a satisfying bite without the heaviness of traditional wraps.
The base of this dish is the chicken, which is marinated in a flavorful Chinese BBQ sauce. The sweet and smoky sauce infuses the chicken with rich, bold flavors, making every bite a delightful experience. The chicken is then cooked until tender, shredded, and ready to be wrapped in crisp lettuce leaves.
The lettuce adds a refreshing contrast to the tender chicken. With its light, crisp texture, it serves as the perfect vessel for the BBQ chicken, creating a crunchy contrast that makes these wraps fun to eat. The coolness of the lettuce also balances out the richness of the chicken, giving each bite a refreshing, light quality.
What really sets these wraps apart is their versatility. You can add a variety of toppings to personalize the dish. Sliced cucumbers, shredded carrots, and fresh cilantro provide added crunch and flavor. A drizzle of hoisin sauce or a sprinkle of sesame seeds can elevate the dish even further, adding layers of richness and a bit of savory sweetness.
Chinese BBQ Chicken Lettuce Wraps are perfect for a light dinner, lunch, or even as an appetizer when entertaining. They are easy to prepare, fun to assemble, and offer a great balance of flavors that will appeal to everyone at the table.
Whether you’re craving something fresh and light or looking to switch up your usual wrap game, these lettuce wraps offer a delicious alternative that’s both satisfying and healthy.
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp ginger grated
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 8 lettuce leaves large
- 1/4 cup Green onions chopped
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- 1/4 cup peanuts chopped
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, grated ginger, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Pour the sauce over the cooked chicken and stir to coat. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- To assemble the lettuce wraps, place a scoop of the chicken mixture onto each lettuce leaf. Top with chopped green onions, cilantro, chopped peanuts, and a squeeze of lime.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
So good!! I added some chopped bell peppers for extra crunch. Yummy!
Why is it called BBQ? It doesn’t seem barbecued. 😕
Love how simple this is. I used turkey instead and it was still yummy!
I didn’t have hoisin, so I used barbecue sauce instead! It still turned out okay.
Wasn’t a fan of the peanuts. They were too crunchy. Would omit next time.
Quick and delicious! Perfect for a summer lunch!
I tried this last night and wow, it was so good! Perfect for summer, totally agree! 👍
Yum! I added some tears to the mix. They were good tho. LOL.
Lettuce + chicken = hilarity at the dinner table. Easy and fun to eat! 😊
Absolutely love this recipe! It’s quick and light. Perfect for summer!
I think this dish is going to help me lose weight! Healthier than pizza, for sure!
Disappointed. The sauce just didn’t do it for me. Was hoping for better 😢.
I’m skeptical about “BBQ” since it’s really more hoisin/soy. Not bad, just not what I expected. The lettuce wraps were kinda messy but the sauce is good.
Pretty good but I think 3 tbsp hoisin is a lot—mine came out a bit too sweet. Next time I’ll cut the honey down or add more soy. Still tasty though.
Totally agree—hoisin + honey together can push it into “too sweet” territory fast. I’ve had better luck using ~2 tbsp hoisin and either cutting the honey to 1/2 tbsp or adding an extra splash of soy at the end.
Eh, it’s ok. I prefer my chicken fried with rice, not this.
Is there any way to make this with turkey instead of chicken? You think it’ll still taste good?
I used regular vinegar instead of rice vinegar (oops). It was still edible, just tasted a bit harsher. Lettuce leaves were a nice idea, but I think the recipe needs the rice vinegar specifically.
Good flavor, but mine got a little too sticky. Next time I’ll reduce the honey or cook the sauce a minute less. Still delicious though, especially with the peanuts.
This looks like a lot of work. I don’t have time to cook like this…
These were amazing! My family loved them and they were super easy to make. Definitely a keeper!
But are they really that easy? I tried making them and it was a disaster! Maybe I did something wrong?
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! These wraps are a hit at my house too. Perfect for quick dinners!
I can’t believe how easy this was! My kids even liked it. Will make again!
I can’t believe people put peanuts in this! Who does that? Just wrong.
Forget the lettuce, just give me the chicken! 😋
This recipe is weird… mine looked nothing like the picture. 😣
So I made these wraps but forgot the lime. Still tasted fantastic. Thanks for the recipe!
So easy and tastes restaurant-y. My family asked for seconds. Also the peanuts on top are everything—crunch factor!
Delish! But isn’t this like tacos but in lettuce? Where’s the beef?
Chicken wraps are always good. Will it impress friends? Probably not.
Yum! I added more ginger and some hot sauce. Spicy and sweet! 😍
Sounds delicious! I love adding extra spices too. Can’t wait to try your version! 😋
I tried making this but the chicken came out too dry. Maybe I left it on the heat too long?
These wraps are amazing! Made them for dinner and my family loved them. 5 stars!
Will never make this again. The hoisin sauce is too sweet for my taste.
I made them with my kids! They had fun and ate all their veggies lol! Would recommend!
Seems easy, but my kids won’t eat greens. Maybe I’ll try hiding them?
That’s awesome! Cooking with kids makes everything better. Glad they enjoyed their veggies!
I didn’t have rice vinegar so I used apple cider vinegar (pls don’t judge lol). It still worked pretty well. The sauce thickened fine and the smell was amazing.
I don’t know about these. Sounds weird to eat chicken in lettuce. Just use bread like a normal person!
I used to think that too, but lettuce wraps are actually really tasty! You’ll be surprised. Give it a shot! 😊
I’m not gonna lie, the hoisin is strong. If you don’t like sweet-savory, you might find it too sweet even with the vinegar. Still flavorful, just not my vibe.
Hoisin always tastes too sweet to me 😅 I used less honey and it was still kinda sticky. Maybe my hoisin brand is stronger? Either way, pretty good just not my vibe either.
Totally agree—the hoisin hit is real. I actually add a little extra vinegar when I make it, and it balances out way better for me.
I like spicy food, so I doubled the red pepper flakes. That said, it got a little hot for my kid. Flavor was still amazing though.
I followed it exactly and it tasted kinda bland to me—like, not enough garlic maybe? Also, 1 tsp sesame oil felt like a lot for my palate.
Super easy to make! I used ground chicken instead, still turned out really good. 😊
So easy to make! I like to add some chopped bell peppers for crunch.
Chopped bell peppers sounds great! I never thought of that! I’ll definitely try it next time.
I dunno, it just didn’t taste much. Maybe I did something wrong.
Hoisin sauce? I thought this was a simple chicken recipe. Smh.
Hoisin sauce adds a ton of flavor, and it’s not hard! Just give it a try. 😊
Too much garlic for me 😷 but my husband loved it. Maybe scale it down next time?
These are so good! I made them for dinner and everyone loved it. Definitely a keeper!
Sounds amazing! I’m definitely trying this recipe out next week. Thanks for sharing!
I don’t know, man. Lettuce wraps just seem kinda weird to me. Wouldn’t they fall apart?
I don’t know, it felt boring. Where’s the flavor? I add more spices next time.
This used too much sauce. It was swimming in it! Not sure if I did it right.
So easy and fast—only like 15 minutes for everything. I used chicken thighs and it stayed juicier. Definitely making this again.
These wraps are legit. The hoisin + honey combo makes the chicken taste like takeout, and the lime at the end really wakes it up. Will definitely make again for weeknights.
Yum! These wraps are so fresh! Perfect for hot days when you don’t wanna cook a ton!
This is absolutely delicious! The flavors are amazing. My family loves it!
I didn’t have hoisin sauce, so I used barbecue sauce. Still turned out okay!
Kinda bland, I thought it would have more flavor. I added more garlic, but still not great.
I tried it and it was good… wait no—i forgot the honey 😅 Still tasted ok, but definitely not the same. Will try again properly.
Yummy and healthy, my kids love it. Will make again!
I was skeptical about hoisin + honey, but wow. Also the sesame oil taste is legit. My whole family asked for seconds.
Pretty tasty, but I think 5–7 minutes was a little short for my chicken slices. Next time I’ll cook a touch longer. Sauce thickened nicely though.
Glad the sauce thickened well! Yeah, for thinner slices 5–7 min is usually fine, but if the pieces are thicker I’d definitely add a couple minutes or until they’re cooked through.
Made this last night and it’s seriously so good. The hoisin + vinegar combo is perfect, and the lettuce keeps it super fresh. I used romaine and it worked great.
So good! I did not have peanuts, used cashews instead! Still a hit!
Not bad, but I found it a bit too sweet for my taste. Maybe less honey next time.
I think the sweetness is part of the charm! But I get it, everyone has their own taste. Maybe try a different sauce next time.
Not bad, but I followed the measurements and it still felt kinda bland? Maybe my garlic was old or I under-salted the chicken. Needs more lime next time.
These lettuce wraps are amazing! The flavors blend so well together.
Why do people call this ‘BBQ’? Like, it’s stir-fried chicken with nothing to do with BBQ. It’s misleading!!
I get what you mean, but BBQ is more about the flavor! They use that hoisin sauce which kinda gives it a BBQ vibe! 🙃
Nah, dude! It’s still good! Just think of it as BBQ-inspired. 🤷♂️
1 pound chicken?? That’s way too much for just lettuce leaves, unless you’re feeding a whole crew. I scaled it down and it came out way better. 😅
This is way too complicated! Who has time to cook all this? 🥴
Why so many steps? Just toss the chicken and sauce together and call it a day! 🤷♂️
I get it, sometimes recipes can feel overwhelming. But these wraps are actually quite quick once you get the hang of it! 🌟
Yummy! So refreshing! I’ll make these again, for sure! 👉👌
I was skeptical about putting chicken in lettuce, but wow. Crunchy, saucy, and not heavy. My family ate everything and asked for seconds. 10/10.
So easy and super tasty—like restaurant vibes without the hassle. My picky eater even liked it. Definitely adding to the rotation!
Made these tonight—so good! The hoisin/sweet-salty combo really sticks to the chicken. I didn’t even need extra sauce at the end. Lettuce wraps were crisp and fresh with the lime.
The ingredient list is solid but the instructions are a lil bare. Like, how dry is the chicken supposed to be before saucing? I ended up adding a splash of water to loosen it.
Loved this recipe! The kids even helped wrap them, messy but fun!
That’s awesome! Cooking with kids is the best! They learn great skills while having fun. How did they help exactly?
Messy?? I’d just throw everything in a bowl and eat it. This wrapping stuff sounds too complicated for me!
These were seriously crave-worthy. The sauce hits that sweet-salty-spicy balance and the lettuce makes it feel super fresh. I added a little extra garlic too—no regrets.
Lettuce wraps? More like lettuce struggles! LOL. But it was tasty! 3 stars.
Haha, I get that! Lettuce can be a bit tricky. Glad you enjoyed the taste though! Might try it again with a sturdier leaf next time.
Made these for dinner and wow—sticky-sweet sauce is perfect with the lettuce crunch. I added a little extra lime and it really brightened everything. Definitely repeating.
Meh. Sauce was okay but chicken dried out on me. Also I didn’t have cilantro so I skipped it—maybe that’s why. Won’t be my go-to.
Sorry it dried out on you! I’ve found thin-sliced chicken still cooks fast—if you go over ~7 minutes it can turn tough. Also, skipping cilantro probably won’t cause dryness, but it can change the overall flavor freshness.
“Lettuce wraps” is cool but chicken breast is always risky lol. Next time maybe marinate a bit or use thighs. And I think the cilantro is more garnish than main, so your timing was the real issue.
These are delicious! I made them for dinner last night, and my family loved them! 5 stars!
The flavors work, but my chicken kept sticking in the skillet until I used a bit more oil. Also 5-7 minutes felt short for my slices. Need thinner cut or longer cook time.
I tried this and it came out too sweet, like teriyaki-ish. Maybe my honey was too runny? Idk, but I’m probably gonna cut honey in half next time.
Totally hear you—this sauce has honey *and* hoisin, so it can tip sweet fast. Cutting the honey in half is a great move. Next time you could also reduce hoisin a bit or add an extra splash of rice vinegar/lime to balance it out. (Also, if your hoisin is already sweet, that’ll do it.)
Just made it, but I accidentally put too much ginger. It got kinda spicy, Oops!
Pretty tasty, but my chicken took a little longer than 7 minutes (thicker slices). Sauce thickened nicely though. Next time I’ll add a pinch more red pepper flakes for more heat.
I followed it but my sauce never really “thickened slightly”—it stayed kinda thin. Maybe my pan wasn’t hot enough? Flavor was still decent.
Tasted great but the sauce was too sweet for my taste. I might cut the honey next time.
I agree, it was a bit too sweet for me as well! Maybe using less honey or substituting with something else could help. Glad you liked it otherwise!
Meh, wasn’t really a fan. The lettuce got soggy fast. Such a messy meal.
Not gonna lie, 3 tbsp hoisin + 2 tbsp soy felt salty to me. I’d cut soy sauce to 1 tbsp if you’re watching sodium. Otherwise the ginger/garlic balance is great.
Meh. Tastes fine, but the lettuce wraps were kind of messy and my lettuce tore. Maybe use bigger romaine next time? Flavor is okay, not mind-blowing.
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about lettuce wraps staying flavorful, but the cilantro + lime saved it. Still, I wish I had more sauce to drizzle—maybe double the sauce portion.
Honey + vinegar = weird to me, but I tried it anyway. Actually pretty good! My sauce tasted like something from a takeout place.
Right?! I was skeptical about honey + vinegar too, but it actually makes the sauce taste more “takeout” and less like straight sweet or straight tangy. Glad it worked for you!
The lettuce leaves are key, I learned the hard way 😅. I grabbed iceberg and it cracked. Romaine or butter lettuce works way better.
Yes!! Lettuce choice makes a huge difference—iceberg can be kinda watery and doesn’t hold up the same. Romaine/butter lettuce for the win 👏
I used iceberg once and it was a disaster, I get you 😅 but I wonder if even romaine might be too watery if the chicken sauce is heavy—do you pat the lettuce dry or something?
Turned out tasty, but mine was a bit too thick after simmering. Next time I’ll loosen it with a splash of water/extra vinegar. Still great in lettuce wraps.
Good call—mine did the same thing if I let it reduce too long. A splash of water (or even a little extra vinegar) usually loosens it right back up. Love that it works great in lettuce wraps though!