These turkey lettuce wraps are infused with a sticky, sweet, savory and slightly spicy orange sauce. They’re an irresistibly easy and tasty meal.
Does anyone remember the lettuce wraps from P.F. Changs? Remember is probably the wrong word, I’m sure they’re still on the menu, I just haven’t been to a P.F. Changs in probably about 15 years so I have no clue.
I remember when that chain was all the rage though and those lettuce wraps on their appetizer list were my go-to order. I just loved all those amazing Asian flavors and back then, thought the idea of eating them in cute little lettuce cups was culinary genius.
Ah, such a naive little foodie baby I was.
After a recent trip to an orange grove, including touring the processing facility, I was inspired to create a recipe that showcased oranges, using as much of the fruit as possible. That’s when (who the heck knows how) my mind wandered back to the P.F Chang days and I thought about lettuce wraps.
These orange turkey lettuce wraps are a seriously mouthwatering blend of both. The sticky, sweet, savory and slightly spicy orange sauce is bursting with citrus flavor from both the orange juice and zest while highlighted by traditional Asian flavors from soy and fish sauce. Tossed with lean ground turkey and even more orange zest, it makes a deliciously flavorful, quick 30 minute meal. Lettuce wraps are a perfect healthy vessel to shove it all in your mouth but the orange turkey would be equally as good over some rice for a more substantial meal too.
I remember those P.F. Changs lettuce wraps being almost addictive. Like, I just didn’t want to stop eating them. At the time, I had no idea the word umami even existed but thinking back to it today, I now realize that’s exactly what they were: a savory, sweet explosion of deliciousness that makes you never want to stop eating. That’s exactly how I’d describe these turkey lettuce wraps. I could’ve eaten the entire skillet myself.
Why You’ll Love These Ground Turkey Lettuce Wraps
- Bold Orange Flavor – Fresh orange juice and zest give these turkey lettuce wraps a bright, citrusy kick with just the right balance of sweet and savory.
- Quick & Easy – A 30-minute recipe that comes together fast, so this can be a tasty weeknight meal.
- Low-Carb and Light – Wrapped in crisp lettuce, this meal is filling without the heaviness of bread or rice.
- Customizable Spice Level – Adjust the sriracha to make it mild or fiery, depending on your taste.
- Tastes Just Like Takeout – The umami-rich sauce and tender turkey give these wraps a restaurant-quality flavor at home.
What You’ll Need to Make the Best Turkey Lettuce Wraps
A few simple ingredients come together to make these delicious lettuce wraps with ground turkey. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Ground Turkey – Lean ground turkey is the best option, but you can use ground chicken or even ground beef if you prefer a richer taste.
- Orange Juice & Zest – Fresh juice and zest work best for the boldest flavor.
- Soy Sauce – Low-sodium soy sauce is recommended to control the saltiness. For a gluten-free option, use tamari or substitute coconut aminos.
- Fish Sauce – Adds deep umami flavor. Look for it in the international aisle.
- Honey – A touch of natural sweetness to balance the sauce. Maple syrup can also be used.
- Sriracha – Adjust the amount based on your spice preference.
- Garlic & Ginger – Fresh is best, but powdered versions work in a pinch. I like to grate both for this recipe, it’s easier than mincing with a knife.
- Cornstarch – Helps thicken the sauce for that perfect sticky texture. Tapioca powder or arrowroot can be used in it’s place.
- Red Bell Pepper – Adds a pop of color and crunch.
- Butter Lettuce or Iceberg Lettuce – Butter lettuce is soft and flexible, while iceberg lettuce is crisp and sturdy. Both work well for making lettuce wraps.
Speedy Hacks for Quick & Tasty Wraps
- Use Pre-Made Orange Juice: Fresh is best, but if you’re short on time, a high-quality 100% orange juice works too.
- Pre-Minced Garlic and Ginger: Save chopping time by using jarred minced garlic and ginger or those frozen cubes you see in the frozen foods section. I love keeping those on hand for quick meals.
- Bagged Lettuce: Some stores sell pre-washed butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce, making prep even faster.
- Meal Prep the Sauce – Make the orange sauce ahead and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
No One Likes Sad Lettuce or Dry Turkey— Here’s How to Avoid Both
For the freshest and best turkey lettuce wraps recipe, choose high-quality ingredients. When buying ground turkey, go for lean (93%) for a balance of flavor and moisture. Look for a fresh, pink color and try to avoid buying meat that has added ingredients, they usually just cook out and dry out the meat. It’s also important not to overcook the ground turkey, a common mistake.
For lettuce, butter lettuce has soft, flexible leaves, making it great for easy wrapping. Iceberg lettuce provides extra crunch. Check for vibrant green leaves without wilting or browning.
How to Make the Best Lettuce Wraps
A full detailed recipe is at the bottom of the post with ingredient measurements and detailed directions, but here’s a quick run-through of the recipe process.
Make the Orange Sauce
Whisk together all of the ingredients for the sauce except the cornstarch and water in a small sauce pot and bring the mixture to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook the sauce for about 15 minutes to reduce it.
Right before you’re ready to add the sauce to the cooked turkey, stir the cornstarch and water together and pour it into the sauce pot. Stir until the sauce thickens which should take about 1 minute.
Cook the Ground Turkey
Season the ground turkey with garlic powder, ginger, salt and pepper. Brown the meat in a hot skillet with coconut oil, breaking it up as it cooks.
Add the Vegetables
Toss in red bell pepper and orange zest, cooking until the peppers start to soften slightly but still retain a bit of crunch.
Combine and Finish
Pour the orange sauce into the skillet and stir until the turkey is coated and the sauce thickens.
Assemble the Turkey Wraps
Spoon the turkey mixture into the lettuce leaves, garnish with green onions, and serve with lime wedges.
My Pro Tips
Recipe Tips
- Use a sturdy lettuce leaf: The outer leaves of both Bibb and Iceberg lettuce heads are the best for lettuce cups.
- Don’t overfill: Too much of the turkey filling will burst out of the wrap and weigh the lettuce down making it hard to eat.
- Warm the turkey before serving: The sauce thickens as it sits, so reheat if needed.
- Adjust spice to preference: Add more sriracha for extra heat.
- Garnish for extra flavor: Green onions and a squeeze of lime juice make a big difference in the final taste.
Recipe Variations
- Add Crunch: Toss in chopped water chestnuts or shredded carrots for extra texture.
- Swap the Protein: Try ground pork or ground chicken instead of turkey.
- Extra Flavor: Stir in a spoonful of hoisin sauce or a dash of rice vinegar.
- Mushrooms: Add finely chopped mushrooms for an earthy depth that add to the umami flavors of these wraps.
- Sesame Oil: Drizzle a little into the turkey mixture or as a finishing oil on top of each lettuce wrap for a nutty flavor.
- Romaine Lettuce Option: Use romaine leaves instead of butter lettuce and make turkey lettuce boats.
- Noodle Option: Serve the turkey mixture over cooked noodles or add ramen to the turkey mixture like these Korean steak noodle lettuce cups.
- Enjoy As a Bowl: Instead of lettuce wraps, serve the turkey mixture in bowl form like these spicy beef and red pepper rice bowls.
Storage, Freezing & Reheating Instructions
Store the leftover ground turkey in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze it for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, reheat in the microwave in 30-second intervals or warm it on the stovetop over medium heat until heated through.
More Recipes Featuring Ground Turkey
These cheesy garlic stuffed portobello mushrooms feature ground turkey instead of beef for a lighter feeling meal.
You can make this buffalo turkey cauliflower skillet with just 4 ingredients in 15 minutes. It’s a great meal to prep for lunch all week.
This skillet mac and cheese uses ground turkey for a dinner that gives off a grown-up hamburger helper vibe and is made all in one pot!
Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
For the Orange Sauce:
- 1 cup orange juice, (fresh 100% juice or fresh squeezed)
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce, (use gluten free if needed)
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon sriracha, (adjust amount for spice preference)
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 inch piece fresh ginger, grated
- zest of 1 orange
- 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch or arrowroot starch
- 1/2 tablespoon water
For the Turkey:
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1/2 large red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- zest from 1 orange
- 1 head Boston or Bibb lettuce
- chopped green onion for garnish
Instructions
For the orange sauce:
- Whisk everything except the cornstarch and water together in a small bowl until combined. Add the mixture to a small sauce pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and let cook/reduce for about 15 minutes while you prepare the turkey.
- Mix the cornstarch/arrowroot and water together in a small bowl right before you’re ready to add the sauce to the turkey. Add the cornstarch mixture to the sauce, stir until thickened and remove from heat.
For the turkey:
- Mix the turkey, garlic powder, ginger, salt and pepper together in a large bowl.
- Add the coconut oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the turkey and cook until browned, breaking up with a spatula into small pieces as it cooks. Drain any excess liquid from the skillet once browned and return to the heat.
- Add the red peppers and orange zest and cook until peppers are just slightly softened.
- Add the orange sauce to the skillet, toss to coat all the turkey with the sauce and let cook for another 1-2 minutes until bubbly and thickened.
- Serve turkey mixture in lettuce cups and garnish with green onions.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
These sound delicious! Love the orange flavors going on. So pretty too! :)
Dying over these! LOVE all those flavors!
I LOVE lettuce wraps and these look like they have so much flavor. Yum!
Lettuce wraps are always a god idea! Love this version of yours.
These look absolutely delicious Gina! Love the orange sauce. Perfect spring/summer meal. Can’t wait to try!
As the weather gets warmer, I love easy dinners like lettuce wraps! These look delish!
the orange sauce is brilliant! totally making these! love lettuce wraps!
I grew up on Troicanana, I think I drank more of it than milk! These lettuce wraps are insane, that little bit of spice mixed with the orange is right up my alley!