Quick, easy and packed with flavor, these Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Tahini Sauce are proof that healthy eating CAN be delicious! Ready in 20 minutes or less, this cashew chicken with tahini lettuce wrap sauce is perfect as a healthy appetizer, hearty lunch, light dinner and anything in between!
Update: This post was originally published in June 2017. I made edits to the post below to include more information about cashew chicken. There’s also now a step-by-step recipe video showing you exactly how easy these chicken tahini wraps are to make.
Hi, friends! Long time, no virtual see. For those of you in the United States, I hope you had the most wonderful Memorial weekend! Hopefully it was filled with family time, grilling, cocktails, summery desserts, and basking in the summer sun.
Today we are making delicious lettuce wraps with chicken. There’s plenty of protein, a silky tahini sauce, crisp lettuce and all the accoutrements. It’s healthy, utterly delicious and your beach body goals will love it. Let’s go!
About this recipe for chicken lettuce wraps
AKA little bundles of edible BLISS
Dainty, yet hearty, these wraps are good for your waistline, but won’t make you feel like you’re on that dreaded summer diet.
Tender, juicy, crumbles of garlicy-gingery chicken sautéed in a creamy-dreamy, savory tahini sauce; topped with crisp water chestnuts, herbaceous green onions, crunchy cashews, and silky noodles all piled high in a refreshingly cool lettuce cup.
Super easy, and seriously delicious, these little parcels of joy are perfect for lunch, appetizers, dinner and even breakfast if you’re a little daring like me. 😉
⬆️ Oh, don’t give me that look. YES, I had these for breakfast. I’m a savory breakfast kinda girl, and when something is this O-M-Gee GOOD, you NEED to eat it at every meal.
Which lettuce is best for chickenlettuce wraps?
My personal favorite lettuce for these (or any) wraps are either bibb or butter lettuce. Their broad leaves are sturdy and can hold a generous amount of filling without tearing or falling apart.
When you are selecting a head of bibb or butter lettuce, you want to look for a smaller head where the outer leaves look crisp and fresh, with no signs of wilting.
If you can’t find bibb or butter lettuce, you can use iceberg or romaine. While iceberg is commonly used in Asian style lettuce wraps and it does have a nice crispness, it can be hard to roll. And, since romaine has narrow leaves, it won’t hold as much filling.
If you are looking for a heartier green, you can use collards or swiss chard!
How to make cashew chicken wraps at home
Step one – Make the tahini sauce by whisking together a generous amount of tahini with a touch of soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, chicken stock and honey. Stir until it’s silky smooth, then taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper.
Step two – Cook the chicken. Heat some oil in a large wok, add the chicken, season it up, and cook, making sure you stir to break up any large clumps of chicken. Add in the garlic and ginger, then the water chestnuts and green onion. Finally, add in the tahini sauce and stir until everything is coated and delicious.
Step three – Pile some noodles into a cup of lettuce, generously pack on the chicken, sprinkle with desired garnishes, drizzle with some tahini and DEVOUR.
Tips for the best chicken wraps and lettuce wrap sauce
- The recipe calls for ground chicken. You can use all lean white meat ground chicken if you would like, however the plain packaged combination of white and dark meat ground chicken packs the most flavor!
- I used bibb lettuce for my wraps, but feel free to swap it out for iceberg or romaine.
- If these lettuce wraps simply have way too many healthy-vibes for your taste, nix the lettuce and serve the tahini chicken on bread as a sandwich, or use it as a dip for crackers and/or chips!
- You can serve the lettuce wraps as is, or you can drizzle them with more tahini, OR you can make a super simple tahini dipping sauce by mixing ¼ cup tahini with 4 tsp soy sauce and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper.
What goes with Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps?
I served my lettuce wraps with cooked vermicelli noodles tucked right into the lettuce wrap, underneath the cashew chicken filling.
You can find vermicelli noodles, also known as rice noodles or rice sticks, in the ethnic isle of most grocery stores. Vermicelli noodles are thin rice-flour noodles commonly used in Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and other Southeast Asian cuisines. Often used in stir-fries, soups, spring rolls and salads, their soft, delicate texture pairs perfectly with these lettuce wraps!
If noodles aren’t your thing, you can also serve these wraps with white rice. Or, if you are looking for a healthier option, quinoa or cauliflower “rice” would be delicious!
This recipe with tahini and chicken is so yummy and perfect as a healthy appetizer, hearty snack, or light dinner. Get these saucy chicken wraps in your life. I pinkie promise your mouth and stomach will thank you!
Until next week friends, cheers! To little lettuce-y boats of yum.
Cheyanne
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More healthy chicken recipes!
How to make best Cashew Chicken and Tahini Sauce for lettuce wraps👇
Easy Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Tahini Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 TBS Canola or Peanut Oil
- 1 Pound Ground Chicken*
- 3 Cloves Garlic – finely diced
- 2 heaping tsp Grated Ginger
- 1 (8 ounce) can Sliced Water Chestnuts – drained
- 3 Green Onions – trimmed and sliced
- Kosher Salt and Pepper , to taste
- ½ Cup roasted Cashews – roughly chopped
- 1 Head Bibb or Boston Lettuce – leaves separated
Sauce (yield roughly 2/3 cup):
- ¼ Cup Tahini
- 1 ½ TBS Low Sodium Soy Sauce
- 1 ½ tsp Rice Wine Vinegar
- ¼ Cup Chicken Stock (or water)
- 1 TBS Honey
Optional For Serving: Sliced Green Onions, Cashews, Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, Sesame Seeds, Cooked Vermicelli Noodles or Cooked White Rice
Instructions
- Make the Tahini Sauce: In a small bowl whisk together all ingredients. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- For the Chicken: Heat the oil in a large wok or frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring to break up any clumps, until the chicken is starting to brown, about 3-4 minutes. (Depending on the type of ground chicken you used, drain any excess fat from the pan if necessary)
- Add in the garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds-1 minute. Stir in the water chestnuts and green onions. Cook for 1 minute. Add in the satay sauce, lower the heat to medium, and cook, stirring, for 3-4 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
- To Serve: Remove chicken from heat and taste/adjust for seasoning. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve with lettuce and garnishes on side, or spoon chicken mixture directly into individual lettuce leaves and garnish as desired. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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I would totally eat these for breakfast. While I do like a pancake here and there, if I had to eat savory breakfast for the rest of my life I’d be thrilled. I fail at my beach body goals each year…I’m pretty sure I’ve already given up this year. But that doesn’t mean I can’t eat these yummy lettuce wraps! I try to eat healthy for lunch at work, and these would be perfect!
I LOVE lettuce wraps Chey! And so does my waistline. I’ve actually tried this recipe with ground chicken and ground turkey. Soooo good. Love the sauce! I thank you, and my stretchy pants thank you!
Anything with tahini makes me very happy! I whipped up a batch of tahini dressing last week and was ready for just about anything! 😉 These are amazing, my dear! xo
Hi, love your pictures, and your page. But there are so many ads popping that makes it very annoying to browse!
It’s a deterrent for me to come back.
Hi Bia,
I’m so sorry you had that experience, but there shouldn’t be any ads “popping up”. There should only be a pop-up for you to sign up for my free newsletter to receive notification of new recipes via email. I will definitely look into the ads though to ensure they are functioning properly and not popping up on you in the future. I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you and do hope you come back! Warm wishes for a wonderful rest of the day.
I have to say, that tahini sauce you came up with sounds above an beyond tasty, the entire concept of this dish is incredible.
Beach body goals, I wish! Ha, I love tahini, and I agree this recipe screams summer. It looks delicious and I love the easy step approach. (logo looks great)
We just started Bloodline. It seemed a bit slow, but that first episode ending nailed. NAILED IT. The second was so good and I am hooked – loving it! Like this scrumptious tahini cashew chicken creation. Looks so good!
These look very scrumptious! I love lettuce wraps whenever I go out to our favorite restaurant. I think it’s time to start making them at home! 🙂
Darling girl, looks like you had the best memorial weekend. Netflix was on at our place too.
Love love wraps and a smooth sauce, always a winner.
Oh wow! Your new logo is beautiful, girl. And these chicken lettuce wraps looks spectacular, Cheyanne. Tahini sauce sounds like a great addition. Anyone who loves chicken lettuce wraps would surely love these beauties.
Woah, MAMA!! Take a look at that GORGEOUS, brand-spanking new logo! I seriously love it, Chey! <3 <3 It's so clean, so classy, a dash of sassy, and just… SO. YOU. 🙂 Meanwhile, I'm so happy to hear that you had a lovely Memorial Day weekend. You totally deserve it (and like 500 beach vacations, but that's just my opinion). <3 Now I've totally got to check out Bloodline. I've been a bit curious about it, but haven't gotten around to watching. Anywho, did I tell you my sister's coming to visit?? And guess what? She would be doing all kinds of drooling over these beautiful lettuce wraps. I, myself, would be asking for exactly four buckets of that tahini sauce. Then my mama would be like, wait, this is my future daughter… UM, can I get like 10 full servings of this? 🙂 Missing you like crazy. xoxo
Delicious, light yet packed full of flavours, Chey. The new header looks cool, I love it.
LOVING the new logo Cheyanne! It really brightens up your blog! Also loving these chicken lettuce wraps! Weve just gotten through a really warm period here in england and something cool and simple are just what Ive been craving!
First of all, HELLO GORGEOUS! Love your new logo, but miss your old sassy headline. 😉 Nah, totally get it and the new one makes sense.
These lettuce wraps, Cheyanne! Well, you know they are right up my alley. Beautiful and delicious, my two favorite food characteristics!
I can’t get enough of lettuce wraps – I always feel so healthy after eating them and just love your addition of tahini sauce, Cheyanne! I was going to start Bloodline this weekend but didn’t have time – love that show and I see a binge watching session very near in my future!
Oh my goodness I can’t wait for Bloodline too. The ending of the last season gave me the chills!!! What a cliffhanger. Anyway, I’m loving how quick and easy these lettuce wraps look!! Seriously one of my fave things to eat. Cheers Chey!
I love the new logo 🙂 These lettuce wraps look perfect! I have been thinking to make some for weeks. Going to try the recipe!
Hey Chey! These lettuce wraps look scrumptious and perfect for all seasons, but especially summertime when you’re looking for something nutritious, delicious, and light. They get my thumbs up for breakfast–certainly better for you than a stack full of pancakes drenched in syrup (but if anyone wants to make me a stack full of pancakes for breakfast, I wouldn’t turn them down.)
These look so fresh and delicious and healthy! I love lettuce wraps and the filling you have here is so good!! I could so eat these for breakfast – I always crave a sweet breakfast like pancakes or waffles but always regret it afterwards.
Oh my goodness, these chicken wraps sound and look amazing, Chey. I agree – healthy food doesn’t need to be boring. I would have these wraps even instead of my dessert (Well, of course I’ve lied here. I won’t skip my dessert. Ever. Said that just to support your statement). And this tahini sauce is to die for!
I agree. These are perfect for any meal of the day Chey! Nice and healthy to keep me in line this summer too. I try to keep bread out of my diet for the most part during the summer. It’s tough, but lettuce wraps always make me feel like I’m still eating a sandwich. Love the new logo too!! Happy weekend!
The wraps sound great, especially with the tahini sauce for added flavor.
Ohhh I like the new header Cheyanne!! Very very very cute. I have to check out Bloodline, I hear its addicting. Lettuce wrap are always delicious, light, crisp, flavorful. I like the addition of tahini sauce and cashews. Ohhhhh water chestnuts are so crunch super fun to eat.
I so love savory food for breakfast, I get it completely!! These lettuce wraps look amazing, I love the roasted cashews and that tahini sauce I could drink with a straw (but I won’t) 😉 . Pinned! Take care.
Love lettuce wraps and this cashew chicken one is speaking to me! And I’m also loving your new logo. Fabulous!! Have a great weekend, Cheyanne 🙂
I have a serious love affair going on with anything lettuce wrap. These sound amazing Chey!! Thanks for a new idea 🙂
Hey Cheyanne, Glad you had a lovely Memorial Day Weekend! And these lettuce wraps are definitely looking mighty fine. I’m all about wrapping in lettuce..The new logo is so awesome and sums up all your deliciousness here quite nicely. Enjoy your upcoming weekend 🙂
Sounds like you had an amazing Memorial Day and our NetFlix was streaming too! 🙂 These wraps are just brilliant in every way. I love those big bold flavors and that silky tahini sauce is the best way to top these off! I’m loving these and can’t wait to try them!
Every sauce you make I just want to eat with a spoon. You’re seriously the sauce queen, Cheyanne! These wraps sound like summer perfection–and I’d totally eat one for breakfast. With extra sauce. I can’t think of a better start to the day! I’m glad you guys had such a great Memorial Day weekend. Have a great day, girl!
First of all – your new logo is fabulous! So eye catching! I have a sister in law who loves lettuce wraps (and tahini) so these will need to happen the next time she visits! I love how packed with flavor these are!! Have a great day, friend! Cheers! xo
Girl, I would totally eat these for breakfast….and lunch…and dinner….oh, and maybe a snack in between. They are pretty healthy, aren’t they? Yeap! Love the tahini sauce too and the noodles actually in the wrap – such a great idea! Glad you had a lovely long weekend (don’t you wish there was another just around the corner???). P.S. Love your new logo! Looks awesome! Cheers to a wonderful weekend! xo
Yay for the unofficial start of summer! I can’t believe that Memorial Day weekend has already come and gone. Hope yours was filled with some good grilling food! Now that it’s getting all hot and sticky out, I’m looking for the easiest meals to make, and these wraps are definitely going on the menu. A favorite restaurant of mine has a similar dish and I always order it, so these cuties sound SO good. I love the tahini sauce and how quick these come together! Pinned! Hope your Thursday is off to a great start!
I can’t wait to dive into the new season of Bloodline! Also glad to hear you had a lovely weekend my friend 🙂 And I am loving these gorgeous lettuce boats of deliciousness you have brought us today! These are right up my alley and both the tahini sauce in and the tahini sauce to serve it with sound delectable! Totally my kind of flavors and as a savory breakfast eater who often has random leftovers in the morning, I absolutely understand you digging into these first thing – I would too! Pinned! Have a wonderful weekend! XO