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These Thai Basil Chicken Lettuce Cups are simple and satisfying for a quick weeknight meal.
I love Thai basil and the anise flavor it can bring to a dish. If you’re a fan of those flavors like me, or want to try something new yet simple, you have to try this light and nourishing dinner. I make these lettuce cups with ground chicken but the recipe is versatile enough to use with pretty much any type of protein including shrimp, tuna or even lamb. And the filling makes great leftovers so double the batch and use it for quick and easy lunches throughout the week!
I know some people might be worried about how spicy these are so I’ve offered some tips; if you want a more mild bite, use two bird’s eye chili peppers. For even more heat, you can increase it to six chilies. If you’re really sensitive to spice or can’t get your hands on bird’s eye chilies, feel free to use a serrano pepper instead!
No matter how you make this recipe your own, I know you’re going to love it!
ingredients:
- Avocado Oil
- Shallots
- Red Bell Pepper
- Ground Chicken
- Kosher Salt
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Bird’s Eye Chili Peppers
- Green Onions
- Fresh Basil
- Fish Sauce
- Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice
- Head of Butter Lettuce
step-by-step:
step one: sauté the veggies
Heat the oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and red bell pepper and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds or until fragrant.
step two: cook the ground chicken
Add the ground chicken and using the back of a spoon, break up the meat and cook until it is just cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
step three: add the aromatics
Reduce the heat to low. Add the chili peppers, green onions, and basil. Stir to combine.
step four: finish and serve
Stir in the fish sauce and lime juice and cook 1 to 2 more minutes. Serve in lettuce cups and enjoy!
recipe FAQS:
Serrano peppers will work just as well! Feel free to adjust the heat level as desired.
Ground chicken would be the closest substitute but these would honestly be delicious with ground pork or ground beef too!
Whether or not you follow a Whole30-approved diet, I know you’re going to love these Thai Basil Chicken Lettuce Cups as much as my family does! Once you give the recipe a try, leave a comment below and let me know what you think!
craving more recipes like this one? try these!
Honey-Garlic Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Thai Basil Chicken Lettuce Cups
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 2 shallots, peeled and finely diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and finely diced
- 1 pound ground chicken breast
- kosher salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2-6 bird's eye chili peppers, thinly sliced (2 for mild heat, 4 for medium heat, or 6 for spicy)
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 cup packed chopped fresh basil leaves
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 head of butter lettuce
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and red bell pepper and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds or until fragrant.
- Add the ground chicken and using the back of a spoon, break up the meat and cook until it is just cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Reduce the heat to low. Add the chili peppers, green onions, and basil. Stir to combine.
- Stir in the fish sauce and lime juice and cook 1 to 2 more minutes. Serve in lettuce cups and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The Ingredients list with the steps do not match. Would you be able to fix it please. Bought the wrong things at the grocery store.
Refreshing late summer lunch!
Glad you enjoyed!
sorry to ask, but do you think I could try coconut aminos instead of fish sauce?
this looks like a delicious recipe, just don’t have the fish sauce on hand 🙁
Yes! That would work fine but fish sauce has more saltiness than coconut aminos so be sure to taste and add additional salt as needed.
I’ve tried a lot of lettuce wrap recipes, and always like them for a fresh and quick dinner. I expected these to be the same…I absolutely loved this recipe!!! So quick and easy to add extra veggies on hand. The filling seriously tastes better than my local Thai takeout. Definitely adding to rotation of favorite Alex recipes!
Love that these changed your mind about lettuce wraps! Thanks for commenting!
Is there anything to substitute for the fish sauce? My husband is allergic to fish.
Vegan fish sauce should be a good sub
Hi! Do you have a sub for birds eye chilies?
I would dice up about 1/2 a serrano very finely
Can you make these earlier in the day, refrigerate, and warm up for dinner later?
Yes. Leftovers are great