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Get It NowToday I’m sharing everything you need to know to make easy, healthy healthy lettuce wraps at home! Want to know the best lettuce to use for lettuce wraps? I’ve got options. How to make lettuce wraps that don’t fall apart? I’ll show you the secret to making ones like the sandwich shops do! Tips for the best keto lettuce wraps? I’ve got plenty. And, I’m including 16 easy low carb lettuce wraps recipes for you to try.
I love lettuce wraps for quick lunches and no-cook dinners in the hot summer. These keto lettuce wraps are so good, you’ll never even miss the bread.
There’s a lot to cover when it comes to homemade lettuce wraps, so let’s get right to it!
The Best Lettuce For Lettuce Wraps
If you’re wondering what kind of lettuce for lettuce wraps, I’ve got plenty of options for you!
Here are a few popular lettuce varieties to try when you are considering what lettuce to use for lettuce wraps:
- Butter/Boston Bibb – One of the most popular varieties to use. The butter lettuce leaves are both sturdy and pliable at the same time, forming a natural cup shape. The leaves are on the smaller side, so you may need to make a few wraps to make it a meal.
- Iceberg – Typically used in Asian lettuce wraps, iceberg is really crunchy, but that also means it doesn’t wrap well. It’s best if you use it more of a cup shape instead of trying to wrap it.
- Green leaf – This is the largest leaf and when you layer a couple of them together, you can make a pretty big wrap. It also wraps well, so it’s great to make a lettuce sub.
- Swiss chard – You can also use Swiss chard as a lettuce wrap. Simply remove the stem before adding fillings to your healthy lettuce wraps.
- Romaine – Another great option, we’ll discuss this one further below!
How To Make A Lettuce Wrap With Romaine
Because romaine doesn’t have as much “leafy” area to it, romaine lettuce wraps can be a bit tricky. But you can do it!
Here are the two main ways for making lettuce wraps with romaine lettuce:
- Like a taco shell – This way, it doesn’t need to be completely wrapped up. If you picture it like a taco, it’s easy to eat. Hold it folded over lengthwise.
- Overlap the lettuce leaves – By overlapping your lettuce leaves and using parchment paper, you can create tight lettuce wraps with Romaine lettuce. See my tips below on how to do that!
How To Cut Lettuce For Lettuce Wraps
Depending on what type of lettuce you are using, many of the leaves don’t need to be cut.
Here is how to cut lettuce for lettuce wraps using the different types of lettuce:
- Iceberg lettuce – Remove the core by holding the top of the lettuce with your hands and pounding the core down on a counter. Once it’s loosened, you can easily twist it out. Then wash the lettuce leaves, dry them, and they are ready to use.
- Swiss chard – Swiss chard will need the stem cut out, but it’s the only variety that actually needs to be cut.
- Other types of lettuce – Gently break off the individual lettuce leaves and wash and dry (gently!), so that the lettuce doesn’t tear.
How To Make Lettuce Wraps That Don't Fall ApartPin It For Later!
How To Make Lettuce Wraps
So, how do you make lettuce wraps? The basic steps are pretty straightforward:
- Prep your lettuce leaves. Wash, dry and lay out your lettuce on a flat surface.
- Add fillings. Spread sauce over the lettuce first, then place meat or protein, cheese, extra veggies, and any additional toppings you want on your easy healthy lettuce wraps.
- Wrap or roll. Depending on what kind of lettuce wrap recipe you are making, you may need to roll your lettuce up, or you may eat it more like a taco! It will be delicious either way.
But if you want to know how to make super tight lettuce wraps that are similar to a wrap with a tortilla, here’s how you do that…
How To Make Lettuce Wraps Rolled Tight In Parchment Paper
This quick tutorial will show you how to make a lettuce wrap at home, just like you would grab at any legit sandwich shop:
- Lay out your lettuce leaves on parchment. Be sure to overlap them generously.
TIP: If you’re using a lot of fillings, use a few extra lettuce leaves for coverage! This will ensure things don’t fall out.
- Layer the sauce in first, so it’s covered, sticks to the lettuce, and doesn’t run off or out. Placing the sauce between the lettuce and the meat creates a seal.
- Layer your other fillings next – meat, cheese, and veggies.
- Roll the wrap like you would a sushi roll, pulling the parchment up and out as you fold it over, so you’re not tucking the paper into the wrap… make sense?
- Tear off a little paper at a time when you’re eating it.
TIP: If you’re traveling with lettuce wraps, you may want to use aluminum foil, so it can be tightly closed on the ends until ready to eat!
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Healthy Lettuce Wraps Recipes & Ideas
Now that you know how to make lettuce wraps, I want to give you some specific recipes to make them. This collection includes actual lettuce wraps recipes, plus recipes for fillings that would go perfectly inside healthy lettuce wraps.
- Low Carb Chicken Salad – Easy chicken salad packed with flavorful herbs, and takes just a few minutes to make! Wraps well inside virtually any lettuce leaves.
- Avocado Chicken Salad – Just 5 ingredients and full of fresh flavors! This one reminds me of a cross between guacamole and chicken salad.
- Tuna Egg Salad – When you’re bored with chicken salad lettuce wraps, try tuna! This easy tuna egg salad is ready in just 10 minutes, and perfect to make ahead.
- Easy Healthy Avocado Tuna Salad – Packed with healthy fats, and takes just 7 ingredients to make! My favorite for tuna salad lettuce wraps.
- Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa – Copycat Chipotle made easy in the slow cooker! I like making lettuce wraps with this to mimic a Chipotle burrito.
- Easy Carne Asada – This recipe makes the best beef lettuce wraps! It pairs perfectly with Mexican fillings, like cilantro, avocado, red onions, jalapenos, etc.
- Ground Beef with my homemade Taco Seasoning recipe – Serve up classic ground beef tacos as delicious lettuce wraps instead of the taco shells! Don’t forget the salsa and sour cream.
- Crock Pot Slow Cooker Crack Chicken – So good stuffed inside lettuce leaves.
- Pork Belly Tacos – This easy pork belly taco recipe will blow you away! Just make ’em into easy lettuce wraps instead of higher carb tortillas.
- Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos – Sweet and spicy, just how I like it! To make ’em low carb, omit or sub honey with low carb sweetener, and wrap in your favorite lettuce leaves.
- Paleo Chinese Chicken Lettuce Cups – You’re going to love these healthy chicken lettuce wraps. If you want to reduce carbs, omit the water chestnuts.
- BLT Lettuce Wraps – Make some easy bacon in the oven, add some sliced tomato and avocado oil mayonnaise, and they are ready to go!
- Healthy Turkey Lettuce Wraps – Instead of using the cucumber, put these fillings into lettuce wraps. It’ll be like a low carb unwich!
- Spicy Keto Thai Shrimp Lettuce Wraps – You’ll want to drizzle the peanut sauce found in these on everything! Ready in just 15 minutes.
- Shredded Chicken Lettuce Wraps – Easy, simple ingredients and naturally keto friendly.
- Paleo Chicken Lettuce Wraps – These are both paleo and low carb as well.
- Thai Beef Lettuce Wraps – These delicious lettuce wraps are found in my keto cookbook, and pictured below! Buy the Wholesome Yum Easy Keto Cookbook here.
What To Serve With Lettuce Wraps
Lettuce wraps make a great meal on their own, but what to make with lettuce wraps when you want something on the side? Check out these other low carb side dish recipes and snacks:
- Simple Oriental Asian Cabbage Salad – This zippy slaw would pair well with any of the asian lettuce wraps, but also simple turkey ones, too!
- Air Fryer Keto Onion Rings – Healthiest onion rings around, these are so good!
- Healthy Oven Baked Zucchini Chips – Pair your low carb lettuce wraps with these yummy zucchini chips.
- Baked Cheddar Parmesan Crisps – Need some crunch with your keto lettuce wraps? Try these chips made entirely from cheese!
- Broccoli Cheese Soup – Instead of a soup and sandwich, how about soup and a healthy lettuce wrap? You only need 5 ingredients for this one.
Tools To Make Healthy Lettuce Wraps
Tap the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.
- Parchment Paper – The best way to ensure everything in your low carb lettuce wraps stays in place!
- Chef’s Knife – Cut your keto lettuce wraps in half with a good knife.
- Sandwich & Snack Kit – Take your Boston bibb lettuce wraps on-the-go with this kit.
Keto Low Carb Lettuce Wraps Recipe
How To Make Lettuce Wraps: Keto Low Carb Lettuce Wraps Recipe
The best guide to healthy lettuce wraps, including the secret for how to make lettuce wraps that don't fall apart, best lettuce for lettuce wraps, and 16 keto low carb lettuce wraps recipes.
Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Lay out lettuce leaves on parchment paper, making sure they overlap.
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Spread the mayonnaise over the overlapping lettuce leaves.
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Top with deli meat over the mayo to seal. Add cheese, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
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Carefully and tightly roll up the wrap with parchment paper, pulling the paper out as you roll. Fold the ends over toward the end and finish rolling so that the paper is on the outside.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 lettuce wrap (entire recipe)
- Nutrition info is an example of a lettuce wrap with lettuce, turkey, cheese, tomato, cucumber, and mayonnaise.
- For tips on how to make lettuce wraps that don't fall apart, see the post above!
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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24 Comments
T
0Great ideas
Kate
0Was there a video on how to do the wraps with parchment paper? If so, I am missing it. Would be helpful. Thanks.
Wholesome Yum
0Hi Kate, no video yet, but stay tuned!
Julia
0Love your post with all the options and detailed info! Delicious recipe!
Dannii
0We love lettuce wraps, and there are so many great options here.
Marisa F. Stewart
0What a fantastic post — so much information. I have to admit I really love my bread but sometimes I just want to cut out the extra calories and just get to the filling. Lettuce wraps are the perfect alternative. I usually use the Boston lettuce which can be pricy at times. I love the tips on how to use the other lettuce. Thank you.
Lola
0I love to add lettuce to all my salads and these wraps are simply awesome!
Wilhelmina
0This is such a great roundup of ideas! The tips really helped me up my lettuce wrap game!
Cindy
0I never really thought about the types of lettuce when making wraps! This post was really enlightening to read 🙂
Natalie
0I love lettuce wraps! It’s such a cool and delicious way to host in the summer – perfect solution for dinner or lunch on hot days.
Pam Greer
0Oh my gosh, so much to learn and love about lettuce wraps! I love all your tips! I can’t believe I never thought to use swiss chard!
Wilhelmina
0All of these options are fantastic! I really appreciate the tips too!
Andrea Metlika
0Lettuce wraps are so flavorful and delicious.
Mary Bostow
0This sounds SO GOOD! I cannot wait to make this! Thanks for your recipe. The photos just about have me drooling.
Ashley
0Yum!!!! Thanks for this detailed post – so many great ideas, recipes, and tips!
Jennifer
0This is so fantastic! I can never get enough lettuce wraps. They’re so much lighter, but still filling.
Beth Pierce
0Great idea! Can’t wait to make this for lunch today! Delicious and perfectly crispy!
Lisa
0Super helpful! I finally figured it out 🙂
Micki
0Thank you so much for this! Here’s a little secret – despite being vegetarian for well over 20 years, I’ve never made a lettuce wrap! I love them in restaurants, but I think I was a little intimidated to make them at home, lol. You made it so much easier!
Sapana
0Maya, these lettuce wraps are so good!!! I love how versatile they are – plus, they barely take any time. Thanks for sharing!
Courtney
0I love how well you have explained making lettuce wraps from all different kinds of lettuce here and thank you for sharing this great collection of fillings!
Kate
0Thanks for all these tips! I’ve struggled a lot with lettuce wraps breaking, but with these tips I think I’ll give it another try!
Edyta
0What a great tutorial. I’m trying to eat low carb so this is an amazing helpful article.
Hayley
0I feel so silly that I never have mastered making tight lettuce wraps before. But with your tips, I finally got it this time!