Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps
So delicious, healthy, and easy to make, they'll be a new go-to for lunch and dinner. Great for meal prep, too
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 8-10 cranks freshly-ground black pepper
- 1 head Boston Bibb lettuce
- 3/4 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 medium bell pepper any color, finely chopped
- 1/2 medium cucumber finely chopped
- thinly-sliced green onion
- rice optional for serving
- 1 Tablespoon toasted sesame seeds optional garnish
Instructions
- Warm a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and garlic. Break up the meat into small crumbles and sauté until mostly browned. Drain or dab off excess fat if desired.1 pound lean ground beef, 2-3 cloves garlic
- In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, combine soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, ginger, and red and black pepper. Stir this mixture into the beef and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes. When the mixture reaches your desired consistency, turn the heat all the way down until ready to serve.1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 Tablespoon toasted sesame oil, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 8-10 cranks freshly-ground black pepper
- While the beef browns and simmers in the sauce, wash lettuce leaves and chop toppings.1 head Boston Bibb lettuce, 3/4 cup shredded carrots, 1/2 medium bell pepper, 1/2 medium cucumber, thinly-sliced green onion
- Lay out leaves of lettuce, layering 2 on top of each other. Spoon beef mixture into each bed of lettuce, then top with carrots, peppers, cucumber, green onions, and sesame seeds if desired. Add rice in wraps or on the side if desired. Enjoy!1 Tablespoon toasted sesame seeds, rice
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Notes
- Garlic: Fresh adds nice flavor as it sizzles with the beef, but you can sub 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder in a pinch. If using garlic powder whisk it into the sauce instead of adding directly to the beef.
- Brown sugar: Swap honey if you prefer.
- Bibb lettuce: Boston Bibb is our preferred type of lettuce for wraps, because the leaves are sturdy, crisp, well-sized, and have a natural curl that forms a perfect bowl. It also has a very light flavor that feels fresh but doesn't compete with your filling. You'll typically find the Bibb variety sold as hydroponic or "living lettuce" in a clamshell with roots still attached to the bottom, which helps it stay fresh. Other butterhead lettuces, romaine, iceberg, or little gem are solid alternatives.
- Red pepper: Reduce or omit if you’re worried about the heat with kids, but try not to worry too much—this amount relative to the other ingredients doesn’t really add much kick.
- Rice: Start first if you're offering as a serving option! The filling comes together so fast. Or, lean on the ultra-convenient microwaveable rice packets for perfectly cooked grains in 3 minutes. That’s what I usually do!
- Storage/Meal Prep: Korean ground beef reheats very well and makes delicious lunches. Simply store the seasoned, cooked beef in the refrigerator, tightly-covered, for 3-4 days. (Our favorite all glass portioned boxes.) Chop and store the veggies separately. When ready to eat, warm meat in the microwave and assemble as desired.
- Freezer-Friendly: Store the cooked beef in any freezer-safe container for 3-4 months. For best results, defrost in the fridge for 6-8 hours before warming in the microwave or in a skillet. If the beef looks dry after reheating, add a tiny drizzle of extra sesame oil or sprinkle on a small amount of water.
- Nutrition Info: An estimate based on 1 pound of beef divided into 4 servings with lettuce and veggie toppings, no rice. I'd consider this good portions for 2 adults + 2 kids. If you have 4 hungry adults you will likely want more. I won't lie: I often make this with 2 pounds of beef at a time because I want a larger portion for myself + leftovers!
Nutrition Estimate
Calories: 280 kcal, Carbohydrates: 20 g, Protein: 26 g, Fat: 10 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4 g, Trans Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 70 mg, Sodium: 630 mg, Potassium: 618 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 16 g, Vitamin A: 4540 IU, Vitamin C: 22 mg, Calcium: 61 mg, Iron: 4 mg