Description
Whipping up these asian garlic sesame chicken lettuce cups delivers a super quick weeknight dinner that totally satisfies your craving for something fresh and flavorful. Crisp lettuce leaves cradle spicy-sweet chicken packed with garlic and sesame, making dinner feel like a fun, hands-on experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 head of butter lettuce
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¼ cup green onions
- ¼ cup sesame seeds
- Salt
- Pepper
Garnish Ingredients:
(none)
Instructions
- Warm 2 tablespoons of sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes until it shimmers slightly.
- Add 4 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds, releasing their aromatic oils without burning.
- Introduce 1 pound of ground chicken to the skillet, breaking it into small crumbles while cooking for 6-7 minutes until golden brown.
- Pour 1 tablespoon each of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and honey over the chicken, stirring thoroughly to coat every morsel.
- Continue cooking the chicken mixture for an additional 4-5 minutes, ensuring it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Sprinkle ¼ cup chopped green onions and ¼ cup sesame seeds into the skillet, gently mixing to distribute evenly.
- Season with a pinch of salt and cracked black pepper, tasting and adjusting seasoning to your preference.
- Separate butter lettuce leaves carefully, creating perfect little cups for your fragrant chicken mixture.
- Scoop the hot chicken into each lettuce cup, making sure to get a balanced blend of meat and seasonings in every bite.
Notes
- Use fresh, crisp lettuce leaves like butter or romaine for the best texture and crunch.
- Toast sesame seeds in a dry pan before adding for a deeper, nuttier flavor that enhances the dish.
- For a low-carb version, swap honey with a sugar-free alternative like monk fruit sweetener.
- Adjust soy sauce quantity based on sodium preference, and opt for low-sodium soy sauce to control salt intake.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 340 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg