Move over, sandwiches.
Don’t get us wrong, we love chowing down on a hearty sub as much as the next person. But when so many people seem to be eating Paleo, trying the Whole30, or going gluten-free, it’s not a bad time to look for bread-free alternative vehicles for our favorite sandwich stuffers. That’s where lettuce wraps come in. They may usually be boxed into “appetizer” category, but these 31 recipes, with fillings that range from curried chicken to quinoa and tofu, prove they’re just as satisfying as main meals. Hearty, tasty, and adaptable to any diet, these are literally the greatest thing since sliced bread.
1. BLT Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps
This recipe takes a classic sandwich and makes it lighter by swapping out the bread for lettuce and using Greek yogurt instead of mayo. Don’t worry: The chicken salad stays creamy, while a few slices of real bacon make these guys taste as decadent as a regular BLT.
2. 20-Minute Chicken Satay Lettuce Wraps
Infuse your lettuce wraps with some Southeast Asian flavor by coating your chicken in a coconuty, peanut buttery sauce. The meat will soak in all that rich flavor, giving you both sweetness and spice in each bite.
3. Spiced Ground Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Anti-inflammatory superstars such as ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric give these wraps some pretty sweet health benefits along with a warm spice. In fact, they give the turkey so much flavor, you don’t even need a dipping sauce on the side. A squeeze of lime will do the trick.
4. Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Stir-fried with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and sesame seeds, this chicken and veggie mixture is like fried rice without the rice. The blogger even tops each lettuce wrap with an egg to make it more like takeout.
5. Greek Lettuce Wrapped Turkey Sliders
If you need to satisfy a craving for Greek food but don’t want to get into an entire souvlaki situation, these easy sliders may be your solution. They’re seasoned with parsley and garlic, topped with a simple yogurt sauce, and wrapped into red leaf lettuce instead of regular romaine (to be extra special).
6. Sloppy Joe Lettuce Wraps
This recipe doesn’t skimp on any of the classic sloppy joe flavor, but lightens up the meal by using lean turkey instead of beef and cutting down on the brown sugar. Sprinkled cheese adds an extra something, but feel free to go without if you want to keep things dairy free.
7. Curry Chicken Lettuce Wraps
There are a few more spices in this recipe than you’re used to seeing, but the blogger helpfully notes that if you don’t have all of them, you can simply use curry powder as a substitute. You’ll still get super-juicy chicken at the end to pair with the crisp, cool lettuce leaves.
8. Salsa Turkey Lettuce Wraps
With turkey, kidney beans, and salsa in the mix, these wraps are practically a gluten-free, lower-carb taco. Next time you need your Mexican fix without a cheese and tortilla-induced food coma, a plate of these should hit the spot!
9. Low-Carb Enchilada Lettuce Wraps
A taco? An enchilada? These wraps don’t make you choose. With enchilada sauce, ground hamburger, and melty cheese wrapped in lettuce, they land halfway between both Mexican favorites and are fully satisfying.
10. 20-Minute Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps With Rainbow Veggie Slaw
Making a Korean-inspired dish at home is easier than you might think. Chili paste is the only “out-there” ingredient for the sauce on the meat—the others are kitchen regulars, such as soy sauce, honey, and garlic.
11. Beef Lettuce Wraps With Spicy Cilantro Jalapeño Sauce
This recipe masters the balance of spicy and subtle—the fiery fajita seasoning on the beef is complemented by the mild avocado chunks, while the cool yogurt sauce is kicked up with a hit of jalapeño.
12. Spicy Beef Lettuce Wraps
For a quick weeknight meal, brown up some beef with a few generous dashes of seasonings and stuff it into lettuce along with clementine slices for a refreshing, fruity contrast. The recipe makes a lot of meat, so you can enjoy lettuce wraps for more than just one dinner (and trust us, you’ll want to).
13. Paleo-Friendly Carnitas
Our favorite recipes are those that require us to do practically nothing aside from show up for dinner. This one definitely falls into that category; all you have to do is give the pork a spice rub before it goes into the slow cooker and shred it once it comes out. Other than that, it pretty much cooks itself into deliciousness.
14. Gluten-Free Slow Cooker Raspberry Pork Stuffed Radicchio Wraps
Thanks to purple radicchio leaves (instead of plain old lettuce), these raspberry-kissed wraps are seriously eye-catching. But the wraps are so much more than their looks—with juicy pork, buttery goat cheese crumbles, and balsamic dressing drizzled on top, there’s plenty of substance below the surface too.
15. Beef Cashew Lettuce Wraps
Soy sauce, water chestnuts, and everyone’s favorite condiment—Sriracha—gives these beefy lettuce wraps some addictive Asian flavor. Quinoa joins the meat to amp up the fiber and protein, while cashews add a satisfying crunch.
16. Ground Pork Lettuce Wraps
Pork and pineapple may be a long-established, winning combo, but grated potato is the secret weapon in these wraps. Acting as an all-important thickening agent for the sweet and savory sauce, the spud is the unlikely star of this show.
17. Chili Beef Lettuce Wraps
The chili comes in the form of both sauce and powder in these lip-smacking lettuce wraps, while small amounts of honey and hoisin temper the spice without going overboard on added sugar. While it may look like a lot of ingredients, the whole thing comes together in fewer than 30 minutes.
18. Spicy Shrimp and Avocado Lettuce Wraps
No grill needed for these spiced-up shrimp; just sear them in a skillet and you’re good to go. Plus, with a zesty coleslaw inside the lettuce, you get a double whammy of fiber here without even noticing—10 grams, to be precise.
19. Asian Grilled Salmon, Pineapple, and Lettuce Wraps
Think that lettuce wraps couldn’t possibly be a filling meal? These are sure to change your mind. Packed with brown rice, glazed pineapple, and flaky salmon, they’re as satisfying an entrée as any.
20. Mediterranean Tuna Lettuce Wraps
This take on tuna salad leaves out the mayo and goes for mashed chickpeas, olives, and feta for a healthier twist. You could always just dollop it onto a pile of lettuce, but why do that when wrapping it up in the leaves is so easy, looks better, and is more fun?
22. Avocado and Tuna Lettuce Wraps
When you don’t have much time for a meal, crack open a can of tuna, mash it into some seasoned avocado, and scoop it up with lettuce leaves. You get a protein, a veggie, fiber, and healthy fats in a matter of 10 minutes—not too shabby for a quick-fix lunch or dinner.
23. Curried Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps
Chopped apples lend a touch of sweet crunch to these creamy, five-minute tuna lettuce packets. If you’re a mayo lover, this recipe uses a small amount, so you can enjoy it without going overboard. If mayo makes you cringe, you can always sub avocado instead.
24. Fish Taco Lettuce Wraps
Seasoned with chili and chipotle and served with slaw, salsa, and avocado, these are pretty much just like your standard fish tacos. The only difference: The substitution of lettuce wraps for tortillas significantly reduces the carb count to make them the perfect light meal.
25. Tempeh Mango Lettuce Wraps
Nutty, crumbled tempeh—tofu’s more flavorful relative—is great at soaking up the garlicky chili sauce in this recipe, while sweet chunks of mango and crunchy bell pepper provide both contrasting flavors and textures. Your taste buds will be super happy.
26. Sofritas Tofu Lettuce Wraps
Chipotle ain’t got nothing on these vegan sofritas. Garlic, cumin, turmeric, and even teriyaki sauce come together to make this tofu mixture so tasty, you’ll even have the hardcore meat eaters reaching for second and third wraps.
27. Avocado Egg Salad Lettuce Wraps
Part classic and part healthified, this deli favorite keeps some of the mayo and the mustard, but adds in veggies and mashed avocado for more fiber. Stuffed into lettuce leaves instead of between bread, it’s much more colorful and fun to eat than a regular egg salad sandwich.
28. Spicy Black Bean and Mushroom Taco Lettuce Wraps
With lots of protein from the black beans and meaty texture from the mushrooms, these wraps are so satisfying they’ll make you forget there’s no meat involved. Add that to the fact that they’re also ready in 15 minutes, and they may just become your newest food obsession.
29. Curried Chickpea Salad Lettuce Wraps
Get exotic flavor plus tasty nutrition in just 10 minutes with these wraps. A blend of Greek yogurt and curry powder gives them creaminess plus depth, and plenty of complex carbs and fiber from the chickpeas means you’ll be full (and happy) for quite a while after chowing down a serving or two.
30. Asian Quinoa Lettuce Wraps
Flavored with hoisin sauce and Sriracha, this quinoa and veggie “fried rice” would be pretty delicious on its own in a bowl. But we promise, there’s something about spooning it into lettuce cups and eating it in the form of wraps that will make it taste twice as good.
31. Sweet Potato and Guacamole Wraps
If sweet potatoes, corn, black beans, and tortillas are a bit too carby for you, here’s an easy fix: Swap out the grains for lettuce instead. The simple substitution makes these wraps gluten-free, while the spuds, legumes, and avocado still provide plenty of fiber.
