Thai Coconut Lime Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Thai coconut lime chicken is deliciously creamy and tangy, then it’s wrapped up in a loaded lettuce wrap and drizzled with peanut sauce. This healthy dish is bursting with flavor! The coconut lime chicken might remind you of the Cheesecake Factory’s version – only my version is healthier.

Related: Spring roll in a bowl recipe

Related: 3 ingredient peanut sauce

thai coconut lime chicken lettuce wraps with peanut sauce drizzled on top with a silver spoon

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how to make thai coconut lime chicken lettuce wraps

thai coconut lime chicken lettuce wraps with cilantro and peanut sauce and crushed peanuts on the side

Thai coconut lime chicken can be wrapped up in a lettuce wrap, eaten as a stir fry, or thrown into a rice bowl – either way, you’ll love the flavor of this dish.

coconut lime chicken lettuce wrap Ingredients

Pickled cucumbers and cabbage

1 cup cucumbers, sliced
1 cup purple cabbage, sliced into shreds – I like to use purple cabbage for the pop of color, but green cabbage works just fine too.
3/4 cup filtered water
3/4 cup rice vinegar
2 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp coconut sugar

Coconut lime chicken

1.5 lbs chicken tenderloins
1 14 ounce can unsweetened coconut milk, shaken vigourously
juice from 4 limes
1 tbs olive oil
1 tbs dried coriander
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes – optional depending on heat tolerance in your family.

Healthy peanut sauce

3/4 cup peanut butter
6 tbsp filtered water (more to thin out even more)
3 tbs coconut aminos
3 tsp sesame oil
2 tbs sweet chili thai sauce

or use this 3 ingredient peanut sauce for a quicker recipe.

Lettuce wraps

1 head butter lettuce (or romaine) – butter lettuce is a softer, more fragile lettuce, but it holds up fine for these wraps and they taste so much better than anything else in my opinion.
Shredded carrots
Red bell pepper, sliced julienne
Fresh cilantro
Peanuts, chopped

Instructions

You’ll want to start this meal several hours in advance by marinading your chicken and pickling your cucumbers and cabbage.

To pickle the cucumbers and cabbage, just whisk the water, vinegar, sugar and salt together in a large bowl until fully combined, add your cabbage and cucumbers and set aside (I kept my cucumbers in a separate bowl than the cabbage but you don’t have to do that).

quickly pickled cucumbers in a white bowl with rice vinegar on the side sitting on a wooden cutting board

For the marinade, combine all the ingredients (except chicken) in a large bowl and whisk until fully combined. Add your chicken and let this marinate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.

chicken marinating in coconut lime cream sauce with ingredients surrounding it with lettuce carrots cabbage green onions cilantro

When you’re ready to prepare the lettuce wraps, start by cooking your chicken. Preheat a skillet over medium heat, add some avocado oil, then dump your chicken (with marinade) into the skillet.

Let your chicken cook on one side until it has started to slightly brown (about 3-5 minutes), flip and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
Remove the chicken and set aside.

thai coconut lime chicken in a cast iron skillet with a red handle and cilantro on the side

While your chicken is cooking, prepare your peanut sauce by whisking together all the ingredients, then adding more water 1 tbs at a time to thin the sauce out to your desired consistency.

Chop and slice your lettuce wrap toppings, remove the leaves from your lettuce, and wash the leaves then pat them dry with a clean towel.

ingredients for lettuce wraps with cilantro pickled cucumbers cabbage green onions carrots and butter lettuce

Assemble your wraps any way you like. I prefer to assemble them in this order: cucumbers, cabbage, bell peppers, chicken, cilantro, peanut sauce then chopped peanuts.

how to store thai coconut lime chicken wraps

thai coconut lime chicken lettuce wraps with a side of peanut sauce in a white dish

Refrigerator storage

To store your lettuce wraps in the refrigerator you’ll want to store everything separately, then assemble when you’re ready to eat.

Reheating thai coconut lime chicken

To reheat your chicken, place it in a preheated skillet with some avocado oil over low-medium heat until the chicken is warmed through.

lettuce wrap Tips

lettuce wrap folded up with a side of peanut sauce in a white dish with crushed peanuts on the side

The longer you marinate the coconut lime chicken, the more flavorful it’ll be. ‘
Picking your cucumbers and cabbage longer will lead to a more sour result. If you want them less sour, only pickle them right before you start cooking the chicken.
I like the peanut sauce just thin enough to drizzle, rather than a dollop.
Using a cast iron skillet will yield perfectly cooked chicken!

Thai coconut lime chicken ideas

thai coconut lime chicken in a cast iron skillet with a scoop on chicken on a wooden spoon

Don’t want a lettuce wrap? Use Thai coconut lime chicken in the below alternative dishes!

Stir fry
Nourish bowl (like this recipe)
Roll up using a tortilla (here’s a recipe for homemade sourdough tortillas)
Serve the coconut lime chicken with a side of rice and steamed veggies

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Dutch oven
Stand mixer
Boos Block Butcher Block
12 inch Cast Iron Skillet

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Lettuce Wraps faq

What kind of lettuce is used for lettuce wraps?

Stiff lettuces are great for lettuce wraps such as romaine or iceberg. You could also use butter lettuce, but it’s a little more difficult to handle since it’s thin.

Do lettuce wraps help you lose weight?

Lettuce wraps can be a good option for weight loss depending on what you fill them with. If you fill them with something unhealthy, however, they won’t help you lose weight. The lettuce is a more nutrient-dense option than a bun.

What goes well with lettuce wraps?

Lettuce wraps are a meal in itself, but you could also serve them with a side of rice or chips and salsa.

How do you prepare lettuce for wraps?

To prepare lettuce for lettuce wraps, you’ll want to carefully remove the leaves from the head making sure to keep the sturdy portion at the end on the leaf. Wash the leaves and pat dry with a clean towel.

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thai coconut lime chicken lettuce wraps with peanut sauce

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Kyrie | Healthfully Rooted Home