Flavorful Thai Basil Chicken Lettuce Cups
These Thai Basil Chicken Lettuce Cups are a quick, fresh, and spicy meal featuring tender ground chicken, aromatic Thai basil, and crisp lettuce leaves for a perfect balance of flavors and textures.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) ground chicken (lean or regular)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or any neutral oil)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 small shallots, finely chopped
- 1–2 Thai red chilies, thinly sliced
- 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves, packed
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce (optional)
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 head butter lettuce or Bibb lettuce, leaves separated
- 1 small carrot, julienned
- Fresh lime wedges
- Optional garnishes: chopped peanuts, sliced green onions, fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Wash and separate lettuce leaves carefully to keep them intact. Mince garlic, finely chop shallots, and thinly slice Thai chilies. Julienne carrots if using. Set Thai basil leaves aside, whole or roughly torn.
- Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large non-stick skillet or wok over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking.
- Add minced garlic, chopped shallots, and sliced chilies to the hot oil. Stir constantly for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and just starting to brown.
- Add ground chicken to the pan, breaking it apart with a spatula. Cook for 5-7 minutes until no longer pink and slightly browned, stirring frequently.
- Pour in soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce (if using), and sprinkle brown sugar over the chicken. Stir well to combine. Adjust seasoning with water or extra chilies if needed.
- Remove pan from heat and immediately stir in fresh Thai basil leaves to wilt gently.
- Spoon the hot chicken mixture evenly into each lettuce leaf. Top with julienned carrots, a squeeze of fresh lime, and optional garnishes like chopped peanuts or cilantro.
- Serve immediately while warm and lettuce is crisp.
Notes
Use butter lettuce for sturdier cups. Add fresh Thai basil off heat to preserve flavor. Adjust chili quantity to control spiciness. For gluten-free, substitute soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos and check oyster sauce ingredients. Avoid overcooking chicken to keep it juicy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 lettuce cup with f
- Calories: 320
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 30
Keywords: Thai basil chicken, lettuce cups, spicy chicken, easy dinner, fresh herbs, quick meal, Thai recipe, healthy lunch