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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Main Dishes ยป 10-Minute Taco Lettuce Wraps: a Fast and Fresh Main Dish

    LAST UPDATED: September 3, 2021 โ€ข FIRST PUBLISHED: March 31, 2019 By Toni Dash 45 Comments

    10-Minute Taco Lettuce Wraps: a Fast and Fresh Main Dish

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    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Taco Lettuce Wraps title image

    Lettuce Wraps are easy and fast to make. Fill them with taco meat and toppings and dinner is on the table in 10 minutes!

    Taco Lettuce Wraps title image
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    Taco Lettuce Wraps title image

    Lettuce Wraps are a fresh idea for a main dish anytime of the year.

    My original idea came from a local burger joint that offers their burgers wrapped in lettuce. It’s perfect for those gluten-free (me) and carb watchers.

    I loved the texture of the hot burger and the cool lettuce, along with the texture of the lettuce with the meat.

    I created these Taco Lettuce Wraps in the same spirit and love getting them on the table in 10 minutes too!

    What are Lettuce Wraps?

    Lettuce wraps are a fresh, flavorful main dish option that is great year round.

    Instead of using a flour-based wrap or tortilla, filling ingredients are added to fresh lettuce leaves to roll and eat.

    Try this taco turkey lettuce wraps recipe on our sister website too!

    Lettuce Wraps with Taco filling in a tray

    Why Make Lettuce Wraps

    Lettuce Wraps are fast and easy to make. They are perfect for a fresh-flavored meal. Why make them?

    • Perfect for low carb watchers
    • Gluten-free diners don’t have to worry about flour wraps when using lettuce
    • They are light and fresh though the filling makes a satisfying meal option

    Ingredients in Taco Lettuce Wraps recipe

    The ingredients in these lettuce wraps are simple and easy to find:

    • Olive Oil
    • Yellow Onion
    • Ground Beef 
    • jar Black Bean and Corn Salsa (or salsa of choice)
    • Taco Seasoning
    • Butter Lettuce 
    • Optional topping ideas:
      •  diced tomatoes
      • sliced jalapeno peppers
      • diced avocado
      • finely grated cheese
      • guacamole
      • sour cream
    Butter Lettuce with taco meat (wraps)

    What Type of Lettuce to Use 

    All lettuce is not created equal for this type of recipe!

    Though cooling Iceberg lettuce is a perfect complement for Mexican flavors, it’s not very ‘bendable’.

    It can crack and split leaving the taco ingredients in your lap potentially.

    Romaine lettuce has a nice boat-like structure perfect for filling, but honestly I don’t love the flavor with this type of recipe (I’m mad about it in Caesar Salad however).

    The preferred lettuce for these lettuce wraps is Butter Lettuce.

    The larger leaves on the outside of the lettuce head have a nice cupped shape, a light flavor and easy bite.

    There is no tugging to bite through the leaves.

    The leaves are pliable and thick enough to securely house the filling and complement the flavors of the taco filling.

    A platter of lettuce wraps with taco filling

    How to Make Taco Lettuce Wraps – Step by Step

    Making Taco Lettuce Wraps is very fast and easy! They seriously are done in 10 minutes!

    • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil.
    • Add the onions and sauté until translucent (3-4 minutes).
    • Add the ground beef and cook until no pink remains. Drain any excess fat if needed.
    • Add the salsa and taco seasoning and stir to fully combine.
    • Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
    • Remove from heat.

    How to Assemble the Taco Lettuce Wraps

    The Lettuce Wraps can be assembled, plated and served. Or set up buffet style for diners to serve themselves!

    Preparing the Lettuce

    Break off any of the center rib that extends past the end of the lettuce leaves and discard.

    This allows a flush bottom to the leaf.

    Making the Wraps

    • Take two similarly sized large lettuce leaves and overlap the bottoms by about 1 inch.
    • Add approximately ¼ cup of the taco meat in a line over the overlapping part of the leaves.
    • Add any desired toppings and serve.
    Layering Taco Lettuce Wraps collage

    These lettuce wraps have:

    1. Taco meat
    2. Sliced cherry tomatoes
    3. Sliced fresh jalapenos
    4. Sprinkle of shredded Mexican cheese blend

    How to Use and Store Leftover Taco Meat

    If you find you have leftover meat, it can be refrigerated (sealed) for a few days and just reheated to make more wraps.

    The great part of this recipe is that the filling can be used for traditional tacos as well.

    It can be used with soft corn tortillas or in crispy traditional taco shells too.

    It also can be layered on a salad.

    What to Serve with Lettuce Wraps

    Here are some dishes I would recommend:

    • Mexican Quinoa Salad with Green Chilies
    • Mexican Fiesta Cauliflower Rice
    • Grilled Mexican Corn {Elote}
    • Fresh-Style Margaritas: Blueberry-Strawberry, Cucumber-Thyme & Blackberry-Mint
    Two taco lettuce wraps with toppings
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    Recipe

    10 Minute Taco Lettuce Wraps

    10-Minute Taco Lettuce Wraps

    10-Minute Taco Lettuce Wraps are the best of each tacos and lettuce wraps. They are loaded with fresh ingredient and the meat is cooked in less than 10 minutes. 
    It’s an easy meal to serve as a buffet for dinners to make their own with an assortment of toppings. 
    5 from 25 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 9 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 14 minutes minutes
    Servings: 14 14 tacos if using 1/4 cup of meat per taco lettuce wrap) 3 1/2 cups taco meat
    Calories: 94kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Ingredients

    • 2 teaspoons Olive Oil
    • ¾ cups chopped Yellow Onion
    • 1 pound Ground Beef (I prefer 85% fat for the flavor; excess fat may be drained)
    • 1 14-15 ounce jar Black Bean and Corn Salsa (or salsa of choice) (mild or medium heat to your preference)
    • 1 tablespoon Taco Seasoning
    • 2-3 heads Butter Lettuce , leaves separated and rinsed

    Optional Topping ideas

    • Diced Tomatoes
    • Sliced Jalapeno Peppers
    • Diced Avocado
    • Finely Grated Cheese
    • Guacamole
    • Sour Cream or Mexican Crema

    Instructions

    • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil until the surface is rippling. 
    • Add the onions and sauté until translucent (3-4 minutes).
    • Add the ground beef and cook, stirring often, breaking the meat into small pieces, until no pink remains. Drain any excess fat if needed.
    • Add the salsa and taco seasoning and stir to fully combine. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat.

    To Assemble the Lettuce Wraps

    • Prepare the lettuce: If any of the center rib on the lettuce leaf (the part the was attached to the head) extends past the bottom of the leaf, break that part off and discard. This allows a flush bottom to the leaf. 
    • Take two similarly sized large lettuce leaves and overlap the bottoms by about 1 inch. 
    • Add approximately ¼ cup of the taco meat in a line over the overlapping part of the leaves. 
    • Add any desired toppings and serve.

    Notes

    Nutritional information does not include optional toppings.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 94kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 38mg | Potassium: 156mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 788IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!

    Originally published: June 18, 2016

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Elle says

      September 28, 2021 at 11:30 pm

      How many taco lettuce wraps does the 103kcal include please?

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        September 29, 2021 at 10:59 am

        Hi Elle. The calories and nutritional information is per taco.

        Reply
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    Welcome! Iโ€™m Toni Dash. Iโ€™m a Certified Nutrition Coach and the professional writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavoreยฎ. Iโ€™m so glad you are here!

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