These Thai Basil Turkey Lettuce Wraps are a super easy Whole30 recipe that’s perfect for a light meal!
I’m a huge lettuce wrap fan, especially in the summer. I tend to crave lighter meals, with lots of fresh produce, and of course packed with flavor. However, that being said, sometimes I like to ‘bulk up’ my ‘light’ meals. So if you’re feeling extra hungry, try adding cooked vermicelli rice noodles into your lettuce wraps as well.
Asian style lettuce wraps happen to be some of my favorites. Maybe it’s because they’re so full of flavor and always hit the spot for me. But I also think it might have to do with their knack of combining hot/sour/salty/and sweet flavors into their dishes. I find these combinations to be extra satisfying, especially the hot/sweet duo!
Tips for these Thai Basil Turkey Lettuce Wraps:
- Both green or red leaf as well as butter lettuce are always great for wraps. However, butter lettuce is definitely softer and more prone to tearing.
- Skip making lettuce wraps altogether and make this even easier by piling it all into a giant salad.
- Make this more substantial by adding cooked sticky rice or cooked vermicelli rice noodles. I still think it makes for a light meal, but I love adding some extra carbs in after we’ve been hiking all day.
Produce Tips:
- English cucumbers are nice here when you can find them because they have a nice soft skin that’s not too chewy.
- Champagne or Altaulfo mangos are my favorite. You’ll recognize them by their yellow skins, and their flavor and texture is so much better than standard mangos, (in my opinion anyways).
- The Thai basil called for is worth tracking down if you can find it because it has a different flavor. But if you can’t find it, regular basil will work as well.
I like to use ground turkey for this recipe, but you can also use ground chicken or pork. Whatever you use, it’s going to be a good meal for sure!
More Thai Recipe Inspiration:
- Rainbow Pad Thai Zucchini Noodle Salad
- My Favorite Yellow Thai Curry
- Thai Zucchini Meatballs with Mango Coconut Sauce
- Easy Thai Beef Salad
- Rainbow Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps with ‘Peanut Sauce’
- Simple Sweet Potato Noodle Pad Thai
- Thai Slaw with Mango Coconut Dressing
- Thai Basil Chicken Stir Fry
- Pumpkin Thai Curry
- Rainbow Thai Chopped Salad
I sure hope you’ll enjoy these as much as we have, and I hope you’ll let me know below if you make them! Also I’d love to hear what some of your favorite summertime meals are?
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Thai Basil Turkey Lettuce Wraps
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
A perfect summer meal loaded with flavor and fresh produce!
Ingredients
Thai Basil Turkey:
2 Tablespoons avocado oil
1 pound ground turkey, pork, or chicken
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 red onion, minced, 1 cup
2–3 red chilis, seeded and thinly sliced
3 Tablespoons coconut aminos
1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
1 cup lightly packed Thai basil
Lettuce Wraps:
2 heads butter lettuce, or 1 large head green leaf lettuce, leaves separated and washed
2 cups mung bean sprouts
1 cucumber, halved and thinly sliced, 3 cups
2 Champagne mangoes, 1 pound, peeled, pitted and thinly sliced
Instructions
Prep all the ingredients for the lettuce wraps and set them aside.
Preheat a skillet over medium high heat until the pan is hot but not smoking. Add the avocado oil to the pan, swirl to coat the bottom, then add the ground turkey.
Cook the turkey while breaking it up into small bits with a wooden spoon. When the turkey is cooked and no longer pink, add the garlic and onion. Continue to cook for about 2 minutes until the onion has softened. Then add the chilis, coconut aminos, and rice vinegar. Stir to combine and cook for about 30 seconds. Then remove the pan from the heat and stir in the Thai basil leaves.
Serve the turkey mixture along with the lettuce wrap ingredients and let each person assemble their own lettuce wraps. Or you can also chop up everything in bite sized pieces and toss it all together as a dinner salad.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Thai
Great wraps to entertain a small group of people. I am sure they are incredible flavorful and very light. Can’t wait to try this recipe out.
I love how everyone can customize what they like! 🙂
Such a gorgeous and flavorful recipe! Love the added crunch from the mung bean sprouts.
They do add such great texture don’t they!?
I love dishes like these – so crisp and refreshing but also filling. And your photos are gorgeous!
Thanks so much! 🙂
These are simple and delicious! I love the Thai flavors in these!
I love Thai flavors too!
This are so light and fresh, perfect for a summer dinner on the patio! Thanks for the inspo!
I sure hope you enjoy them!
These are so easy, tasty and perfect for Summer!
Thanks so much! 🙂
Lettuce wraps is a go-to for me and I really love your take on it! The addition of mango is so so good!
I just love adding a touch of sweet to savory things!
I love simple meals like this. So fun and delicious!
Me too, love simple meals, especially in the summer!
My family LOVED these, and they were super easy to make – my favorite kind of dinners. So fresh and pretty and different for summer. Thank you, lovely.
So glad to hear you all enjoyed these! 🙂