Laura Fuentes

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Eat Healthy
  • Quick Meals
  • Pancakes
  • About
  • Pasta Night
  • Best Chicken Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Cookbooks
  • Contact
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Eat Healthy
  • Quick Meals
  • Pancakes
  • About
  • Pasta Night
  • Best Chicken Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Cookbooks
  • Contact
×
Home » Recipes » Sandwiches & Wraps

Asian Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

By Laura Fuentes Updated Mar 20, 2025

5 from 32 votes

Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.

This tasty Asian-inspired Chicken salad served inside a crunchy lettuce wrap is the perfect healthy meal idea that's easy to make ahead!

If you’re as obsessed with Asian Chicken Salads as much as I am, you’re in luck. The classic salad got a quick makeover, and now it’s a hand-held meal in the form of healthy lettuce wraps that are oh.so.delish!

image: white plate with chopsticks, and two lettuce cups filled with asian chicken salad
Real food magazine cover spring 2025 edition

As Seen On
This recipe was featured in the Spring 2025 Issue of Real Food Magazine!

Asian Chicken Salad Lettuce Cups

While I’m a fan of those pre-bagged salads for times when I need a portable meal to bring to the office, this Chicken Salad Lettuce Wrap recipe leaves those in the dust. And trust me, it’s super easy to make too.

I love loads of texture and crunch in my salads and enjoy eating them right out of a big bowl. The thinly sliced cabbage combined with softer, juicy ingredients is very satisfying. With each bite, the tiny oranges melt in your mouth releasing their sweet juice… wow.

Of course, the iconic Sesame Ginger Dressing is the real deal in this recipe. It can serve double duty as a salad dressing and the perfect quick marinade for chicken or fish. Amazing!

Are Chicken Salad Wraps Healthy?

Yes! Chicken salad wraps are packed with protein from the chicken and all the fiber, vitamins, and minerals from mandarin oranges and vegetables. To keep these wraps low-carb, I use lettuce leaves as cups to serve the chicken salad instead of the classic Chicken Salad recipe wrapped in a tortilla.

Image: Two images side by side: on the right: a clear bowl with chicken salad ingredients inside. On the left: two lettuce cups filled with chicken salad and chopsticks.

Ingredients

You’ll find the ingredients amounts in the printable recipe below, but first, let me walk you through the delicious items you need to make these Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps:

  • Cooked chicken: chop chicken leftovers or rotisserie chicken.
  • Mandarin oranges: the sweetness that makes this salad so unique!
  • Celery: crunchy and delish!
  • Carrots: colorful, flavorful, crunchy… an epic addition to this salad.
  • Shredded cabbage: did I say crunchy enough times?
  • Green onions: more flavor!
  • Sliced almonds: optional for added nutrition and texture.
  • Salt and black pepper: we need these two for seasoning.
  • Iceberg lettuce: its firm texture is perfect for the cups.
  • Sesame Ginger Dressing: coats the filling with the most delicious flavor. You’ll find all the details on the recipe card.

Best Lettuce for Lettuce Cups

For firm lettuce cups that hold the chicken salad, you want to use a type of lettuce with sturdy fan-shaped leaves, like iceberg, Boston Bibb, or butter lettuce. If you don’t have any of these around, make sure to use more leaves to create a firm cup.

image: white plate with chopsticks, and a lettuce cup filled with asian chicken salad

How to Make Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

Once you’ve got your dressing and your shredded chicken, this recipe comes together in a flash! Here’s how to make these Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps:

  1. Make the dressing
    Combine the dressing ingredients in a jar, shake, and refrigerate until ready to use. It lasts 1 week in the fridge.
  2. Make the salad
    In a bowl, place the chicken salad ingredients with ½ cup of the dressing, and toss to combine. If making the salad ahead, refrigerate covered for up to 2 days and add the dressing before serving it.
  3. Assemble the wraps
    Layer two lettuce leaves into a cup and add the filling. Fold the sides over and then onto itself to wrap it tightly.

Watch how quickly it can be prepped for lunches or dinner in this quick recipe video:

If you want more healthy recipes made with real, whole ingredients like this, I’d love to give you a week’s worth of real food recipes and quick meal ideas like this that the whole family will love! Get your free resources here.

Dressing for Asian Chicken Salad

The Sesame Ginger dressing has the perfect balance of sweet and sour with just the right amount of sesame oil. I know you have a bottle of sesame oil in the cabinet screaming to be used and you just can’t think how else to use it. Now you know!

You make this Asian dressing in two minutes and store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to a week, leaving you with the opportunity to grill some chicken, cook up some rice, and steam some veggies, and now you have a totally new meal!

image: closeup of white plate with chopsticks, and a lettuce cup filled with asian chicken salad

What to Serve with Asian Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

Need simple sides to serve with lettuce wraps and make this meal even more epic? I’ve got covered! This Corn and Tomato Salad is perfect when you crave a fresh and quick side. Carrot Fries are another favorite in my house, especially when kids want a complete hand-help meal!

Other tasty sides that pair great with chicken lettuce wraps are Sautéed Cabbage and cooked rice. To keep this meal low-carb, serve Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice instead!

Asian Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

image: closeup of white plate with chopsticks, and a lettuce cup filled with asian chicken salad
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Total Time: 10 minutes mins
This tasty Asian-inspired Chicken salad served inside a crunchy lettuce wrap is the perfect healthy meal idea that's easy to make ahead!
5 from 32 votes
Print Pin

Watch how it’s made:

Ingredients

For the chicken salad:

  • 2 cups cooked chicken, chopped
  • 10.5 ounce mandarin oranges, liquid drained
  • 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
  • 2 large carrots, shredded
  • 1 cup shredded cabbage
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • ¼ cup sliced almonds, optional
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 head Iceberg lettuce

Sesame Ginger Dressing:

  • ¼ cup rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 ½ tablespoons sesame seeds
  • 1 ½ teaspoons brown sugar or honey
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  • ½ garlic clove, grated
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Instructions

Make the dressing:

  • In a lidded jar or medium bowl combine the dressing ingredients. Place the lid onto the jar and seal. Shake to combine and refrigerate until ready to use, for up to 1 week.

Make the chicken salad:

  • In a large bowl, combine the cooked chicken, mandarin oranges, celery, carrots, cabbage, almonds, green onions, salt, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days, and toss with the dressing when ready to serve. Add ½ cup dressing and toss to combine.

Make the lettuce wraps:

  • Layer two iceberg lettuce leaves to build a base for the chicken salad. Scoop ¾ cup of the chicken salad on top of the lettuce. Fold the sides over and then onto itself to wrap it tightly. Alternatively, with the smaller inner leaves, you can simply build lettuce cups and fold them in half to enjoy them like a taco.

Equipment

printed papers of weekly family meal plan
Ad Free Weekly Meal Plan $1
Glass Lunch Containers
Dressing Bottle
Salad Dressing Twist Jar
avocado keeper
lettuce keeper

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 648mg | Potassium: 498mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1931IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 2mg

More Sandwiches & Wraps

  • a person holding a philly cheesesteak skillet sandwich
    Philly Cheesesteak Skillet
  • Sausage and Pepper Sandwich
  • Veggie Hummus Sandwich
  • caprese sandwich on artisan bread
    Easy Caprese Sandwich

Comments

    5 from 32 votes (26 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Jeannelle says

    February 04, 2025 at 12:44 pm

    5 stars
    I made these Asian chicken salad wraps and had enough for 4 work lunches. I saved money last week and ate healthy.

    Reply
  2. Tayler says

    May 14, 2024 at 3:03 pm

    5 stars
    I made these lettuce wraps for lunch today and they were delicious! Definitely a new favorite!

    Reply
  3. suja md says

    May 14, 2024 at 1:04 pm

    5 stars
    Nice healthy recipe, Thank You for this.

    Reply
  4. Anna Smith says

    May 14, 2024 at 12:59 pm

    5 stars
    This came out so good and the presentation is so lovely! So different than the normal chicken salad I make and loved putting it in the lettuce. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  5. Beth says

    May 14, 2024 at 12:46 pm

    5 stars
    I love how delicious AND healthy these are! The combination of veggies, orange, and chicken creates so much flavor and texture.

    Reply
  6. Justine says

    May 14, 2024 at 12:45 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! Loved the flavors – it’s perfect for a light lunch!

    Reply

Hi! I'm Laura.
Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, mom of three, and the woman behind the world’s best pancakes—here to help you ditch the mealtime drama with recipes your family will actually eat.

More about me →

Let's Be Social!

Facebook Pinterest Instagram YouTube
5 Secrets to Healthy(er) Family Meals

Fresh Favorites

  • large stack of fluffy pancakes with slice of butter on top
    Best Fluffy Pancakes Recipe
  • rotisserie chicken alfredo
    Rotisserie Chicken Alfredo
  • three hard shell tacos
    How to Make Taco Shells
  • 4 fillets of baked cajun salmon served with roasted potatoes and broccoli
    Baked Cajun Salmon

Trending Now

  • large stack of pancakes topped with a slice of butter. a small bottle of maple syrup behind the stack of pancakes.
    How to Make Pancakes Without Eggs
  • copycat canes nuggets and fries with texas toast and two sauces
    Copycat Cane’s Chicken Recipe with Homemade Cane’s Sauce
  • large plate of freshly baked mixed chicken pieces
    Juicy Baked Chicken Pieces
  • creamy garlic sauce in a large pot with pepper on top
    5 Ingredient Creamy Garlic Sauce

Footer

Browse

  • Start Here
  • Eat Healthy in 30 Days
  • Weekly Family Meal Plans
  • Recipe Index

Useful Links

  • Contact
  • Permissions
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

COPYRIGHT © 2025 LAURA FUENTES · DESIGN BY FUENTES MEDIA

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.