Potsticker-Inspired Chicken Lettuce Boats (Printable Version)

Juicy chicken filling with aromatic vegetables in crisp lettuce cups

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken Filling

01 - 1 pound ground chicken
02 - 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
05 - 2 green onions, finely sliced
06 - 1 cup shredded cabbage
07 - 1 medium carrot, grated
08 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
09 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
10 - 1 teaspoon chili-garlic sauce
11 - 1 teaspoon cornstarch

→ For Serving

12 - 12 large butter lettuce leaves
13 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

→ Dipping Sauce

14 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
15 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
16 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
17 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
18 - 1 teaspoon chili-garlic sauce

# Directions:

01 - In a large nonstick skillet, heat sesame oil over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and grated ginger, sautéing for 30 seconds until fragrant.
02 - Add ground chicken to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spatula. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the meat begins to brown with crispy edges.
03 - Stir in green onions, shredded cabbage, and grated carrot. Sauté for 3 minutes until vegetables soften.
04 - Add soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili-garlic sauce, and cornstarch to the skillet. Stir thoroughly and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture thickens and chicken reaches full doneness. Remove from heat.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, and chili-garlic sauce until combined.
06 - Spoon the warm chicken mixture evenly into each lettuce leaf. Top with toasted sesame seeds and additional green onions.
07 - Transfer to serving platter and serve immediately with dipping sauce on the side.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • All the umami punch and crispy textures of potstickers without the carb load, so you actually feel satisfied instead of guilty.
  • Ready in under forty minutes from start to plate, which means you can pull this off on a Tuesday when nobody feels like overthinking dinner.
  • Tastes even better when you let everyone build their own boat and customize the heat level, turning a simple meal into something interactive and fun.
02 -
  • The cornstarch is doing actual work here, thickening the filling so it doesn't turn your lettuce boats into lettuce soup; don't skip it or use it half-heartedly.
  • Timing matters more than you'd think—assemble and eat immediately, because once those warm lettuce boats sit for five minutes, they start to wilt and lose that textural contrast that makes them fun.
03 -
  • Let the chicken brown undisturbed for a full minute before stirring; this is the move that separates gray, steamed chicken from golden, flavorful chicken that tastes like it came from somewhere intentional.
  • Keep your dipping sauce slightly thinner than you think it needs to be, because it thickens slightly as it cools, and you want it to be pourable when you actually eat these.
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