Total Time: 25 minutes | Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 15 minutes
When dinner needs to happen fast but you still want something fresh and customizable, these turkey lettuce wraps deliver a hands-on meal that even the pickiest eaters will happily assemble themselves.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced small
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (low sodium works great)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger (or 1 tablespoon fresh, grated)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 head butter lettuce or romaine hearts, leaves separated and washed
- Optional toppings: shredded carrots, diced cucumbers, chopped green onions, crushed peanuts
Instructions:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until starting to soften.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add ground turkey to the pan, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook for 5-6 minutes until no longer pink.
- Add diced bell pepper and continue cooking for 2 minutes.
- In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, honey, ginger, and black pepper. Pour over the turkey mixture and stir to combine.
- Cook for another 2-3 minutes until sauce has slightly thickened and coated the meat.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Arrange lettuce leaves on a serving platter and fill with the turkey mixture.
- Set out optional toppings in small bowls for everyone to customize their wraps.
Quick Tips:
Don’t wash the lettuce until you’re ready to use it. This keeps it crisp and prevents wilting.
Prep ahead option: The turkey filling can be made up to 2 days ahead and reheated when needed.
Kid-friendly hack: Set up a “build-your-own” station and let kids construct their wraps. They’re much more likely to eat what they’ve assembled themselves!
Storage tip: Store leftover filling separately from lettuce in airtight containers for up to 3 days.
Easy Swaps:
Protein options: Ground chicken, beef, or crumbled tofu work perfectly
- No lettuce? Use tortillas, pita bread, or even slider buns instead
- Sauce alternatives: Replace soy sauce with coconut aminos or tamari
- Veggie variations: Grated zucchini, corn kernels, or water chestnuts add great texture
- Heat option: Add sriracha or red pepper flakes for grown-up plates
These wraps pack perfectly for lunch the next day—just keep the filling and lettuce separate until ready to eat!
Has dinner snuck up on you again? Submit your own 30-minute lifesaver recipe to contact@organizedmomcollective.com for a chance to be featured in our “Rescue Recipes” series!
