Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps

When I don't have the time for Slow Cooker Korean Beef Tacos, I love to make these Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps! Since lettuce wraps are one of my favorite dishes to eat, figuring out an easy way to make a quick weekday meal inspired by Asian flavors just made sense.

These are much better for you than any Korean beef you're going to get at a restaurant. Those dishes are loaded with unnecessary oils and fats. I think making this dish at home really lets all the ingredients shine through and doesn't leave you with that too-full, bloated feeling you get when you get this dish from other places!

Love lettuce wraps? Try these next: Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps, or Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps with Quinoa!

Before You Get Started

A few quick tips to help dinner go smoothly:

• Use butter lettuce: It's soft and perfect for wrapping. Romaine or little gem works in a pinch!
• Sauce first, beef second: Mix up the sauce before you start cooking for faster assembly. This marinade also works for chicken, pork, or tofu, so you can mix up the protein to suit your needs!
• Make it your own: Adjust the chili paste based on your heat preference (or skip it for little ones).
• Prep toppings while beef cooks: Slice green onions, chop cilantro, and toast sesame seeds if you like.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps

Making these lettuce wraps couldn’t be easier! Here’s how to do it:

1. Make the Sauce

In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, sweetener (like brown sugar or honey), sesame oil, chili paste, garlic, and ginger. Set it aside while you cook the beef.

Pro tip: Warm the honey or brown sugar slightly to help it mix in easily!

2. Cook the Ground Beef

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until it's fully browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain any excess fat if needed.

3. Add the Sauce

Pour the sauce into the skillet with the beef. Stir everything together and let it simmer for a few minutes so the flavors blend and the sauce thickens slightly.

4. Build Your Lettuce Wraps

Spoon the beef mixture into lettuce leaves and top with green onions, cilantro, and sesame seeds or any toppings you love!

Change Up the Flavors

Need to make some changes? Here are some suggestions:

• Make it spicy: Dial in the spice by adding extra gochugang, chili paste, or red pepper flakes to the marinade, jalapeno slices to the finished wrap, or hot sauce on top (or all three if you are really daring).
• Lower sugar option: Use Stevia, monk fruit, or just reduce the sweetener slightly.
• Add crunch: Add a little more crunch to your wrap. Try shredded carrots or cabbage (or even Brussels sprouts), either raw or saute them with your steak at the end to warm them up a little.

Serving Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps

There are so many ways to serve these lettuce wraps! Here are some of our favorites:

• Bowls: With Easy Sushi Rice or Cauliflower Rice to make Korean Beef Bowls or Bulgogi Bowls!
• With veggies: Add quick-pickled veggies or kimchi on the side.
• Appetizer: As part of an appetizer platter with dumplings and Roasted Garlic Edamame.
• Fresh sides: Serve with Mango Black Bean Salsa or Easy Cucumber Salad for freshness.
• Extra kick: Add a drizzle of spicy mayo for an extra kick.
• Lettuce burritos: Turn these into lettuce burritos with rice, veggies, and sriracha mayo.

Storage & Reheating

• Store: Refrigerate cooked beef in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Store lettuce and toppings separately for the best texture. Store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
• Reheat: Microwave beef in 30-second bursts or reheat gently in a skillet until warmed through.
• Leftovers:
  • Noodle bowls: Toss on top of leftover pasta for cold Asian Noodle Bowls! For a low-carb version, use Asian Zucchini Noodles as the base.
  • Wraps: Add the ingredients to a wrap, and press in a panini press or with another skillet to make a warm, toasty wrap.
  • Sandwiches: Add the Korean beef to a roll or crusty bread and then top with the veggies and some hot sauce. Is your mouth watering yet?
  • Salad: Make a salad with your favorite lettuce or shaved veggies, plus the pickled cucumbers, and maybe some edamame, corn, sprouts, cilantro, basil, or whatever favorite toppings you have on hand. An Edamame Salad would also be the perfect side!