Sticky Sriracha Meatball Lettuce Wraps

These Sriracha Meatball Lettuce Wraps are a super easy dinner that come together in 30-minutes – plus the meatballs are freezer-friendly!

Ingredients and substitutions

Meatballs

Ground beef – ground chicken or ground turkey will give you a lean, healthier meatball.
Breadcrumbs – you can use soft bread crumbs, panko, cracker or pretzel crumbs or crushed unsweetened cornflakes instead.
Egg – plain yogurt or buttermilk can be used to bind the meatballs together.
Dried minced onion – fresh minced onion or onion powder can also work for this recipe.
Garlic powder – feel free to use equal amounts of freshly minced garlic in place of garlic powder.
Worcestershire sauce – mix soy sauce with ketchup or hoisin sauce to create an easy Worcestershire sauce substitute.
Ketchup – tomato paste on its own or mixed with vinegar and sugar can replace ketchup.
Dijon mustard – spicy brown mustard, Worcestershire sauce, honey mustard or yellow mustard would also be good here.
Salt & pepper – to taste.

Sticky Sriracha Sauce

Sriracha – use sambal oelek, or chili paste pepper instead.
Honey – agave, maple syrup or coconut nectar can be used in place of honey.
BBQ sauce – combine ketchup with mustard and brown sugar to make your own BBQ sauce.
Soy sauce – Tamari or coconut aminos are the best substitutes for soy sauce.

Toppings

Boston leaf lettuce – romaine hearts and iceberg lettuce are both great alternatives for lettuce wraps.
Red cabbage – coleslaw mix, green cabbage or Napa cabbage can be used in place of red cabbage or you can leave the cabbage out altogether.
Carrot – this topping is optional. Replace it with another topping listed, your preferred topping of choice or leave it out altogether.
Red pepper – See substitution notes for carrots.
Cucumber – See substitution notes for carrots.
Sesame seeds – to garnish.
Scallions – to garnish.
Cilantro – to garnish.

How to make this recipe

Mix together the meatball ingredients.
Roll into 1-inch-sized balls.
Brown the meatballs.
Prepare the toppings and sauce.
Top the meatballs in the sauce.
Assemble your lettuce wraps.
Dig in!

What to serve with lettuce wraps

I personally like eating these lettuce wraps on their own for a low-carb meal – they’re super filling! If you want to serve something on the side though, you can add some starch with some rice or noodles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best lettuce for wraps?

I find that Boston leaf lettuce is best for lettuce wraps, but you could also try using romaine or iceberg lettuce.

Are lettuce wraps healthier than bread?

Yes! Lettuce is a healthier and low-carb alternative to bread or tortillas.

How do I keep them from falling apart?

Your lettuce wraps may be falling apart because they’ve gotten too soggy or you’ve over-stuffed them. To keep them from falling apart, I suggest assembling them fresh so the lettuce stays nice and crisp, and make sure you don’t go overboard with the filling.

Storing and reheating

The leftovers from this recipe will last in the fridge for up to 5 days. I recommend storing the lettuce and the filling separately so that the lettuce doesn't get soggy.

You can also store the filling in an airtight container or a mason jar and store the lettuce in freezer bags or another airtight container to keep them fresh and crispy.

When you're ready to enjoy the dish, warm up your meatballs in the microwave and then assemble your lettuce wraps!

Freezing the meatballs

You can freeze the meatballs cooked or uncooked.

If you formed your meatballs and want to freeze them uncooked, put them on a tray in the freezer for about an hour so that they form their shape without sticking together or crumbling. Uncooked meatballs will last for 3 to 4 months in the freezer.

If you're freezing the meatballs after they've been cooked, let the meatballs cool completely then store them in the freezer for 2 to 3 months. When you're ready to enjoy your Sriracha meatballs, let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.

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Meal prep tools for this recipe

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And of course I get all my grass-fed beef from Butcher Box!
Order some coconut aminos if you're looking for a gluten-free alternative to soy sauce.