Chef John’s Asian-Style Chicken Lettuce Cups

Name: Chef John’s Asian-Style Chicken Lettuce Cups
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Fusion
Ingredients: 1.5 lb Boneless Chicken Thigh; 2 tsp Brown Sugar; 0.25 cup Chicken Stock; 0.5 tsp Dry Mustard; 1.5 tbsp Fresh Basil; 1.5 tbsp Fresh Cilantro; 1 tbsp Fresh Ginger; 0.33 cup Green Onion; 16 whole Iceberg Lettuce; 1 tbsp Ketchup; 4 cloves Minced Garlic; 0.5 tsp Red Pepper Flakes; 0.25 cup Rice Vinegar; 1 cup Shiitake Mushrooms; 1 tbsp Soy Sauce; 2 tsp Toasted Sesame Oil; 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil; 8 oz Water Chestnut; 0.5 cup Yellow Onion

Appetizer 🧄Dinner 🍽️Lunch 🥪Snack 🍿 Chinese 🇨🇳Thai 🇹🇭Vietnamese 🇻🇳Fusion High-Protein 💪Low-Carb Gluten-Free Halal 🕌Comfort-Food Anabolic Diet

Chef John’s Asian-Style Chicken Lettuce Cups highlight juicy chopped chicken thighs glazed in a tangy-sweet, umami-forward sauce with ginger, garlic, and a hint of heat. Crunchy water chestnuts and shiitake bring texture, while fresh herbs brighten each bite. Serve as a light dinner, party appetizer, or weeknight meal that feels fresh and satisfying.

Prep35 mins
Cook15 mins
Serves8
DifficultyMedium

1

In a bowl, combine the chicken, water chestnuts, mushrooms, yellow onion, 1/3 cup green onion, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, ginger, and 2 teaspoons brown sugar. Press the mixture down, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to use.
2

In a bowl, whisk together the chicken stock, vinegar, garlic, ketchup, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, sesame oil, 2 teaspoons brown sugar, pepper flakes, and dry mustard until the glaze is well mixed.
3

Heat vegetable oil in a heavy nonstick skillet over high heat. Add the chicken mixture; cook and stir until the chicken no longer looks raw, about 2 minutes. Add 1/2 of the glaze mixture; cook and stir until the chicken starts to caramelize and brown, 10 to 15 minutes.
4

Reduce the heat to medium-low. Pour the remaining glaze into the chicken mixture; cook until heated through and slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Stir in the cilantro, basil, and 1 1/2 tablespoons green onion. Transfer the chicken mixture to a bowl; serve with lettuce leaves as wrappers.