This lettuce wrap recipe is a fresh, light alternative to a traditional wheat tortilla and makes a perfect quick lunch. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep, you can build a tasty, crunchy sandwich in minutes.
Lettuce wraps are one of my favorites — they feel bright and refreshing, similar in spirit to recipes like my Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Lettuce Wraps. They’re easy to customize: use your favorite spread, add proteins or vegetables, and tailor fillings to what you have on hand.
My go-to spreads are yellow mustard (I’m a little obsessed) and homemade mayonnaise; together they pair beautifully with deli meats. That said, cream cheese, guacamole, hot sauce or other sauces all work well. The fillings are flexible, so feel free to experiment.
Best Lettuce to Make Lettuce Wrap
Most green lettuces work well for wraps. Romaine, butter (Boston) lettuce, Iceberg, and even collard greens or kale (with stems removed) can all be used. For raw wraps, Iceberg and Boston lettuce are my top picks — they’re crisp, sturdy, and easy to bite into, while tougher greens like kale or collards may be less pleasant raw.
How To Prep The Lettuce
Always wash lettuce before using to remove dirt or tiny insects. Submerge leaves in cold water, rinse, and then dry thoroughly. Use a salad spinner or pat leaves dry with paper towels so they stay crisp and don’t make the wrap soggy. Choose heads with vibrant color and no wilted leaves when shopping.
How to Roll a Lettuce Wrap
Rolling a lettuce wrap can be awkward at first, but it gets easier with practice. A key tip: use a piece of parchment paper as your work surface. Parchment keeps things tidy and helps you roll the wrap tightly.
Layer several leaves in the center of the parchment so the edges overlap, add your spreads and fillings, then tuck the ends toward the center and fold the sides in as you roll, similar to a burrito. Finish by wrapping the remaining parchment around the roll to maintain shape. The recipe instructions below give a step-by-step guide.
What do you put on a lettuce wrap?
There are many delicious options for fillings. Ideas include:
- Egg salad
- Tuna salad
- Fresh veggies: bell pepper, thin red onion, cucumber, tomato
- Avocado slices
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Tofu
- Deli meats: turkey, ham, prosciutto, mortadella, salami
- Roasted chicken breast
- Bacon
- Smoked salmon
Storage Tips
- These wraps are best eaten fresh. Assemble them as close to serving time as possible to keep the lettuce crisp.
- If you must prepare ahead, keep wet ingredients (dressings, mayo) separate and add them at the last minute to prevent wilting.
- Do not freeze lettuce wraps — freezing ruins the texture of the lettuce.
Lettuce Wrap Recipe – Quick, Fresh & Crunchy!
Video
Ingredients
- 8 iceberg lettuce
- 1 tablespoon homemade mayo
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 3 prosciutto slices
- 2 slices deli ham
- 3 slices deli chicken breast
- 5 slices cucumber
- 8 cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 1 piece parchment paper about 15″ x 15″
Instructions
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Place a sheet of parchment on a cutting board. Layer 5–8 overlapping lettuce leaves in the center so the edges meet and form a continuous base. Spread the mustard and mayonnaise evenly over the layered leaves.
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Arrange prosciutto and the other deli meats on top, then add cucumber slices and halved cherry tomatoes.
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Use the parchment as a base and roll the lettuce as tightly as you can toward one edge.
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Halfway through, fold the edges inward toward the center, then continue rolling like a burrito. When fully rolled, wrap the remaining parchment around the roll to secure it.
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Slice the wrapped roll in half with a sharp knife and serve immediately.
Notes
- Place parchment underneath the lettuce to keep the surface clean and make rolling easier.
- Always wash and dry lettuce thoroughly so the wrap stays crisp.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
Did You Make This?
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