The spicy-sweet flavor of Korean beef wrapped in crisp lettuce makes this dish a standout meal that’s perfect for weeknights or entertaining guests. With fresh vegetables adding crunch and color, these wraps offer a perfect balance of taste and texture.
Not only is this recipe fast and fuss-free, but it’s also completely customizable. Whether you’re going low-carb or serving a crowd, these lettuce wraps can be served with rice, kimchi, or your favorite toppings. They’re healthy, delicious, and ready in under 30 minutes, what’s not to love?
Full Recipe:
Ingredients:
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1 lb ground beef
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2 tablespoons sesame oil
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
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1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
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2 tablespoons brown sugar
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1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean chili paste)
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1 tablespoon rice vinegar
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1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
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2 green onions, thinly sliced
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1 head butter or romaine lettuce, leaves separated and washed
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1 cup shredded carrots
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1 cucumber, julienned
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Cooked jasmine rice (optional, for serving)
Directions:
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Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
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Add garlic and ginger; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
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Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon.
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Stir in soy sauce, brown sugar, gochujang, and rice vinegar. Simmer for 4–5 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and sauce to reduce slightly.
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Remove from heat and stir in sesame seeds and green onions.
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Spoon beef mixture into lettuce leaves.
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Top with shredded carrots and cucumber. Optionally, add a spoonful of cooked jasmine rice to each wrap.
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Serve immediately, allowing diners to wrap and roll their own.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 25 minutes
Kcal: 310 kcal | Servings: 4 servings
The Irresistible Allure of Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps
When it comes to flavor-packed, quick meals that don’t compromise on health, Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps are in a league of their own. This dish is a brilliant fusion of spicy-sweet Korean-inspired beef paired with cool, crisp lettuce leaves and fresh vegetables. It’s a combination that delights your palate and leaves you satisfied without feeling weighed down.
Popular in Korean cuisine as ssam, which means “wrap” in Korean, lettuce wraps are a central part of Korean dining culture. They offer a hands-on, interactive eating experience that’s both nourishing and fun. From weeknight dinners to casual dinner parties, these wraps are versatile and easy to make, making them a favorite among home cooks.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
There are countless reasons to fall in love with Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps, but let’s highlight a few that make this dish stand out:
1. Speed and Simplicity
This recipe is a lifesaver on busy evenings. With minimal prep and under 30 minutes of cook time, it’s ideal for those who want something quick but flavorful. The ingredients are easy to find in most grocery stores, and the cooking process is straightforward, even for beginners.
2. Bold Flavors, Balanced Bite
Korean cuisine is known for its masterful balance of flavors like spicy, sweet, umami, and tangy and this recipe delivers all of them. The beef is seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, gochujang, and a touch of brown sugar, resulting in a deeply savory and slightly spicy bite that’s rounded out with subtle sweetness.
3. Healthy and Fresh
This is a naturally low-carb and gluten-optional dish that doesn’t skimp on satisfaction. Lettuce serves as the wrap, replacing traditional carb-heavy alternatives like bread or tortillas. Add in crunchy carrots, hydrating cucumbers, and optional jasmine rice for a balanced, wholesome meal.
4. Customizable and Family-Friendly
Whether you’re feeding picky eaters, adjusting spice levels, or experimenting with different toppings, this dish adapts easily. It’s perfect for meal-prep, DIY dinners, or parties where everyone builds their own wrap to their liking.
Let’s Talk Ingredients
- Ground Beef
A protein-packed base, ground beef is easy to cook and absorbs the Korean-inspired marinade beautifully. You can also substitute it with ground turkey, chicken, or tofu for a lighter or vegetarian version.
- Soy Sauce & Gochujang
Soy sauce provides the salty umami flavor that forms the foundation of the sauce. Gochujang, a fermented Korean chili paste, which brings the heat and depth that define this dish. It’s spicy, sweet, and deeply savory, with a unique flavor profile that elevates the entire meal.
- Fresh Garlic and Ginger
No Korean dish is complete without these two aromatic staples. They lend a warm, zesty base that brightens the entire dish.
- Rice Vinegar & Brown Sugar
These two ingredients add complexity to the sauce, vinegar for a slight tang and brown sugar to round out the heat with gentle sweetness.
- Lettuce
Butter lettuce is ideal due to its soft, pliable leaves, but romaine or green leaf lettuce also work well. The lettuce acts as a crisp and hydrating vehicle for the richly flavored beef.
- Fresh Veggies
Shredded carrots and julienned cucumbers add crunch, color, and nutrition. You can also add bean sprouts, radishes, or kimchi for extra variety.
Tips for the Best Korean Lettuce Wraps
- Don’t Overcook the Beef
To keep it juicy and flavorful, cook the beef just until browned. Once the sauce is added, let it simmer briefly to absorb flavor without drying out.
- Serve Warm and Fresh
The beauty of this dish lies in its contrasting textures and temperatures. Serve the beef hot and the vegetables chilled for the best experience.
- Add a Bowl of Rice on the Side
If you’re serving a crowd or have extra-hungry guests, consider adding a bowl of warm jasmine or short-grain rice. It balances the spicy meat and rounds out the meal beautifully.
- Double the Sauce
If you’re someone who loves saucy dishes, you can easily double the sauce portion to drizzle extra over the wraps or to serve on the side for dipping.
Great for Meal Prep or Parties
Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps aren’t just a quick dinner, they’re also perfect for meal prep and gatherings. You can make the beef mixture ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to three days. The lettuce and toppings can be prepped and stored separately, making it easy to assemble wraps on demand.
Hosting a casual party? Set up a lettuce wrap bar! Arrange the beef in a warm dish and lay out bowls of lettuce, shredded veggies, rice, herbs, and sauces. Your guests will love customizing their own wraps while you enjoy a stress-free event.
Pairing Suggestions
Wondering what to serve with your lettuce wraps? Here are a few pairing ideas to complete the meal:
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Kimchi – This fermented Korean side adds an extra punch of spice and probiotic goodness.
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Miso Soup – Light and warming, it complements the freshness of the wraps.
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Pickled Radishes – A tangy, crunchy side that cuts through the richness of the beef.
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Korean Pancakes (Pajeon) – A savory, chewy contrast that makes a fun appetizer or side.
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Green Tea or Soju – For beverages, go traditional with hot green tea or spice things up with a chilled shot of soju.
Nutritional Highlights
Each wrap is packed with protein and fresh vegetables, offering a balanced blend of macronutrients. Here’s a quick glance at the nutritional benefits:
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Protein: High from the beef and optional rice, supporting muscle health.
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Fiber: Provided by lettuce, carrots, and cucumber that are great for digestion.
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Vitamins A & C: Found in abundance in leafy greens and carrots, these support immunity and skin health.
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Iron and Zinc: Present in beef, supporting energy and immune function.
You can further reduce sodium by using a low-sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos and reduce fat by opting for lean ground beef or turkey.
A Global Take on a Korean Classic
While this recipe takes inspiration from traditional Korean ssam, it’s also a beautiful example of global fusion. Home cooks around the world have adapted it in creative ways like swapping in different proteins, adding avocado or spicy mayo, or even making it vegetarian.
And that’s the beauty of this dish, it’s flexible, modern, and still rooted in flavor traditions that go back generations.
Conclusion
Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps are more than just a trendy meal, they’re a delicious, wholesome way to enjoy bold Korean flavors in an easy-to-make format. Whether you’re looking for a low-carb dinner option, something new for your meal-prep routine, or a fun way to entertain guests, this dish checks all the boxes.
By combining savory beef, spicy-sweet sauce, and crunchy fresh vegetables, these wraps deliver an exciting taste experience that’s as nourishing as it is satisfying. Best of all? You can make them your own, any time, any way you like.
So the next time you’re craving something different, reach for a head of lettuce and give these Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps a try. You won’t regret it!