Easy Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps Recipe (Ready in 20 Minutes)

Anonymous
25 Dec, 2023

These Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps are light, flavor-packed, and perfect for warm-weather meals. Quick to make and endlessly customizable, they're a fresh take on Korean beef bowls-tucked into tender leaves of butter lettuce for the ultimate easy summer dinner or lunch.

A plate of Korean beef lettuce wraps filled with ground meat, rice, cucumber, radish, and mint, served alongside a bowl of sauce and a side of white rice.

What You'll Love About These Lettuce Wraps

I've grown up loving Korean food, specifically bulgogi. I share more of that story in my Slow Cooker Korean BBQ Bulgogi Wraps recipe, which is another easy meal you'll love! Here's why I think you'll love these lettuce wraps:

  • Fast and Easy: This recipe comes together in under 30 minutes-great for weeknights or effortless entertaining.
  • Big Flavor, Light Meal: Sweet, savory, garlicky beef with the crunch of fresh veggies makes every bite irresistible.
  • Customizable: Serve with gochujang for a spicy kick or keep it mild with your favorite red chili sauce. I prefer cooked rice for a heartier wrap, but you can also keep it low-carb.
  • Summer-Friendly: No oven required, minimal prep, and delicious served chilled or warm-perfect for dining al fresco.

Key Ingredients

Here's what you need to make these flavorful wraps:

Top-down view of ingredients on a white table: cooked rice, butter lettuce, ground beef, a pear, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, and sesame oil, each labeled with text.
  • Lean ground beef: A quick-cooking protein that soaks up all the bold flavors.
  • Garlic: Adds savory depth.
  • Grated pear: A classic Korean touch that adds a subtle sweetness and helps tenderize the beef. Use an Asian pear, if available, or a ripe Bartlett or Bosc pear.
  • Soy sauce: For umami and seasoning.
  • Sesame oil: Adds nutty richness.
  • Ground (or fresh) ginger: For a touch of warmth and spice.
  • Red pepper flakes: Optional, but adds a gentle heat.
  • Light brown sugar: Balances the savory elements with sweetness.
  • Lettuce leaves: Use small heads of butter lettuce or Boston bib; romaine hearts work well in a pinch.
  • Toppings: Cooked rice (I prefer jasmine rice), thinly sliced cucumber, radish, green onions, and a drizzle of gochujang or your favorite chili sauce.

How to Make Korean Beef

A glass bowl containing a dark, chunky marinade with visible spices and seeds, being mixed with a metal whisk, sits on a white wooden surface.

Step 1: Stir in the grated pear, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, red pepper flakes, and brown sugar. Let simmer for a few minutes to absorb flavor.

A stainless steel frying pan with minced garlic and oil sits on a white wooden surface.

Step 2: Heat a large skillet, add a splash of cooking oil, and sauté the garlic until fragrant.

Cooked ground beef in a large light-colored frying pan sits on a white wooden surface, ready to be used in a recipe.

Step 3: Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it into crumbles

A frying pan filled with cooked and browned ground beef sits on a white wooden surface.

Step 4: Stir in the cooking sauce and let simmer for a few minutes to absorb flavor

Assemble the Lettuce Wraps

  • Prepare the lettuce and toppings: Rinse and dry your lettuce leaves. Slice cucumbers, radishes, and green onions thinly.
  • Assemble the wraps: Spoon warm beef mixture into lettuce cups, top with veggies, and drizzle with gochujang or red chili sauce.
  • Serve immediately: Serve as a platter for everyone to assemble their own, or pre-assemble for easy serving.

Variations and Serving Ideas

  • Add noodles: Instead of steamed rice, try chilled rice noodles tucked in each wrap.
  • Switch the protein: Try ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
  • Use kimchi: Add a spoonful of chopped kimchi to each wrap for authentic spice and tang.
  • Make it vegetarian: Substitute crumbled tofu or lentils for the beef and use tamari instead of soy sauce.
  • Serve party-style: Turn these into a DIY lettuce wrap platter for summer gatherings-set out the beef, toppings, sauces, and lettuces buffet-style.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this Korean beef ahead?

Yes! The beef mixture can be made a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Reheat gently or serve cold for a refreshing bite.

What's the best lettuce to use for lettuce wraps?

Butter lettuce or Boston bib works beautifully because it's tender and forms perfect cups. Romaine hearts are a crisp alternative that holds up well.

What kind of pear should I use in this Korean beef recipe?

Asian pear is traditional, but any ripe, sweet pear (like Bartlett or Bosc) will work. Grating helps the pear blend seamlessly into the sauce.

Is gochujang spicy?

Yes, but it's also complex and slightly sweet. If you're unsure, start with a small amount or use your favorite milder red chili sauce.

Can I make this easy lettuce wrap gluten free?

Absolutely-substitute tamari for soy sauce and check the labels of your gochujang or chili sauce to ensure they're gluten-free.

A plate of lettuce wraps filled with seasoned ground meat, sliced radishes, cucumber, green onions, and fresh mint leaves, served with a small dish of red sauce and a side of rice.

 Easy Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps Recipe

These Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps are a quick and flavorful meal perfect for warm weather. Made with seasoned ground beef, fresh pear, garlic, and sesame, they're tucked into butter lettuce cups and topped with crunchy vegetables and gochujang. Light, fresh, and ready in 20 minutes-ideal for easy summer dinners or entertaining.

Prep: 10 Cook: 10 Total Time: 20
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INGREDIENTS
 

Cooking Sauce

  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoon light brown sugar or honey
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • ½ pear grated
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger or 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or to taste

Korean Beef

  • 1 teaspoon cooking oil
  • 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 1 pound lean ground beef

Lettuce Cups and Toppings

  • butter lettuce leaves separated from about 2 heads
  • cooked rice
  • fresh herbs mint, basil and cilantro
  • toppings like sliced cucumber, radishes, green onions, and lime wedges

INSTRUCTIONS
 

  1. In a small bowl, whisk the grated pear, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, red pepper flakes, and sugar or honey. Set aside.
  2. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet or heavy-bottomed pot. Saute the garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds, then brown the ground beef, breaking it apart, and let it cook until no pink remains, about 3-5 minutes.
  3. Once the beef has cooked, add the cooking sauce, season with salt as needed. Simmer until heated through, about 2 minutes.
  1. To assemble, place equal amounts of Korean beef and cooked rice into a lettuce leaf, about ¼ cup per leaf. Top with garnishes and serve immediately.

NOTES
 

  • Ginger: You can use ground ginger or fresh grated ginger for a bolder flavor.
  • Sweetening: Brown sugar is traditional, but I often substitute honey for a natural sweetener alternative.
  • Rice: I prefer Jasmine rice, but use your favorite, including brown rice or other cooked grain. Instead of steamed rice, try chilled rice noodles tucked in each wrap.
  • Ground Beef: While beef is a classic and delicious choice, you can also substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version. For a vegetarian version, substitute crumbled tofu or lentils and use tamari instead of soy sauce.

  • More Topping Ideas: Add a spoonful of chopped kimchi to each wrap for authentic spice and tang.

  • Serve party-style: Turn these into a DIY lettuce wrap platter for summer gatherings-set out the beef, toppings, sauces, and lettuces buffet-style
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was?
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