Italian Lettuce Wraps (Printable)

Crisp butter lettuce filled with Italian-seasoned turkey, fresh tomatoes, cucumber, and mozzarella.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Protein

01 - 1.1 lb ground turkey or chicken
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
05 - 1 tsp dried oregano
06 - 1 tsp dried basil
07 - 1/2 tsp salt
08 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Vegetables & Wraps

09 - 1 large head butter lettuce or romaine, leaves separated and washed
10 - 2 medium tomatoes, diced
11 - 1 small cucumber, diced
12 - 1/2 red bell pepper, diced

→ Cheese & Toppings

13 - 4 oz fresh mozzarella, diced or mini balls, halved
14 - 2 tbsp fresh basil leaves, chopped
15 - 2 tbsp balsamic glaze (optional)
16 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How-to Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and onion; sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant and softened.
02 - Add ground turkey, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and cooked through.
03 - Stir in dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper. Cook 1-2 more minutes to blend flavors. Remove from heat and set aside.
04 - Lay out lettuce leaves on a serving platter. Fill each with a spoonful of the turkey mixture.
05 - Top with diced tomatoes, cucumber, and red bell pepper.
06 - Add mozzarella pieces and sprinkle with fresh basil. Drizzle with balsamic glaze if desired, and finish with a grind of black pepper.
07 - Serve immediately, folding the lettuce leaves over the filling to eat.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between hot, aromatic turkey and cold, crisp lettuce creates this incredible texture dance in your mouth
  • Everything comes together in under 30 minutes, but it tastes like something you'd order at a fancy Italian restaurant
02 -
  • Lettuce wraps don't wait well—the leaves get soggy and the whole magic collapses, so serve them immediately after assembling and let everyone build their own
  • Thoroughly drying your lettuce leaves after washing makes a huge difference in preventing that sad, watery bottom that ruins the texture experience
03 -
  • Butter lettuce holds up better than romaine because its cup shape naturally cradles the filling without cracking
  • Let the turkey mixture cool for just 2–3 minutes before assembling so it doesn't wilt the lettuce leaves but still provides that satisfying warmth

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