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A plate of lettuce wraps filled with ground meat, radish slices, cucumber, mint leaves, and a side of rice. A bowl of red dipping sauce and more rice are nearby, with chopsticks on the side.
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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 Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 297kcal
Author: Stephanie Wilson

Ingredients

Cooking Sauce

  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoon light brown sugar or honey
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 1/2 pear grated
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger or 1 TBSP 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

  • In a small bowl, whisk the grated pear, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, red pepper flakes, and sugar or honey. Set aside.
  • 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.
  • Once the beef has cooked, add the cooking sauce, season with salt as needed. Simmer until heated through, about 2 minutes.
  • To assemble, place equal amounts of Korean beef and cooked rice into a lettuce leaf, about 1/4 cup per leaf. Top with garnishes and serve immediately.

Notes

  1. Ginger: You can use ground ginger or fresh grated ginger for a bolder flavor.
  2. Sweetening: Brown sugar is traditional, but I often substitute honey for a natural sweetener alternative.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. More Topping Ideas: Add a spoonful of chopped kimchi to each wrap for authentic spice and tang.
  6. Serve party-style: Turn these into a DIY lettuce wrap platter for summer gatherings—set out the beef, toppings, sauces, and lettuces buffet-style.

Nutrition

Calories: 297kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 847mg | Potassium: 875mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 5553IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 5mg