Gluten Free Crispy Pork Lettuce Wraps (Soy Free)

These pork lettuce wraps are a vibrant and flavorful recipe that is ready in less than 30 minutes! Made with ground pork and lots of veggies for an asian inspired meal you’ll love serving to the whole family. Gluten free, dairy free, soy free, Whole30 compatible, and Paleo.

The best pork lettuce wraps

There are so many different ways you can fill a lettuce cup, but this recipe is at the top of my list – whether you’re eating GF or not!

The little bits of sticky / sweet caramelized ground pork mixed with a variety of vibrant vegetables all piled into a fresh and crunchy lettuce cup and topped with an outrageously bright + delicious (seriously!) cucumber salad is some next level dinner goals.

I love how all the flavors play together perfectly, like a little symphony of YUM in your mouth with each bite.

It’s ready in just about 30 minutes (less if you’re efficient with chopping!) and made with mostly pantry staples.

Which makes it the perfect thing to throw together at the end of a long day and still feel like a weeknight dinner superhero!

Why you’ll love these lettuce wraps

They are:

• Absolutely packed with umami rich flavor
• Made with lots of veggies
• Easy to make – ready in just 30 minutes!
• Versatile and crowd pleasing
• GF, dairy free, soy free, Whole30, & Paleo
• Satisfying yet light
• SO freaking delicious!

Ingredients and substitutions

You can find the full list of ingredients along with measurements in the recipe card below. These are just my ingredient notes and recommendations for easy swaps and substitutions!

Crispy Ground Pork Filling

• Sesame oil – For sautéing the shallots, pork, and vegetables.
• Shallots – Finely diced shallot brings a nice aromatic flavor base to the crispy pork filling! You could easily swap them out with yellow onion or red onion.
• Ground pork – I love the rich flavor of ground pork for this asian inspired recipe, but ground chicken, turkey, or beef would also be delicious.
• Veggies – The saucy filling is the perfect place to sneak lots of vegetables into your dinner. I chose to use shredded carrots and diced red bell pepper.
• Spices, sauces, and seasonings – Garlic powder, fish sauce, coconut aminos, lime juice all layer on the umami rich flavor. Fish sauce can be omitted if you don’t have it on hand or prefer not to use it.

Pickled Cucumber Salad

• Cucumber – I like to dice it into easy to eat bite sized pieces, but you could also thinly slice it into coins or half moons.
• Red onion – Green onion is a great substitute for red onion, or it can be left out entirely.
• Cilantro – For a bit of fresh green flavor.
• Coconut aminos – Used instead of soy sauce, coconut aminos make a great Paleo / Whole30 substitute. Feel free to use soy sauce instead if you’re not following a specific diet.
• Rice vinegar – For a bit of acidity and brightness.
• Kosher salt – To taste
• Sesame oil – For a warm, toasty sesame flavor.

For serving

• Lettuce leaves – Butter lettuce (also called Bib lettuce), and romaine both work well.
• Cilantro – Roughly chopped.
• Chopped nuts – For extra texture and crunch! Roasted cashews are good for a Paleo / Whole30 friendly option. Roasted peanuts are also delicious.
• Lime wedges – To squeeze over the top just before digging in.
• Rice – This crispy pork filling is also so good over a bed of white rice!

Coconut aminos vs soy sauce

Coconut aminos are an excellent Paleo / Whole30 / GF / soy free substitute for soy sauce that closely mimics the same umami rich flavors.

What do they taste like?

Made from fermented coconut nectar, though they don’t actually impart any coconut flavor. They are also slightly sweeter than soy sauce, which makes them a welcome addition to recipes where you are omitting added sweeteners or sugarl

Our favorite coconut amino brands are Thrive Market Coconut Aminos and Big Tree Farms Coconut Aminos.

What type of lettuce is best for lettuce wraps?

We typically use either butter lettuce (also called bib lettuce) leaves, or romaine lettuce leaves. I haven’t tried it myself but iceberg lettuce could be another good option!

Butter lettuce has a wonderful mild, almost buttery (go figure!) flavor, and is the perfect shape for filling. They can be quite thin, so you may want to double up to avoid breakage.

Romaine lettuce is obviously larger in size, and boasts more crunch and a sturdier texture.

You should be able to find at least one of these types of lettuces at your every day grocery store.

How to prepare lettuce for lettuce wraps

Whichever type of lettuce you use, you’ll want to start by removing any outer leaves from the head of lettuce that look wilted or have brown spots.

Next peel away the fresh looking inner lettuce leaves for your lettuce wraps, wash them with cold water, and pat dry with paper towels or spin in a salad spinner.

How to make pork lettuce wraps

These yummy lettuce cups are really easy to put together.

The recipe is divided into 3 main parts – the pickled cucumber salad, the crispy pork and veggie filling, and everything you need for serving.

If you’re ready to start cooking you can find the whole recipe in the recipe card below.

• Make pickled cucumber salad. In a medium bowl combine cucumber salad ingredients and stir to combine. Cover the bowl and transfer to the refrigerator to marinate while you make the rest of the recipe.
• Prepare ingredients for serving. Remove lettuce leaves from the head of lettuce. Roughly tear or chop cilantro, roughly chop cashews or peanuts, and cut some lime wedges.
• Make crispy pork. In a large skillet heat sesame oil and add shallots. Cook, stirring frequently, until translucent and caramelized. Push shallots aside and add ground pork. Continue to cook, breaking up pork with a spatula into small pieces, until fully cooked. Add shredded carrots and diced bell pepper and sauté until veggies have softened. Reduce heat to medium and add remaining ingredients. Season with juice of one lime and salt if needed.
• Season pickled cucumber salad. Remove cucumber salad from the refrigerator and toss to coat with the dressing. Season to taste with salt and more rice vinegar if desired.
• Assemble the lettuce cups. Fill each lettuce cup with a generous scoop of crispy pork, pickled cucumber salad, and top with chopped cilantro and chopped nuts. Serve with lime wedges on the side and enjoy!

Storage and reheating

Storing: The ground pork and vegetable mixture should keep in a sealed container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. For the best texture the pickled cucumber salad should be enjoyed within 24 hours of making, and the lettuce cups should be prepared fresh just before eating.

Reheating: To maintain the crispy + caramelized texture of the pork it reheats best on the stove top. I would recommend 3-5 minutes in a skillet over medium heat, until warmed through. It can also be re-heated in the microwave.

Did you love these pork lettuce wraps? Try these other asian inspired recipes!

• Super Easy 30 Minute Crispy Pork Stir Fry
• Gluten Free Cashew Chicken Stir Fry
• Garlic Ginger Chicken Kabobs
• Thai Style Coconut Curry Chicken Soup
• Paleo Coconut Curry Meatballs
• Crispy Pork and Zucchini Noodle Coconut Soup
• Easy Stir Fry Veggies

If you enjoyed this recipe, we’d love it if you would take 5 seconds to rate and review it below! It’s also super helpful for other readers if you share any modifications you made to the recipe. 

Thank you for sharing your kitchen with NK. We’re so grateful you’re here!

Print