• Butter lettuce leaves (one head)
  • Red bell peppers, sliced into thin strips (we used two and have leftovers)
  • Chicken cut into strips prior to cooking, seasoned with salt and pepper (3 thighs or breasts)
  • Shredded carrots (2 to 3 carrots)
  • 2 tsp Sesame or safflower oil
  • For the peanut sauce:
  • 3 tbsp hot water
  • 3 tbsp peanut butter (chunky works great)
  • 3 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar

One of my kids’ top 10 favorite places to eat is P.F. Changs, which doesn’t bother me since they have a great happy hour with asian dishes we all love, and they really cater to people with special diets due to food allergies. We usually order a few different items from the happy hour menu like potstickers, and a rice or noodle dish to share family-style.

Their lettuce wraps can’t make a debut on our table often enough. I don’t know if the kids enjoy making them or eating them more! We haven’t been to P.F. Changs in a while, but I’ve been craving lettuce wraps so I decided to experiment a few nights ago.

I’m pleased to tell you that we had success! How do I know? My son asked for leftovers tossed together for lunch, and they both ate more than they do when we eat them out.

Easy Kid-Assembly Dinner

They were delicious and incredibly simple! Here’s how we made them, but there are a number of tweaks that could be made depending on the season, your family’s preference and your time.

Lettuce Wraps

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Serves 4

Butter lettuce leaves (one head)
Red bell peppers, sliced into thin strips (we used two and have leftovers)
Chicken cut into strips prior to cooking, seasoned with salt and pepper (3 thighs or breasts)
Shredded carrots (2 to 3 carrots)
2 tsp Sesame or safflower oil

For the peanut sauce:
3 tbsp hot water
3 tbsp peanut butter (chunky works great)
3 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar

Rinse and dry your lettuce leaves. In a wok or non-stick pan, sauté chicken in oil until cooked through.

While chicken is cooking, make your sauce by combing all of the ingredients and mixing well.

Set out lettuce, chicken, red bell peppers, carrots and sauce for everyone to serve up family style. We had jasmine rice on the side but another option would be a simple fried rice or ramen noodle dish.

Even better than the food, the kids loved personalizing their creations. You could use ground meat, turkey or steak, and mix up your vegetables based on what’s in season. It’s easier if you can cut them into long strips, or dice them up pretty small.

Have you made lettuce wraps at home? What did you enjoy inside?