Taco lettuce wraps are a healthy, flavorful and delicious protein packed, low-carb alternative to traditional tacos. They’re paleo, gluten-free and an easy Whole 30 recipe!
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Low Carb Lettuce Tacos
I love to make lettuce wraps whenever I’m trying to eat clean. They are a healthy alternative and taste so delicious. Some of my favorite lettuce wrap recipes are my cashew chicken lettuce wraps, PF Chang’s lettuce wraps and chicken club lettuce wraps.
One of my new favorite healthy dinner recipes are these taco lettuce wraps. I made them when I was doing a round of the Whole30, since you can’t have any grains or gluten. I decided to try a lettuce wrap instead of a taco shell and to my surprise, I didn’t even miss the shell!
These wraps are perfect for busy nights on the go. I usually double my taco meat and freeze half of it for a quick meal or I make these chicken fajitas and wrap them in lettuce!
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Onion
- Red bell pepper
- Lean ground beef or turkey
- Spices: Cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, S&P
- Salsa
- Romaine lettuce cups
- Toppings of choice
Variations
- Protein: Feel free to swap the taco meat with salsa chicken or this easy Instant Pot shredded beef.
- Extra heat: Or add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes or hot sauce for some extra heat.
- Salad instead: You could even chop up the romaine and make them into a taco salad if you’d like!
How to Make Taco Lettuce Wraps
- Brown the onions, peppers and ground beef. In a large pan over medium-heat, saute the onion and bell peppers in the olive oil. Once translucent, add ground beef and brown. Remove any excess grease.
- Add in seasonings and simmer. Mix in the spices and salsa and let simmer for a few more minutes, until combined and thick.
- Top and serve! Add taco meat to the inside of each lettuce leaf and top with your favorite toppings.
Lettuce Tacos Toppings
I love to top my lettuce tacos with fresh pico de gallo and sliced avocado! Perfection! :)
- Pico de gallo
- Sliced avocado or guacamole
- Salsa
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream
- Diced peppers
- Black beans
- Corn
More Healthy Dinners
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Taco Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
For serving: Lettuce cups or taco shells
Optional toppings: pico de gallo, avocado, sour cream, cheese
Instructions
- In a large frying pan, sauté the onion and bell peppers in the oil over medium-heat. Once onions are translucent, add ground beef and brown. Remove any grease.
- Mix in salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder and salsa. Let simmer for a couple minutes.
- Serve the taco meat inside a lettuce wrap or taco cup. Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Notes
- Can use lean ground beef or ground turkey.
- Omit the chili powder if you aren’t a huge fan of spice.
- I love to double my taco meat and freeze half for a busy weeknight. Check out how I freeze mine in this post.
- Can use hard taco shells if preferred.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 30 Minute Meals, Beef, Cinco De Mayo, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Gluten-Free, Low Carb, Meal Prep, Mexican, Stovetop, Whole 30
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I make my own taco seasoning, and I top the meat (in the romaine leaf) with diced tomatoes, pickled jalapeños, shredded cheddar, avocado salsa, and sour cream. I don’t cook because I’m on a diet, I cook what I like. In this case — and except for the sour cream and full-fat cheese, which is a small amount — what I like is good for me! There’s just something wonderful about melting cheddar and cold sour cream atop taco meat.
I couldn’t agree more, Hollis! Sounds so delicious :)
Love this recipe… and it works perfectly to serve the mixture to my kids in a hard shell taco, and eat mine in the lettuce. Great family dinner.
I’m so glad to hear you loved it! Thanks for leaving a comment and review Susan!
I love all the flavors in these lettuce wraps! Such a great recipe when I’m trying to eat a bit lighter!
i love these, just wish there was calorie counts. this was AWESOME and so yummy! thank you!
I’m glad you enjoyed them! Thank you for the comment and review! :)
These look yummy. I am making your Chicken Club Lettuce Wraps for the first time tonight, and can’t wait to try them. Just one thing about something you mentioned in this Taco Recipe – if you use 100% corn taco shells, they don’t contain gluten.
Correct! :)
What a healthy way to eat tacos! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Also, I’ve shared this on my Super Bowl Recipe Roundup: http://karylskulinarykrusade.com/recipe-roundup-super-bowl/
Thanks Karyl!
Taco lettuce wraps are awesome! They are one of my new favorites! I included them on my blog, Be Very Well Fed. Hop on over…
https://anitafessler.wordpress.com/2015/04/07/how-happy/
Thanks for the feature! :)
awesome ideas
These are great alternatives to bread…The gluten free diet is life changing!
Genius! It’s too hot to fry tacos right now but I could do these! Thanks!
I always find it so difficult to get the lettuce to do what I want it to do – I feel like its cause I’m using the wrong lettuce! Here’s to romaine! Yay!
I agree, romaine definitely is the easiest to work with for wraps! :)
Such a fun, tasty and healthy idea. Love these!