Thai Turkey Quinoa Lettuce Wraps mix together Thai flavors with ground turkey, vegetables and quinoa to create a light and nutritious dinner wrapped into a crisp lettuce wrap.  This meal is light, filling and perfect for a family! 

Thai Turkey Quinoa Lettuce Wraps - yum

THAI TURKEY QUINOA LETTUCE WRAPS

We are keeping things light and healthy around my house these days, especially now that we are approaching the heat of summer.

After a long day of playing outside in the hot sun the last thing I want to do is eat a heavy meal.

Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps are my answer to a light dinner or lunch, that the whole family can enjoy.

Do you remember these Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps and these Mexican Turkey Lettuce Wraps that I shared a few weeks ago?

After I made those I got on a major lettuce wrap kick.

What I love is that they are so easy to put together, you leave out the extra carbs and you can play with so many different flavors.

Shortly after those Mexican Turkey Lettuce Wraps I decided to start recipe testing a Thai inspired version, since Thai flavors happen to be some of my favorite.

I made these Thai Turkey Quinoa Lettuce Wraps a few times and really loved the addition of the quinoa.

It is a small grain so it doesnโ€™t overpower the turkey mixture, but still adds texture and gives you additional protein, fiber and iron.

Thai Turkey Quinoa Lettuce Wraps - dinner

These Thai Turkey Quinoa Lettuce Wraps make a perfect meal for my family because I can use the turkey mixture to feed to my two toddlers {hold the chili garlic sauce if your kids arenโ€™t a fan of the heat}.  

I give my kids the turkey mixture to eat and they gobble it up {they still arenโ€™t fond to lettuceโ€ฆI keep working on that one.}.  

In one bite they are getting turkey, quinoa and vegetables which is great.

When I have leftovers I make Mike a salad for work and give him the Thai turkey mixture on the side, which he adds to the salad when he is ready to eat it.  

It makes for a nice light work salad.

Thai Turkey Quinoa Lettuce Wraps - healthy dinner

Save this recipe for those busy, hot summer nights when you need to put something quick on the table.

This dish comes together in under 30 minutes and makes great leftovers.

OTHER QUINOA RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE:

MEDITERRANEAN QUINOA SALAD

GREEK QUINOA SALAD

TOMATO CUCUMBER FETA QUINOA SALAD

AVOCADO KALE QUINOA SALAD

ZUCCHINI CHICKPEA QUINOA SALAD

Thai Turkey Quinoa Lettuce Wraps

Thai Turkey Quinoa Lettuce Wraps

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Thai Turkey Quinoa Lettuce Wraps mix together Thai flavors with ground turkey and quinoa to create a light and nutritious dinner wrapped into a crisp piece of Bibb lettuce.

Ingredients

For quinoa:

  • 1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed and cooked
  • 1 cup water

For Thai Turkey Mixture:

  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped onion, about 1/4 of a medium onion
  • 1 pepper {I used 1/2 a red and 1/2 a green}
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 lb. ground turkey
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and grated
  • 3 Tablespoons soy sauce, low sodium if possible
  • 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce {I use Huy Fong, Chili Garlic Sauce}, more or less for spiciness
  • 1 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped {plus extra for garnish}
  • 3 green onions, green part chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 head of Bibb/Boston Lettuce, washed and seperated

Instructions

  1. Chop the peppers and onion and set aside. Grate the ginger and set aside in a small bowl.
  2. Rinse quinoa and cook the quinoa according to the package. {For my quinoa a 1/2 cup of quinoa cooks in 1 cup of water and simmers for 13-15 minutes, or until the water is absorbed and the quinoa is tender.}
  3. In a large pan heat 2 Tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Once hot add the onion and sautรฉ for 2-3 minutes. Add the green peppers and garlic and continue to sautรฉ for 2 minutes.
  4. Add the ground turkey, fresh lime juice, ginger, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce and continue cooking until the turkey is browned.
  5. Mix the quinoa in with the turkey mixture and add the fresh cilantro and green onions, Stir to combine and add salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Serve the Thai turkey mixture warm with crisp bibb lettuce and extra cilantro for garnish. In our house I set out the Bibb lettuce with the turkey mixture and any additional garnishes so people can make their own. .

About Julia

I'm Julia. Wife, mom to three growing boys, lover of food. Here you will find quick & easy weeknight meal ideas, kid-friendly recipes and a few sweet treats. My roots are from the Mediterranean and many of my recipes incorporate those flavors!

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20 Comments

  1. Des @ Life's Ambrosia says:

    What a great healthy and hearty meal! Perfect for lunch or dinner!

    1. Julia says:

      Thanks Des! It is a great lunch option too!

  2. Patricia @ Grab a Plate says:

    Great dish! Love that, like you said, you get some goodness in every bite! Itโ€™s definitely on my list for the hot weather ahead!

  3. Lydia @Suitcase Foodist says:

    I am a huge fan of anything with a hint of spice. These look lovely and healthy and delicious.

    1. Julia says:

      Thanks Lydia!

  4. Kate @ Diethood says:

    Lettuce wrap perfection!! Iโ€m in love with all the flavors and textures! Crunch crunch! ๐Ÿ˜€

    1. Julia says:

      Thanks Kate. Lettuce wraps are the best.

  5. Medha @ WHIsk & Shout says:

    Love the additional protein boost with the quinoa! Lettuce wraps are sooo fun ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Julia says:

      Thanks! Yes the added protein is great!

  6. Des @ Life's Ambrosia says:

    These would make a wonderful lunch! I would totally make a batch of the filling on sunday and eat it throughout the week. Yum!

    1. Julia says:

      It is a great filling to use throughout the week. Thanks Des!

  7. heather @french press says:

    we love lettuce wraps, and I love that these are thai inspired and have added quinoa โ€“ delicious

    1. Julia says:

      Thanks Heather! We love them tooโ€“the quinoa is a fun addition for sure.

  8. Alisa Fleming says:

    These look so perfect and full-flavored Julia! We do lettuce wraps a lot in our home, but I havenโ€™t tried a variation like this one.

    1. Julia says:

      Thanks Alisa! We do a lot of lettuce wraps too. I liked the quinoa in these because I feel like it made it a bit different from the traditional turkey lettuce wraps.

  9. Debra @ Bowl Me Over says:

    YUM!!! I bet quinoa adds a delicious crunch and great nutrition. These look terrific!

    1. Julia says:

      Yes! I think it does too.

  10. Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says:

    I love turkey lettuce wraps and love that you added the quinoa. The thai flavors create a delicious and flavorful meal!

    1. Julia says:

      I love them too! The Thai flavors are my favorite part.