Chicken Larb Recipe (Thai Larb Gai Lettuce Wraps)

This Chicken Larb Gai recipe will have you hooked on its spicy, zesty flavor. These Thai lettuce wraps come together quickly & easily for a healthy dish that’s perfect for lunch or dinner.

Can’t get enough lettuce wrap recipes? Be sure to try my Taco Lettuce Wraps with Turkey & Quinoa and PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps Recipe too!

Do you ever find yourself with a craving for a certain type of food? For me, when I’ve got a craving, it’s generally one of two things – pasta or Thai food. Pasta is a natural for me. I grew up next door to my Italian Nana and Nanu who were to of the most amazing cooks. We had pasta with Sunday Gravy every week… Thai food came later for me.

I’ve been building my collection of Thai recipes that are easy to make at home and taste great. Some of my favorites are this Thai Beef Salad, Thai Curry Meatballs and Thai Beef Stir Fry.

And, along the way, I’ve found a few key ingredients that tend to make their way into Thai dishes – citrus, mint, chiles and fish sauce.

Fish sauce can tend to scare people off.

It’s not hard to find. You’ll locate it right in your normal supermarket, near the Asian foods section. But then, you’ll get home, open the bottle, smell it and… honestly, it kind of reeks.

But, I promise, once it gets combined with the other ingredients, it just takes on a nice, salty, mellow taste that can’t be replicated by anything else. I’ve even found myself adding more at the end of my recipes just to kick up that salty, nutty flavor that it gives just teeny bit more. Give it a go – I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Mingling along with the saltiness of the fish sauce comes the bright, citrus flavor – And, we’re not just talking a tiny bit of citrus… We’re hitting this recipe with lime juice, lemon juice and lemongrass. Lots and lots of great flavor and acidity that plays really well with those sweet and salty flavors going on in this Thai larb salad.

This Thai-inspired meal is healthy, quick to make, and totally tasty. And while it may not be truly authentic, it’s on regular repeat for weekday cooking at our house, and the leftovers make a great lunch the next day too.

Ingredients needed

• Ground Chicken – You can also use ground turkey, ground pork or ground beef. Or, see my suggestions below for a vegetarian larb.
• Fish Sauce – Look for fish sauce in the asian foods aisle.
• Honey
• Fresh Lemon & Lime Juice
• Olive Oil
• Red Onion & Shallots
• Lemongrass – Lemongrass can be a bit difficult to find, but I have found it at many grocery stores packaged alongside the fresh herbs. And, while there’s no true substitute for the distinct flavor of lemongrass, you could try swapping in some lemon zest in its place, to taste.
• Serrano Pepper – Or, swap in some jalapenos. They’ll have a bit less heat.
• Fresh Mint Leaves – You can also use fresh cilantro, thai basil or green onions.
• Salt & Pepper
• Lettuce Leaves – For serving. You can use butter lettuce, romaine lettuce, or iceberg lettuce. Cabbage leaves are also delicious.

How to make it

• In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, lemon juice, fish sauce and honey. Set aside.
• In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, shallots, lemongrass, chilies, and salt, to taste. Cook until the vegetables begin to soften.
• Add the chicken. Cook, stirring frequently, until the meat and vegetables are cooked through.
• Add the dressing to the pan and cook for a couple minutes to allow the flavours to meld.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the mint. Season with additional fish sauce, salt and pepper, to taste.
• Spoon the meat salad onto the lettuce leaves.
• Serve with rice and lime wedges, if desired.

Recipe FAQs

Recipe variations

• Beef Larb Recipe: Swap in ground beef for the ground chicken.
• Pork Larb Recipe (Larb Moo): Swap in ground pork for the chicken.
• Vegetarian Larb: Swap in diced tofu or tempeh and soy sauce or vegan fish sauce.
• Want to add a bit of crunch to your recipe? Try sprinkling on some toasted rice powder (khao khua).

Wine pairings for Larb Lettuce Wraps

• Try a dry Riesling or Gewurztraminer a try with this this dish – Both great go-to wines with spicy dishes.

More Thai food recipes

• Thai Beef Salad
• Thai Curry Meatballs
• Chile & Basil Thai Beef
• Thai Chicken Salad
• Thai Mushroom Salad

What to serve with Larb

• Rice or Sticky Rice
• Kung Pao Noodles
• Papaya Salad
• Garlic Green Beans
• Thai Cucumber Salad
• Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles)

Did you try this larb recipe?

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More → 30+ Ground Chicken Recipes to try for dinner this week!

Thai Larb Recipe

These Larb Gai Lettuce Wraps will have you hooked on their spicy, zesty flavor. Ground chicken combines with plenty of fresh mint, lime juice and lemongrass for a healthy Thai dish that’s perfect for lunch or dinner.

4.67 from 6 votes

Print Pin

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

Created by Platings and Pairings

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Ingredients

• 3 Tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• 1/3 cup fresh lime juice (from 2-3 limes)
• 3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 large lemon)
• 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 red onion (minced)
• 3 shallots (thinly sliced)
• 1 stalk lemongrass (tough outer leaves removed and minced (about 1/4 cup))
• 1 serrano chile (thinly sliced)
• 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 leaves head butter lettuce (separated)
• Radishes (chopped, for serving (optional))
• Cooked rice (for serving (optional))

Instructions

• In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, lemon juice, fish sauce and honey. Set aside.
• In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, shallots, lemongrass, chile, and salt, to taste. Cook until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Add the chicken. Cook, stirring frequently, until the meat and vegetables are cooked through, about 5 minutes.
• Add the dressing to the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the mint. Season with additional fish sauce, salt and pepper, to taste.
• Spoon the chicken mixture onto the lettuce leaves.
• Serve with rice.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Nutrition

Calories: 367kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 146mg | Sodium: 1166mg | Potassium: 1053mg | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 140IU | Vitamin C: 13.6mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1.8mg

This chicken larb recipe was originally published in 2014. It was updated in 2021 to update the pictures, and again in 2023 to update the content. The larb gai recipe remains the same. Enjoy!