Hungry for take-out? These easy to assemble Mexican Lettuce Wraps filled with chicken, black beans, salsa, peppers, and avocados are the perfect way to get tons of flavor without all of the extra calories. This recipe will make you feel like heading south of the border with a margarita in hand!
Three months into the new year and my family is still working hard on keeping our resolutions – cutting back on unnecessary calories, eating less take-out, and incorporating more vegetables. We’ve noticed over the last few months that when we eat healthier, we have more energy, and with three kids under six, we need all of the energy we can get! I have found that eating healthy does not mean losing flavor. Take these Mexican Lettuce Wraps for example. Crisp lettuce replaces the crunch normally provided by the taco shell; and bright, bold flavors from the chicken and veggies create a fiesta for the senses. We feel like we have splurged, but with none of the guilt or the heavy feeling you might get from a night out.
Not only are the lettuce wraps healthy and delicious, but they are so easy to make. You have no excuse not to try them! I started off with diced rotisserie chicken. I chose rotisserie because they are so convenient, but you could easily bake or grill your own, or even use ground chicken. Next, I mixed the rainbow of remaining ingredients in with the chicken and voila, you are done in under 10 minutes. And, I only used one bowl, which made clean up a snap. You can also make the mixture ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator until you are ready to eat.
This recipe is very versatile. I enjoy serving the mixture in lettuce cups to reduce the calories and increase veggies, but it also makes a great filling for taco shells, or even as a cold dip served with some chips. This mixture is always a hit when I bring it to parties and potlucks. When you are ready to serve the lettuce wraps, I recommend topping with some diced avocado and a dollop of light sour cream or Greek yogurt.
Next time you find yourself reaching for that take-out menu, try these Mexican Lettuce Wraps instead. Your body and taste-buds will thank you.
- 1-15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1-4 oz can chopped green chilies
- 2 cups cooked, cubed chicken breast (I used rotisserie)
- ½ cup salsa
- ¼ cup diced green onions
- ¼ cup chopped red or yellow bell pepper
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ripe avocado, peeled and diced
- Bibb lettuce leaves for serving
- In a large bowl combine first 10 ingredients and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- When ready to serve, stir in avocado and place mixture on top of lettuce leaves.
We hope you love this simple Mexican Lettuce Wraps recipe from SoFabFood Contributor, Heather from Food Lovin Family, as much as we do. If you enjoyed this simple recipe, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss another one like it. For daily recipe inspiration, like us on Facebook, follow us on Pinterest, and stop by our Google+ Community to see all of the amazing recipes our members are sharing. Enjoy!
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