Kimchi Turkey Lettuce Wraps
No trip to Costco is complete without tossing that giant 3-pound tub of kimchi into the cart — it’s basically a staple in our kitchen (and honestly, an emotional support snack for B, who eats it straight from the jar). Besides its bold, tangy crunch, kimchi is a total overachiever in the flavor department, which makes it perfect for quick, 5 ingredient meals like these Kimchi Turkey Lettuce Wraps.
In this recipe, kimchi does triple duty. Some of it gets chopped and sautéed with ground turkey to create a savory lettuce wrap filling. Some is left fresh and crunchy for topping the wraps and adding that freshness that’s needed with ground meat. And then we take the liquid from the tub and mix it with a little gochujang and coconut aminos to make a sweet-spicy-savory sauce that ties everything together. It’s layered, it’s punchy, and it’s ridiculously easy.
Serve the filling in crisp lettuce cups for a light, low-carb meal, or scoop it over rice for a more hearty bowl situation. Either way, it’s a weeknight dinner hero — minimal effort, maximum flavor, and kimchi as the MVP.
Not all kimchi and gochujang are created equal, so it may take you a bit to find the right brand you like. Some are more fermented and sour, some are more spicy, some are a little sweeter, it all comes down to personal preference.
Favorite Kimchi Brands:
- Jongga Napa Cabbage Kimchi (from Costco!) – Our ride-or-die. It comes in a massive tub and somehow disappears faster than you’d think. It’s crisp and well seasoned and not as acidic as other brands.
- Mother in Law Kimchi Brand – for whatever reason we can’t find Jongga, we buy Mother in Law as our secondary option
Favorite Gochujang Brands:
Gochujang is a Korean red pepper paste that’s a staple in Korean kitchens. It has the consistency of like a thick jam, and is both spicy and sweet. Each brand varies quite a bit in terms of spice, so if you are sensitive to spice, taste it first before adding into the sauce.
- Chung Jung One Sunchang Gochujang (pictured below) – Great texture and heat level, and it’s available in most big grocery stores.
- Mother In Law’s Garlic Gochujang – I like this one for the garlicky flavor and smoky sweetness. I don’t find this one to be spicy at all, so sometimes I add some gochugaru flakes if I want some extra heat.
- CJ Haechandle Gochujang – Classic and super versatile for dipping and cooking. Medium heat with just a touch of sweetness which I like.
Kimchi Turkey Lettuce Wraps
- Total Time: 20
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
A healthy, filling, high protein staple in our house: these kimchi + ground turkey lettuce wraps are a quick 5 ingredient recipe to add to your weeknight dinner arsenal!
Ingredients
For the Kimchi Turkey Lettuce Wraps
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1½ cups kimchi
- 3 tbsps gochujang
- 3 tbsps coconut aminos
- 2 tbsps kimchi liquid
- Lettuce wraps for serving
- Rice for serving (if desired)
- 1 tsp avocado oil or similar
- Salt to taste
- Sesame seeds for serving (optional)
Instructions
For the Kimchi Turkey Lettuce Wraps:
- Chop the kimchi into smaller pieces and reserve half for serving.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and once hot, drizzle in avocado oil. Add the turkey and cook until browned, crumbling with a wooden spoon or spatula, about 6–8 minutes. Season with salt.
- Make the sauce by whisking together the gochujang, coconut aminos, and kimchi liquid in a bowl.
- Add half the chopped kimchi to the turkey with the sauce, and about 2 tbsps of water and cook, stirring often until liquid has reduced.
- Assemble the lettuce wraps. Add rice (if desired) and turkey mixture to the lettuce leaves. Top with kimchi and sesame seeds if desired and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
*Coconut aminos is like a sweeter soy sauce. If you don’t have it, just substitute for soy sauce and a little white sugar to taste.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 10-15
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Quick & Easy
- Cuisine: Asian