• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Wellness Mama script logo

Wellness Mama®

Simple Answers for Healthier Families

  • About
  • Favorites
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Health
  • Natural Home
  • Motherhood
  • Mindset
  • Natural Remedies
  • Beauty
  • Organization
  • Travel
  • Reviews
  • Recipes
lettuce tacos
  • Beef Recipes
  • Recipes
  • Salad Recipes

Tex-Mex Lettuce Taco Wraps

Katie WellsAug 2, 2022
Reading Time: 3 min

This post contains affiliate links.
Click here to read my affiliate policy.

Jump to Recipe
Wellness Mama » Blog » Recipes » Tex-Mex Lettuce Taco Wraps
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • Subbing in Veggies
  • Lettuce Wrap Tacos+−
    • Lettuce Tacos Ingredients
    • Looking For More Taco Recipes?
  • Tex-Mex Lettuce Wrap Tacos


Growing up in the south I ate a lot of Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes. I’ve since created quite a few of my own variations on the humble taco. These lettuce tacos are wrapped with butterleaf or romaine lettuce instead of the traditional corn or wheat shell. They’re paleo, low carb, and keto, and make the perfect weeknight meal.

Subbing in Veggies

I’m always trying to find ways to add more vegetables to meals. I also try to replace the unhealthy or nutrient-lacking parts of traditional recipes with healthier, fresher options when possible.

Some of my favorite ways to do this include:

  • Using cabbage for “noodles” in recipes like one pan spaghetti
  • Using spiral cut parsnips as “noodles” in recipes like this shrimp lo mein
  • Using cucumbers for bread in finger sandwiches
  • Dipping cucumber slices (instead of crackers or chips) into a savory smoked salmon dip or radish cream cheese dip
  • Using cauliflower in place of rice in recipes like this paella
  • Making sweet potato noodles for this shrimp carbonara recipe

Lettuce Wrap Tacos

Out of all the recipes that use veggies instead of grains or processed ingredients, these lettuce tacos have to be the simplest. It takes a lettuce wraps recipe and combines it with the classic taco.

I actually like the lettuce version better now because it gives them a crunch and coolness you don’t find in a regular tortilla. I grew up in Texas and I love the flavors of Mexican food. This recipe is a great way to get the same flavors without the need for white flour or vegetable oils in the tortillas.

If you don’t love lettuce in tacos and prefer an actual tortilla, I’d recommend these homemade grain-free and gluten-free tortillas. Or convert them into nachos with cassava chips like in this BBQ chicken nachos recipe.

Lettuce Tacos Ingredients

This recipe is super simple and there are lots of substitutions available. Healthy recipes that are also versatile are always my favorite. For the meat portion, you can use ground chicken, ground turkey, or ground beef. Throw in some pinto or black beans if you want.

We use a wide variety of fresh toppings on our tacos, including sour cream, avocado, and fresh tomato. Use whatever you have on hand and what your family prefers. If you’re not a fan of raw onions and peppers on your tacos, then feel free to saute them for a bit.

Try some salsa verde or fermented salsa on top of your lettuce tacos for a tasty kick.

I like to use romaine or butter lettuce for the lettuce cups. They hold up better than iceberg lettuce and offer more nutritional value. Butter lettuce also goes by the name bib lettuce and has large, soft leaves that are slightly sweeter than some varieties. Even though it’s tender, it still holds up pretty well as a lettuce wrap.

I use butter lettuce in these Asian lettuce wraps (like P.F. Chang) and these cashew chicken lettuce wraps.

lettuce tacos

Tex-Mex Lettuce Wrap Tacos

Katie Wells
Soft, butter lettuce replaces the traditional tortilla for a cool, grain-free crunchy taco.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Course Main
Cuisine Tex Mex
Servings 4 lettuce tacos
Calories 182 kcal

Equipment

  • Large skillet

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey)
  • 3 TBSP ground cumin
  • 1 TBSP chili powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 4 large leaves butter lettuce (or romaine)

Optional toppings

  • diced tomato
  • salsa
  • diced red onions yellow, or white also work
  • sour cream
  • shredded cheese
  • hot sauce
  • guacamole or diced avocado
  • jalapenos
  • cilantro

Instructions
 

  • In a large skillet, over medium-high heat brown the meat until cooked.
  • Sprinkle the cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt over the meat and stir well.
  • Cool slightly before scooping the taco filling into the lettuce leaves like you would with taco shells.
  • Top with desired taco toppings.

Notes

If you have it on hand, you could use 1-2 tablespoons of taco seasoning instead of the listed seasonings. 
(Nutrition info does not include toppings.)

Nutrition

Serving: 1tacoCalories: 182kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 26gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 407mgPotassium: 557mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 1147IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 6mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking For More Taco Recipes?

Try one of these for your next taco Tuesday night!

  • Chicken Taco Soup
  • Tacos al Pastor With Pineapple & Cilantro
  • Zesty Shrimp Poblano Tacos With Kiwi Salsa
  • Grain-Free Taco Bowl
  • Fish Tacos in Cabbage Leaves

Like this recipe? Check out my new cookbook, or get all my recipes (over 500!) in a personalized weekly meal planner here!

Do you use vegetables in place of less healthy parts of a recipe? Share your best substitute below!

Category: Beef Recipes, Recipes, Salad Recipes

Share this article

FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn
Print / PDF / Email

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a wife and mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

  • All Posts

You may also enjoy these posts…

Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Asian Lettuce Wraps (like P.F. Chang)

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus

Healthy Fish Tacos Recipe

Fish Tacos in Cabbage Leaves

Bacon-Wrapped Salmon Patties

chard wrapped salmon

Chard Wrapped Salmon Recipe

Reader Interactions

Discussion (8 Comments)

  1. Angie

    February 27, 2018 at 3:25 PM

    Not sure if it’s just me, but the ingredients are listed twice and the instructions are not listed at all. I’m pretty sure I can figure this one out, just wanted to let you know.

    Reply
    • Katie - Wellness Mama

      February 27, 2018 at 4:53 PM

      Opps, not sure how that happened, but it should be fixed now! Thanks for pointing it out.

      Reply
  2. joe

    December 27, 2015 at 7:20 AM

    Being a vegetarian how can I make this? Fish is out too.

    Reply
  3. Carrie

    February 9, 2015 at 8:04 PM

    These look delicious! In answer to your question about replacing things with veggies, I throw spaghetti sauce over greenbeans instead of pasta. I also use a peeler to peel zuchinni pasta and make delicious lasagne with it. It tastes just as good as the regular lasagne.

    Reply
  4. Roseann

    September 28, 2014 at 7:27 PM

    My teenage son loved these! Shocking considering he is such a picky eater. I made one adjustment to the recipe. Replaced the cumin with 1 tsp onion powder. I confess to make this a home run with my son, I made quesadillas with the filling and finely shredded cheddar. I know using flour tortillas is contrary to your philosophy and I am sorry to disappoint but take heart in knowing that using your recipe, i was able to avoid using El Paso taco flavor packet which has nasty stuff in it (not that I ever used El Paso, but my girlfriend does and when I read the ingredients I said to myself nope, no way)

    Thanks Katie for this recipe!

    Reply
  5. Charlie

    September 20, 2014 at 2:42 PM

    I am a vegetarian also eat fish and eggs
    I need new ideas. Been a vegetarian since 1979
    When I saw lettuce tacos i thought it may be something new

    Reply
    • jes

      January 22, 2015 at 4:07 PM

      fish tacos then? or like an egg filling a la breakfast burritos. even some sort of veggie filling with southwestern seasonings.

      Reply
  6. Stephanie

    December 18, 2011 at 9:31 PM

    hubby-approved!  This rarely happens at my house.  He actually likes it better than regular tacos!  I feel like doing a celebratory dance all over the kitchen. lol

    Reply

Join the Conversation... Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Please read the comment policy.

Recipe Rating




The information on this website has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. By accessing or using this website, you agree to abide by the Terms of Service, Full Disclaimer, Privacy Policy, Affiliate Disclosure, and Comment Policy. Content may not be reproduced in any form. Ads provided by CafeMedia Family & Parenting Network. Displayed ads do not constitute endorsement or recommendation by Wellness Mama.


Content

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Favorites
  • Wellnesse

Support

  • Newsletter
  • Podcast Application
  • Medical Review Board
  • My Books
  • Sitemap
  • Contact

Policies

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Full Disclaimer
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Promo Guidelines
  • Comment Policy

Join the
Wellness Mama Tribe!


Copyright © 2023 · Wellness Mama® · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding