Favorite southwestern flavors are cooked up and served in romaine cups in this Southwestern Lettuce Wrap Recipe.
Let’s talk tacos. I think I’ve made at least eleven hundred versions of them over the years. Ok, I may be exaggerating a tad, but really – tacos are awesome. But do you know what else is awesome? Lettuce wraps. Which are basically tacos with a lettuce shell instead of a tortilla. Right?
I actually had never really thought about them as tacos before until I made this Southwestern Lettuce Wrap Recipe. But maybe that’s because every version I have made in the past has had some sort of an Asian twist to them. But then again, I have made tacos with an Asian twist as well.
So what I’m getting at, is, no matter what you call them – tacos, lettuce wraps, etc – they are pretty darn delicious.
This Southwestern Lettuce Wrap Recipe is a pretty easy one. Cook up some ground beef with onion, red bell pepper and garlic, then add in some Old El Paso Taco Seasoning, black beans and Old El Paso chopped green chiles. This is my favorite way to cook up taco meat!
Then, instead of grabbing taco shells, grab some romaine hearts. Now, you can use pretty much any large leaf lettuce you want. Iceberg is popular, but for some reason, I always end up butchering the head of lettuce to try to get manageable pieces that work well for lettuce wraps. And butter lettuce works great, and is delicious, but it’s always so pricey and you only get a few leaves. So this time, I thought I’d try romaine. I always buy romaine hearts for salads throughout the week (I love the crunch from the hearts) and thought that they would make the perfect “boats” for the filling. The only thing I like about using iceberg lettuce more is that you can fold up the filling inside the iceberg lettuce so that it’s not really messy – and it did get a little messy to eat the romaine wraps – but I loved how easy the romaine is to fill.
All you have left to do is top those babies with whatever your heart desires. I went for tomatoes, avocados and cilantro, and then finished them off with a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Perfection!
My lettuce wrap recipe loving husband and daughter couldn’t get enough of these. We definitely all ate our fill with very little left over!
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Southwestern Lettuce Wrap Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Favorite southwestern flavors are cooked up and served in romaine cups in this Southwestern Lettuce Wrap Recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
- 2 tablespoons Old El Paso Taco Seasoning
- 1 can (15.5 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso Chopped Green Chiles
- 3 Romaine hearts
- diced tomatoes, avocados, sliced green onions, cilantro and lime slices, for serving
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, pepper and garlic and cook until it starts to soften. Add the ground beef and continue to cook until the beef is browned and the vegetables are soft. Stir in the taco seasoning until completely combined. Add the black beans and green chiles and stir to combine. Remove from the heat.
- Cut the bottom 2 inches from the romaine hearts and pull apart the leaves. Serve the beef mixture in the lettuce cups, and top with your desired toppings.
I am in a working relationship with Old El Paso, and this post has been sponsored. I’m so glad to be able to work with companies and organizations that I truly believe in. Thank you for supporting them, too.
Julia says
We love turkey lettuce wraps! They are one of my favorite easy meals to make during the weekend! Love the green chilies in here!
Joanne says
I feel like I can NEVER get enough tacos!! Love that you stuffed the filling into lettuce wraps – all the flavor but healthier!
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says
I want to live with your family and eat your dinners. YUM
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
Looks and sounds very delicious… I love healthy Mexican meals just like this!
Lee says
YES YES AND YES. I love all of your process pics 😀
ohmydish.com says
Wraps for tacos = genious! Thank you for sharing
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says
I usually eat my tacos over a bed of lettuce – but I love this wrap idea. Fun and delish!
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
I love that you turned these into a lettuce cup!!! My kids would love these!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
We’ve always made asian lettuce wraps but using the wraps for tacos?? GENIUS!
JulieD says
Love this! I’m going to have to try it ASAP!
Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch says
Love these wraps! I could eat this over and over! Looks so fresh, spicy and delicious, yet on the lighter side. Yum!
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
My kids will love this! BOOKmarked and pinned!
Rachel Cooks says
Love seeing a lightened up southwestern/Mexican recipe – they can be hard to find! This looks phenomenal!
Karly says
I’ve been on a lettuce wrap kick, but I somehow never thought to make a Mexican version! Love this!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
Tacos every night of the week, as far as my family is concerned! Love your lettuce wraps so I can eat 2!
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
You make the best tex mex meals ever!!! This one is perfect, with the omission of the extra carbs. I LOVE IT. Pinned 🙂