Best Turkey Lettuce Wrap Sandwich

If you ask me, lettuce wraps are a complete game-changer for lunch.

These fresh and light alternatives to regular sandwiches pack all the flavor without the heaviness of bread. Cool, crisp lettuce leaves cradle your favorite sandwich fillings, giving you that satisfying crunch in every bite.

I love how simple these are to put together – just layer your proteins, veggies, and spreads between the leaves. The lettuce keeps everything fresh and adds a natural sweetness that regular sandwich bread just can’t match.

It’s the kind of lunch that leaves you feeling good afterward – light enough for warm days but filling enough to keep you going all afternoon.

What Kind of Lettuce Should I Use?

While this recipe calls for iceberg lettuce, you’ve actually got several good options for your lettuce wraps. Iceberg is a classic choice because its crisp, sturdy leaves hold up well and naturally form perfect cups for your fillings. If you want to switch things up, butter lettuce (also called Boston or Bibb) makes an excellent alternative since its leaves are soft yet strong enough to handle ingredients without tearing. Romaine leaves can work too, though they’re more rigid and might be a bit trickier to wrap. Just make sure whichever type you choose, you’re selecting fresh, crisp leaves and gently peeling them off one at a time to keep them intact.

Options for Substitutions

This lettuce wrap sandwich is easy to customize with different ingredients. Here are some helpful swaps:

• Iceberg lettuce: While iceberg gives you that nice crunch, you can swap it with butter lettuce for a softer wrap, or romaine lettuce leaves for something in between. Just make sure the leaves are large enough to wrap your fillings.
• Grainy mustard: Any mustard works here – try yellow mustard, dijon, or honey mustard. You could also use mayo, hummus, or mashed avocado as your spread.
• Turkey: Feel free to use any deli meat you like – ham, chicken, or roast beef all work great. For a vegetarian option, try sliced tempeh or firm tofu.
• Bacon: Turkey bacon works as a lighter option, or try crispy mushrooms for a vegetarian alternative. You can also skip it altogether.
• Cheese: Any sliced cheese you enjoy will work here – cheddar, swiss, provolone, or dairy-free alternatives if you need them.
• Parchment paper: Wax paper or foil can work instead. If you don’t have any, a clean kitchen towel can help you roll the wrap.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest challenge when making lettuce wraps is dealing with torn or floppy lettuce leaves – to avoid this, make sure to carefully peel whole leaves from your iceberg lettuce head while keeping them intact, and pat them completely dry with paper towels before using.

A common mistake is overstuffing the wraps, which can lead to messy eating and broken lettuce leaves – instead, keep your filling modest and centered in the middle of the leaf, leaving about an inch of space around the edges for easier rolling.

Temperature control matters too – if you’re using warm ingredients like freshly cooked bacon, let them cool slightly before assembling to prevent wilting the lettuce, and when wrapping with parchment paper, avoid pulling too tight which can tear the lettuce.

For the crispiest results, serve these wraps immediately after assembly, as letting them sit too long can make the lettuce leaves lose their crunch and become limp.

What to Serve With Lettuce Wraps?

Since lettuce wraps are on the lighter side, they pair really well with some satisfying sides to make a complete meal. A scoop of cold pasta salad or potato salad works great, giving you those classic sandwich side vibes without weighing you down. If you want to keep things low-carb, try a fresh cucumber and tomato salad or some crunchy bell pepper strips with hummus on the side. For something warm and cozy, a cup of your favorite soup makes this lunch extra filling – I especially like tomato or vegetable soup alongside these wraps.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These lettuce wraps are best enjoyed right after making them, but if you need to prep ahead, you can keep the assembled wrap in the fridge for up to 4 hours. Just make sure to wrap it tightly in parchment paper to keep everything fresh and prevent the lettuce from wilting.

Prep Ahead: Want to save time during lunch? Cook your bacon and prep your veggies in advance. Store the cooked bacon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, and keep your sliced tomatoes and onions separate until you’re ready to assemble. This way, your lettuce stays crisp and your wrap won’t get soggy.

Pack for Lunch: If you’re taking this wrap to work or on-the-go, keep the lettuce leaves separate from the fillings and assemble just before eating. Pack everything in separate containers or compartments of your lunch box to maintain the perfect texture of each ingredient.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	0 minutes
Total Time	10-15 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 350-400
• Protein: 30-35 g
• Fat: 20-25 g
• Carbohydrates: 15-20 g

Ingredients

• 1 cored iceberg lettuce head (outer leaves removed)
• 1 tbsp coarse-grain mustard
• 4 slices organic turkey breast
• 2 cooked bacon strips (halved)
• 1 slice cheese (split in two)
• 2 tomato slices
• 1 thin round red onion slice
• 1 sheet parchment paper (14 x 14 in)

Step 1: Prepare the Parchment Paper and Lettuce Base

• 1 sheet parchment paper (14 x 14 in)
• 1 cored iceberg lettuce head (outer leaves removed)

Place a large 14 x 14-inch sheet of parchment paper on your work surface.

Lay 5-8 large pieces of iceberg lettuce (from the cored lettuce head, outer leaves removed) in the center of the parchment, overlapping as necessary to create a sturdy base measuring about 9 by 10 inches.

If some lettuce pieces break, layer smaller ones together to form a solid sheet.

Step 2: Add Mustard and Layer Fillings

• 1 tbsp coarse-grain mustard
• 4 slices organic turkey breast
• 1 slice cheese (split in two)
• 2 cooked bacon strips (halved)
• 2 tomato slices
• 1 thin round red onion slice

Spread the coarse-grain mustard in the center of the lettuce base.

Layer the organic turkey breast slices evenly over the mustard, followed by the split slice of cheese, then the halved bacon strips.

Add the tomato slices and top with the thin round slice of red onion.

This creates an even distribution of all the fillings for a delicious wrap.

I like to gently press the layers down to help keep everything stable before rolling!

Step 3: Roll and Wrap the Lettuce Wrap

Using the parchment paper as a guide, start rolling the lettuce and fillings as tightly as possible from the edge closest to you.

As you begin, carefully tuck the ends of the wrap toward the middle to contain the fillings.

Continue rolling, using the parchment to help keep the roll tight and compact.

Step 4: Secure and Slice the Lettuce Wrap

When the wrap is fully rolled, continue to wrap the entire roll snugly in the parchment paper.

Using a serrated knife, carefully slice through the wrap almost completely, leaving the bottom layer of parchment intact—this helps keep the lettuce wrap from falling apart when serving.