You can have your pizza and hit your macro goals too, with these delicious, cheesy Low-Carb Pizza Lettuce Wraps!
Recently, I boarded the low-carb train in hopes of getting all that energy the low-carb folks talk about. I’m not trying to deprive myself of anything that’s good for me, but a low-carb eating period can really make you stop and think about mindless snacking habits. I’m not one of those people who goes on a low-carb diet thinking it’ll be all cheese and bacon, because you need some kind of nutrition in there, right? That’s not to say I don’t crave cheese and bacon, though. And low-carb eating does give you some freedom in that department.
I love big salads with cheese and meats on top when I’m following a low-carb diet, and that’s why I love this low-carb pizza lettuce wrap recipe. It’s basically a handheld salad with pizza toppings! These lettuce wraps combine all the best parts of low-carb eating inside a fresh lettuce container for your convenience. I like to double-wrap them for extra crunch and stability. They’re great for lunch or dinner, or even a snack between meals!
Are These Low-Carb Pizza Lettuce Wraps Healthy?
These wraps are relatively low in calories, and all the meat makes them high in protein. There are lots of veggies in these wraps, but the meat and cheese do add saturated fat. The beef gives the dish some iron, and the cheese provides some calcium. Overall, this dish is gluten-free and keto-friendly, and can be made dairy-free by substituting a plant-based cheese for the mozzarella. You can also make this recipe a bit healthier by using ground turkey instead of beef and turkey bacon instead of pork bacon.
Meat Swaps
We all know that fat and protein are the best way to feel satisfied on a low-carb diet, and that’s why this dish has bacon, ground beef, and pepperoni. This recipe is definitely satisfying as written. But remember that pizza comes in lots of different flavors and so can your low-carb pizza lettuce wraps. Here are some different meats (and non-meats!) you can consider swapping out for the pepperoni, ground beef, or bacon in this recipe.
- Grilled chicken thighs. Boneless skinless chicken thighs are easy to grill, are delicious, and have plenty of protein.
- Ground chicken or turkey. Instead of beef, consider chicken or turkey for the base of the filling. Add a little smoky chipotle hot sauce or cumin for a Southwestern flair and extra flavor.
- Textured vegetable protein, tempeh, or seitan. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, you can still make pizza lettuce wraps by omitting all the meat and using TVP, tempeh, or seitan. All of them are relatively low in carbs and high in protein. Note that if you’re vegan, you’ll want to replace the cheese with a vegan substitute as well.
- Sausage. If you’re not a fan of one of the meats in this recipe, consider adding some of your favorite sausage. Links or ground sausage work for this dish. I love adding chorizo, smoked pork sausage, or Italian sausage.
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Store leftover filling in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I suggest storing the cheese and pizza sauce in separate containers. If you’ve already assembled the lettuce wraps, you can refrigerate them the same way, but eat them within 24 hours, preferably sooner. The lettuce will definitely get soggy, and they’re pretty hard to heat up once the lettuce is included! You can freeze the filling in freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these low-carb pizza lettuce wraps at your next game-day party or family gathering alongside a spread of tasty low-carb snacks, such as Almond Flour Crackers, assorted cheese cubes, Sugar-Free Keto Low-Carb Granola Bars, Low-Carb Keto Cucumber Salad, and these delicious Keto French Fries (made with rutabaga!). These wraps also make a fine dinner main with a few sides, like a Keto Salad and perhaps a Keto Flatbread to catch anything that falls out of the wraps.
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ green bell pepper diced
- ½ yellow onion diced
- ¼ cup white mushrooms diced
- Salt to taste
- ½ pound lean ground beef 93% lean
- 4 tablespoons pizza sauce
- 8 leaves butter lettuce
- 4 strips bacon cooked and crumbled
- ¼ cup thin-sliced deli ham diced
- 8 slices pepperoni
- ½ cup reduced-fat mozzarella cheese grated
Instructions
- Put the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
- Add in the peppers and onions, and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add in the mushrooms and cook for another few minutes until soft. Season with salt. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Heat a medium-sized pan on medium-high heat and cook the ground beef until no longer pink inside, breaking it up as it cooks, about 5 minutes.
- Divide the pizza sauce between the lettuce leaves, followed by the onion mixture, cooked beef, bacon, ham, pepperoni, and cheese. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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