The first official day of summer may still be a few weeks away but we are going full speed into stocking your recipe repertoire with all the warm weather essentials. First up to the plate: Chinese Chicken Lettuce Wraps. And this quick-fix version is all about the marinade!

Something magical happens when soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and lime juice all come together into a caramel-like sticky, sweet and savory sauce. Just add thinly sliced chicken breast to soak up all that flavor, and a short sauté in a hot pan later and you’ll be tossing those takeout menus for good.

I’m one of those “if lettuce wraps are on the menu, I’m ordering them” kinda restaurant patrons. From the fancy to the budget-friendly, I’ve lettuce-wrapped my way across the spectrum. While ground chicken is a popular filling, I’ve opted for thinly sliced pieces of chicken that (A). soak up all that flavor-packed marinade and (B). make for easy tucking inside crisp bibb lettuce leaves.

Keep it simple with just a few additional wrap fillings, from chilled cucumber slices or julienned carrots to shredded purple cabbage and toasted sesame seeds. Fill ’em, wrap ’em, eat ’em. And then repeat.

Ready to complete your takeout-fakeout feast? Don’t miss Baked Orange Chicken, Chicken Egg Rolls, Sweet and Sour Cucumber Noodles, and more!

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