Recipe: Sweet Chili Chicken Lettuce Cups

This recipe is light and fresh — combining sweet, savory, spicy, and herbaceous notes in a crisp, crunchy lettuce wrap. Ingredients like sweet chili sauce, garlic, lime, cilantro, and crunchy veggies bring brightness and complexity without being too heavy, making it super wine-friendly. It's the perfect dish to serve for your next golden-hour gathering.

Recipe and photo sourced from: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a57645/thai-chicken-lettuce-cups-recipe/

Wine pairing suggestions by Elkhorn Peak!

Photo compliments of www.delish.com, with specific credit to Parker Feierbach. Originally found on the recipe link below.

Sweet Chili Chicken Lettuce Cups

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce

• 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce

• Juice of 1 lime, plus wedges for serving

• 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 Tbsp. Sriracha

• 2 tsp. freshly grated ginger

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts

• 12 leaves romaine or butterhead lettuce, for cups

• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

• 1 carrot, shredded

• 1 Tbsp. freshly chopped cilantro

Instructions:

Step 1: In a large bowl, combine chili sauce, soy sauce, lime juice, oil, Sriracha, ginger, and garlic. Whisk to combine. Add chicken breasts to bowl and toss with marinade.

Step 2: Heat a large grill pan over medium heat. Add chicken breasts and cook until golden with grill marks and no pink remaining, 8 to 10 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate to let rest, then thinly slice.

Step 3: Build your lettuce cups: Fill lettuce cups with chicken and garnish with onion, carrot, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

Wine Pairings

Elkhorn Peak Rosé: A dry, crisp Rosé mirrors the lightness of the dish and its bright acidity cuts through the sweet-and-spicy flavors.

Elkhorn Peak 2021 Chardonnay: Chardonnay’s smooth texture and natural acidity balance the sweet chili sauce, with the wine’s citrus and stone fruit flavors complementing the lime and crunchy veggies.

Elkhorn Peak 2023 Pét-Nat: This is where things get fun — Pét-Nat’s light fizz, zippy acidity, and fresh, slightly wild flavors make it an awesome match for this Thai-inspired dish. The bubbles cleanse your palate between bites, the vibrant fruit notes (think grapefruit, green apple, or tropical fruits) play nicely with the sweet chili and herbs.

Set the Mood

You've made the food, you've chilled the wine. Now, it's time to enjoy. For the soundtrack to your golden-hour gathering, we’re loving Pink Martini — an artist we discovered and fell for this past April, thanks to a tip from our long-time wine club members Julie and Corey. Their playful, jazzy, globally-inspired sound is the perfect companion for a breezy, wine-filled evening outdoors.

Turn up the tunes. Pop open that bottle and enjoy your meal!