Zesty Lime Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

Zesty Lime Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

Julia

These Zesty Lime Shrimp Lettuce Wraps bring restaurant-quality flavor to your dinner table in just 15 minutes. Succulent shrimp are quickly seared and tossed in a vibrant chili-lime marinade that balances bright citrus notes with a gentle kick of heat. The combination creates an irresistible glaze that clings to each tender piece of shrimp, making every bite burst with flavor.

Inspired by Asian lettuce wrap traditions but with a Latin twist, this dish celebrates fresh, clean eating without sacrificing taste. The crisp butter lettuce cups provide the perfect vehicle for the zesty shrimp, offering a satisfying crunch that contrasts beautifully with the tender seafood. Fresh cilantro, creamy avocado, and crunchy radishes add layers of texture and flavor that elevate these wraps from simple to spectacular.

Perfect for busy weeknights or casual entertaining, these lettuce wraps are naturally gluten-free and incredibly light yet surprisingly satisfying. The hands-on eating experience makes dinner interactive and fun, while the bold flavors ensure no one feels like they're missing out on anything. Each wrap delivers approximately 25 grams of lean protein, making this a nutritious choice that doesn't compromise on taste.

Whether you're following a gluten-free diet or simply seeking a lighter dinner option, these wraps prove that healthy eating can be exciting and delicious. The recipe is easily doubled for a crowd and can be customized with your favorite toppings like shredded cabbage, julienned carrots, or a drizzle of sriracha for extra heat.

Nutrition

15 minutes
None servings
285 calories
Fat 12.00g
Carbs 14.00g
Protein 28.00g

Ingredients

1.5 lbslarge shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 tbspfresh lime juice, from about 2 limes
1 tsplime zest
3 clovesgarlic, minced
1 tspchili powder
1/2 tspcumin
1 tbsphoney
2 tbspolive oil
1/2 tspsalt
1/4 tspblack pepper, freshly ground
2 headsbutter lettuce, leaves separated and washed
1 largeavocado, diced
4 mediumradishes, thinly sliced
1/4 cupfresh cilantro, chopped
1/4 tspred chili flakes (optional)
4 wedgeslime wedges, for serving

Equipment

Cutting board
Whisk
paper towels
tongs
chef's knife
medium mixing bowl
zester or microplane
large skillet
serving platter
small serving bowls

16:8 Diet

These wraps are ideal for 16:8 intermittent fasting eating windows, providing substantial protein (25g), healthy fats, and fiber to promote satiety and sustained energy. The nutrient-dense ingredients help meet daily nutritional needs within the compressed eating timeframe.

80/20 Diet

This recipe exemplifies the 80/20 principle with over 80% nutrient-dense whole foods including shrimp, fresh vegetables, avocado, and olive oil, while the small amount of honey represents a minimal, natural sweetener that adds flavor without compromising nutritional quality.

Ancestral Diet

This recipe follows Ancestral/Paleo principles with wild-caught seafood, fresh vegetables, and healthy fats from olive oil and avocado, completely avoiding grains, legumes, and processed ingredients. The whole, unprocessed ingredients reflect foods that would have been available to hunter-gatherer ancestors.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

This recipe is rich in anti-inflammatory ingredients including omega-3-rich shrimp, antioxidant-packed vegetables and herbs, and anti-inflammatory spices like cumin and chili powder. The olive oil provides healthy monounsaturated fats, while fresh cilantro, lime, and garlic add powerful anti-inflammatory compounds.

Clean Eating

These wraps exemplify clean eating with whole, minimally processed ingredients including fresh shrimp, vegetables, herbs, and simple seasonings. Every ingredient is recognizable in its natural form, with no artificial additives, preservatives, or heavily processed components.

Diabetic Diet

These wraps are diabetic-friendly with minimal carbohydrates from low-glycemic vegetables and lettuce, lean protein from shrimp for blood sugar stability, and healthy fats that slow digestion. The small amount of honey can be easily omitted or replaced with a sugar-free alternative for even better blood sugar control.

Gluten-Free Diet

This recipe is naturally gluten-free, using lettuce wraps instead of wheat-based tortillas and featuring only whole, unprocessed ingredients like shrimp, fresh vegetables, and naturally gluten-free seasonings. No gluten-containing ingredients or cross-contamination risks are present.

Heart-Healthy Diet

This recipe supports heart health with omega-3-rich shrimp, heart-healthy olive oil, fiber-rich vegetables, and minimal sodium from fresh ingredients rather than processed foods. The lean protein, healthy fats, and abundant vegetables align perfectly with cardiovascular-protective eating patterns.

High-Protein Diet

With approximately 25 grams of lean protein per serving from shrimp, this recipe is perfect for high-protein diets. The protein-rich seafood is the star ingredient, supported by nutrient-dense vegetables and healthy fats for a balanced, satisfying meal.

IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros)

With approximately 25g of lean protein per serving, healthy fats from avocado and olive oil, and minimal carbohydrates, this recipe provides clear macro-friendly nutrition that's easy to track and fits various macro targets. The portion-controlled servings make it simple to log accurately.

Intermittent Fasting

This nutrient-dense recipe is ideal for intermittent fasting eating windows, providing 25 grams of lean protein per serving along with healthy fats and fiber-rich vegetables to promote satiety throughout fasting periods. The whole, unprocessed ingredients support stable blood sugar levels and sustained energy.

Intuitive Eating

These wraps honor both taste and nutrition, featuring satisfying flavors and textures that provide genuine pleasure while nourishing the body. The interactive, hands-on eating experience encourages mindful consumption and connection with food without restriction or guilt.

Low-Carb Diet

With lettuce cups replacing traditional wraps and minimal carbohydrates from vegetables and a small amount of honey, this recipe stays well under 15g net carbs per serving. The emphasis on protein-rich shrimp, healthy fats from avocado and olive oil, and non-starchy vegetables makes it perfect for low-carb eating.

Macro Diet

This recipe offers a balanced macro profile with high-quality protein from shrimp, healthy fats from avocado and olive oil, and controlled carbohydrates from vegetables. The nutrient-dense ingredients and clear portions make it easy to track and fit into flexible macro targets.

Mediterranean Diet

This recipe perfectly aligns with Mediterranean principles by featuring seafood as the primary protein, abundant fresh vegetables, olive oil as the healthy fat source, and fresh herbs like cilantro. The use of citrus, garlic, and spices for flavoring rather than excessive salt exemplifies the Mediterranean approach to wholesome, flavorful eating.

Mindful Eating

This recipe encourages mindful eating through varied textures (crisp lettuce, tender shrimp, creamy avocado, crunchy radishes), vibrant colors, and bold flavors that engage multiple senses. The hands-on assembly and eating process naturally slows consumption and promotes awareness of each bite.

Paleo Diet

These wraps are fully Paleo-compliant, featuring wild-caught shrimp, fresh vegetables, and healthy fats from olive oil and avocado while completely avoiding grains, dairy, and processed ingredients. The lettuce wraps replace traditional grain-based tortillas, and the honey provides a natural sweetener in minimal amounts.

Paleolithic Diet

These wraps are Paleolithic-compliant, featuring foods available to pre-agricultural humans: wild-caught shrimp, fresh vegetables, and healthy fats from olive oil and avocado. The recipe completely avoids grains, legumes, dairy, and processed foods while using lettuce as a natural wrap.

Pegan Diet

This recipe aligns with Pegan principles by featuring vegetables as the primary component (lettuce, radishes, cilantro, avocado) with shrimp as a complementary protein source. The recipe excludes dairy and gluten while emphasizing healthy fats from olive oil and avocado, with only a minimal amount of honey as natural sweetener.

Primal Blueprint

This recipe aligns with Primal Blueprint guidelines by featuring high-quality protein from wild-caught shrimp, abundant non-starchy vegetables, and healthy fats from olive oil and avocado. The minimal honey as a natural sweetener and complete absence of grains, legumes, and processed foods make it fully compliant.

Primal Diet

These wraps are fully Primal-compliant, featuring wild-caught shrimp, fresh vegetables, and healthy fats from olive oil and avocado while avoiding all grains, legumes, and processed ingredients. The minimal honey provides a natural sweetener that fits within Primal guidelines.

South Beach Diet

This recipe fits South Beach Diet guidelines with lean protein from shrimp, healthy fats from olive oil and avocado, and plenty of non-starchy vegetables. The minimal honey keeps added sugars low, making it suitable for Phase 2 and beyond of the South Beach Diet.

Weight Watchers

These wraps exemplify Weight Watchers principles with lean protein from shrimp, abundant non-starchy vegetables, and minimal added fats. The recipe uses whole, unprocessed ingredients and provides a satisfying, nutrient-dense meal that supports weight management goals.

Whole30

These lettuce wraps are Whole30-compliant with wild-caught shrimp, fresh vegetables, and compliant fats from olive oil and avocado, with the only modification needed being to omit the honey (replace with compliant seasoning). All ingredients are whole and unprocessed, with no grains, dairy, legumes, or added sugars beyond the easily-substituted honey.

Instructions

1

Pat the shrimp completely dry with paper towels. This ensures they'll sear properly rather than steam in the pan.

1 min
2

In a medium bowl, whisk together lime juice, lime zest, minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, honey, salt, and black pepper until well combined.

1 min
3

Add the dried shrimp to the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Let sit for 2-3 minutes while you prepare the toppings.

3 min
4

Arrange the butter lettuce leaves on a large serving platter. Set aside the avocado, radishes, and cilantro in small bowls for easy assembly.

2 min
5

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.

2 min
6
2 min

Add the marinated shrimp in a single layer to the hot skillet. Cook without moving for 2 minutes until the bottoms are pink and slightly caramelized.

7
3 min

Flip the shrimp and cook for another 2-3 minutes until they're cooked through, opaque, and slightly charred. The shrimp should curl into a C-shape when done.

8

Remove the skillet from heat and squeeze any remaining marinade from the bowl over the shrimp. Toss to coat and let rest for 1 minute.

1 min
9

To serve, place 3-4 shrimp in each lettuce cup. Top with diced avocado, sliced radishes, and fresh cilantro. Sprinkle with red chili flakes if desired.

10

Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over the wraps. Enjoy while the shrimp are still warm and the lettuce is crisp.

Frequently Asked Questions