Deli Sandwich Lettuce Wraps! And life just go a whole lot better. There is nothing I love more than a recipe that feels like it’s straight from the bistro or the deli but totally isn’t because I just made it at home like the bad@$$ I like to pretend I am. These outrageously good Italian wraps are so happening. Also, please note, I had to watch YouTube videos to perfect my wrap-roll technique. It only took me 60 minutes to watch a three-minute video. Winning.

But that’s not even the best part. These Deli Sandwich Lettuce Wraps seriously pack all the flavors of a traditional deli wrap or sandwich but are totally gluten-free, grain-free, soy-free, and dairy-free. They can also be made right in the comforts of your own kitchen (or living room if you are wont to dine on the floor while binge-watching Murdoch Mysteries. Go ahead, I won’t judge.). Salami, turkey, chicken, avocado, tomatoes, green onions, red onions, and whatever sauce you want to throw into the mix. A few favorites include:

However you choose to bring this amazingness together, just go for it. It’s virtually impossible to ruin this recipe. And trust me, after watching a three-minute video for 60 minutes, I certainly tried to ruin my wraps, whether I actually meant to or not. They still came out delicious, if a little bedraggled.

In truth, though, my love of the Italian sandwich didn’t start here. I have been in love with Italian-style deli sandwiches for as long as I can remember. I blame The Gram. She was half Italian, half Danish. And she knew her foods. We ate mostly Italian, which meant going to the butcher several times a week for meats and cheeses (I can’t say that with a straight face, but it’s what we did).

Then we’d come home and fashion ourselves a sammich. In today’s recipe, I’ve taken that concept and turned it on it’s ear a little bit so my family can enjoy it, too. I don’t go to the deli several times a week, but when we do chow down on Deli Sandwich Lettuce Wraps, I grab Applegate Farm brand lunch meats, and enjoy me some grain-free sammiching. It’s how I wrap-roll.

These Deli Sandwich Lettuce Wraps are perfect for:

Get-togethers
Family graduation parties (because it isn’t a graduation party if someone isn’t eating a hoagie!)
Picnics and hikes
Lunches and brunches (I’ve been reading Dr. Seuss to Twinkle lately, if you couldn’t already tell)
Or because you want to feel like you’re dining out quick-like but without spending the moolah

These wraps know no bounds. They are as versatile as stretch denim and maternity pants on Thanksgiving. So now let’s talk about what these Deli Sandwich Lettuce Wraps are NOT. They are not:

A glorified version of tree bark and grass. Yes, these lunch wraps are grain-free, but they are also filed with protein and healthy fats. One wrap and you’ll feel comfortably full.
For spring and summer only. Oh, no, Spiriteds. We get to enjoy our grain-free lettuce wraps all throughout the year, like football games and homecoming events in the fall.

That last one is true for our family. Homecoming weekend at our respective alma maters is no small feat. There are countless places to eat, either on campus or in town. But sometimes, there just isn’t time. We need something yummy, not boring, and ready in minutes. Deli Sandwich Lettuce Wraps are where our festive fandom is at! And when we do eat these on the go, I prep all the ingredients separately and then assemble just before devouring them. This usually means I keep the meats in their original packaging, the accoutrements together in a jar, the sauce of choice in a separate jar, and a plate on hand for balanced assembly.

Now let’s talk about what leafy green to use. Because maybe you’re ready to get wrap-rolling, but you aren’t sure what base to use. I experimented and found that Boston/Butterhead lettuces were yummo but flimsy. Romaine-style lettuces are much sturdier, but you definitely have to shop around for some that are wide enough to fill with ingredients and still be able to wrap-roll.

Although not technically lettuce, I love collard greens in this recipe. They are usually wide enough to fill and roll. They also hold their shape, and if you do get a small tear, it doesn’t usually ruin the whole leaf. But I do like to have extras on hand, just in case one does fall apart during the assembly process.

Speaking of which, I love Pinch of Yum’s Detox Rainbow Roll-Ups with Peanut Sauce video. Very informative if you are in the market for the perfect wrap-roll.

As a quick aside, can we please take a moment to admire K-Hubs’ “handy” work?

ME: Now, K-Hubs [because obviously that’s what his parents named him], just contort your wrist that way and then move your fingers the other way, and then I’ll stand over you and take the shot with my one shoulder in the air and the other in your ear.
K-HUBS: I don’t think my limbs quite do that.
ME: Mmhmm, that’s true. Mine don’t either. So, I’ll just stand over you and hope for the best.

Done and done.

Now that you have your leafy greens, how-to videos, and mix-ins, it’s time to brunch-lunch these Deli Sandwich Lettuce Wraps, and get your wrap-roll ON!

$Deli Sandwich Lettuce Wraps are deliciously grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free! Just like what you'd find at that local sandwich shop but for a fraction of the time and price! | spiritedandthensome.com$

Deli Sandwich Lettuce Wraps

Print Recipe

Prep Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 10 mins
Yield: 1 wrap 1x

Ingredients

Scale

1 piece of large leaf lettuce
2–4 tablespoons of selected sauce (see notes)
3 slices all-natural turkey or chicken, thinly sliced
4–5 slices all-natural salami
4–5 grape tomatoes sliced
2–3 slices red onion, halved
1 handful green onions, finely sliced
2–3 tablespoons avocado, diced (unless using guacamole as the sauce)
Pepper as desired

Instructions

Place lettuce leaf on the work surface right side facing down (so that you are looking at the inside of the leaf). Carefully drizzle approximately 2 tablespoons of sauce on the lettuce leaf, and then place the sliced turkey/chicken on top. Add the salami and then garnish with tomatoes, onions, and avocado. Top with another 1-2 tablespoons of sauce to hold everything together.
To assemble the wrap, place the leaf lettuce so that the spine of the lettuce is going from left to right and the soft edges of the lettuce are placed top to bottom. Then fold the left and right sides in, working against the spine (it may crack a little – this is okay). Depending on the leafy greens you use, as you fold the left and right sides in, the softer top and bottom edges may naturally fold in, too. From there you can bring all the edges together, like you’re wrapping a present, and roll. If you have trouble getting the correct wrap-roll, please visit the link at the bottom of the post for a video tutorial from another food blogger who has it down pat!

Notes

Amounts used for sauce are approximations because you only need enough to lightly coat the lettuce and hold the additional ingredients in. Too much sauce, and you’ll have a soggy mess. Not enough, and you’ll have a wrap fall apart at the seams. I also approximate the mix-ins based on the size of the leaf lettuce. Your wrap made need more or fewer slices of tomato and onion, for example, than mine do. And as for those sauces, check the bulleted list in the post for inspiration!