Why this fits a family on a budget
Ground beef is one of the most affordable proteins at the grocery store, and stretching it with rice and fresh lettuce cups keeps this meal comfortably under $3 per person. Everything cooks in a single pan in about 25 minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknights.
1. Start rice first: combine 1.5 cups white rice with 3 cups water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to the lowest setting, cover tightly, and cook for 18 minutes until all water is absorbed.
2. While rice cooks, mince 4 garlic cloves and grate 1 tablespoon ginger. Thinly slice green onions, keeping the white and green parts separate.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together coconut aminos, fish sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes. Set aside — this is your sauce.
4. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add ground beef and break it apart with a spatula into small crumbles. Cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until no pink remains and the beef is starting to brown at the edges.
5. Tilt the pan and use a spoon to carefully drain off any excess fat pooled in the corner.
6. Push beef to one side. Add garlic and ginger to the empty side and stir for 30 seconds until fragrant, then mix into the beef.
7. Pour the sauce over the beef mixture and stir well to coat. Cook for 2 more minutes over medium heat until the sauce reduces slightly and everything looks glossy and caramel-colored.
8. Remove from heat and drizzle sesame oil over the beef. Stir to combine.
9. In a small bowl, toss shredded carrots with a pinch of salt and a few drops of sesame oil. Set aside.
10. Separate butter lettuce into individual cup-shaped leaves and arrange on a plate or board.
11. To serve, spoon a small amount of rice into each lettuce cup, top with the seasoned beef, a pinch of sesame carrots, green onion tops, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Eat by folding the lettuce around the filling.
Contains: fish, sesame. Always double-check labels for your household's allergies.
Cost is a national-average estimate and varies by store and region.
This recipe was generated by Plento Pasto's AI from a library of family-friendly dishes and reviewed for a real photo before publishing. Cooking times, costs, and nutrition are estimates — use your judgment in the kitchen.