One of my favorite foods for a light and refreshing meal is definitely these lemongrass chicken rice paper rolls. They’re packed with bold Vietnamese-inspired flavors, easy to make, and so satisfying to eat!
Sometimes I like to throw a little rice paper roll making party with my friends and these bites are always a hit!
What Are Lemongrass Chicken Rice Paper Rolls?
Lemongrass chicken rice paper rolls are fresh spring rolls made with marinated chicken, rice noodles, fresh veggies, and herbs wrapped in soft rice paper.
They’re often served with a savory-sweet Vietnamese dipping sauce (nuoc cham) but my recipe opts for a peanut hoisin sauce that I can eat by the gallon (I'm not kidding).
Why You’ll Love These Lemongrass Chicken Rice Paper Rolls
- Bright, fresh flavors: Lemongrass, lime, and herbs keep everything light and refreshing.
- Perfect make-ahead meal: Prep the components early and assemble when ready to eat.
- Customizable for everyone: Easy to swap proteins or veggies depending on what you have.
Equipment You’ll Need
- Air fryer
- Mixing bowls
- Medium pot
- Colander
- Shallow dish for rice paper
Ingredients for Lemongrass Chicken Rice Paper Rolls
Lemongrass Chicken
- Chicken thighs: Juicy and flavorful, perfect for high-heat cooking. I prefer thighs for this recipe but breasts work too.
- Garlic
- Lemongrass: Bright citrusy aroma that defines the dish
- Fish sauce
- Soy sauce
- Dark soy sauce
- Brown sugar
- Lime juice
Rice Paper, Noodles, and Veggies
- Green lettuce leaves: Creates structure and crunch inside the roll. Microgreens work well here too!
- Persian cucumbers
- Mint leaves
- Rice noodles: Soft and neutral, soaking up flavor
- Garlic chives
- Rice paper sheets (22cm): Flexible wrappers that hold everything together
Peanut Hoisin Sauce
- Peanut butter
- Hoisin sauce
- Chili garlic sauce or sriracha
- Warm water
Customizations
- Swap the protein: Try shrimp, grilled pork, or crispy tofu instead of chicken.
- Add extra crunch: Shredded carrots or bean sprouts work beautifully.
- Make it milder: Skip the chili sauce and keep the peanut hoisin sweet and savory.
How to Make Lemongrass Chicken Rice Paper Rolls
Marinate and Cook the Chicken
In a large bowl, combine chicken thighs, garlic, lemongrass, fish sauce, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, brown sugar, and lime juice. Mix until evenly coated. Marinate for 15 minutes or up to overnight.
Air fry at 425°F for 11–13 minutes, cooking in batches. Rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
Prep the Noodles and Veggies
Cook rice noodles according to package instructions. Rinse briefly under cold water, drain well, and set aside.
Slice cucumbers and rinse and dry lettuce, mint, and garlic chives. Keep everything separated for easy assembly.
Assemble the Lemongrass Chicken Rice Paper Rolls
Dip one sheet of rice paper into lukewarm water until just wet. Lay it flat and let it soften for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Layer lettuce, cucumber, mint, rice noodles, and lemongrass chicken in the lower center.
Roll and Finish
Fold the sides inward, then roll from the bottom like a burrito. Add a garlic chive near the end so it peeks out, then finish rolling. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
Make the Peanut Hoisin Sauce
Whisk peanut butter, hoisin sauce, chili garlic sauce, and warm water until smooth. Adjust with more water as needed. Microwave for 30 seconds if needed to help it come together.
Storage
Store leftover chicken, noodles, and veggies separately in airtight containers for up to 3 days.
Assembled rice paper rolls are best eaten fresh (rice paper can easily dry out), but can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
Tips to Make the Perfect Lemongrass Chicken Rice Paper Rolls
- Don’t oversoak the rice paper: Just a quick dip keeps it from tearing.
- Thin chicken slices: Easier to roll and better texture in each bite.
- Balanced filling: Don't overstuff as it makes rolling tricky!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What type of wrapper should I use?
Make sure to use translucent, round rice paper wrappers, ideally 22cm in size, for the easiest rolling.
How do I soften rice paper?
Dip the rice paper briefly in water until fully wet. It will soften and become pliable within 30 seconds to 1 minute. No soaking needed!
What other fillings can I use for these rice paper rolls?
Shredded carrots, bell peppers, avocado, bean sprouts, and cilantro all work well in these lemongrass chicken spring rolls.
Can I make these ahead of time?
You can prep all the filling components ahead, but roll them shortly before serving for the best texture. Rice paper tends to dry out quickly so they don't store well.
Is there a peanut-free sauce option?
Yes! Try sunflower butter instead of peanut butter.
Related Recipes You’ll Love
- Lemongrass Chicken Crispy Rice Paper Dumplings
- Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken
- Lemongrass Chicken Wings
- Shrimp Rice Paper Rolls (Cheung Fun)
Lemongrass Chicken Rice Paper Rolls
Equipment
Ingredients
Lemongrass Chicken
- 1 pound chicken thighs boneless and skinless
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoon minced lemongrass
- 2 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 lime juiced
Rice Paper, Noodles, and Veggies
- 8 oz dried rice noodles
- 8-10 green lettuce leaves rinse and drained
- 1-2 Persian cucumbers cut into thin strips
- 0.5 oz mint leaves rinse and drained
- 8-10 pieces garlic chives trimmed slightly to fit size of a spring roll
- 8-10 sheets rice paper round 22cm
Peanut Hoisin Sauce
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- 3 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1-2 tablespoon chili garlic sauce or sriracha sauce
- ⅓ cup warm water
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken thighs with minced garlic, minced lemongrass, fish sauce, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, brown sugar, and lime juice. Mix until evenly coated, then marinate for 15 minutes or up to overnight for deeper flavor. Air fry at 425°F for 11–13 minutes, cooking in batches to avoid overcrowding. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice into thin strips.1 pound chicken thighs, 3 cloves garlic, 3 tablespoon minced lemongrass, 2 tablespoon fish sauce, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce, 2 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 lime
- Cook the rice noodles according to package instructions. Rinse briefly under cold water, drain well, and set aside. Prepare the vegetables by slicing the cucumber and rinsing and drying the lettuce, mint, and garlic chives. Keep everything separated for streamlined assembly.8 oz dried rice noodles, 8-10 green lettuce leaves, 1-2 Persian cucumbers, 0.5 oz mint leaves, 8-10 pieces garlic chives
- To assemble, dip one sheet of rice paper into lukewarm water until just wet (no need to soak the rice paper) then lay it flat on a clean surface. The rice paper will soften within 30 seconds - 1 minute. Layer lettuce in the lower center, followed by cucumber slices, mint leaves, rice noodles, and a few strips of lemongrass chicken.8-10 sheets rice paper
- Fold the left and right sides inward, then fold up the bottom edge and roll tightly like a burrito. Add a garlic chive near the end, letting the tip peek out, and finish rolling. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
- In a bowl, whisk together peanut butter, hoisin sauce, chili garlic or sriracha, and warm water until smooth and creamy. Adjust with more water as needed to reach your preferred dipping consistency. You can optionally microwave the sauce for 30 seconds, which heats the sauce and makes it easier to mix and turn smooth.¼ cup peanut butter, 3 tablespoon hoisin sauce, 1-2 tablespoon chili garlic sauce, ⅓ cup warm water
- Serve the rice paper rolls with the peanut hoisin sauce on the side and enjoy immediately for best texture and flavor.
Liz says
This is phenomenal! Incredible flavor and so easy to make! We live in a very small town, so we were not able to find wraps, so we made ours with sticky rice and even with that change- Yum yum!! Thank you!!
Herman says
Wow that is a smart substitution! Not sure if you get Amazon delivery easily but you can buy the rice paper online to get it shipped to you too!
Lisa says
These were terrific - a new favorite. The flavors were fabulous!
Herman says
So happy you loved them!