How Many Calories Are in a CPK Chicken Lettuce Wrap?

California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) has become known for its creative twists on familiar dishes. One of their most popular appetizers is the lettuce wrap – a fresh, lighter alternative to heavier fried appetizers. But how many calories are actually in a CPK chicken lettuce wrap? Let’s take a closer look.

What is a CPK Chicken Lettuce Wrap?

A CPK chicken lettuce wrap consists of chopped chicken, mushrooms, water chestnuts, and scallions served in a lettuce leaf. The chicken is sauteed with garlic, ginger, and soy sauce for plenty of flavor. Instead of heavy fried wonton wrappers, the filling gets tucked into a crisp lettuce leaf. This transforms the lettuce wrap into a lighter handheld appetizer.

You can get CPK’s lettuce wraps as an appetizer. You can get them with chicken, shrimp, or tofu. Each order has three chicken lettuce wraps. CPK suggests dipping them in their spicy Dynamite sauce.

Nutritional Profile of a CPK Chicken Lettuce Wrap

According to the CPK nutrition information a single CPK chicken lettuce wrap contains the following

• Calories: 610
• Total fat: 34g
• Saturated fat: 5g
• Cholesterol: 150mg
• Sodium: 1300mg
• Total carbs: 40g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 33g

The lettuce wrap has a lot of calories—610 to be exact. Also, it has more than half of the daily value for total fat. The lettuce wrap does, however, have a lot of protein. The fiber helps add volume and satisfaction too.

Is 610 calories for an appetizer a lot? Let’s see how it stacks up against some other popular appetizers that you can share.

How CPK Lettuce Wraps Compare to Other Appetizers

Here is how the CPK chicken lettuce wrap’s 610 calories size up against some other appetizers for comparison:

• CPK Lettuce Wrap (1 wrap): 610 calories
• Chili’s Southwestern Eggrolls (1 eggroll): 470 calories
• Applebee’s Boneless Wings (6 wings): 680-1,020 calories
• TGI Fridays Loaded Potato Skins (4 skins): 950 calories
• Outback Aussie Cheese Fries (side): 1,900 calories

The CPK lettuce wrap is about in the middle of the pack when it comes to calories. It has fewer calories than heavy appetizers like loaded fries or potato skins, but more calories than lighter options like a single eggroll.

Overall, 610 calories is fairly average for a single appetizer. However, appetizers are meant to be shared. So if you eat a full order of 3 lettuce wraps, you’d consume 1,830 calories. That’s quite high for a starter.

Tips for Making Your Lettuce Wrap Healthier

If you want to lighten up your CPK chicken lettuce wrap, there are a few easy ways:

• Share the whole order. Split a full order of 3 wraps with the whole table. This controls portions.

• Use just half the wrap. A single wrap has about 200 calories. Eating half would trim calories to 100.

• Skip the sauce. The Dynamite sauce adds about 50 calories and fat per tablespoon.

• Ask for dressing on the side. Then use sparingly to limit added calories.

• Fill up on veggies. Order a side salad without heavy dressing or toppings.

Making just a couple tweaks helps reduce the calorie count, while still letting you enjoy the flavors.

The Verdict on CPK Chicken Lettuce Wraps

A single CPK chicken lettuce wrap contains a fairly substantial 610 calories. This makes it more of a meal-sized appetizer versus a light snack. While the wraps aren’t exactly diet food, they do provide a solid serving of protein. Plus, the lettuce swap makes them feel lighter than fried appetizers.

Overall, CPK’s lettuce wraps make a tasty shareable starter. Just be mindful of portions if you want to keep your total calorie count in check. Splitting a full order with friends or eating half a wrap are easy ways to keep your lettuce wraps on the healthier side.

Yes, chicken lettuce wraps are generally considered a healthy meal option.