Description
Dan Dan Noodles with Chili Oil and Chicken is an exciting, easy solution for a quick and satisfying homemade meal. This recipe combines fragrant chili oil and savory chicken with noodles, delivering rich, complex flavors with simple steps.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken, lean
- 12 oz fresh wheat noodles or dried ramen (try linguine or spaghetti)
- 4 Tbsp chili oil, high-quality (adjust to taste)
- 3 Tbsp creamy peanut butter (use tahini or almond butter for allergy-friendly versions)
- 3 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce (gluten-free tamari works for gluten-free)
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1-inch piece (1 Tbsp grated) fresh ginger
Instructions
- Prep Ingredients: Mince 4 cloves of garlic and grate the 1-inch piece of ginger. Measure out all sauces to streamline cooking.
- Brown Chicken: In a 10-inch skillet, cook 1 lb (450g) ground chicken over medium-high heat until it is completely browned and no longer pink. Drain any excess fat.
- Build Sauce: In a large bowl, whisk together 4 Tbsp (60ml) chili oil, 3 Tbsp (45g) creamy peanut butter, 3 Tbsp (45ml) low-sodium soy sauce, 2 Tbsp (30ml) rice vinegar, minced garlic, and grated ginger until velvety smooth.
- Cook Noodles: Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Cook 12 oz (340g) noodles according to package directions until al dente (tender with a slight bite). Drain them well.
- Assemble and Serve: Divide the sauce among individual serving bowls. Add the hot cooked noodles, then top generously with the browned chicken. Toss gently so the sauce evenly coats the Dan Dan Noodles before enjoying.
Notes
Do not overcook noodles; they should have a slight bite for best texture. If the sauce seems too thick after adding noodles, splash in 1-2 Tbsp of reserved noodle cooking water to loosen it slightly. Taste the sauce and adjust chili oil to your preferred spice level. For less spice or for kids, use less chili oil or substitute sesame oil. Add fresh spinach or shredded carrots to the chicken while it cooks for extra vegetables.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 21 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 650 calories
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 75 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
Keywords: easy dinner, Dan Dan noodles, chili oil, chicken, weeknight meal, quick meal, spicy, Asian, homemade