Sesame Noodles with Chicken (30-min Dinner Recipe) - Foolproof Living (2024)

Even better, this sesame chicken noodles dish only uses pantry ingredients to prepare, which is also why it ranks high amongst my favorite Asian recipes, including Sesame Chicken Salad, Thai Lemongrass Chicken, and Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry.

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Why Should You Try This Recipe?

Few Asian recipes are as flavorful, simple, or versatile as chicken with sesame noodles. You won’t believe how much there is to love about this mouthwatering meal.

• Not only does this classic Asian comfort food come together in less than 30 minutes, but it also tastes better than takeout from your favorite Thai or Chinese restaurants.
• There are countless ways to customize sesame noodles with chicken and asparagus using whatever ingredients you have on hand. No more last-minute runs to the grocery store!
• You can serve sesame chicken with noodles warm or cold, making it the ultimate meal plan-friendly dinner recipe.

Ingredients You’ll Need

To make this sesame noodles recipe, you’ll need three sets of ingredients:

1. Chicken, asparagus, and noodles: Gather sesame oil, ground chicken, asparagus, black and white sesame seeds, and ramen noodles (seasonings discarded).

2. Peanut butter sauce: For the spicy peanut chicken noodles’ sauce, you’ll need unsweetened creamy peanut butter, minced garlic, grated ginger, soy sauce (low sodium soy sauce can also be used), rice vinegar, coconut sugar, and fresh lime juice. You may also add Sriracha or sambal oelek chili paste for an extra spicy and strong flavor.

3. Garnishes: To garnish your Asian noodle bowls, you may use sesame seeds, chopped scallions, chopped peanuts, and fresh cilantro (optional).

How to Make

This 30-minute recipe for sesame noodles and chicken comes together in a snap for beginner and expert chefs alike. Preparing authentic Asian recipes has never been so easy.

1. Sauté the chicken: Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Then, add the ground chicken to the hot oil, using a wooden spoon to break any large pieces, and cook until no longer pink (7-8 minutes).
2. Cook the asparagus: Add the chopped asparagus to the pan, stirring occasionally. Cook the vegetables until they are crisp-tender (4-5 minutes).
3. Toast the sesame seeds: Place a small, empty skillet over medium heat and add the sesame seeds. Toast, frequently stirring, for 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown. Be sure not to leave the seeds unattended, as they can burn quickly.
4. Cook noodles: While the sesame seeds toast, fill a medium saucepan with water and a tablespoon of salt. Bring the mixture to a boil. Then, add the ramen noodles (without the seasonings!) and cook according to the package directions. I boiled mine for 2 minutes. Once cooked, drain noodles while saving ¼ cup of the pasta water.

5. Make the peanut sauce: While the chicken cooks, combine the unsweetened creamy peanut butter, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar, coconut sugar (or brown sugar), lime juice, and—if desired—Sriracha. Whisk together in a measuring cup until thoroughly mixed.
6. Assemble: Just before serving, add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the chicken and asparagus. Then, drizzle the hot sesame noodles with the peanut butter sauce and add the chopped green onions. Use kitchen tongs to toss the ingredients until the sauce evenly coats the noodles. If it gets too sticky, drizzle it with the reserved cooking water as you toss.
7. Garnish: Divide the warm sesame peanut noodles with chicken into bowls and garnish with chopped peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, and—if desired—cilantro and wedges of lime.

What to Serve with Sesame Noodles

Spicy chicken noodles make an excellent pair with dozens of savory sides. So go ahead and try some of the vegetable dishes below to turn your Asian noodles into a healthy meal:

• Roasted Shiitake Mushrooms
• Baked Portobello Mushrooms
• Crispy Baked Eggplant
• Air Fryer Green Beans
• Any of my Quinoa Salads

How to Make Ahead, Meal Prep, and Store Leftovers

Sesame chicken meal prep is what every chef-on-the-go needs. Quick and storage-friendly, this sesame noodle bowl recipe will transform your meal plans.

• Make ahead: To make ground chicken stir fry noodles ahead of time, begin by making the peanut butter sauce first, and then prepare the garnishes. Finally, cook the chicken and asparagus. When ready to eat, cook the noodles, assemble your sesame noodle bowls, and serve.
• Meal prep: For quick meal prep, prepare your peanut sauce, chicken and asparagus, and noodles, and store them in an airtight container with the sauce reserved on the side. Then, cut up your garnishes and store them in a separate container. Just before serving, give your noodle sauce a good shake, drizzle the sesame noodles with the sauce and if preferred, warm the spicy chicken peanut noodles and top it with the prepared garnishes.
• Storage: To store, wait until your spicy noodles with chicken reach room temperature. Then, place your leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat the dish in the microwave or on the stovetop when ready to eat. If you use the stovetop method, you may want to add a splash of water, chicken broth, or vegetable broth to the skillet to keep the noodles tender.

Expert Tips

Anyone can whip up spicy sesame noodles with chicken and peanuts using these pro tips. Hassle-free and delicious to boot, healthy noodle bowls are a great meal for any chef to make.

• Multitasking: Performing multiple steps at once is the key to making this Asian noodle bowl recipe as seamlessly—and quickly!—as possible. I suggest preparing your peanut sauce while sautéeing your spicy sesame chicken. It also helps to boil your ramen noodles while toasting your sesame seeds.
• Toast the sesame seeds: Though it may seem unnecessary, taking the time to toast your sesame seeds is a game-changer when it comes to taste. Give your seeds a nice crunch and unlock all their delicious, nutty flavors with this one simple step.

What kind of sauce noodles go well with sesame chicken?

In my opinion, peanut butter sauce adds incomparable flavor (and extra protein!) to sesame chicken. However, curry sauce can also add great flavor to this sweet-and-spicy dish.

Can I freeze sesame noodles?

I don’t recommend freezing chicken Asian noodle recipes, as the extreme cold will ruin the texture of your noodles.

Sesame Noodles with Chicken Recipe

Yields: 4 servings

Sesame noodles with chicken and asparagus for a healthy weeknight chicken recipe. Drizzled with a velvety peanut butter sauce, this Asian noodles dish is guaranteed to become a favorite in your weekly menu.

Nutrition

Calories: 506kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 1503mg | Potassium: 978mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 226IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 146mg | Iron: 4mg