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Easy Thai Peanut Chicken and Noodles Recipe

Easy Thai Peanut Chicken and Noodles

Tender chicken, vegetables, and noodles are tossed in a creamy, tangy Thai-style peanut sauce for a fast and satisfying 4-serving dinner.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients
  

Chicken and Noodles
  • 1 pound Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, thinly sliced
  • 8 ounces Dried rice noodles, linguine, or thin spaghetti
  • 1 tablespoon Neutral cooking oil
  • 1 pepper Red bell pepper, thinly sliced
Toppings
  • 2 green onions Green onions, sliced
  • 1/4 cup Chopped roasted peanuts
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh cilantro, chopped
Peanut Sauce
  • 1/2 cup Creamy peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup Low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons Rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Honey or brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Toasted sesame oil
  • 1-2 tablespoons Sriracha or chili-garlic sauce
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Fresh ginger, grated
  • 1/3-1/2 cup Warm water or reserved noodle water
Serving
  • As needed Lime wedges

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Rice noodles may need soaking or only a few minutes of boiling, so avoid cooking them past tender. Drain, rinse briefly with cool water, and reserve about 1/2 cup noodle water.
  2. Whisk the peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, rice vinegar, honey or brown sugar, sesame oil, sriracha, garlic, and ginger in a bowl. Add warm water or reserved noodle water gradually until the sauce is smooth and pourable.
  3. Heat the neutral oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for approximately 4–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and the thickest pieces reach 165°F (74°C).
  4. Add the sliced red bell pepper to the skillet. Cook for 2–3 minutes, just until it softens slightly while retaining some crispness.
  5. Add the cooked noodles and peanut sauce to the chicken and pepper. Toss for 1–2 minutes, adding more warm water if the sauce becomes too thick or clings heavily to the noodles.
  6. Serve immediately with sliced green onions, chopped roasted peanuts, optional cilantro, and lime wedges. Squeeze fresh lime over each portion just before eating.

Notes

Reserve noodle water because its starch helps loosen and emulsify the peanut sauce. Do not overcook rice noodles; slightly undercooked noodles finish in the hot skillet. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container and reheat gently with a splash of water.