This sesame chicken noodle stir fry is a delightful blend of tender chicken, crisp vegetables, and soft rice noodles all coated in a savory and slightly spicy sauce. It's a quick, easy, and versatile dish that can be customized to your liking.
The core ingredients for this recipe are pretty standard for a stir fry. However, there are a few items like oyster sauce and rice wine vinegar that might not be staples in your pantry. These ingredients give the stir fry a distinct Asian flavor. You can find them in the Asian or international aisle of most supermarkets.
Sesame Chicken Noodle Stir Fry Ingredients
Rice noodles: These are thin, flat noodles made from rice flour and water. They are commonly used in Asian cuisine and can be soaked in warm water until they're soft, making them easy to stir fry.
Peanut oil: This oil has a high smoke point making it excellent for frying and stir-frying. It gives a nutty flavor to the dish.
Chicken breasts: These are lean and high in protein. They absorb the flavors of the sauce well.
Broccoli florets, carrots, red bell pepper, baby mushrooms, collard greens: These vegetables give the stir fry a variety of textures and flavors, as well as a burst of color.
Soy sauce: This adds a savory or umami flavor to the dish.
Oyster sauce: This sauce is thick, sweet, and salty and gives the dish a deep, savory flavor.
Toasted sesame oil: It's added at the end for a nice toasty flavor.
Ground ginger: This gives a warm and spicy flavor.
Chili garlic sauce: This is optional but adds a nice kick to the dish.
One reader, Hank Bostic says:
This sesame chicken noodle stir fry recipe is a game-changer! The flavors are incredible, and the dish is so easy to make. The combination of tender chicken, fresh veggies, and the savory sesame sauce is simply irresistible. It's now a regular in my dinner rotation. Highly recommend trying it out!
Essential Techniques for Sesame Chicken Noodle Stir Fry
How to cook the rice noodles: Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions, usually by boiling them in water for a few minutes until they are tender. Then, drain and set them aside.
How to sauté the chicken: Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and season it with salt and pepper. Cook the chicken, stirring and flipping occasionally, until it is just cooked through and no longer pink on the inside, which usually takes about 3 to 5 minutes.
How to prepare the stir fry sauce: Whisk together the low-sodium soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, oyster sauce, toasted sesame oil, ground ginger, and chili garlic sauce (optional) until well combined.
How to sauté the vegetables: After cooking the chicken, add the remaining oil to the sauté pan and increase the heat to high. Add the broccoli, carrots, bell pepper, and mushrooms, and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until they reach your desired level of softness.
How to combine the stir fry: Add the collard greens, stir fry sauce, cooked chicken, and cooked noodles to the pan. Toss everything together to combine and continue cooking for 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the greens have wilted slightly.
How to garnish and serve: Remove the stir fry from the heat and serve immediately, garnished with green onions or your desired toppings.
How To Make Sesame Chicken Noodle Stir Fry
Stir-fry noodles are common as street foods in Asia. They pack a lot of savory flavors that are distinct from one another. Try our noodle stir fry recipe.
Serves:
Ingredients
For the chicken noodle stir fry:
- 7ozrice noodles
- 3tbsppeanut oildivided
- 2pcschicken breasts,boneless, skinless, thinly-sliced
- salt and pepper
- 2 cupsbroccoli florets,chopped into bite-sized pieces
- ⅔cupcarrotsshredded
- 1pcred bell peppercored and thinly-sliced
- 8ozbaby mushrooms thinly sliced
- 1cupcollard greensroughly-chopped and ttough stems removed
- green onionsthinly sliced, to serve
For the Stir Fry Sauce:
- ¼cuplow-sodium soy sauce
- 2tbsprice wine vinegar
- 2tbspoyster sauce
- 2tsptoasted sesame oil
- ½tspteaspoon ground ginger
- 1-3tspchili garlic sauce (optional),to taste
Instructions
To make the chicken noodle stir fry:
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Cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
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In a large sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat.
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Add chicken and season evenly with a generous pinch of salt and pepper.
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Cook the chicken, stirring and flipping occasionally, for until it is just cooked through and no longer pink on the inside (about 3 to 5 minutes).
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Transfer chicken with a slotted spoon to a separate plate, and set aside.
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Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the saute pan, and increase heat to high.
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Add broccoli, carrots, bell pepper and mushrooms, and saute for 5 minutes, or until they reach your desired level of softness.
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Add in the collard greens, sauce, cooked chicken, noodles, and immediately toss to combine. Continue cooking for 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the greens have wilted a bit.
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Remove from heat and serve immediately, garnished with your desired toppings.
To make the stir fry sauce:
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Whisk all ingredients together until combined. Then whisk in as much chili garlic sauce as you’d like.
Nutrition
- Calories: 645.12kcal
- Fat: 19.69g
- Saturated Fat: 3.90g
- Trans Fat: 0.06g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 7.99g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 6.15g
- Carbohydrates: 77.38g
- Fiber: 8.36g
- Sugar: 9.61g
- Protein: 43.92g
- Cholesterol: 36.16mg
- Sodium: 9656.83mg
- Calcium: 206.34mg
- Potassium: 1978.90mg
- Iron: 6.24mg
- Vitamin A: 1208.65µg
- Vitamin C: 115.97mg
Crucial Technique Tip for Sesame Chicken Noodle Stir Fry
When stir frying, it's important to remember that the process is quick and requires constant attention. To ensure even cooking, cut all your vegetables and chicken into similar-sized pieces before you start. Also, have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go before you heat the oil. This includes the stir fry sauce. Mixing it ahead of time ensures that you can add it in quickly, avoiding overcooking the vegetables and meat.
Time-Saving Tips for Making Stir Fry Recipes
Prep ahead: Chop vegetables and marinate the chicken the night before to save time on the day of cooking.
One-pot cooking: Use a large sauté pan or wok to cook the entire dish in one go, minimizing clean-up time.
Organized workspace: Prepare all ingredients and have them ready to go before you start cooking to streamline the process.
Quick-cooking noodles: Use quick-cooking rice noodles to cut down on the overall cooking time.
High heat: Cook the ingredients on high heat to ensure they cook quickly and retain their crunchiness.
Substitute Ingredients For Sesame Chicken Noodle Stir Fry Recipe
Rice noodles - Substitute with soba noodles: Soba noodles are a great alternative with a nutty flavor and firm texture, adding a unique twist to the dish.
Peanut oil - Substitute with sesame oil: Sesame oil will add a rich, nutty flavor that complements the sesame chicken stir fry.
Chicken breasts - Substitute with tofu or tempeh: Tofu or tempeh can be used as a plant-based alternative to chicken, providing a similar protein-rich base for the stir fry.
Broccoli florets - Substitute with cauliflower florets: Cauliflower can be used as a substitute for broccoli, offering a similar texture and absorbing the flavors of the stir fry sauce.
Carrots - Substitute with bell peppers: Bell peppers can add a sweet and crunchy element to the stir fry, replacing the texture and color provided by carrots.
Red bell pepper - Substitute with yellow bell pepper: Yellow bell peppers can be used as a substitute, providing a slightly sweeter flavor and vibrant color to the dish.
Baby mushrooms - Substitute with shiitake mushrooms: Shiitake mushrooms offer a deeper, earthy flavor and meaty texture, enhancing the overall umami profile of the stir fry.
Collard greens - Substitute with bok choy: Bok choy can be used as a substitute, offering a mild, slightly bitter flavor and crisp texture that complements the stir fry.
Green onions - Substitute with chives: Chives can be used as a milder alternative, providing a delicate onion flavor and a pop of color to the dish.
Low-sodium soy sauce - Substitute with coconut aminos: Coconut aminos offer a slightly sweeter and milder flavor, making it a suitable alternative for those looking to reduce their sodium intake.
Rice wine vinegar - Substitute with apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar can be used as a substitute, providing a tangy and slightly fruity flavor to the stir fry sauce.
Oyster sauce - Substitute with hoisin sauce: Hoisin sauce can add a sweet and savory flavor, similar to oyster sauce, and is a suitable substitute for a vegetarian version of the dish.
Toasted sesame oil - Substitute with peanut oil: Peanut oil can be used as a substitute, offering a light nutty flavor that complements the stir fry.
Ground ginger - Substitute with fresh grated ginger: Fresh grated ginger provides a more intense and aromatic flavor compared to ground ginger, enhancing the overall taste of the dish.
Chili garlic sauce - Substitute with sriracha: Sriracha can be used as a substitute, adding a spicy kick and garlicky flavor to the stir fry sauce.
Best Way to Present Sesame Chicken Noodle Stir Fry
Elevate the plating: When presenting this dish, focus on creating an elegant and visually appealing arrangement. Use vibrant and colorful vegetables to add a pop of color to the plate. Consider incorporating edible flowers or microgreens to enhance the overall presentation.
Incorporate texture: Introduce a variety of textures to the dish to elevate the dining experience. Utilize crispy noodles or crunchy vegetables to provide contrast to the tender chicken and soft rice noodles.
Balance flavors: Ensure that the flavors are well-balanced and harmonious. Incorporate a combination of savory, sweet, and umami elements in the stir fry to create a multi-dimensional taste experience.
Highlight precision: Pay attention to the precision of the cuts and arrangement of ingredients. Uniformly sliced vegetables and evenly cooked chicken demonstrate attention to detail and culinary expertise.
Emphasize the sauce: Drizzle the stir fry sauce with precision, ensuring that it is evenly distributed throughout the dish. The sauce should complement the dish without overpowering the individual flavors of the ingredients.
Utilize negative space: Embrace the concept of negative space on the plate to allow the dish to breathe visually. Avoid overcrowding the plate and allow the components of the dish to shine individually.
Incorporate Asian-inspired elements: Consider incorporating traditional Asian serving ware or decorative elements to pay homage to the dish's cultural roots and add an authentic touch to the presentation.
Focus on cleanliness: Prioritize cleanliness and meticulousness in the plating process. Wipe any smudges or spills on the plate and ensure that the presentation is pristine before serving.
Add a finishing touch: Before presenting the dish, add a final touch such as a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds or a drizzle of additional sauce to enhance the overall visual appeal and flavor profile.
Essential Tools for Making Stir Fry Recipes
- Large sauté pan: A large, flat-bottomed pan with tall sides, used for sautéing, frying, and stir-frying ingredients.
- Slotted spoon: A spoon with slots or holes that allow liquids to drain away when serving solid foods.
- Whisk: A kitchen utensil used for whipping and mixing ingredients together, incorporating air into the mixture.
- Mixing bowl: A deep bowl used for mixing ingredients, often available in various sizes.
- Food processor: A kitchen appliance used for chopping, slicing, and pureeing food quickly and efficiently.
- Saucepan: A deep cooking pan with a long handle and a lid, used for making sauces, boiling liquids, or cooking small quantities of food.
- Chef's knife: A versatile, all-purpose kitchen knife with a broad blade, used for chopping, slicing, and dicing various ingredients.
- Cutting board: A durable board used for cutting and preparing food, available in various materials such as wood, plastic, or bamboo.
- Measuring cups and spoons: Tools used for accurately measuring and portioning ingredients in cooking and baking.
- Tongs: A kitchen tool with two arms and a pivot, used for gripping and lifting hot or delicate foods.
Storing and Freezing Sesame Chicken Noodle Stir Fry
- Let the sesame chicken noodle stir fry cool completely before storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep well for up to 3-4 days.
- If you want to freeze the leftovers, transfer the cooled stir fry to a freezer-safe container or resealable bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Label the container with the date and contents.
- When you're ready to enjoy the frozen stir fry, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat it in a skillet or wok over medium heat, stirring frequently, until it's heated through. You may need to add a splash of water or chicken broth to loosen up the sauce and prevent the noodles from sticking together.
- Keep in mind that the texture of the vegetables and noodles may change slightly after freezing and reheating, but the flavor will still be delicious.
- If you know you'll have leftovers, consider storing the noodles and stir fry separately. This will help prevent the noodles from absorbing too much moisture and becoming mushy. Reheat the noodles and stir fry separately, then combine them just before serving.
How To Reheat Stir Fry Leftovers
To reheat leftover sesame chicken noodle stir fry, start by placing the desired portion in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover the bowl with a damp paper towel to prevent the noodles from drying out during the reheating process. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the stir fry is heated through and steaming.
For a crispier texture, you can reheat the stir fry in a skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add a small amount of oil to the pan and stir-fry the leftovers for 2-3 minutes, or until the noodles and vegetables are heated through and slightly crispy. If the stir fry seems dry, you can add a splash of water or chicken broth to help moisten it.
If you have access to an air fryer, this can be an excellent way to reheat your sesame chicken noodle stir fry. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and place the leftovers in the basket. Cook for 3-5 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the stir fry is heated through and the edges are slightly crispy.
For a gentler reheating method, you can use the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and transfer the leftover stir fry to an oven-safe dish. Cover the dish with foil to prevent the noodles from drying out and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the stir fry is heated through. Remove the foil for the last 2-3 minutes of reheating to allow any excess moisture to evaporate and the edges to crisp up slightly.
Regardless of the reheating method you choose, be sure to check the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure it has reached a safe temperature of 165°F (74°C). If the stir fry seems dry after reheating, you can drizzle a small amount of sesame oil or soy sauce over the top to add moisture and enhance the flavors.
Interesting Fact About Sesame Chicken Noodle Stir Fry
The sesame chicken noodle stir fry is a popular dish in Chinese cuisine. It is a versatile recipe that allows for various vegetable and protein combinations, making it a great way to use up leftover ingredients. This dish is a delicious and healthy option for a quick and easy meal, and it can be customized to suit different tastes and dietary preferences. The combination of sesame oil, soy sauce, and oyster sauce in the stir fry sauce adds a rich and savory flavor to the dish, making it a favorite among many food enthusiasts.
Is Making Stir Fry at Home Cost-Effective?
This sesame chicken noodle stir fry recipe is quite cost-effective for a household. The ingredients, such as chicken breasts, rice noodles, and vegetables, are generally affordable and readily available. The dish offers a balance of protein, carbs, and veggies, making it a satisfying and budget-friendly meal. The approximate cost for a household of 4 people is around $20, making it an economical choice. Overall, I would rate this recipe an 8 for its affordability, nutritional value, and delicious flavors.
Is This Stir Fry Healthy or Unhealthy?
The sesame chicken noodle stir fry recipe is a relatively healthy dish, packed with nutrient-dense ingredients like broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, mushrooms, and collard greens. These vegetables provide essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The chicken breast is a lean protein source, which helps maintain and build muscle mass. The use of rice noodles instead of wheat-based noodles makes this recipe gluten-free, suitable for those with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease.
However, there are a few aspects of the recipe that could be improved to make it even healthier:
- Reduce the amount of oil used in cooking to lower the overall calorie and fat content
- Opt for low-sodium soy sauce and oyster sauce to decrease the dish's salt content
- Increase the proportion of vegetables to noodles and chicken for added fiber and nutrients
- Use whole grain rice noodles to boost the fiber content and provide a slower release of energy
To further enhance the nutritional value of this stir fry, consider adding more colorful vegetables like red cabbage, snap peas, or bok choy. These additions will not only provide a wider array of vitamins and minerals but also make the dish more visually appealing. Another option is to incorporate some healthy fats, such as chopped nuts or seeds, which can add a satisfying crunch while providing heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
Editor's Opinion on This Stir Fry Recipe
The sesame chicken noodle stir fry recipe is a delightful combination of flavors and textures. The use of rice noodles adds a wonderful chewiness, while the mix of vegetables provides a colorful and nutritious element. The stir fry sauce brings a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and tangy flavors, enhancing the overall dish. The cooking instructions are clear and easy to follow, making this recipe accessible for home cooks of all skill levels. Overall, this dish is a fantastic option for a quick and satisfying meal that is sure to impress.
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Why trust this Sesame Chicken Noodle Stir Fry Recipe:
This recipe offers a delightful fusion of flavors and textures, combining tender chicken with a colorful array of vegetables and savory rice noodles. The stir fry sauce infuses the dish with a harmonious blend of soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and toasted sesame oil, creating a delectable umami profile. The use of collard greens adds a nutritious touch, while the optional chili garlic sauce provides a customizable level of heat. Trust in the balance of ingredients and the expertise behind this recipe for a satisfying and flavorful dining experience.
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