Drunken Noodles

Spicy Thai Drunken Noodles—A Delicious Homemade Favorite

If you love flavorful Asian-inspired meals with a little heat, these Spicy Thai Drunken Noodles are sure to become a favorite! This delicious dish features wide rice noodles tossed in a savory, slightly sweet sauce with tender chicken, colorful vegetables, garlic, red chilies, and fragrant fresh basil. Every bite is packed with flavor, making this a wonderful meal for lunch or dinner.

Drunken Noodles, also known as Pad Kee Mao, are a popular Thai stir-fry dish. Despite their name, they don't traditionally require alcohol. They're known for their bold flavors, spicy kick, and satisfying combination of chewy noodles and fresh ingredients. The best part is that you can easily make them right in your own kitchen!

Recipe Details

• Prep Time: 15 minutes

• Cook Time: 15 minutes

• Total Time: 30 minutes

• Servings: 4

• Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

For the Noodles

• 12 ounces wide rice noodles

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 1–3 Thai red chilies, thinly sliced

• 1 small onion, sliced

• 1 red bell pepper, sliced

• 1 cup broccoli florets

• 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves

• 2 green onions, sliced

For the Drunken Noodle Sauce

• 3 tablespoons oyster sauce

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon fish sauce

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons water

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Rice Noodles

Cook the wide rice noodles according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. Be careful not to overcook them because they will cook a little more when tossed with the sauce.

Step 2: Make the Sauce

In a small bowl, whisk together the oyster sauce, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, and water. Stir until combined, then set aside.

Step 3: Cook the Chicken

Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the sliced chicken and cook for approximately 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fully cooked.

Step 4: Add the Vegetables

Stir in the garlic, red chilies, onion, red bell pepper, and broccoli. Cook for 3–4 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften while still maintaining a little crunch.

Step 5: Toss in the Noodles

Add the cooked rice noodles to the skillet and pour the prepared sauce over everything. Toss gently to coat the noodles, chicken, and vegetables evenly. Continue cooking for another 2–3 minutes until everything is heated through and the sauce clings to the noodles.

Step 6: Add the Fresh Basil

Stir in the fresh Thai basil and sliced green onions. Cook for another minute, allowing the basil to wilt and release its wonderful aroma.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

Remove from the heat and serve immediately. Add extra sliced chilies or fresh basil on top if desired. These noodles are delicious served piping hot!

What Do Drunken Noodles Taste Like?

Drunken Noodles have a wonderful combination of savory, sweet, spicy, and aromatic flavors. The wide rice noodles are soft and pleasantly chewy, while the chicken adds a tender, hearty texture. The vegetables provide a little crunch, and the fresh basil brings a fragrant, slightly peppery flavor to the dish.

The sauce is what brings everything together. Oyster sauce and soy sauce provide a deep savory flavor, fish sauce adds a distinctive salty richness, and brown sugar balances the heat. The chilies give the dish its signature spicy kick.

You can easily adjust the spice level by adding more or fewer chilies, making this recipe suitable for different tastes.

What Pairs Well with Drunken Noodles?

These noodles are satisfying on their own, but there are plenty of delicious sides you can serve alongside them.

• Thai Spring Rolls: Crispy rolls with vegetables make a wonderful starter.

• Cucumber Salad: Cool, refreshing cucumbers provide a nice contrast to the spicy noodles.

• Chicken Satay: Grilled chicken with peanut sauce adds another layer of flavor.

• Steamed Dumplings: These make a delicious addition to an Asian-inspired dinner.

• Thai Iced Tea: Its creamy sweetness is a lovely complement to the heat of the dish.

Tips for Making the Best Drunken Noodles

Use wide rice noodles. Their chewy texture makes this dish especially delicious and helps the sauce coat every bite.

Cook over high heat. A hot skillet or wok helps the ingredients stir-fry quickly and develop a delicious restaurant-style flavor.

Don't overcrowd the pan. If your skillet is small, cook the chicken in batches to help it brown properly.

Adjust the heat to your liking. Start with one chili for a milder dish or add more if you love spicy food.

Try different proteins. Shrimp, beef, pork, or tofu can be substituted for the chicken. You can also add mushrooms, carrots, or snap peas for additional vegetables.

Make it vegetarian. Use vegetarian oyster sauce, replace the fish sauce with a suitable vegetarian alternative, and use tofu instead of chicken.

A Delicious Dinner Worth Making Again

These Spicy Thai Drunken Noodles are a fantastic way to bring the flavors of Thai cooking into your home. Between the chewy rice noodles, tender chicken, crisp vegetables, fragrant basil, and bold sauce, there's so much to love about this dish.

I love recipes that combine simple ingredients to create a meal that tastes like something you'd order at your favorite restaurant. This recipe is easy to customize, comes together in about 30 minutes, and makes a wonderful dinner when you're craving something flavorful with a little spice.

Serve a big bowl of these delicious noodles, grab your chopsticks or a fork, and enjoy every bite!

Happy cooking from my kitchen to yours!