Sesame Chicken Noodle Bowl (Print Version)

Tender chicken and crisp vegetables tossed with noodles in a sweet-savory sesame sauce with brown sugar, soy, and ginger.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein

01 - 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, thinly sliced

→ Noodles

02 - 9 ounces dried udon, soba, or rice noodles

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
04 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
05 - 3.5 ounces sugar snap peas, trimmed
06 - 2 spring onions, sliced

→ Sauce

07 - 4 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
08 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
09 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
10 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
11 - 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated
12 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
13 - 1 teaspoon cornstarch, optional

→ Garnish

14 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
15 - Fresh coriander or cilantro, chopped
16 - Lime wedges, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch if using. Set aside.
03 - Heat a large nonstick skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add a splash of oil. Add the sliced chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
04 - In the same pan, add a little more oil if needed. Stir-fry bell pepper, carrot, and snap peas for 2 to 3 minutes until just tender but still crisp.
05 - Return the chicken to the pan. Pour in the sauce and toss everything to coat. Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
06 - Add the cooked noodles and spring onions. Toss well to combine and heat through.
07 - Divide among bowls. Garnish with sesame seeds, fresh coriander, and lime wedges if desired.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It comes together faster than takeout, but tastes like you actually tried.
  • The sauce is perfectly balanced—sweet, savory, and just a whisper of tang that makes every bite interesting.
  • You can prep everything while water boils, so there's minimal juggling and maximum flavor.
  • It's forgiving enough for beginners but impressive enough to serve to people you want to impress.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cold water rinse on your noodles—it stops the cooking and prevents them from clumping into an unusable mass.
  • The sauce will look thin at first, but if you added cornstarch, it'll thicken as it simmers; if it doesn't, your cornstarch wasn't mixed properly or your heat wasn't high enough.
  • Slice the chicken as thin as you can manage—thinner pieces cook faster and more evenly, which means they stay tender.
  • Toasted sesame oil is stronger than you expect; a little goes a long way, so resist the urge to double it.
03 -
  • If your sauce breaks or separates during cooking, it usually means the heat was too high or you simmered it too long; whisk in a splash of water off the heat and it'll come back together.
  • Prep all your ingredients before you start cooking—this is fast enough that there's no time to catch up if you're behind, and mise en place turns cooking from stressful into enjoyable.
  • Buy pre-sliced chicken if time is the constraint; it's not cheating, it's being realistic about your Tuesday evening.
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