Drunken Noodles

5 from 2

Thai Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao) feature wide rice noodles coated in a savory, spicy sauce and tossed with bits of chicken and zucchini. Ready in under 30 minutes, these spicy Thai noodles make an ultra flavorful, easy weeknight dinner!

Prep Time15

Cook Time10

Total Time25

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: drunken noodles, drunken noodles recipe, thai drunken noodles

Servings: servings

Ingredients

8 ounces wide rice noodles
3 tablespoons oyster sauce
2 tablespoons water
2 teaspoon fish sauce
2 teaspoons dark soy sauce
2 teaspoons light soy sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound chicken breasts , cut into small 1/2-inch pieces
4 cloves garlic , minced
1 Thai chili or jalapeno , minced
1 medium zucchini , diced
10 Thai basil leaves , chopped
3 scallions , sliced

Instructions

Cook the rice noodles according to the packaging, drain and set them aside.
Whisk together the oyster sauce, water, fish sauce, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, and sugar in a small mixing bowl, and set it aside.
Add the vegetable oil to a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the chicken to the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Add the garlic, chilis, and zucchini to the pan and cook, stirring, for 3-4 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and zucchini is fork tender.
Add the noodles and sauce to the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes more until the noodles are heated through. Stir in the basil and serve with a sprinkle of scallions over the top.

Notes

Adjust the heat. While traditional Thai drunken noodles are very spicy, you can control the spice level at home by adjusting the amount of chilis added. Add more or less as desired.

Try a different protein. Tofu, shrimp, and pork can all be used instead of chicken and you can feel free to add other veggies as well. Just note that the cooking time may vary for different meats.

What makes Thai drunken noodles drunken? There's no alcohol in this dish, so what makes the noodles "drunken"? It's said to be because they're so spicy, you'll need to drink a beer with them.

Nutrition