Spicy Peanut Chicken Noodles

These 30-minute spicy peanut noodles with chicken are a quick and easy meal that is high in protein and full of flavor. Enjoy them as a healthy lunch or dinner and enjoy leftovers for days to come.

Ingredients

12 ounces rice noodles

2 teaspoons sesame oil

1 pound ground chicken

2 green onions, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 cup shredded carrots

1/4 cup natural peanut butter

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons chili paste

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1/4 cup peanuts, roughly chopped, to serve (optional)

Instructions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add the rice noodles and cook them as per package instructions until tender.

In a small bowl, add the peanut butter, soy sauce, water, chili paste, honey, and rice vinegar and whisk until well combined, then set aside. (Optional: For a creamier sauce, you can add the mixture to a small food processor or blender and purée until smooth.)

In a large skillet, warm the sesame oil on medium-high heat, add the ground chicken, and cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon or spatula, until partially cooked through.

Add the sliced green onion (white parts only), minced garlic, sliced bell pepper, and shredded carrots to the pan and cook for and additional 2-3 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender. 

When the rice noodles are cooked, strain them, transfer them to the pan with the chicken, and turn down the heat to low.

Pour the peanut butter mixture over the noodles, and gently toss the noodles until well combined with the cooked chicken, vegetables, and spicy peanut sauce. (Depending on the thickness of your peanut butter, you may need to add a couple more tablespoons of water to help the sauce coat the noodles.)

Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional soy sauce and/or chili paste as desired.

The noodles can be served immediately with a sprinkle of chopped peanuts and remaining green onions. Any leftovers can be cooled and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.