The Ultimate Thai Drunken Noodles Recipe: Spicy & Simple Magic

Thai drunken noodles represent a culinary adventure that ignites your taste buds with explosive flavor combinations.

Incredibly popular street food, these noodles showcase the vibrant essence of Thai cuisine through their complex seasoning profile.

Wide rice noodles redefine into a canvas for bold spices and aromatic herbs that dance across your palate.

Each bite promises a harmonious blend of sweet, salty, and fiery elements that challenge traditional comfort food expectations.

Professional chefs and home cooks alike appreciate the quick preparation and dramatic presentation of this remarkable dish.

Subtle heat from chili peppers intertwines with fresh basil and rich proteins to create a memorable dining experience.

Prepare yourself for a meal that will revolutionize your understanding of comfort cooking.

Thai Drunken Noodles: A Flavorful Stir-Fry

• Savor Bold Flavor Bursts: Packed with intense Thai-inspired taste, this drunken noodle dish delivers a powerful punch of garlic, chili, and fresh basil that'll wake up your taste buds in seconds.
• Master Quick Weeknight Magic: This recipe transforms from ingredients to delicious meal in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy home cooks who want restaurant-quality food without complicated techniques.
• Nutrition-Packed Comfort Meal: With a balanced nutritional profile featuring 25g protein, minimal trans fats, and a hearty mix of vegetables, these noodles offer a wholesome dinner that satisfies hunger and supports healthy eating goals.
• Customize Your Culinary Adventure: Easily adaptable with options to swap chicken for tofu, adjust spice levels, or add different vegetables, this recipe invites personal creativity while maintaining its authentic Thai street food spirit.

Key Ingredients for Thai Drunken Noodles

• Chicken: Lean protein that adds substance and flavor to the dish, choose boneless and skinless for easy preparation.

• Wide Rice Noodles: Key component of drunken noodles, provides authentic Thai texture and absorbs sauce beautifully.

• Soy Sauce, Oyster Sauce: Adds depth and umami flavor, look for high-quality brands with rich, complex taste.
• Fish Sauce: Provides traditional Thai seasoning, select a clear, not murky sauce for best flavor.
• Sugar: Balances the salty and spicy elements, helps create a harmonious sauce.

• Garlic, Chili: Creates a spicy base for the dish, fresh chili gives more vibrant heat than dried.
• Thai Basil: Signature herb that gives authentic Thai flavor, has a distinct peppery and anise-like taste.

• Carrots, Broccoli: Adds color, nutrition, and texture to the dish, fresh and crisp vegetables work best.

• Vegetable Oil: Helps with sautéing and prevents sticking, neutral flavor doesnt overpower other ingredients.

How to Make Thai Drunken Noodles at Home

Step 1: Prepare The Flavorful Sauce

Whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and water in a small bowl. Set aside to let the flavors mingle and develop.

Step 2: Create Aromatic Chili Paste

• Garlic cloves
• Fresh red chilies

Grind into a fragrant, rough paste that will infuse the dish with intense flavor.

Step 3: Cook The Protein

Heat oil in a large wok or skillet over high heat. Add chicken pieces and stir-fry until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and set aside.

Step 4: Build The Base

• Sliced carrots
• Sliced bell peppers

Cook for 2-3 minutes until vegetables start to soften.

Step 5: Combine And Finish The Dish

• Cooked chicken
• Fresh Thai basil leaves
• Broccoli florets

Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until noodles are glossy and ingredients are well combined. Serve hot and enjoy the explosive flavors of Thai street food!

Tips for Perfect Thai Drunken Noodles

• Master Spice Balancing: Adjust chili and garlic ratios to match your heat tolerance, ensuring a personalized flavor profile without overwhelming the dish.
• Noodle Prep Perfection: Soak rice noodles just until they're pliable, preventing mushiness and maintaining an ideal al dente texture.
• High-Heat Wok Technique
• Fresh Herb Magic: Add Thai basil leaves at the very end of cooking to preserve their vibrant flavor and aromatic qualities.
• Protein Swap Flexibility: Easily substitute chicken with tofu, shrimp, or beef to suit dietary preferences without compromising the dish's core taste.

Storing and Reheating Thai Drunken Noodles

• Refrigerator Storage: Transfer leftover drunken noodles into an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Seal tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, keeping the flavors intact and preventing bacterial growth.
• Freezer Method: Carefully pack cooled noodles in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, removing excess air to prevent freezer burn. Frozen drunken noodles will maintain their quality for 1-2 months when properly sealed.
• Reheating Technique: Warm refrigerated noodles in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water or extra sauce to restore moisture and prevent sticking. Microwave as a quick alternative, stirring halfway through heating to distribute warmth evenly, ensuring the chicken remains tender and the noodles don't dry out.

Pairing Thai Drunken Noodles with Proteins

• Elevate with Crisp White Wine: A chilled sauvignon blanc cuts through the spicy, bold flavors of drunken noodles, balancing the heat with its bright, citrusy notes and refreshing acidity.
• Complement with Asian Beer: A cold Singha or Chang beer from Thailand provides the perfect counterpoint, its light, crisp profile cooling down the dish's fiery chili paste and complementing the savory chicken.
• Pair with Cucumber Salad: A simple side of fresh cucumber slices dressed with rice vinegar and a touch of sugar offers a cool, crisp contrast to the rich, spicy noodles, cleansing the palate between bites.
• Match with Jasmine Rice: A small portion of steamed jasmine rice can help absorb the sauce's intense flavors, providing a neutral backdrop that lets the drunken noodles shine while adding a comforting texture to the meal.

Fun Variations of Thai Drunken Noodles

• Seafood Sizzle: Swap chicken for succulent shrimp or mixed seafood, creating a fresh ocean-inspired version with a zesty maritime flavor.
• Vegetarian Harmony: Replace chicken with tofu or tempeh, adding extra vegetables like bell peppers and mushrooms for a plant-based protein-packed meal.
• Spicy Fusion: Increase chili paste amount and incorporate additional hot peppers like bird's eye chili for heat enthusiasts seeking an intense flavor profile.
• Regional Remix: Use different protein options like beef or pork, adjusting cooking time to match meat tenderness while maintaining the classic Thai noodle essence.

Thai Drunken Noodles Recipe

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4.5 from 40 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Spicy Thai Drunken Noodles dance with bold flavors from Bangkok’s street kitchens. Sizzling rice noodles, tender proteins, and aromatic herbs combine for a quick, irresistible meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 19 ounces (540 grams) fresh rice noodles
• 3 boneless skinless chicken thighs, thinly sliced
• 2 cups Chinese broccoli (Gai-Lan), chopped into 2-inch pieces, stalk ends trimmed
• 1 cup Holy basil (or substitute with Thai basil or Italian Basil)

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• ½ cup carrots, julienned
• 6 cloves garlic
• 2 large red chili peppers, chopped

Stir Fry Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon regular soy sauce
• 1.5 tablespoons oyster sauce (or vegetarian stir fry sauce)
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar (or rice vinegar)
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 2.5 teaspoons white granulated sugar (or brown sugar, palm sugar, cane sugar)

Cooking Oil:

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or any neutral oil

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Instructions

1. Prepare the tangy sauce by whisking together all liquid and seasoning components, then set aside at room temperature to allow flavors to meld.
2. Create a fragrant base by finely mincing fresh garlic cloves and red chili peppers into a uniform, intense paste using a mortar and pestle or food processor.
3. Heat a large wok or skillet over high heat, then quickly sear chicken pieces until golden brown and cooked through, approximately 3-4 minutes per side. Remove protein and let rest on a clean plate.
4. In the same hot wok, sauté the chili-garlic paste for 30-45 seconds to release aromatic oils, then add julienned carrots and cook until slightly softened but still crisp.
5. Add fresh rice noodles to the wok, gently tossing them with the vegetable mixture and prepared sauce, ensuring each strand is evenly coated and heated through.
6. Incorporate tender broccoli florets, cooked chicken pieces, and fresh Thai basil leaves, stirring rapidly to combine and distribute ingredients uniformly.
7. Serve immediately while piping hot, garnishing with additional fresh basil and optional red chili flakes for extra heat.

Notes

• Elevates home cooking with authentic Thai street food flavors in under 30 minutes.
• Guarantees restaurant-quality taste through strategic ingredient layering and quick high-heat cooking.
• Transforms basic ingredients into a vibrant, spicy dish by balancing sweet, salty, and umami profiles.
• Allows flexible protein substitutions like tofu, shrimp, or beef without compromising original recipe integrity.
• Creates a customizable meal that welcomes personal heat level adjustments through chili paste variations.

• Prep Time: 23 minutes
• Cook Time: 7 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Stir-Frying
• Cuisine: Thai

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 600 kcal
• Sugar: 7g
• Sodium: 1200mg
• Fat: 30g
• Saturated Fat: 4g
• Unsaturated Fat: 24g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 70g
• Fiber: 5g
• Protein: 25g
• Cholesterol: 90mg