20 Minute Crispy Garlic Chicken Noodles are the kind of fast, flavor-packed dinner that can rescue a busy weeknight. Tender chicken gets crispy and golden in a skillet, then joins wide rice noodles, colorful peppers, garlic, ginger, and a sweet-savory chili sauce. Fresh basil and sesame seeds finish the dish with plenty of freshness and texture.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
There’s a lot happening in this simple noodle bowl: crispy chicken, chewy rice noodles, crunchy-tender vegetables, aromatic garlic, and a glossy sauce that balances savory, sweet, tangy, and mildly spicy flavors.
Better yet, everything comes together quickly in one skillet after the noodles are cooked. The heat level is easy to adjust, making these garlic chicken noodles a practical family dinner. Using halal-certified chicken and checking the prepared sauces also keeps the recipe halal-friendly.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces wide rice noodles
- 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
- 1/4 cup sweet Thai chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sushi ginger, chopped
- Chili flakes, to taste
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, sliced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour or cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 shallot, sliced
- 2 bell peppers, thinly sliced
- 4 scallions, chopped
- 1 cup Thai basil or regular basil, chopped
- Sesame seeds, for serving
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Cook the wide rice noodles according to the package directions. Drain well and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup tamari or soy sauce, sweet Thai chili sauce, toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, chopped ginger, chili flakes, and 1/4 cup water. Set the sauce aside.
- Place the sliced chicken in a large skillet and toss with the flour or cornstarch until lightly coated.
- Add 2 tablespoons of butter and place the skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for about 5 minutes, turning as needed, until golden, crispy, and cooked through to 165°F (74°C).
- Add the remaining tablespoon of butter, 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce, and chopped garlic. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
- Add the shallot, bell peppers, and scallions to the same skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
- Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet. Add the cooked noodles and crispy chicken.
- Toss the 20 Minute Crispy Garlic Chicken Noodles until everything is evenly coated. Cook for another 3–5 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly and clings to the noodles.
- Stir in half of the chopped basil and remove the skillet from the heat.
- Serve immediately with the remaining fresh basil and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
Tips & Tricks
Cornstarch is an excellent choice for getting an especially light and crispy coating on the chicken. Keep the chicken pieces similar in size so they cook evenly.
Avoid overcrowding your skillet. If necessary, cook the chicken in two batches so it sears rather than steams.
Rice noodles can become overly soft quickly, so cook them only until tender according to the package instructions. If they finish before everything else is ready, rinse briefly as directed by the package to prevent sticking.
For less heat, omit the chili flakes and choose a mild sweet chili sauce. For extra spice, increase the chili flakes.
Chicken thighs tend to stay particularly juicy, while chicken breasts offer a leaner alternative. Either works well for these crispy chicken noodles.
If gluten-free preparation is important, use cornstarch instead of flour and choose certified gluten-free tamari and other sauces.
Details
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10–15 minutes
Total Time: Approximately 20–25 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop, Stir-Fry
Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Difficulty: Easy
Dietary Notes: Halal-friendly; can be made gluten-free with appropriate ingredient choices
Notes
Feel free to swap the bell peppers for broccoli, snap peas, carrots, mushrooms, or whatever quick-cooking vegetables you have available.
Thai basil gives the dish a particularly aromatic flavor, but regular fresh basil is a convenient substitute.
Serve these Asian chicken noodles as a complete meal or pair them with cucumber salad, steamed vegetables, or a light Asian-inspired slaw.
For halal-friendly preparation, use halal-certified chicken and check the labels of soy sauce, tamari, sweet chili sauce, rice vinegar, and sushi ginger to ensure they contain no alcohol or other unsuitable additives.
Nutrition
Approximate nutrition per serving:
Calories: 610
Protein: 32g
Carbohydrates: 65g
Fat: 25g
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary according to specific ingredients and serving sizes.
FAQ
How do you make crispy garlic chicken noodles?
Lightly coat sliced chicken with flour or cornstarch and cook it in butter until golden and crisp. Add garlic and soy sauce, then combine the chicken with cooked rice noodles, vegetables, and a sweet-savory sauce.
Can I use chicken breast instead of chicken thighs?
Yes. Both work well in this quick chicken noodle recipe. Chicken thighs tend to remain juicier, while chicken breasts are leaner. Slice either option into evenly sized pieces for quick cooking.
Can I make these chicken noodles gluten-free?
Yes. Use wide rice noodles, cornstarch instead of flour, and certified gluten-free tamari. Check the sweet chili sauce and other packaged ingredients for gluten as well.
What vegetables go well with garlic chicken noodles?
Bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, snap peas, mushrooms, bok choy, and zucchini are all good choices. Use vegetables that cook relatively quickly so the recipe remains an easy weeknight meal.
Are crispy garlic chicken noodles spicy?
They can be mild to moderately spicy depending on your sweet chili sauce and how many chili flakes you add. Leave out the additional chili flakes for a more family-friendly version.
Can I make the sauce ahead of time?
Yes. Whisk the sauce ingredients together and refrigerate them in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Stir well before adding the sauce to the skillet.
Storage
Transfer leftover noodles to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
The noodles are best eaten fresh because the chicken gradually loses its crisp exterior as it sits in the sauce. For meal prep, you can store the cooked chicken separately and combine everything when reheating.
Freezing isn’t ideal because cooked rice noodles can change texture after thawing.
Reheat leftovers in a skillet over medium-low heat with a small splash of water. Toss gently until everything is hot and the sauce becomes glossy again. You can also microwave individual portions until thoroughly heated.
Similar Recipes
Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Noodles
Ingredients
- 20 Minute Crispy Garlic Chicken Noodles are a quick skillet dinner.
- Crispy chicken and rice noodles are tossed with peppers and garlic sauce.
- Finish with fresh basil and sesame seeds for an easy flavorful meal.
Instructions
- Cook the wide rice noodles according to the package directions. Drain well and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup tamari or soy sauce, sweet Thai chili sauce, toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, chopped ginger, chili flakes, and 1/4 cup water. Set the sauce aside.
- Place the sliced chicken in a large skillet and toss with the flour or cornstarch until lightly coated.
- Add 2 tablespoons of butter and place the skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for about 5 minutes, turning as needed, until golden, crispy, and cooked through to 165°F (74°C).
- Add the remaining tablespoon of butter, 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce, and chopped garlic. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
- Add the shallot, bell peppers, and scallions to the same skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
- Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet. Add the cooked noodles and crispy chicken.
- Toss the 20 Minute Crispy Garlic Chicken Noodles until everything is evenly coated. Cook for another 3–5 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly and clings to the noodles.
- Stir in half of the chopped basil and remove the skillet from the heat.
- Serve immediately with the remaining fresh basil and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
Notes
Conclusion
These 20 Minute Crispy Garlic Chicken Noodles pack crispy chicken, tender rice noodles, colorful vegetables, garlic, basil, and a glossy sweet chili sauce into one satisfying meal.
The simple skillet method makes this an especially useful easy weeknight chicken dinner when you want something fast without sacrificing flavor. Adjust the vegetables and spice level to suit your family, then serve the noodles hot with plenty of basil and sesame seeds.