If you love Asian-inspired flavors like this, you should try my Thai Peanut Sauce Noodles, Bulgogi Korean Beef Tacos, Japanese Chicken Curry, or Easy Chicken Fried Rice too!
Pad Kee Mao Recipe
Drunken Noodles, also known as Pad Kee Mao, is a popular Thai dish that’s all about bold flavors and contrasting textures. Ready in just 35 minutes, these spicy Thai noodles are perfect for busy nights, but with such a unique flavor, they’re a great option for dinner parties too! Ever since our trip to Thailand and Cambodia with our kids, I’ve been obsessed with recreating the meals we enjoyed so much. I took a couple of Thai cooking classes while I was there, which by no means makes me an expert, but I learned a lot and try my best to keep things as close to authentic as I can using the ingredients I have available to me. Cooking Thai cuisine is an aromatic experience. With so many fragrant spices and sauces, it’s like having a vacation right in my kitchen! For more delicious Southeast Asian-inspired recipes, try my Thai Sticky Mango Rice, Grilled Thai Pork Tenderloin with Coconut Lime Peanut Sauce, Pad Kra Pao (Ground Pork Stir Fry), or Thai Grilled Chicken.
Why We Love This Recipe
Use your favorite protein for this recipe; try shrimp, chicken, beef, or tofu! Easily customize the spice level to suit your preferences. Quick and easy to make, this dish comes together in just 35 minutes!
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Noodles – I’ve used flat, wide, dry rice noodles (aka Pad Thai Noodles) for this recipe, but other noodles would work well too. You could even get away with fettuccine noodles. Oil – Use sesame oil to keep the noodles from sticking together, and some neutral-flavored cooking oil like canola or vegetable oil for Sauces – Soy sauce, oyster sauce, and fish sauce provide an amazingly rich umami flavor base for the marinade and sauce. Brown Sugar – Adds sweetness to the sauce to balance the salty flavors. In Thailand they would probably use palm sugar, which is slightly less sweet, but the balance is a key component of Thai cuisine. Bell Pepper – I love using red bell pepper in this recipe for added color and sweetness, but you can use green bell pepper if you prefer. Ginger – Ground ginger adds an elevated spiced flavor. Chicken – I’ve used chicken breasts here, but you can use other kinds of chicken or other meats if you prefer, but the cook time will vary. Fresh Garlic – Use freshly pressed garlic for the best savory flavor. Thai Bird’s Eye Chili – Thai bird’s eye chili is the star of the show here in terms of spicy flavors! You should be able to find it in most regular grocery stores in the produce section or at Asian grocery stores. Vegetables – Baby corn and snow peas are my favorite veggies to add here, apart from the bell pepper. They add a crunch and a bit of sweetness to the dish. Green Onion – Use fresh green onions to add a vibrant taste to the Fresh Basil – Thai holy basil is best for this recipe, but you can use Thai basil or whatever basil is available at the store (usually Italian sweet basil) if you can’t find holy basil. This is one ingredient I usually need to go to the Asian market for as it isn’t often available at my local Safeway. Garnish – Try some freshly chopped green onions, and sliced regular basil on top for an extra burst of flavor.
How to Make This Drunken Noodles Recipe
Tips for Success
Use low-sodium sauces if you can find them to help you control the salt content of your dish. You can always add more salt to it if you need it! Use fresh ingredients whenever possible. This will ensure that your dish tastes the best it can be. Top your finished dish with fresh herbs, such as Thai basil or cilantro, to add brightness and freshness to the dish.
Substitutions and Variations
Change the meat. Try shrimp, crispy beef, tofu, or even a combination of these instead of chicken breast if you prefer. I think this would be amazing with either thinly sliced beef, or pieces of steak cut into 1/2-inch to 1-inch chunks. Add other vegetables. Sliced onions, Chinese broccoli, bell peppers, sugar snap peas, celery, broccoli, or spinach work well here too! Use other noodles. I haven’t tried this recipe with fresh wide rice noodles, so the cook time may vary if you do this. You can try other kinds of noodles if you like; just follow the package directions to know how to cook them!
More Asian-Inspired Recipes You’ll Love
Beef with Broccoli Easy Chicken & Vegetable Stir-Fry Miso Salmon The BEST Orange Chicken Asian Slaw with Ginger Peanut Dressing Asian Lettuce Wraps Thai Shrimp Rice Noodle Salad
Try my Homemade Egg Rolls, Vegetable Tempura, Stir Fried Baby Bok Choy, or this Asian Slaw with Peanut Dressing! You’ll also love my Mango Sticky Rice for dessert!
Korean Beef Tacos (Bulgogi)
Honey Walnut Shrimp
Mongolian Beef
Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
