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Better Than Takeout Dan Dan Noodles. For those nights when you’re craving spicy, warming, Chinese inspired noodles, but don’t want to wait for takeout. Crispy caramelized ground chicken in a sweet, spicy, and tangy mushroom sauce atop egg noodles in steaming, spicy broth. These quick vegetable-filled Chinese inspired noodles can be made and ready in just about 30 minutes. Not only are they a touch healthier, but these noodles taste so much better than your average takeout!
Tuesday night just got better with these yummy takeout noodles. Yep, switching things up again this week and swapping out my usual sweet recipes for something a bit more savory. Not typical of me, but I was way too excited to share these Dan Dan inspired noodles with you guys.
First things first. I want to put it out there that I’m very well aware that these noodles are not authentic Chinese. I do know this, and I don’t mean to offend anyone by sharing this recipe. This recipe is just my take on Chinese style Dan Dan noodles. My easier, much, much simpler, “short cut” take. These noodles are saucy, spicy, so very warming, and beyond delicious.
Quick and easy enough for a weeknight, but fun enough for a Saturday night Halloween movie marathon.
Some background.
If you’re not familiar with Dan Dan noodles, they are spicy Chinese noodles with a dark sauce that usually contains preserved vegetables, chili oil, minced pork (I’m using chicken), and green onions. From everything I’ve read, the meat is caramelized and made crispy, then served over noodles. You can serve the noodles either dry or in a spicy broth…
I went for the spicy broth, because it’s been snowing here and it’s cold. So spicy broth wins. Always.
Here are all the details on making these noodles.
As I said, these are not authentic Dan Dan noodles. I took some short-cuts to make the noodles weeknight-friendly, but still delicious.
Start with the chili. You can buy this of course, but I’ve yet to find a great chili oil I love. Plus it’s so easy to make. Simply simmer sesame oil with garlic and red pepper flakes until the garlic is fragrant. This takes only five minutes. Simple.
While that’s happening, make the sauce. It’s s a simple mix of hoisin sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and peanut butter or tahini. Hoisin is not traditional, but it adds so much flavor without having to add a million and one ingredients to the sauce.
Side Note: I’ve yet to find a great hoisin sauce that doesn’t contain tons of sugar…so I began making my own. If this interests you, the quick sauce mix-up is in the recipe notes!
Next, boil the egg noodles. You can really use any kind of noodle, but a good egg noodle is probably best. If you are gluten-free, use your favorite rice noodles. Those will be great too!
Drain the noodles, then add the broth and some of the sauce mix to that same pot. This is your “spicy broth” to mix the noodles with. Keep this on low while you brown the chicken.
The final step is to brown the chicken in a skillet with the remaining sauce and mushrooms. Finely chop the mushrooms, as they add not only a vegetable, but also flavor. You don’t even realize they’re there, but they add SO MUCH. Trust me.
Once the sauce coats the chicken, let the chicken get a little crisp in the skillet and begin to caramelize around the edges.
To assemble, ladle the spicy broth into bowls, add the noodles, and toss with the broth. Then top with that crispy caramelized meat, spoon over additional chili sauce, and add fresh green onions.
Find a spoon, find chopsticks. ENJOY.
A couple notes…
Be sure to serve the noodles as soon as you toss them with the broth. The broth is minimal and really thickens up once you toss it with the noodles.
If you want to make these noodles vegetarian, just double the mushrooms. I haven’t tested that, but I’m sure it would be so delicious.
And that is it…simple, quick, and easy. The ultimate cold-weather Chinese style noodles. Not really a soup, more like extra saucy noodles. AND SO GOOD!
If you make these better than takeout Dan Dan noodles, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Better Than Takeout Dan Dan Noodles.
Servings: 6 6
Calories Per Serving: 550 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced or smashed
- 1-2 tablespoons crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce (make sure to use GF, if needed)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter or tahini
- 8 ounces Chinese style egg noodles, or rice noodles
- 2 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 1/2 pound ground chicken or pork
- 2 cups mixed mushrooms, chopped
- black pepper
- 1 medium shallot, chopped
- 4 green onions, chopped
Instructions
- 1. To make the chili oil. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the 1/3 cup sesame oil, the garlic, and chili flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally until the garlic is fragrant, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and very carefully transfer the oil to a heat proof bowl or glass jar. 2. Meanwhile, combine the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, vinegar, peanut butter/tahini, and 1/3 cup water in a bowl. 3. Cook the egg/rice noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside. To the pot used to cook the noodles, add the broth and 1/2 of the soy sauce mixture. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stir in the spinach. Keep warm. 4. Place the skillet used to make the chili oil, over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil and the chicken. Season with black pepper and brown all over, breaking it up as it cooks, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and shallot, and cook another 2-3 minutes. Slowly pour in 1/2 of the soy sauce mixture. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until the sauce coats the chicken and the meat begins to caramelize and get crispy, about 5 minutes. Stir in 2-4 tablespoons chili oil. Remove from the heat. 5. Ladle the broth into bowls. Add the noodles and toss combine. Spoon the meat over the noodles. Top with green onions and additional chili oil. Enjoy!
Notes
Homemade Hoisin: in a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon molasses, 1 teaspoon Chinese 5 spice powder, and a pinch of black pepper.
This post was originally published on October 22, 2019
Looks delicious! One thing I would add though is Chinese peppercorn to the chili oil. Chinese peppercorn adds a wonderful, slightly numbing sensation, and is one of my favorite things about Dan Dan noodles. It almost makes your mouth buzz as you are eating the noodles! It sounds odd but trust me, it is addictive.
Thank you so much Vanessa! xTieghan
So I just slurped down a bowl of these delicious noodles, and I thought it would only be right that I right this post before I get the next bowl! You should know that my local Chinese grocer did give you props for staying true to the flavor profiles, while making it accessible for the everyday cook. Once again, another home run! Thanks for all your hard work to make recipes for us!! Xoxoxo
I am so glad you loved this Aliyah!! Thank you so much! xTieghan
I made this recipe tonight as we are having a cold spell in Denver and I wanted something warm and cozy. I’m mostly vegetarian these days so I substituted beyond meat for the ground chicken and it was delicious! I love how the beyond stuff really soaks up the sauce, even better than chicken in my opinion. I’ll be putting this recipe on my regular rotation! Love the better than takeout series!
Thank you Barb! I am so glad you loved this recipe and hope you are staying warm!! xTieghan
Made this tonight, it was delicious! Thank you!
Thank you for trying this Shelly! xTieghan
Definitely “better than takeout”! Recipe was light and flavorful and didn’t leave the fam with the heavy feeling we usually have post Chinese takeout. Loved the carmelization on the ground chicken that your recipe calls for.
That is so amazing! Thank you so much Jessica! xTieghan
So yummy! Just made for dinner and can’t wait for leftovers tomorrow 🙂
That is so amazingg!! I am so glad you loved this recipe, Anna! Hope the leftovers are just as great haha! xTieghan
My husband loves dan dan noodles but can’t have mushrooms (which kills me because I love love love mushrooms). Is there a substitute for the mushrooms you could recommend? I can’t wait to try this! Thank you!
HI Stacey!! I would recommend using a favorite vegetable you both love. Maybe finely chopped broccoli or cauliflower? I think either would be nice with this sauce. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan ??
I’ve never posted regarding a recipe…..This was absolutely delicious! It’s so nice to have recipes that aren’t full of processed yuck. I just recently discovered your site. So glad I did. It’s going to get cold here in Maine and this dish will warm us right up.
I am so glad you loved this recipe, Jessie! Also, thank you for commenting, it means so much to me!! I hope you continue to love my recipes! xTieghan
Pretty darn good!! Next time I will use bok choy instead of spinach.
Love that! Thank you so much Ann! xTieghan
I made this for dinner last night and it turned out great! I added crushed cashews as a garnish. Makes me not want to order Chinese take out ever again since this was easy and much healthier! Thank you so much!
That is so amazing!! I am so glad this turned out so well for you Melisa! Thank you! xTieghan
Absolutely delicious. My new favorite recipe!
YAY! I love to hear that! Thank you Nikki! xTieghan
We made this last night and it was delicious, thank you! We substituted broccoli for the spinach, and used leftover beef from an Instant Pot dish in place of the chicken. It was fantastic and we look forward to making it again, thank you!
Thank you Liz! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I made this tonight, so yummy! Thanks for the recipe:)
Thank you for trying it Jaclyn! xTieghan
All right Tieghan… I have to admit, I was skeptical of your homemade hoisin. I mean, balsamic and molasses and peanut butter and soy sauce in the same bowl? But I figured you’re YOU, and I’m not a big fan of supermarket hoisin sauce anyway, so what have I got to lose?
It. Is. AMAZING.
My brain says it should NOT work, but somehow it does! I added just a drizzle of toasted sesame oil for a little smokiness, but oh my gosh! So good!
I took a sick day for a migraine today, so I’m doing this recipe in stages, with lots of breaks in between. After a migraine, I’m always craving carbs and spice, so I can’t wait to make the rest of this dish! Total comfort food!
Haha I am so glad you trusted the recipe and did it!! Thank you for trying this, Kate! I hope you feel better as well, migraines are the worst! xTieghan
Hi! I made this last night and it was really tasty and easy to make. I used just 1 tsp of crushed red pepper but was still a little to spicy for Sweet P. Next time just a touch of red pepper!
I think I’ll make the mushroom soup next as I have some mushroom left over from this recipe.
Thanks for all the great tasting food you’ve helped me make!
Hi D’Ann! I am so glad you have been loving my recipes! That makes me so happy! xTieghan