Sweet & Spicy Hot Chili Chicken Noodles with Basil Recipe
These Sweet & Spicy Hot Chili Chicken Noodles are a flavorful and satisfying dish featuring ground chicken cooked in a sweet and spicy chili sauce, tossed with tender ramen noodles, and finished with fresh basil and crunchy roasted nuts. Perfectly balanced with savory, sweet, and spicy notes, this dish is a protein-packed alternative to takeout that’s easy to prepare at home.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil (or avocado oil)
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
- 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil
- 3 tablespoons hot chili paste
- 3 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 cups water
- 10 ounces ramen noodles (spaghetti, fettuccine or rice noodles will also work)
For Serving
- Fresh chopped basil (preferably basil ribbons)
- Chopped roasted cashews or peanuts (honey roasted recommended)
- Extra red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Heat Oil and Brown Chicken: Add sesame oil to a large pot and place over medium-high heat. Add ground chicken, season generously with salt and pepper, and cook for about 5 minutes, breaking up the meat into medium-sized chunks, until it is browned and golden underneath.
- Add Aromatics and Sugar: Stir in freshly grated ginger, thinly sliced garlic, and coconut sugar to the browned chicken. Continue cooking for 4-5 minutes more, breaking the chicken into smaller pieces as it cooks until it is nearly fully cooked.
- Incorporate Sauces and Simmer: Mix in tomato paste, chopped fresh basil, and hot chili paste. Cook this mixture for 30 seconds to 1 minute, then add soy sauce, rice vinegar, and water. Bring the sauce to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Cook Noodles: While the sauce simmers, cook the ramen noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the noodles once done.
- Combine Noodles and Sauce: Add the drained noodles back to the pot containing the meat sauce and stir thoroughly to coat the noodles evenly with the flavorful sauce.
- Serve and Garnish: Divide the noodles into bowls and top generously with fresh basil ribbons, chopped roasted cashews or peanuts, and extra red pepper flakes for an added kick of heat. Serve immediately.
Notes
- To keep the dish nut-free, simply omit the chopped nuts.
- Vegetarian/Vegan option: substitute ground chicken with crumbled tofu, cubed tofu, or chickpeas; crumbled tofu works best for texture.
- Gluten-Free option: use gluten-free noodles or stir-fry rice noodles as a substitute for ramen noodles.
- Storage: Store leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Reheat in a microwave-safe dish.
