Spicy Peanut Noodles with Chicken: Your Ultimate Easy & Flavorful Main Dish Salad
Indulge in a truly delightful and incredibly easy meal with these spicy peanut noodles with chicken. This flavor-packed main dish salad comes together effortlessly, using simple, readily available ingredients. Imagine tender noodles, an array of crisp, colorful vegetables, and succulent shredded chicken, all generously coated in a luscious, creamy, and perfectly spiced peanut sauce. It’s a harmonious blend of textures and tastes that transforms into a satisfying, one-dish meal in just 30 minutes – a guaranteed hit with your entire family. Whether you’re seeking a quick weeknight dinner or a vibrant meal prep option, this recipe promises to deliver both convenience and an explosion of savory, spicy, and slightly sweet flavors.
✩ What readers are saying…
“One of my all-time favs! (not just of yours – of all recipes!) I keep the dressing made up in a squeeze bottle and use it for salad dressing or dip for carrots. Tonight it made a super-quick dinner with leftover cooked chicken, chopped carrots and red peppers. All I had to cook was rice noodles. And it’s gluten-free! Delicious!” -Jennifer
Main dish salads are a true savior in my kitchen, especially during the warmer months. They offer a refreshing alternative to heavy, hot meals, making them perfect for those sweltering summer days. Beyond their cooling properties, these substantial salads are incredibly versatile; they allow you to effortlessly incorporate whatever fresh vegetables and protein sources you have on hand. This adaptability makes them ideal “pantry recipes,” minimizing food waste and maximizing convenience.
Among my collection of favorite one-bowl meals, this recipe for cold spicy peanut noodles with chicken and vibrant vegetables holds a special place. Its appeal lies not only in its sensational taste but also in its sheer practicality. You can prepare it in advance – perhaps in the cool morning hours – making dinner prep a breeze later in the day. It’s a complete meal in itself, delivering a balanced combination of satisfying carbohydrates, lean protein, and nutrient-rich veggies all in one delicious serving.
The culinary world abounds with various Asian-inspired noodle salad recipes, but this particular creation evolved from years of experimenting and combining elements from several beloved dishes. Our family has fallen completely in love with the dynamic trio of a creamy, spicy peanut dressing, tender pre-cooked chicken, and an assortment of crunchy, fresh vegetables. It’s a combination that hits all the right notes, creating a meal that feels indulgent yet light, especially on a balmy summer evening.
This dish embodies comfort and convenience, offering a burst of flavor that transports your taste buds. The slight kick from the spices, the rich nuttiness of the peanut butter, and the freshness of the vegetables create a captivating experience that will keep you coming back for more.
What Makes This a Perfect Pantry Recipe?
I often refer to recipes as “pantry recipes” when they rely heavily on ingredients you likely already have stocked. As I’ve outlined previously, for instance, with these delightful chickpea wraps, a true pantry recipe draws from three key areas of your kitchen:
- A well-organized, shelf-stable pantry (think dry goods, sauces, canned items).
- Your refrigerator (fresh produce, dairy, cooked meats).
- The freezer (frozen vegetables, pre-cooked proteins, meal starters).
Crafting quick and satisfying pantry recipes will ALWAYS be simpler and more enjoyable with a touch of forward thinking and planning. This means not only keeping your kitchen consistently stocked with essential staple foods but also embracing the practice of cooking certain components in advance and storing them wisely in your freezer or fridge. For example, having pre-cooked chicken on hand can cut dinner prep time in half. If you’re also skilled in preserving foods, your options expand even further, allowing for truly effortless and delicious meals at a moment’s notice.
Essential Pantry Ingredients for Your Noodle Salad
To whip up this delectable peanut noodle salad, you’ll need a selection of versatile ingredients from various corners of your kitchen. The beauty of this recipe lies in its flexibility, allowing you to use what you have while still achieving fantastic results:
- From your shelf-stable pantry: You’ll need your choice of noodles (linguine, udon, or rice noodles work wonderfully), creamy peanut butter, a bottle of your preferred vinegar (rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar are excellent), soy sauce (or tamari for a gluten-free option), a neutral cooking oil, a touch of honey for sweetness, and your favorite hot sauce to control the spice level. Don’t forget staples like onions, garlic, and a handful of peanuts for garnish.
- From your refrigerator: This is where the fresh crunch comes in! Think colorful vegetables such as shredded cabbage, finely grated carrots, and vibrant bell peppers (as showcased in our recipe photos). However, feel free to get creative with other seasonal veggies like thinly sliced celery, crisp snow peas, sweet corn kernels, or even cucumber. If you have fresh parsley or cilantro, they make an excellent aromatic garnish when serving.
- From your freezer: Pre-cooked chicken is the star here, offering a major shortcut. This could be chicken you’ve cooked specifically for meal prep, or simply leftovers from a previous meal. I frequently slow cook a whole chicken, enjoy part of it for dinner, then shred and freeze the remaining meat for future quick meals like this one. If you don’t have frozen cooked chicken, refrigerated cooked chicken works just as well.
Beyond being a delicious and straightforward recipe, this peanut noodle salad excels in its flexibility. It truly embraces the “use what you have” philosophy that defines a great pantry recipe. Don’t hesitate to substitute the chicken with other cooked proteins like shrimp, leftover pork, or even thinly sliced steak. The possibilities are endless, ensuring you can always create a satisfying meal.
Looking to make this dish vegetarian or vegan? It’s incredibly simple! You can easily omit the chicken entirely for a delightful vegetarian noodle salad, or replace it with firm tofu (pan-fried or baked for texture) or a can of drained and rinsed chickpeas or black beans for added protein and substance.
Mastering the Spicy Peanut Noodles Salad with Chicken
One of the many appealing aspects of a dish like this is its efficient preparation. While your chosen noodles are simmering to perfection, you can simultaneously chop all your vegetables, shred your cooked chicken, and whisk together the rich and spicy peanut dressing. This synchronized approach ensures that the entire meal comes together incredibly quickly, making it an ideal solution for busy weeknights. Even better if you have a helper in the kitchen to assist with the chopping!
Step 1: Prepare the Noodles and Dressing. Begin by bringing a pot of water to a boil and cooking your chosen noodles according to the package directions. While the noodles are cooking, prepare the star of the show: the creamy peanut dressing. Simply combine all the dressing ingredients in a bowl and whisk vigorously until thoroughly smooth and emulsified. For an extra velvety texture, or if your peanut butter is particularly thick, you can use a blender or a convenient hand-held immersion blender.
Step 2: Prepare the Chicken. Take your cooked chicken (either from the fridge or defrosted from the freezer) and cut it into bite-sized pieces or shred it, adding it to a large mixing bowl. If you don’t have pre-cooked chicken on hand, don’t fret! You can quickly pan-cook or grill chicken breasts or tenders while the noodles boil. This will only add a few extra minutes to your total preparation time, but the fresh protein is well worth it.
PRO TIP: Tailor the Spice to Your Liking! The amount of chili-garlic sauce (like Sriracha) or any other hot sauce in the dressing is entirely up to your preference. Feel free to add more for a bolder, spicier kick, or less for a milder flavor profile, ensuring it suits your family’s taste buds perfectly.
Step 3: Chop and Shred Vegetables. Now it’s time to add freshness and crunch. Prepare all your chosen vegetables by chopping, slicing, or shredding them into desired sizes. As you finish prepping each vegetable, add them directly to the large mixing bowl with the cooked chicken. This helps consolidate ingredients and makes the final mixing step more efficient.
Step 4: Cool the Noodles. Once your noodles are perfectly cooked and drained, it’s crucial to rinse them thoroughly under cold running water. This step serves two important purposes: it halts the cooking process, preventing the noodles from becoming mushy, and it cools them down significantly, ensuring they blend beautifully with the crisp, fresh vegetables in your salad without wilting them.
Craving warm peanut noodles instead? Absolutely! For a comforting variation, skip rinsing the noodles with cold water. Instead, slightly warm your cooked chicken (if it’s cold), and then combine all the ingredients while the noodles are still warm. Serve this delicious, cozy version at a comfortable room temperature for a delightful change.
Step 5: Combine and Serve. Finally, add the cooled, drained noodles to the large bowl containing your colorful veggies and prepared chicken. Pour the exquisite peanut dressing generously over all the ingredients. Using a large spoon or a pair of tongs, mix everything together thoroughly until every noodle strand, every piece of chicken, and every vegetable is beautifully coated in the creamy sauce. Garnish with a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley or cilantro if desired, and either serve it directly from the mixing bowl or transfer it to an elegant platter for a more appealing presentation.
This salad can be enjoyed immediately for instant gratification, or it can be refrigerated for up to a day (or sometimes even longer, depending on the type of noodles used). Simply give it another good stir before serving to redistribute the flavors. And voilà! You have a super easy, incredibly satisfying summer meal that’s perfect for both lunches and dinners. While most noodles hold up well, some types can become a bit gummy when stored for too long, but rest assured, the salad remains delicious as leftovers!
JAMI’S BIGGEST TIP: Smart Meal Planning! Recipes like this vividly illustrate one of the immense benefits of strategic menu planning. A simple trick: when you plan a grilled or baked chicken meal for dinner the night before, consciously cook extra chicken. This leftover, perfectly cooked chicken can then be effortlessly transformed into this amazing noodle salad the very next day, saving you valuable time and effort.
Refreshing, remarkably easy to prepare, inherently healthy, and ready in a mere 20-30 minutes – it’s easy to see why this spicy peanut noodle salad has become one of our cherished standard summer meals! Its vibrant flavors and straightforward preparation make it a true winner for any busy household seeking both nutrition and deliciousness without compromise.
QUICK TIP: Utilizing Peanut Oil! The recipe card below suggests skimming natural peanut oil from the top of your peanut butter jar for use in recipes like this. This simple trick not only adds an extra layer of nutty flavor but also helps in achieving the perfect consistency for your dressing. Discover how and why to save your peanut oil effectively, transforming a simple ingredient into a multi-purpose kitchen asset.
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Spicy Peanut Noodles with Chicken – Easy Main Dish Salad Pantry Recipe
Equipment
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6-quart pot
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Strainer
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Whisk, blender, or hand-held immersion blender
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Large mixing bowl
Ingredients
- ½ to ¾ pound linguine, udon or rice noodles* (choose your favorite type for this delicious salad)
- 3 cups chopped cooked chicken** (approximately 4 thighs or 2 breasts, or substitute with cooked shrimp, pork, or beef; see note for vegetarian alternative)
- 1½ cups grated carrots (from about 2 large carrots, adds sweetness and crunch)
- 1 medium sweet onion, cut in half and sliced thinly (for a mild, aromatic bite)
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin matchstick-sized pieces (for color and crispness)
- 1-2 cups other assorted vegetables: shredded cabbage, thinly sliced celery, crunchy snow peas, fresh corn kernels, or any other seasonal veggie you enjoy.
For the Creamy Peanut Dressing:
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter (opt for natural peanut butter with just peanuts and salt for best flavor)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (or Tamari for a gluten-free option)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar for a tangy kick)
- 2 tablespoons chili-garlic sauce (such as Sriracha), adjust to taste for your desired level of spiciness (or use any other hot sauce you prefer)
- 1 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup for a vegan option and subtle sweetness)
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated (for an aromatic, zesty punch)
- 1 clove garlic, minced (adds depth of flavor)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil or peanut oil, especially delicious if skimmed from the top of natural peanut butter for extra nutty flavor.
For Serving (Optional Garnishes):
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley or cilantro (adds a fresh, herbaceous note)
- 1/3 cup chopped peanuts (for extra crunch and nutty flavor)
Instructions
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Begin by cooking your chosen noodles according to the specific package directions until they reach al dente perfection. Once cooked, thoroughly drain the noodles. Immediately rinse them well with cold water; this crucial step stops the cooking process and cools the noodles, preventing them from becoming sticky and ensuring they integrate beautifully with the fresh, crisp salad ingredients.
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While the noodles are cooking, efficiently prepare your delicious dressing and all the vibrant vegetables:
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For the Dressing: In a glass measuring cup or a small bowl, combine the creamy peanut butter, savory soy sauce, tangy vinegar, zesty Sriracha (or your preferred hot sauce), sweet honey, aromatic grated ginger, minced garlic, and the olive or peanut oil. Whisk all these ingredients vigorously until the mixture is perfectly smooth and creamy. For an ultra-smooth consistency, consider using a food processor, a regular blender, or a convenient hand-held immersion blender.
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Proceed to chop all your chosen vegetables and, if necessary, cut or shred your cooked chicken. As you prepare each ingredient, add them directly to a large mixing bowl, building your salad base efficiently.
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Add the cooled, drained, and rinsed noodles to the large bowl with the colorful vegetables and chicken. Pour the prepared peanut dressing generously over all the ingredients. Using a large spoon or a pair of tongs, mix everything together thoroughly until all components are evenly coated in the rich, creamy sauce.
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Serve your delightful peanut noodle salad immediately, topped with optional chopped peanuts and fresh parsley or cilantro for an extra burst of flavor and texture. Alternatively, you can refrigerate the salad for up to a day (or even longer, depending on the type of noodle used) for convenient future meals. Just ensure you give it another good stir before serving after refrigeration.
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This recipe yields approximately 8 satisfying servings.
Notes
**No cooked chicken on hand? No problem! You can quickly pan-cook or grill fresh chicken breasts or tenders. This will only add a few extra minutes to the recipe preparation, making it still a very quick meal.
Craving warm peanut noodles instead? For a cozy and comforting variation, simply skip rinsing the noodles with cold water after cooking. Warm the chicken slightly if it’s cold, then mix all the ingredients together while the noodles are still warm. Serve this delightful version at room temperature.
Prefer a vegetarian or vegan option? This recipe is incredibly versatile! You can easily omit the chicken entirely for a fantastic meatless noodle salad. For added protein and substance, replace the chicken with firm tofu (baked or pan-fried until golden) or a can of drained and rinsed beans (such as chickpeas or black beans).
Nutrition
More Refreshing Main Dish Salads To Explore
If you love the concept of a hearty, flavor-packed main dish salad, you’ll be delighted by these other fantastic options from our collection. Perfect for light meals, meal prep, or simply enjoying a burst of fresh flavors:
- Sesame Cabbage Salad with Grilled Chicken (A 30-Minute Main Dish)
- Easy Thai Grilled Beef Salad Recipe (Bold flavors, simple preparation)
- Greek Tuna And Tomato Salad Recipe (Mediterranean-inspired freshness)
- Classic Chef’s Salad (A timeless, satisfying salad packed with protein)
Please Note: This cherished recipe was originally published in 2011 and has been thoughtfully updated and refined in both 2016 and 2025 to ensure the best possible experience and flavor for our readers.