When you are craving the rich, deeply savory, and highly addictive flavors of your favorite local Asian takeout but absolutely do not want to wait for delivery or pay massive restaurant prices, these Easy Sticky Garlic Chicken Noodles are the ultimate weeknight savior. This magnificent dish combines incredibly tender, pan seared chicken bites and slippery, comforting noodles, all tossed in a glossy, sweet, and highly pungent sticky garlic sauce that will completely blow your mind.
Finding a lightning fast, protein packed dinner that instantly gets the entire family running to the table can sometimes be a massive challenge. If your family loves bold, slurp worthy noodle dishes, this sweet and savory masterpiece will quickly become a permanent staple in your regular meal rotation.
Whether you need a heavy hitting, crowd pleasing dinner to feed a hungry group of teenagers after a long day, or simply want a highly comforting meal to enjoy on a cozy Friday night, these Sticky Garlic Chicken Noodles deliver absolute perfection in under twenty minutes.
Why This Noodle Recipe Works So Well
The true brilliance of this mouthwatering dish lies in the magnificent contrast of bold textures and its incredibly fast cooking time. By lightly coating the diced chicken in cornstarch before searing it in a hot skillet, you create a beautiful, crispy golden crust that perfectly absorbs the glossy sauce. Then, you introduce the star of the show: an easy, homemade sauce that perfectly balances the salty bite of soy sauce, the sweet molasses depth of brown sugar, and a massive punch of fresh minced garlic.
If you absolutely love meals that bring together sweet and savory profiles in one single, flavor packed pan, like the highly popular Teriyaki Pineapple Chicken and Rice Stuffed Peppers, you will completely fall in love with the robust, umami rich notes of these noodles. It delivers that same deeply satisfying, comfort food feeling as a baked Million Dollar Ravioli Casserole, but with a vibrant, Asian inspired twist.
Furthermore, this recipe is highly versatile. You can easily clear out your vegetable crisper by tossing in steamed broccoli florets, snap peas, or shredded carrots. When tied together by the thick, sticky garlic sauce, all of these simple ingredients harmonize to create a beautifully balanced, restaurant quality bite every single time!
Essential Ingredients
You only need a handful of very simple pantry staples and fresh chicken to pull this magnificent, slurp worthy dinner together.
For the Crispy Chicken:
-
Chicken: One pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, cut into small, bite sized pieces. Chicken thighs will yield a slightly juicier, more forgiving bite!
-
Cornstarch: Tossing the raw chicken in cornstarch gives it a beautiful, highly essential crispy edge when pan fried.
-
Olive Oil or Sesame Oil: For searing the chicken to golden brown perfection.
For the Sticky Garlic Sauce:
-
Soy Sauce: Half a cup of low sodium soy sauce forms the savory, umami base of the glaze.
-
Fresh Garlic: Five to six cloves of freshly minced garlic. Do not skimp on this; it is the star flavor of the dish!
-
Brown Sugar & Honey: A combination of brown sugar and honey provides that critical sticky sweetness to balance the salty soy sauce.
-
Rice Vinegar: A splash of acidity to brighten the entire flavor profile.
-
Sriracha: Just a teaspoon (or more if you love heat!) to add a very subtle, warming background spice.
For the Noodles and Garnish:
-
Noodles: About 8 to 10 ounces of your favorite noodles. You can use standard linguine, udon noodles, or even discard the seasoning packets from cheap instant ramen blocks!
-
Green Onions: Freshly chopped green onions for a bright, crisp finish.
-
Sesame Seeds: Toasted sesame seeds for a highly satisfying, nutty crunch.
Sticky Garlic Chicken Noodles
Ingredients
- 8 oz noodles ramen, udon, or linguine
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, diced
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or sesame oil
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 5 fresh garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse briefly with warm water, and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and sriracha until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Place the diced chicken in a medium bowl and sprinkle with cornstarch. Toss until the chicken is evenly coated.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook undisturbed for 4 to 5 minutes until a golden crust forms.
- Flip and continue cooking the chicken for another 3 to 4 minutes until fully cooked through and browned on all sides.
- Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
- Add the cooked noodles to the skillet and toss well until the noodles and chicken are completely coated in the sticky garlic sauce.
- Remove from heat and garnish with chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds before serving immediately.
Notes
Step by Step Instructions
-
Cook the Noodles: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook your chosen noodles according to the package directions until they are al dente. Drain well, rinse briefly under warm water so they don’t stick together, and set aside.
-
Prep the Sauce: In a small mixing bowl, vigorously whisk together the soy sauce, minced garlic, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, and sriracha until the sugar is completely dissolved. Set aside.
-
Coat the Chicken: Place your bite sized chicken pieces into a large bowl. Sprinkle the cornstarch evenly over the top and toss thoroughly until every single piece of chicken is lightly coated.
-
Sear the Chicken: Heat your oil in a large, heavy bottomed skillet or wok over medium high heat. Add the cornstarch coated chicken in a single, even layer. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes undisturbed to build a crispy crust, then toss and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes until completely cooked through and golden brown.
-
Simmer and Thicken: Pour the prepared sticky garlic sauce directly into the skillet with the cooked chicken. Reduce the heat to medium low and let the sauce bubble and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. The cornstarch left on the chicken will magically thicken the sauce into a rich, glossy glaze!
-
Toss and Serve: Add your cooked noodles directly into the skillet. Use kitchen tongs to gently toss everything together until the noodles are completely smothered in the sticky garlic sauce and heated through.
-
Garnish: Remove from the heat, sprinkle generously with freshly chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds, and serve immediately!
What to Serve With Sticky Garlic Chicken Noodles
Because these noodles are wonderfully filling, highly sweet and savory, and packed with carbs and protein, they pair beautifully with fresh, crisp side dishes to balance the heaviness. Serve these hot noodles alongside a vibrant, highly crunchy Tasty Broccoli Pasta Salad Recipe or a bright, refreshing Summer Corn Salad with Avocado.
If you are hosting a casual weekend gathering and want to offer a massive, diverse spread of flavors, serve small portions of these noodles alongside a platter of cool, crisp BBQ Chicken Coleslaw Wraps or a beautifully pan seared Texas Roadhouse Salmon for an incredible surf and turf experience.
And of course, no spectacular dinner is ever truly complete without a show stopping dessert spread! Finish your evening by completely blowing your guests away with a gorgeous, sliceable Red White and Blue Marble Cake Recipe or lean into nostalgic, fluffy comfort with a massive bowl of the Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use regular spaghetti noodles? Absolutely! This recipe is incredibly forgiving. If you do not have authentic Asian noodles like lo mein, udon, or ramen on hand, standard linguine or spaghetti noodles work flawlessly. The sticky sauce clings to them perfectly.
How do I make it spicier? If you love a massive kick of heat, you can easily turn up the temperature! Double the amount of sriracha in the sauce mixture, or sprinkle a generous pinch of crushed red pepper flakes into the skillet right when you add the sauce to the chicken.
Can I add vegetables to this dish? Yes, this is the perfect meal for cleaning out the fridge! You can toss in a bag of frozen stir fry vegetables, fresh broccoli florets, or sliced bell peppers. Just sauté the vegetables in the skillet for a few minutes right before you add the sauce and noodles to ensure they are perfectly crisp tender.