Chef John's Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles)
Chef John's Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) brings together chewy rice noodles, tender chicken thighs, and crisp Chinese broccoli in a punchy mix of soy, oyster, and fish sauces balanced with a touch of sweetness. Fragrant Thai basil and fiery bird’s eye chiles add heat and fresh aromatics, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner or a casual gathering when you crave bold, street-style Thai flavors.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook15 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles), not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 50 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 58 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 10
- Heart Health
- 29
- Metabolic
- 22
- Digestive
- 22
- Inflammatory
- 44
- Performance
- 32
- General Wellness
- 1
Assemble all the ingredients.
- 2
Soak the rice noodles in hot water until flexible, 10 to 15 minutes. Occasionally stir or move the noodles to separate them. Drain the water and cover the noodles with a wet paper towel.
- 3
In a small bowl, mix together the oyster sauce, soy sauce, Asian fish sauce, maple syrup, sugar, and water.
- 4
Heat the vegetable oil and sesame oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Stir-fry the shallots, chile peppers, and garlic until the shallots are soft, about 2 minutes. Push the mixture to the sides of the pan to make a space and add the chicken. Sear for 1 minute, then mix it together with the shallot mixture.
- 5
Add the Chinese broccoli stems and stir-fry until tender, about 2 minutes.
- 6
Add the Chinese broccoli leaves and stir-fry until wilted.
- 7
Add the drunken noodle sauce and sliced scallions; stir well and cook until the sauce starts to simmer.
- 8
Add the soaked rice noodles and toss to coat until the noodles have absorbed the sauce and are cooked through, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- 9
Stir in the Thai basil leaves until wilted. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve.
- Calories 879.71 kcal High 44%
- Protein 58.13 g Good Source 116%
- Carbohydrate 94.48 g 34%
- Total Fat 30.82 g High 40%
- Saturated Fat 8.76 g High 44%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 252.29 mg High 84%
- Sodium 2143.14 mg High 93%
- Dietary Fiber 2.35 g Low Source 8%
- Total Sugars 9.52 g --
- Added Sugars 3.89 g Moderate 8%
- Calcium 140.19 mg Moderate 11%
- Iron 3.23 mg Moderate 18%
- Potassium 79.59 mg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin A 66.45 mcg Low Source 7%
- Vitamin C 34.49 mg Good Source 38%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Fish 🐟
- Soy 🌱
- Gluten
- Sesame
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) is made with 15 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 30 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Boneless Chicken Thigh, Fish Sauce, Fresh Basil, and Garlic. Each serving provides about 879.71 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) made of?
- The main ingredients are Boneless Chicken Thigh, Fish Sauce, Fresh Basil, Garlic, Green Onion. The full list of 15 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles)?
- About 30 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 879.71 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 15 ingredients and 9 steps.
- Is Chef John's Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) healthy?
- Chef John's Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) has an easyChef Pro health score of 38/100. Per serving, it provides 879.71 calories and 58.13 g of protein, or 116% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 2143.14 mg (93% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 8.76 g (44% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 3.89 g (8% of the Daily Value). It contains Fish, Soy, Gluten, Sesame, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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