Easy Dan-Dan Noodles Recipe
- By Amy Dong
- Updated Oct. 30, 2024
This Dan Dan Noodles recipe is unbelievably easy and so deliciously savory, sweet, garlicky, with a subtle kick. It’s also healthy, and easy, plus the leftovers are awesome!
In This Article
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What Are Dan Dan Noodles?
Dan dan noodles are a popular Sichuan street food dish that uses Chinese style noodles mixed with a rich, savory, and spicy sauce. Traditionally, there may be ground pork, preserved vegetables, chili oil, and Sichuan peppercorns included in the meat sauce. Traditionally, the noodles are served “dry,” similar to a chow mein recipe.
Why This Recipe Stands Out
We are all about easy, delicious takeout-style dinners and these Dan Dan Noodles are just that. Here’s why this recipe is a winner:
- Ready in 30 Minutes: It takes just under 30 minutes to make this restaurant-quality dish, making it a great option for a quick weeknight meal!
- Easy to Find Ingredients: The ingredients used in this dish are quite affordable and easy to find. Just like our Easy Fried Rice.
- Easy to Change Up: You can easily customize the recipe to suit your preferences. Not a fan of pork? Try it with chicken or tofu.
- Healthier Than Takeout: We use low-sodium chicken broth and tamari sauce in this recipe along with fresh ingredients! It’s way healthier and tastier than takeout.
Key Recipe Ingredients
- Ground Pork – Ground pork brings a rich and savory flavor to the table.
- Tamari Sauce – We use tamari sauce for its rich, umami flavor. Make sure to use tamari and not regular soy sauce for best flavor. It’s also gluten-free.
- Spaghetti Noodles – We love the chewy texture of spaghetti noodles in this recipe. Use gluten-free noodles if needed.
- Brown Sugar – The sweetness balances out the savory flavors.
- Cornstarch – Cornstarch is used to thicken the sauce, ensuring it coats the noodles beautifully.
- Asian Sesame Oil – This oil is highly aromatic that’s quintessential to Dan Dan Noodles.
Substitutions And Variations
Here are some of our favorite variations and substitutions:
- Noodles: We use spaghetti or linguini noodles for this recipe, as they’re much easier to find than traditional Chinese noodles or lo mein noodles.
- Veggies: You can use other veggies in place of the cucumbers; sautéed spinach, broccoli florets, or bok choy are great options.
- Protein: Feel free to use ground chicken, ground turkey, or crumbled tofu for a vegetarian option.
- Spice Level: If you prefer a milder flavor, you can reduce or omit the Sriracha. Or if you’re like us and enjoy an extra kick, feel free to up the quantity.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- In a large saucepan, heat cooking oil and sauté garlic. Add ground pork and cook until brown.
- Stir in soy sauce, chicken broth, brown sugar, and Sriracha. Add cornstarch dissolved in broth and stir constantly for about 5 minutes.
- In a separate pot, cook noodles until al dente. Drain and toss with sesame oil.
- Add the sauce and pork mixture to the noodles and toss in julienned cucumber. Garnish with green onions, chopped nuts, extra Sriracha sauce, and a dash of red pepper flakes.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
How To Prep Ahead
Take a look at our best prep-ahead strategies for this recipe:
- Prep the Ingredients: You can save a lot of time by prepping the ingredients in advance. Mince the garlic, julienne the cucumber, and chop the peanuts or cashews. Store each ingredient separately in airtight containers in the fridge until you’re ready to cook.
- Make the Sauce: The sauce for these Dan Dan Noodles can be made ahead of time. Follow the recipe to make the sauce, let it cool, and then store it in the fridge for up to a week. When you’re ready to cook, reheat the sauce and continue with the recipe.
- Meal Prep: This recipe is amazing for meal prep. Make a big batch at the start of the week, divide into containers, and enjoy it through the week.
What To Serve With Dan Dan Noodles
Asian Starters
- For a complete Asian meal, start with some delicious and easy Potstickers (Asian Dumplings).
- If you’re looking for a refreshing side to serve with Dan Dan noodles, try making this Crunchy Asian Cabbage Ramen Salad.
Asian Stir Fries and Mains
- We love serving these noodles with some 30-Minute Asian Orange Beef or this Szechuan Shrimp Stir Fry.
- You also can’t go wrong with some Takeout-Style Orange Chicken or Kung Pao Shrimp.
- Our kids love these noodles along with some Asian Glazed Meatballs and Asian Chicken Skewers.
Commonly Asked Questions
We use spaghetti or linguini noodles for this recipe, as they’re much easier to find than traditional Chinese noodles or lo mein noodles but if you can find those, feel free to use them.
Typically, this dish is somewhat spicy, as it often contains chili oil and Sichuan peppercorns or chili flakes. However, our recipe relies on Sriracha, as we find it brings out both a bit of spice, tang, and umami flavors to the dish.
If you’re not a fan of spicy food, you can reduce or omit the Sriracha from the recipe.
Julienned is a French cooking term that means to cut food into thin, matchstick-like strips. For this recipe, you’ll want to peel the cucumber and then cut it into thin, uniform strips.
Typically, these noodles are served hot. However, during warm summer months, you can certainly serve them cold.
Dan Dan Noodles can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make sure to store them in an airtight container to main their freshness.
Did you make this?
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Easy Dan-Dan Noodles
Ingredients
- 2 TB cooking oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb ground pork
- ⅔ cup tamari sauce, see notes
- 1 ½ cup chicken broth, low sodium
- ⅓ cup brown sugar, tightly packed
- 1 tsp Sriracha, plus more for serving
- 2 TB cornstarch, fully dissolved in 1/4 cup low sodium broth
- 8 oz spaghetti noodles, dry
- 2 TB Asian sesame oil, brown and highly aromatic, found in Asian aisles
- 1 small cucumber, peeled and julienned
Garnishes
- peanuts, chopped, or cashews
- chopped green onions
- crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, heat cooking oil over medium heat. Add garlic and stir until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Add ground pork, breaking it up into bits, until fully cooked through and browned.
- Add soy sauce, chicken broth, brown sugar, and Sriracha. Stir well. Add cornstarch dissolved in broth. Stir constantly while simmering, until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Keep warm.
- In a large heavy pot, cook noodles according to package, just until al dente. Transfer to a colander to fully drain. Return noodles to the empty pot and toss with sesame oil.
- Add the sauce/pork mixture to the noodles. Toss in julienned cucumber to combine.
- Divide onto serving plates or bowls. Garnish with your choice of green onions, chopped nuts, extra sriracha sauce, and a dash of red pepper flakes.
Notes
- Cornstarch must be fully dissolved in liquid prior to using. If any white bits remain undissolved, it will cause lumps in the sauce.
- Many recipes use a special dark soy sauce, but it is mainly found only online or Asian grocery stores. It doesn’t actually impart a huge flavor difference, though it darkens the sauce. ou can also use low-sodium soy sauce, if preferred.
- We use dissolved cornstarch to thicken the sauce, so a thicker soy sauce is not needed
- You can use other veggies in place of the cucumbers; sautéed spinach, broccoli florets, or bok choy are great options.
- We use spaghetti or linguini noodles for this recipe, as they’re much easier to find than traditional Chinese noodles or lo mein noodles.
- Leftovers should be transferred to an airtight container and chilled. Heat up in the microwave when ready for leftovers.
- This recipe is part of our Better-Than-Takeout Recipe Collection.
- We love serving these noodles with some 30-Minute Asian Orange Beef or this Szechuan Shrimp Stir Fry.
Nutrition (per serving)
More to Cook And Eat
- Homestyle Chicken Chow Mein Noodles – Make your own healthy and flavorful chicken chow mein with vegetables at home. Perfect for meal prep.
- Chinese Fried Rice – Tastier than takeout, this Chinese fried rice recipe is a healthy, customizable dish that’s perfect on any night of the week.
- Asian Shrimp Stir Fry with Snow Peas – This simple shrimp stir fry is an easy, crowd-pleasing recipe all your guests will adore.
- Soba Noodles with Shrimp and Lime Cilantro – Zesty and bright, this is one meal the whole family will be excited to dig into.