Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles (2024)

I love Chinese food take-out as much as the next person, but it can get so expensive! That's why we love making take-out favorites like easy Air Fryer Crab Rangoon and Wonton Soup from scratch. Here's what makes this peanut dragon noodles recipe so special:

• This better-than-takeout Chinese food recipe will only cost you about $5 total. And, it will feed about four people.
• It's fast – ready in just 20 minutes.
• It uses simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry or can easily get from your local grocery store or Asian market.
• It's not too spicy. But you can easily adjust the spice level if you want it milder or hotter.

As for ingredients to make these yummy spicy Asian noodles, you'll only need a few. If you make Asian food even sometimes, you likely have these ingredients on hand. A few notes:

• Chili garlic sauce - this is what gives dragon noodles the heat this dish is known for. That said, it's easy to make this as mild or as spicy as you want it to be by adjusting the amount of chili garlic sauce. Want it even spicier? Add a bit of sriracha!
• Soy sauce OR coconut aminos - You can use your favorite soy sauce. Or, you can use coconut aminos, which are dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free and MSG-free. Both offer similar flavors to the dish.
• Sesame oil - (not pictured) Be sure to use toasted sesame oil and not light sesame oil. The latter is great for cooking with, but doesn't add much flavor to the sauce. Toasted sesame oil, however, adds a big nutty aroma and flavor, so it's perfect for sauce. A little bit goes a long way.
• Freshly grated ginger - for some extra depth of flavor and added spice.

✅ Step-by-step instructions

One of my favorite parts about making this delicious spicy Asian dish is that it takes so little time to make! The full list of ingredients and detailed instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. But here are some step-by-step photos for all of you visual learners out there!

Step 1 - Start by mixing the chili garlic sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and brown sugar together in a small bowl to make the sauce. Set it aside.

Step 2 - In a pot of boiling water, cook two packages of ramen noodles according to package directions. Just be sure to discard the flavor packets! You don't need those for this recipe.

Step 3 - In a large skillet, sauté the ground pork along with the fresh ginger over medium-high heat, just until the pork has browned. Pour the sauce over the cooked pork along with ¼ cup of chopped peanuts, and stir all of that yummy goodness together.

Step 4 - Drain the noodles and add them to the skillet with the pork. Stir to coat the noodles in the yummy sauce. Plate and garnish with green onions and remaining chopped peanuts.

That's it! This whole meal can feed a family of four. You can make it from start to finish in 15-20 minutes! And, it's an AWESOME recipe if you're on a budget. The whole recipe costs less than $5 total.

Even if you're not on a budget, this is one spicy Asian noodle dish that packs a powerful flavor punch you will LOVE!

My family doesn't like things super spicy. This recipe makes the dish what I would consider MEDIUM SPICY. It has heat, but doesn't burn your tongue.

If you are someone who LOVES wicked hot, super spicy Asian food, then go ahead and add more of the chili garlic sauce.

How to make this dish MILD: reduce the chili garlic sauce further. Start with maybe one teaspoon of the chili garlic sauce. That's enough to still add flavor, without the heat. Then add a teaspoon of the soy sauce or coconut aminos to balance the flavor. Season and adjust to taste, as needed.

What type of noodles should I use?

This recipe works best with the traditional ramen noodles. They are also the least expensive! But you could also use this recipe with vermicelli noodles, wide lo mein noodles, or thin lo mein noodles.

How can I make this vegetarian?

I've heard from readers and Instagram followers that plant-based meat crumbles are a good substitute for pork in this recipe. You could also try cooking extra firm tofu, then crumbling it into the dish.

What vegetables can I add?

You can bump up the volume and nutrition content of this recipe by adding some veggies. I've personally enjoyed adding steamed broccoli. You could also add snow peas, diced red or green peppers, and sliced onions if you would like.

When enjoying spicy Asian food, look for sweet, aromatic white wines with high acidity and low alcohol.

Classic wine pairings here would be a German Riesling, a sparkling Moscato d'Asti, or a Spanish Albariño. If you like Sauvignon Blanc. most also pair well with spicy Asian food. I also enjoy certain Rosé wines with spicy food.

Wines to try:

• 2017 Brooks Ara Riesling (Oregon)
• Elvio Cogno 2017 Moscato d'Asti (Italy)
• 2017 Abacela Albariño (Oregon)

More noodle recipes

Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles

This is a 30-minute meal that's full of flavor and spice. So fast, easy, satisfying!

Servings: 4

Calories: 549kcal

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Ingredients

Instructions

Notes