thai peanut chicken sweet potato noodles in a bowl with chopsticks

We’re in the thick of the holiday season and the urge to eat baked goods for every meal of the day is very real at the moment. I’ve seen several ginger molasses and snickerdoodle cookie recipes on social media that I’d arm wrestle Santa for. Can you relate? That said, I’ve been even more intentional than usual about cooking healthy meals at home so I don’t have to think twice about indulging a little extra over the next month or so.

In addition to my Christmas cookie cravings, I’ve also been dreaming about a big bowl of gluten free Pad Thai from my favorite Thai restaurant here in town. In the spirit of making healthy choices though, I decided to make a healthy, Pad Thai(ish) dish at home. Thai Peanut Chicken Sweet Potato Noodles swaps rice noodles for vitamin-rich sweet potato noodles, and will curb your craving for take out in just 15 minutes!

Watch How to Make It!

Spiralized Sweet Potato Noodles

If you’ve been on the fence about ordering a spiralizer, or asking for one for the holidays, this dish is going to send you over the edge. It. Is. Incredible! Skinny spiralized sweet potatoes are sauteed with broccoli and chopped chicken then tossed with an easy peanut sauce made with fridge and pantry staples.

a bowl of thai peanut chicken sweet potato noodles with crushed peanuts on top

Like I said, this dish goes from skillet to bowl in 15 minutes, which is a fraction of the time it takes to pick up take out or wait for the delivery driver to arrive – plus it’s a TON healthier.

If you’re like me and wanting to indulge without the guilt this holiday season, whip up this light and tasty dish tonight – and fight your dining partner for the leftovers to take for lunch the next day. Trust me when I say, if you don’t, you’ll regret it!

chop sticks picking up sweet potato noodles from a bowl

How to Make This Recipe

Start by whisking together the Thai peanut sauce ingredients. You’ll need:

  • Peanut butter
  • Chicken broth
  • Low sodium gluten free Tamari
  • Rice vinegar
  • Chili garlic sauce
  • Sesame oil
  • Ground ginger
  • Minced garlic

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Set the sauce aside then peel and trim 2 medium-sized sweet potatoes, and then send them through z spiralizer fitted with the skinnest noodle blade.

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Time to cook! Heat extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat then add chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces. Season with salt and pepper then saute until cooked through, and then scoop the chicken onto a plate and set aside.

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Turn the heat down a touch then add more extra virgin olive oil to the skillet. Add the sweet potato noodles plus broccoli florets, season with salt and pepper, then saute for 5 minutes.

hot skillet with sweet potato noodles and broccoli florets

Next drizzle in a little water to help soften the noodles and continue sauting, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potato noodles are al dente, another 3-5 minutes. If you want your sweet potato noodles on the softer side, continue cooking, but just know they might break up into smaller pieces.

water being drizzled into a hot skillet with sweet potato noodles

Last step is to add the chicken back into the skillet along with the Thai peanut sauce then toss until everything is well coated and heated through.

thai peanut chicken sweet potato noodles cooking in a hot skillet

Scoop the noodles into bowls then top with tons of chopped peanuts and green onions. Totally easy, right? And trust me, totally DELISH! Hope you love this lighter take out fake out recipe!

thai peanut chicken sweet potato noodles in a bowl with crushed peanuts

Thai Peanut Chicken Sweet Potato Noodles

Description

Thai Peanut Chicken Sweet Potato Noodles are a healthy, gluten free twist on your favorite Thai takeout order. Easy, colorful, and delicious!

Ingredients

serves 2-3

  • 2-1/2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 2 chicken breasts (14oz,) cut into bite-sized pieces
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled then spiralized using thinnest blade, noodles slightly trimmed
  • 2 cups (4oz) broccoli florets
  • 1/4 cup water
  • Toppings: chopped peanuts, green onions, chopped cilantro
  • For the Thai peanut sauce:
    • 2 Tablespoons peanut butter
    • 3 Tablespoons gluten-free chicken broth
    • 1-1/2 Tablespoons low-sodium gluten-free Tamari or soy sauce
    • 1/2 Tablespoon rice vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon gluten-free chili garlic sauce (or more)
    • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
    • 1 clove garlic, minced

Directions

  1. Whisk together Thai peanut sauce ingredients then set aside.
  2. Add 1/2 Tablespoon oil to a large, 12" skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken then season with salt and pepper and saute until cooked through. Remove chicken to a plate then set aside.
  3. Turn heat down to a little above medium then add remaining 2 Tablespoons oil. Add sweet potato noodles and broccoli, season with salt and pepper, then saute for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add water then saute until noodles are al dente, another 3-5 minutes (if you like a softer sweet potato continue cooking but know that the noodles will break up a bit.) Add chicken back into the skillet along with the Thai peanut sauce then toss until the noodles are well coated and everything is heated through. Scoop into bowls then serve with toppings.

Notes

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

Video

Photo collage of Thai peanut chicken sweet potato noodles