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!
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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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
- 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
- Whisk together Thai peanut sauce ingredients then set aside.
- 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.
- 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
- I use a Paderno Spiralizer >
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
I made this last night and it came out fantastic. I substituted shrimp for the chicken and added a bit of fresh cilantro on top.. thanks for sharing
Going to make this for my wife and I tomorrow night. I think will add some shrimp and maybe top with cilantro. Likely will substitute peanuts for another nut, either blanched almonds or walnuts. I’m thinking maybe seared scallops for an appetizer. Thanks for the recipe!!
Love this recipe! It’s super easy and delicious. My husband and I have made it a few times now with zoodles and other veggies in the mix and it’s always good. Thank you!
I can’t find a gluten free chili garlic sauce. What brand do you use? Is there a substitute I can make?
Love this – just got a spiralizer and this is first thing we tried – having it again tonight – this time with shrimp. It is awesome!
We made this without the chicken but put in scrambled eggs. Delicious, thanks!
This is an awesome recipe. It comes together easily, mostly with pantry staples, and tastes wonderful. Thanks! I’ll be investigating more of your blog for (hopefully) equally delicious offerings.
We have made this recipe several times now and the whole family loves it. Thanks for such a great website!
I tried your recipe this evening and the flavors were fabulous! Definitely going to be a go to meal for our family.
I’m so glad to hear it, Monika! Thanks for your feedback and recipe review!
I made this tonight and it was absolutely delicious! I substituted pork for the chicken, used a spicy chilli olive oil and used crunchy peanut butter. I also added a balsamic concerntrate to the sauce
Yumm – so glad you loved it, Darcy, and I’m loving your additions, too!
Wow oh my goodness is this heavenly!! It did take me a while to prep everything (wash and spiralizer the potatoes, chop garlic, cut up broccoli, etc.) but it was well worth it. Delicious! Sweet, salty, lovely textures!
This was so DELICOUS!!! I added a little more peanut butter butter and chili sauce. My husband and I devoured this and didn’t even miss the noodles! Would definitely make this again!
I am not a fan of broccoli, any suggestions on something else green besides zuchini? Peas?
You could use whatever you like! Shredded brussels sprouts, zucchini, peas, or even peppers would work well, I think!
[…] Thai Peanut Chicken and Sweet Potato Noodles // Iowa Girl Eats […]
I love this recipe so much! Do you think that I could make a larger quantity of the peanut sauce to save it for later?
Oh I’m so glad!! I’m sure that’d fine – I might thin it out with a little chicken broth when reheating if it needs it.
Thanks!
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Need nutritional values to figure out for weight watchers point system.
We loved it! Excellent meal.
And thank you for sharing it!
thanks for posting! just made a variation of this with snap peas, cashews, onion and tofu. Delicious!
Made this for dinner tonight. LOVED IT! Would like nutrition info for this recipe.