Orange Sesame Noodles

September 19, 2023

A quick and delicious weeknight dinner of orange sesame noodles with juicy chicken thighs and a flavorful orange sesame sauce! Options for making gluten-free or vegan but just as is it’s a meal the whole family will love.

As you might expect, I’ve changed a lot in the last 10 years that THM has been around. And let’s be real, the whole world has changed a lot in that time. I used to share my weekend recaps and weird kitchen experiments and well, that doesn’t really happen much (or ever) around here anymore. I started this blog when I was 24 and living in my parent’s basement. I was working in a hospital and not loving my job. I was passionate about health and wellness and loved reading other blogs. So one day I finally got the courage to publish my first post. 10 years later and I’m still here.

These days you won’t see what I ate for breakfast on Sunday or some weird obscure recipe using ingredients you can only find at the back of the health food store. These days my goal is simple: make your lives easier by sharing the resources I’ve got. Usually that means easy recipes like this orange noodle dish and sometimes it means tips on how to deep clean your kitchen with natural products. Either way, I’m just glad you’ve stuck around and I’m grateful for your support as I continue to grow and evolve as a person and in this space.

Now let’s easy some food…

Ingredients in Orange Sesame Noodles

Ramen noodles – if you’re gluten-free feel free to use a gluten-free version such as Lotus Foods brown rice noodles. Regular ramen noodles work just fine too!
Tamari or Soy Sauce – Either works. if you’re gluten-free use tamari
Orange – zest and juice
Honey – to balance out the tanginess of the sauce. Maple syrup works well here too.
Cashews – feel free to skip if you’re allergic to nuts.
Sesame oil – for cooking chicken + veggies
Chicken thighs – I prefer chicken thighs as they’re juicier and full of flavor but feel free to substitute chicken breast if you prefer.
Shiitake mushrooms – any mushrooms work but shiitake mushrooms have a great umami flavor
Garlic cloves – finely minced
Fresh ginger – peeled and grated
Kale – destemmed and chopped into bite-sized pieces
Sesame seeds – for sprinkling on top

How to Make Orange Sesame Noodles

STEP 1: MAKE NOODLES

Make noodles according to package instructions. Set aside to drain.

STEP 2: MAKE SAUCE

In a medium bowl combine tamari, orange zest, juice + honey to make sauce. Set aside.

STEP 3: TOAST CASHEWS

Heat up a large pan or wok over medium heat and add cashews. Toast until lightly browned (3-5 minutes). Remove from pan and set aside.

STEP 4: COOK CHICKEN

Add sesame oil to pan followed by chicken pieces. Cook chicken, flipping occasionally until fully cooked through (roughly 5-8 minutes). Remove chicken and set aside.

STEP 5: COOK VEGGIES

Add shiitake mushrooms to same pan. Cook for another 3-5 minutes or until mushrooms are sweating. If mushrooms are sticking add another drizzle of sesame oil. Add in garlic and ginger and cook for 1 more minute. Stir in kale until wilted.

STEP 6: COMBINE EVERYTHING

Add chicken, noodles and orange-tamari sauce to veggies and stir to coat noodles completely and most of liquid is absorbed. Stir in cashews + sesame seeds. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Easy Swaps You Can Make

Can you make this recipe vegan?

Yes! You’ll just skip the chicken (go straight to cooking the veggies) and replace the honey with maple syrup.

Can you make this recipe gluten-free?

Absolutely! Just make sure you’re purchasing gluten-free ramen noodles (we really like the Lotus brown rice noodles) and use tamari instead of soy sauce.

Can you meal prep this recipe?

Definitely. Just make as indicated in the instructions and store in the fridge. You’ll heat up right before eating. I find it keeps best in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Allergic to nuts? No problem!

Just skip the cashews entirely. The recipe will be great with or without the cashews.

Optional toppings

These orange sesame noodles taste great as is but feel free to sprinkle with some fresh cilantro, red pepper flakes and/or green onions.

Prefer different veggies?

No problem! Sub in whatever vegetables you prefer. Snap peas, carrots, red bell pepper and cabbage would all taste delicious!

Like this recipe? Here are some other under 30-minute meals you might enjoy: