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Enjoy a healthy noodle bowl made with silky broth, colorful veggies, lean chicken and rice noodles. This Sesame Chicken Noodle Bowl embraces Asian flavors that wow every time. Grab a spoon because this is the perfect way to enjoy heart healthy weeknight meals that make it feel like it’s a special occasion.
Are noodle bowls healthy? If your noodle bowl is loaded with carb-heavy noodles or contains a lot of added fat or sodium, it might not be the healthiest option even though it looks like it’s filled with nutrient-rich veggies. We made this sesame chicken noodle bowl healthier by using low-sodium broth and accenting it with vibrant taste so it’s a lower sodium option than what you would get in a restaurant. You can reduce sodium even more by using low-sodium soy sauce. We also filled it with veggies and used rice noodles, which are gluten-free and have fewer carbs and calories than wheat noodles.
Since rice noodles are typically gluten-free because they’re made from rice flour and water, they allow you to make a gluten-free noodle bowl that still tastes delicious. If you are very sensitive to gluten, check package labels to make sure they’re labeled as gluten-free to ensure no cross-contamination. The same thing goes for other ingredients in the recipe, such as chicken broth and soy sauce.
Recipe yields 6 servings
Remove mushroom stems. Thinly slice caps; set caps aside. In a saucepan, add mushroom stems, broth, water, soy sauce, fish sauce, garlic, ginger and chili peppers and bring to a boil. Remove pan from heat.
In a large saucepan, add 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Add noodles and cook for 3 minutes, or until done. Drain and set aside.
Season chicken with black pepper. Place sesame seeds in a shallow dish. Press seeds into both sides of chicken. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sesame oil. Add chicken and cook for 3 minutes on each side, or until done. Remove from pan. Add bok choy, cut sides down, and cook for 3 minutes, or until browned. Add reserved mushroom slices, bell pepper, snap peas and carrots. Strain broth mixture through a sieve into skillet; cover and cook for 2 minutes. Remove vegetables with a slotted spoon.
Thinly slice chicken. Evenly divide noodles, vegetables and chicken into 6 shallow bowls. Spoon broth mixture over each. Garnish each with lime wedges, scallions and additional sesame seeds.
In the mood for other healthy noodle bowls and soups? Give one of these heart healthy recipes a try: