Name: Dragon Noodles from the Pot
Yield: 2

Dragon Noodles are a quick 20-minute stir-fry with noodles, ground pork, cashews, and broccoli. It’s a family favorite, spicy with a hint of sweetness.

author’s note

No Dragons Were Harmed Making This!

My kids are completely ramen obsessed. If I make my chicken, beef, or General Tso ramen, dinner is basically guaranteed to be eaten and enjoyed, which is always a win!

So I’m constantly looking for new ways to switch things up. As soon as I heard about Dragon Noodles, I knew they’d be right up my kids’ alley. Saucy noodles with a sweet and spicy kick? I immediately got to work testing my own version.

After plenty of testing, these noodles have officially earned a spot in our dinner rotation. They’re quick, packed with flavor, and another noodle dinner my kids are always excited to eat!

All the ingredients in this recipe including pork, broccoli, green onions, noodles, chili garlic sauce, ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, cashews, and garlic prepped out for straightforward assembly.

The “Short-Cuts” To Make Dragon Noodles Even Quicker

Pre-chopped Broccoli: Buy pre-cut broccoli from the produce section or use frozen chopped broccoli.
Quick Garlic and Ginger: Use refrigerated garlic paste and minced garlic. Or try Dorot® frozen garlic and ginger cubes. They’re usually in the frozen veggies section.
Fast-Cooking Noodles: Lo mein noodles cook in 6-7 minutes. We also save time by boiling broccoli with the noodles.
Flavorful Cashews: Use dry roasted, lightly salted cashews for added flavor without extra effort.

The sauce for these dragon noodles combined in a liquid measuring cup.

Dragon Noodles Sauce Ingredients

Here are the three main ingredients for the sauce, besides garlic and ginger:

Soy Sauce: Use regular soy sauce, not low-sodium, as low-sodium doesn’t provide enough saltiness for this recipe.
Brown Sugar: I add a good amount to balance the spice. If you’re worried it might be too sweet, start with less and adjust to taste.
Chili Garlic Sauce: This brings the spice and flavor. You can adjust the amount based on how spicy you want the dish.

Quick Tip

Chili garlic sauce is like sambal oelek but with vinegar, garlic, and some extra seasonings. It’s similar to Sriracha but chunkier, spicier, and less sweet.

The pork being browned and the cashews and green onions along with the sauce being sauteed.

How To Make Dragon Noodles

Mix Sauce: Combine all sauce ingredients in a bowl.
Prep: Boil water and slice green onions.
Cook Pork: Brown the pork in a hot pan with oil, then add the sauce and cashews.
Cook Noodles and Broccoli: Boil noodles and broccoli together.
Combine: Toss noodles, broccoli, and pork together in the pan. Mix well and serve.

The noodles being cooked and broccoli being added and cooked then added to the sauce.

Recipe Tips

Prep First: Gather all ingredients before starting. The cooking for these Dragon Noodles goes quickly!
Brown Pork: Let pork brown before crumbling and stirring for more flavor. Color = flavor!
Use Sesame Oil: For authentic flavor, use sesame oil, preferably toasted. Check the Asian food section in the store.

Adjusting the Spice

This recipe uses 2 tablespoons of chili-garlic paste with 1/4 cup of brown sugar. This gives a bit of heat but is still okay for my kids.

For More Spice: Add 1-2 extra tablespoons of chili-garlic paste or use less sugar.
For Less Spice: Use 1 tablespoon less chili-garlic paste. If you use less chili sauce, also use less sugar to keep the balance. Reducing these might lower the flavor.

Variations

Ramen Dragon Noodles: Use 2 packs (6 ounces) of ramen noodles. Discard or save the seasoning packets.
Vegan Dragon Noodles: Replace pork with crumbled tofu.
Shrimp Dragon Noodles: Use shrimp instead of pork. Cook shrimp separately, then add it back at the end with noodles and broccoli.

Storage

Let the Dragon Noodles cool, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When reheating, add a little water or broth to loosen the sauce if needed.