Pad Woon Sen

Ready in just 20 minutes, this delicious pad woon sen recipe creates a dish of Thai stir-fried glass noodles that is loaded with veggies and flavor.

The delicate noodles, combined with a savory umami sauce and all of your favorite vegetables, are a quick and customizable dish that everyone will love.

So, if you want a meal that is easy to prepare yet flavorful and fulfilling, then we've got you covered 🙂

Recipe Video

Why This Recipe Works

This authentic pad woon sen recipe works because not only is it quick and easy to prepare, but it's also incredibly healthy and highly customizable.

Its preparation is straightforward, with minimal ingredients and simple steps, making it an ideal choice for busy nights. In less than 30 minutes, you can have this delightful dish prepped and ready to eat.

The use of Thai stir-fried glass noodles and lean protein like chicken keeps the dish light and satisfying, while vegetables add nutrients and color. 

Plus, it’s easy to adjust by adding or swapping veggies, proteins, and spices to suit personal tastes and dietary needs. This customizability allows you to create a homemade pad woon sen that everyone can enjoy.

Ingredients

Pad Woon Sen Sauce:

In this glass noodle stir fry recipe, the sauce consists of soy sauce, oyster sauce, and water. This mixture creates a savory, umami-flavored sauce that is easy to mix with the glass noodles and vegetables. However, you can experiment with other pad woon sen sauce ingredients such as fish sauce, lime juice, chili paste, sesame oil, and sugar.

Bean Thread Noodles:

Bean thread noodles, also known as glass noodles or cellophane noodles, are transparent noodles made from mung bean starch and water. They’re popular in Thai stir-fried glass noodle dishes like pad woon sen because they become tender and slightly chewy when cooked. If you are unable to find any glass noodles, you can always substitute with sweet potato noodles, rice vermicelli, or angel hair pasta.

Chicken:

While this easy pad woon sen recipe uses boneless skinless chicken breast for a faster, more convenient cook, you can also use chicken thighs or ground chicken to make this dish. Additionally, pad woon sen can be made with shrimp, beef, pork, eggs, or tofu instead of chicken.

Coating:

Cornstarch and salt are used to coat the chicken before cooking as it forms a thin, protective layer to seal in the moisture while creating a delicate, crispy texture on the chicken's surface. You can add any additional ingredients to your coating to help boost the flavor of the dish. Mixing paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, or chopped basil into your chicken coating can really kick the taste of your homemade glass noodle stir fry into overdrive.

Vegetables:

This recipe for pad woon sen features a lot of vegetables like carrots, onions, red bell peppers, garlic, and cabbage. You can add more nutritional value and a pop of color to your authentic pad woon sen by incorporating veggies like bok choy, snap peas, zucchini, baby corn, snow peas, broccoli, bean sprouts, and mushrooms.

How to Make Pad Woon Sen

Step One: 

Combine soy, oyster sauce, and ¾ cup of water in a small bowl.

Step Two: 

In a larger bowl, combine the bean thread noodles with 4 cups of warm water. Let them soak for 5-10 minutes or until tender and translucent. Drain the noodles and rinse them under cold water to stop cooking.

Step Three: 

Toss to coat the chicken breast in salt and cornstarch.

Step Four:

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat.

Step Five: 

Add the chicken to the pan to brown and set aside once cooked.

Step Six: 

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan over medium heat.

Step Seven: 

Add 2 whisked eggs to the hot pan until cooked, flipping halfway through.

Step Eight: 

Remove the scrambled eggs from the pan and add 2 more tablespoons of olive oil.

Step Nine: 

Add onion, carrots, cabbage, and red pepper, and saute until slightly wilted.

Step Ten: 

Stir in the minced garlic and saute until aromatic.

Step Eleven: 

Add the chicken and soy sauce mixture. Stir to incorporate.

Step Twelve: 

Bring the sauce to a simmer. Add the noodles and scrambled eggs to the pan and toss to coat everything in the sauce.

Step Thirteen: 

Garnish this authentic pad woon sen with green onions, and enjoy!

Tip

• For a more flavorful pad woon sen, marinate the chicken in soy sauce, garlic, lime juice, and sesame oil for 30 minutes before tossing it in the coating. It will tenderize the meat, resulting in a juicier and tastier chicken breast.

What to Serve With Pad Woon Sen

Pad Woon Sen pairs wonderfully with light and refreshing Thai side dishes. Serve it alongside a crisp Thai cucumber salad, which adds a cooling contrast to the warm, savory noodles. Fresh spring rolls with herbs, rice paper, and a flavorful dipping sauce also make a great addition, offering a balance of textures.

For a more filling meal, consider pairing it with a Thai-style papaya salad or grilled chicken satay skewers with a savory peanut sauce.

FAQs

How can I keep the noodles from sticking together?

After soaking, rinse the glass noodles with cold water and toss them in a bit of sesame oil before adding them to your pad woon sen.

Is this a gluten-free pad woon sen recipe? Is it vegan pad woon sen?

Traditional pad woon sen can be made gluten-free and vegan with a few adjustments. To make it gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce and ensure other sauces are gluten-free. For a vegan pad woon sen recipe, replace oyster sauce with soy sauce or tamari and use tofu as the protein. Avoid using eggs or substitute them with additional vegetables.

What's the best way to store leftover pad woon sen?

You can store leftover noodles in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To freeze for up to 2 months, let the noodles cool completely, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag, removing as much air as possible.

Noodle Recipes

Noodles are always a good idea. Whether you’re in the mood for something saucy, stir-fried, or brothy, we have a huge collection of quick and tasty noodle recipes that make dinner easy any night of the week.

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Instant Pot Chicken and Noodles

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