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.
Love easy noodle dishes? Try Pork Ramen Stir Fry, Udon Stir Fry, or Cup of Noodles next!
Dragon Noodles Recipe
No dragons were harmed making this spicy noodle dish! Named for its fiery kick, Dragon Noodles are perfect for spice lovers! The blend of spicy sweetness, savory pork, and saucy noodles has become a favorite at my home.
Worried about the heat? You can easily adjust the spice level to everyone’s taste, making it a kid-friendly meal too! In fact, my kids slurp this up!
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.
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.
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.
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.
More Tasty Noodle Recipes
- General Tso Ramen with bok choy
- Egg Roll Noodles with ground pork
- Beef Chow Mein with loads of veggies
- Ground Beef Ramen with the best stir-fry sauce
- Chicken Ramen with broccoli and red bell peppers
Dragon Noodles
Equipment
- Large pot
- Large pan or wok
- Tongs
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon ginger paste see note 1
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce see note 2
Pork and Noodles
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil or vegetable oil, divided
- 1/2 pound (8 ounces) ground pork (85/15)
- 1/4 cup cashews measure then coarsely chop
- 1 bunch green onions
- 7 ounces lo mein noodles
- 1 (12-ounce) bag chopped broccoli florets 5 cups, see note 3
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients listed under “Sauce.” Set aside. Bring a large pot of unsalted water to a boil. Thinly slice green onions and separate white bottoms from green tops.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Sear pork for a few minutes, then crumble it with a wooden spoon. Once pork is browned, reduce heat to low.
- Pour sauce over pork and add cashews. Stir constantly, allowing mixture to simmer until the sauce reduces by half, about 2–5 minutes. Add the white parts of the onions and sauté for 1 minute.
- While the pork cooks, add noodles to the boiling water and cook according to package directions. Add broccoli 2 minutes before noodles finish. Drain and toss with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil.
- Add noodles and broccoli to the skillet with the pork. Toss everything gently with tongs until combined and coated in the sauce. Top with the green parts of the onions and an extra drizzle of sesame oil if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Could you sub brown sugar substitute for the brown sugar?
I haven’t tested it with something besides brown sugar, so sorry!
This is a very flavorful recipe. I made it tonight for dinner. I doubled the recipe so I could have leftovers! Thank you, most delicious!
I am so thrilled to hear this! Thanks so much for your comment Cynthia! 🙂
Hello! I am so interested in making this myself, but question-what could I use instead of Cashews? I am allergic to them.
You can just leave them out or do peanuts!