Unraveling the Calorie Count of Drunken Noodles with Chicken

Drunken noodles with chicken is a mouthwatering Thai dish that has recently grown in popularity across the globe. With its tantalizing blend of spices rice noodles, vegetables and chicken, it’s easy to see why this flavorful meal has people clamoring for more. But if you’re watching your calorie intake, you may be wondering just how many calories are packed into a serving of this delicious dish. In this article we’ll break down the calorie count in drunken noodles with chicken and provide tips for lightening it up without sacrificing an ounce of that bold, Thai flavor.

Determining the Calorie Count

When examining the calorie content of drunken noodles with chicken, there are a few key factors to consider:

• Noodles—Steamed rice noodles are the main source of carbs in the dish. One cup of cooked rice noodles has about 200 calories.

• Protein – Chicken breast is commonly used and a 3 ounce portion of cooked chicken breast has around 140 calories

• Vegetables – Bell peppers, onions, broccoli and other veggies add volume, nutrients and about 50-60 calories per cup.

• Sauce – The sauce is made up of calorie-dense ingredients like oil, soy sauce, fish sauce and oyster sauce. A couple tablespoons can tally 200+ calories.

With all of these things in mind, a typical restaurant serving of drunken noodles with chicken can have around 700 to 800 calories. If you make it at home with less sauce and oil, though, each serving might have around 500 to 600 calories.

According to Nutritionix, 1 bag of Ling Ling drunken noodles with chicken contains 420 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 58% carbs, 26% fat, and 16% protein. This is a good source of protein (30% of your Daily Value), iron (45% of your Daily Value), and vitamin A (50% of your Daily Value).

Tips for Lightening Up Drunken Noodles

If you want to enjoy drunken noodles while keeping calories in check, here are some easy tips:

• Use less oil when stir-frying. Skip deep-frying and keep the oil to 1-2 teaspoons.

• Load up on veggies like broccoli, carrots, spinach and mushrooms to add volume and nutrients.

• Choose chicken breast over fatty thigh or pork meat. And limit the portion to 3-4 ounces cooked.

• Use reduced-sodium soy sauce and limit salty condiments like fish sauce.

• Boost flavor with extra garlic, ginger, basil, cilantro and a squeeze of lime.

• Request your noodles made “small” or appetizer-sized at restaurants.

• Stir in cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles to lower the calorie count.

• Skip the fatty coconut milk and cream to make a lighter curry sauce.

• Build your bowl over a base of crisp lettuce rather than just noodles.

By making a few simple changes, you can turn your drunken noodles into a 300–400 calorie meal that is still tasty.

The Bottom Line

The number of calories in drunken noodles with chicken depends on the recipe and the foods that are used. Restaurant versions are usually heavier, but making your own lets you keep an eye on the calories. To keep your bowl in a healthy calorie range, use lean proteins, lots of low-calorie vegetables, little oil and salty sauces, and smart portion control. You can enjoy the delicious Thai flavors of this popular noodle dish without eating too many calories if you find the right balance.