Dan Dan Noodles are made with tender pork and delicious noodles coated in a tangy and spicy sauce. This popular Chinese noodle dish is a great way to enjoy a flavorful meal with your family without putting in a lot of effort.
This is one of my favorite dishes to order at Chinese restaurants and now with this easy recipe, you can save a little money and make this restaurant a favorite at home.
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- Making this classic Chinese noodle dish at home is so much cheaper than takeout.
- It's a hearty meal to make when you are craving spicy food.
- You only need simple ingredients so you don't have to worry about trying to track down Asian grocery stores in your area.
- These shortcut Dan Dan noodles have all the flavor of traditional dan dan noodles without all the work.
🧾 Ingredient List
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- vegetable oil
- ground pork
- Hoisin Sauce
- dry sherry
- soy sauce
- Chinese 5 Spice blend
- Ramen noodles package
- bok choy
- fresh spinach
- green onions
Dan Dan Sauce
- chili oil
- tahini
- soy sauce
- white granulated sugar
- minced garlic
- ginger
- Chinese 5 Spice blend
- black pepper
- ground coriander
🍲 Equipment
- large skillet
- large pot
- mason jar
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.
Step 1: Chop up pork and brown the meat. Add in the seasoning.
Step 2: While the pork is browning, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles according to the package directions.
In the last minute of cooking, add the bok choy.
When the cooking is complete, remove the bok choy and place it on a plate. Save 1 cup of the cooking water and set aside.
Drain the noodles and rinse under warm water
How to make Dan Dan Sauce
Step 1: Add all the sauce ingredients into a mason jar, mix thoroughly.
Step 2: Set aside until you are ready to dress the noodles.
Assemble the Dan Dan Noodles
Step 1: Spoon the noodles into bowls. Add one piece of bok choy and spinach to each bowl.
Step 2: Pour the sauce over the noodles and top with the crispy pork. Garnish with green onions and serve.
👩🏻🍳Eileen's Tips for Success
- I used ramen noodles because our family prefers thin noodles. However, feel free to switch them out for your favorite choice of noodles like Chinese noodles, wheat noodles whatever your family prefers.
- I prefer to use dark soy sauce in these noodles, but you could also use light soy sauce.
- Sesame seeds and sliced green onions make great garnishes for this easy recipe.
📋 Frequently Asked Questions
Chinese 5 spice is made up of a mixture of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns, and fennel seeds. It has a beautiful flavor that really complements the pork in this recipe.
You can reheat this classic dish in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until warm all the way. However, my favorite way to reheat it in a skillet over medium heat until warm all the way through. If you find that it is a little dry add in a splash of pork or chicken stock to add some extra moisture.
Chinese chili oil is a condiment made from spicy red peppers, garlic, ginger, and scallions cooked in hot oil. It adds a great depth of flavor to this dish and will give it a bit of spice. You can find Chinese chili oil in the ethnic section of most grocery stores or you can make your own at home.
📖 Variations
Do you want to change up this recipe? Here are some ways that you increase the flavor of this dish.
- Not a fan of spinach? You can replace them with your favorite type of leafy greens such as fresh mustard greens or leave them out altogether.
- Feel free to adjust the Chinese five-spice powder. Use more or less to suit your taste buds.
- For a little more flavor feel free to add a dash of oyster sauce or sesame oil to the pasta dish.
- If you don't have sherry on hand you can substitute it with rice wine vinegar instead.
- Don't eat pork? Switch out the ground pork for ground chicken and you will still have a delicious meal.
❄️ Make ahead, storage, and freezer tips
Storage: This dish can be stored in a covered airtight container or zip-top bag for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
Freezer: Make sure the dish has cooled down completely before freezing it. When ready to freeze, put the pasta in a freezer-safe container and store it in your freezer for up to 3 months.
Make Ahead: If I know we are having a busy day, I will prep the pork mixture ahead of time. Then, make the noodles and finish the Dan Dan noodle recipe when ready to eat.
🥣 Serving Suggestions
Copycat PF Chang Dan Dan noodles are an excellent meal on their own but you could also pair them with an appetizer like Asian Sticky Ribs.
Another great side dish to serve with this meal is this Asian Cole Slaw. It's fresh, healthy, and full of flavor and balances out the spicy noodles so well.
End this hearty meal with a slice of this Old Fashioned Coconut Custard Pie. It's easy to make, light and refreshing, and will satisfy your sweet tooth!
🍽 Similar recipes
If you love to make easy twists on traditional recipes you may also enjoy this Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe. It's the perfect busy day meal!
This Air Fryer Kung Pao Chicken is another simple meal that can save you money by skipping the high-priced takeout and enjoying a meal at home with your family.
Instant Pot Chow Mein is a classic recipe to make quickly in your pressure cooker. You'll love how much time this meal saves you and it delivers so much flavor.
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Thank you for your continued support. I am forever grateful.
Eileen xo
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Dan Dan Noodles
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Equipment Needed:
- As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- ½ pound ground pork Note 1
- 2 teaspoons Hoisin Sauce
- 2 teaspoons dry sherry
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon Chinese 5 Spice blend
- 1 (8) ounces Ramen noodles package
- 4 stalks bok choy
- 1 cup fresh spinach coarseley chopped Note 2
- 4 stalks green onions trimmed and sliced thin
Dan Dan Sauce
- ½ cup chili oil
- 2 Tablespoons tahini
- 3 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger peeled and grated
- ½ teaspoon Chinese 5 Spice blend
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
Instructions
- In a heavy skillet over medium-high heat, and once the pan is hot, add the vegetable oil and pork. Chop the pork while browning finely as it browns. Continue cooking until the pork is in tiny, crispy pieces.
- Once the pork is browned and crispy, stir in Hoisin sauce, dry sherry, soy sauce, and Chinese 5 spice blend. Set aside.
- While the pork is browning, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles according to the package directions. In the last minute of cooking, add the bok choy.
- When the cooking is complete, remove the bok choy and place on a plate. Save 1 cup of the cooking water and set aside.
- Drain the noodles and rinse under warm water
Make the Sauce
- In a medium-sized jar, mix together the ingredients for the sauce. If a thinner sauce is desired, add the reserved liquid from the noodles.
Assemble the Dan Dan Noodles
- Spoon the noodles into bowls. Add one piece of bok choy and spinach to each bowl.
- Pour the sauce over the noodles and top with the crispy pork. Garnish with green onions and serve.
NOTES
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