How many calories do drunken noodles have?

Drunken noodles, also known as pad kee mao, are a popular Thai street food and noodle dish. They are characterized by their spicy, sweet, and savory flavor profile. Drunken noodles get their name from the fact that they are often consumed after a night of drinking, to help sober up. With their intensely flavored sauce and mixture of noodles, vegetables, meat and aromatics, many people find drunken noodles to be delicious but are curious about their calorie content. Keep reading to learn more about how many calories are found in a typical order of drunken noodles.

What Are Drunken Noodles?

Drunken noodles consist of rice noodles stir fried in a sauce made from soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar, chili peppers and basil. Additional ingredients commonly added are chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, Chinese broccoli, onions, tomatoes, bell peppers and egg. The dish has a savory yet slightly sweet flavor profile, with a spicy kick from the chili peppers. It is a popular Thai street food, often served from humble food carts and street vendors. The name “drunken” refers to it being a favorite late-night meal after drinking.

Nutritional Profile of Drunken Noodles

When determining the calorie content of drunken noodles, it depends on the specific ingredients used in the recipe. In general, a plate of drunken noodles contains:

  • Carbohydrates from the rice noodles
  • Protein from meats like chicken, pork, beef or shrimp
  • Fiber and vitamins from Chinese broccoli and other vegetables
  • Fat from cooking oils, oyster sauce and meats

Most of the calories come from the carbohydrate-rich noodles and protein-rich meats. Vegetables provide important micronutrients but are relatively low in calories. The sauce, cooking oils and fat from meats also contribute significant calories. Exact amounts will vary based on portion size and specific recipe.

Calories in Drunken Noodles from Restaurants

When ordering drunken noodles from a restaurant, calorie counts can vary significantly based on the portion size and ingredients used. Here are some typical calorie counts for a plate of drunken noodles from popular restaurants:

  • P.F. Chang’s – 770 calories (chicken)
  • Cheesecake Factory – 1,030 calories (chicken)
  • Noodles & Company – 520 calories (tofu)
  • Local Thai restaurant – 800-1,200 calories

These counts are based on a single restaurant plate, which often ranges from 300-600 grams. Calories can be reduced by ordering vegetarian drunken noodles or opting for a small size. At local Thai restaurants, portions tend to be large and heavy on oil, boosting the calorie content. Requests for light oil or sauce on the side can lower calories.

Calories for Homemade Drunken Noodles

When making drunken noodles at home, calorie counts come down quite a bit compared to restaurant orders. Home cooking allows control over oil, sauce and portion sizes. Here are some estimates for calories in a 300 gram homemade serving:

  • Vegetable only – 500 calories
  • Chicken or pork – 600 calories
  • Shrimp – 700 calories
  • Beef – 800 calories

These counts are based on a moderate amount of oil for stir-frying and a typical homemade sauce. Using extra lean meat or increasing vegetables while decreasing noodle portion can further reduce calories. See the recipe section below for tips on lightening up homemade drunken noodles.

How to Lighten Up Drunken Noodles

Here are some easy ways to reduce the calories in a serving of drunken noodles:

  • Use extra lean cuts of meat like chicken breast, pork tenderloin or 90/10 ground beef
  • Load up on low-calorie vegetables like mushrooms, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots
  • Cut back on oil by spraying pan instead of pouring oil for stir-frying
  • Go easy on the noodles and use spiralized vegetables like zucchini noodles instead
  • Make sauce from broth instead of oil for a lighter option
  • Enjoy a small 300 gram portion rather than large restaurant-sized plate

With some simple substitutions and adjustments, it’s possible to keep homemade drunken noodle calories under control. You can still enjoy the signature sweet, savory and spicy flavors without breaking the calorie bank.

Sample Drunken Noodle Recipes and Nutrition Info

To get a better idea of the calories in a typical homemade drunken noodle recipe, here is the nutrition information for a few different variations:

Chicken Drunken Noodles

300 gram serving:

  • Calories: 600
  • Carbs: 75g
  • Protein: 30g
  • Fat: 15g

Tofu Drunken Noodles

300 gram serving:

  • Calories: 500
  • Carbs: 65g
  • Protein: 20g
  • Fat: 10g

Shrimp Drunken Noodles

300 gram serving:

  • Calories: 700
  • Carbs: 75g
  • Protein: 35g
  • Fat: 20g

Vegetable Drunken Noodles

300 gram serving:

  • Calories: 450
  • Carbs: 60g
  • Protein: 15g
  • Fat: 10g

As you can see, calories vary depending on the ingredients used. But in general, a 300 gram homemade portion ranges from 450 to 700 calories. Lightening up the ingredients and portion size can help keep calories under control.

Tips for Low-Calorie Drunken Noodles

Here are some tips to create lower calorie drunken noodles at home:

  • Use spiralized vegetables instead of noodles – zucchini, carrots, beets work well
  • Choose lean proteins like chicken breast, shrimp or extra firm tofu
  • Bulk up on low-calorie veggies like broccoli, mushrooms, peppers
  • Make sauce with broth instead of oil
  • Season with herbs, spices, chili flakes instead of salty sauces
  • Slow cook or pressure cook meat instead of frying
  • Use just a spritz of oil spray to sear instead of pouring oil into pan
  • Enjoy a small 300 gram portion

With some creative substitutions and cooking methods, you can keep homemade drunken noodle calories down and still have a delicious and satisfying dish.

The Best Low Calorie Protein and Veggies for Drunken Noodles

To boost nutrition and keep calories in check, load up your drunken noodles with these protein and vegetable additions:

Proteins

  • Shrimp – 100g has just 90 calories
  • Chicken breast – 100g has 110 calories
  • Extra firm tofu – 100g has 60 calories
  • Edamame – 100g has 120 calories
  • Lean pork – 100g has 145 calories

Vegetables

  • Broccoli – 100g has just 30 calories
  • Mushrooms – 100g has 22 calories
  • Bell peppers – 100g has 25 calories
  • Zucchini noodles – 100g has 17 calories
  • Carrots – 100g has 35 calories

By focusing on these low calorie ingredients, you can cut back on noodles and fatty meats while still getting plenty of protein and nutrition in your drunken noodles.

Low Calorie Sauces for Drunken Noodles

The rich sauce is a hallmark of drunken noodles, but also a primary source of excess calories. Here are some ideas for lightening up the sauce:

  • Make with reduced sodium broth instead of oil
  • Use just a tablespoon or two of coconut milk instead of heavy cream
  • Flavor with chili garlic paste or sauce instead of salty, fatty ingredients
  • Add punch with ginger, lemongrass and lime juice
  • Season with herbs and spices instead of salty sauces
  • Use small amount of natural peanut butter for richness

With smart substitutions, it’s possible to get tons of flavor without breaking the calorie bank on your drunken noodle sauce.

Putting it All Together for Low-Calorie Drunken Noodles

Here is an example recipe for drunken noodles that keeps the total calorie count to around 500 calories per serving:

Ingredients

  • 150g spiralized zucchini noodles
  • 100g chicken breast, sliced
  • 1 cup broccoli florets
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 3 tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp natural peanut butter
  • 1 tsp coconut sugar
  • 1 tbsp chili garlic sauce
  • 1-inch ginger, minced
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Chopped cilantro, basil and scallions for garnish

Instructions

  1. Spiralize zucchini into noodles. Set aside.
  2. Slice chicken breast and vegetables. Set aside.
  3. In small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, peanut butter, coconut sugar, chili garlic sauce, ginger and lime juice to make sauce mixture.
  4. Heat a skillet or wok over medium high heat and spray with cooking spray or brush with sesame oil.
  5. Add chicken and stir fry for 2-3 minutes until starting to brown.
  6. Add broccoli and bell pepper and continue to stir fry another 2 minutes.
  7. Add zucchini noodles and sauce mixture to pan and toss to coat everything well. Stir fry for 2 more minutes until noodles are tender but still have some crunch.
  8. Remove from heat and garnish with chopped cilantro, basil and scallions.

This version uses spiralized zucchini instead of noodles, maximizes low calorie vegetables, uses lean chicken breast, and makes the sauce with broth instead of heavy oil. The end result is a large, satisfying plate of drunken noodles for around 500 calories!

The Calorie Tradeoffs With Noodle and Meat Choices

When deciding on the main ingredients for your drunken noodles, here is how the calorie count compares:

Noodle Options

Noodles Calories per 100g
Rice noodles 360
Rice vermicelli 330
Zucchini noodles 17
Shirataki noodles 10

Protein Options

Protein Calories per 100g
Chicken breast 110
Shrimp 90
Lean pork 145
Firm tofu 60
Beef 200

As you can see, going low-carb with vegetable noodles and choosing leaner proteins like chicken, shrimp and tofu can really drop the calories versus rice noodles and higher fat meats.

Should You Avoid Drunken Noodles If Watching Calories?

Drunken noodles don’t have to be off-limits when watching your calorie intake. With some simple modifications, you can still enjoy the iconic Thai noodle dish without sabotaging your health goals.

Some tips include:

  • Opt for veggie noodles instead of rice or wheat noodles
  • Choose lean proteins like chicken breast, shrimp or tofu
  • Bulk up on low-calorie vegetables
  • Make sauce with broth instead of heavy oil
  • Stick to a moderate 300 gram portion

There are plenty of ways to lighten up drunken noodles so they can still fit into a calorie-controlled diet. With smart ingredient choices and reasonable portions, you can still enjoy this delicious Thai favorite.

Conclusion

Drunken noodles are a beloved Thai dish, but their high calorie content can seem to contradict their light, fresh flavor profile. At restaurants, a single plate can easily contain over 1,000 calories. However, with some simple substitutions and cooking adjustments, it’s possible to enjoy this tasty noodle dish while still watching your calorie intake. The keys are choosing lean proteins like chicken or shrimp, bulking up on nutritious low-calorie vegetables, lightening up the sauce, and sticking to reasonable portions. With a few tweaks, homemade drunken noodles can provide a delicious meal that will satisfy your cravings without sabotaging your health goals.

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