Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup with Chicken

This easy, 30-minute Thai-inspired Red Curry Noodle Soup features flavorful coconut broth, juicy chicken, lime juice, and many veggies (bell peppers, zucchini, carrots, onions). It is cheaper, faster, and tastier than a take-out! This recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, packed with veggies and protein, and fiber-rich.

Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup with Chicken

I love making Thai-inspired dishes in the Fall and in the Winter. It's the ultimate comfort food: creamy, cozy, without being unhealthy. Everything is made in 30 minutes in one pot. Faster and healthier than take-out.  This flavorful recipe is packed with vegetables (bell peppers, zucchini, carrots, onions). I used gluten-free brown-rice ramen noodles. You can use regular GF rice noodles. This Asian-inspired soup uses basic ingredients and is perfect for busy family weeknights.

Cooking tips

• Use full-fat unsweetened coconut milk without any additives. Do not use lite version for this soup.
• Do not overcook. Rice noodles (or ramen noodles) generally take only about 2 minutes to cook in boiling water. Watch cooking times closely.
• Rice or ramen noodles are best on the same day. Once cooked, they tend to get mushy, so I don't recommend saving them for leftovers and reheating them later.
• Do not use the seasoning packet that came with the noodles. You will not need it for this recipe - so you can just throw it away.

What kind of noodles to use

• Rice noodles are usually thin and cook really quickly. They are made of brown rice and are gluten-free. They are commonly used in Thai dishes and soups.
• Gluten-free ramen noodles are what I love to use. I used 2 packages of rice ramen noodles - each package was 2.8 oz - Lotus Foods brand. Discard the flavor package.
• Regular instant ramen noodles are usually wheat-based and are not gluten-free. They cook really quickly as well. They are common in Chinese and Japanese dishes. Discard the flavor package if using ramen noodles.

Toppings

Red curry noodle soup is a well-balanced meal that features protein, carbs, and lots of veggies. It's quickly becoming one of my favorite soup recipes during the Fall and Winter seasons. Here are some toppings that you can add to enhance the appearance and the flavor of this soup:

• Chopped green onions or chopped chives
• Toasted nuts, such as cashews or peanuts
• Sesame seeds - use 2 colors (black and white) for presentation
• Sliced cooked egg
• Fresh herbs such as basil.

How to make it meatless

Skip the chicken, and add plant-based protein, such as chickpeas, or simply add more rice noodles. You can also add rice or quinoa.

Can you make it gluten-free?

• I recommend using gluten-free ramen noodles in this Thai red curry noodle soup. They hold up better in a soup, don't get mushy, and taste so good! You can even make this dish a day or two in advance - the noodles will not fall apart and they will keep their texture really well! You can also cook gluten-free rice noodles al dente to keep their texture. I used gluten-free rice ramen noodles - the Lotus Foods brand.

Storage Tips

• Fridge. Store this soup refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. If making this in advance, do not add noodles. Add noodles right before serving, otherwise, they will absorb the liquid, and the soup will thicken too much.
• I do not recommend freezing this dish.

Variations and substitutions

• Different types of noodles. The best choices for this recipe are rice noodles or gluten-free rice ramen noodles. However, you can also use egg noodles, spaghetti, or fettuccine instead! Just cook them in a separate pot according to package instructions and proceed with the recipe!
• Veggies. My favorites are spinach, bell peppers, snow peas, snap peas, and mushrooms. You can also add broccoli, chopped carrots, chopped asparagus, cauliflower, green beans, or sweet potatoes. All these will work great with red curry noodle soup.
• Nuts and seeds. I love adding nuts to ramen. Cashews and peanuts are the obvious choices. Sesame seeds also add a nice, nutty flavor.
• Honey can be replaced with brown sugar or maple syrup

4.51 from 63 votes

Thai-inspired Red Curry Noodle Soup with Chicken

This easy, 30-minute Thai-inspired Red Curry Noodle Soup features flavorful coconut broth, juicy chicken, lime juice, and many veggies (bell peppers, zucchini, carrots, onions). It is cheaper, faster, and tastier than a take-out! This recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, packed with veggies and protein, and fiber-rich.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Soup

Cuisine Asian, Thailand

Servings 6 people

Calories per serving 533 kcal

Author: Julia

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 oz baby bell peppers thinly sliced (or 1 red bell pepper)
• 1 large zucchini sliced
• 1 small yellow onion chopped
• 2 small carrots peeled and chopped
• 1 pound skinless boneless chicken breast thinly sliced (or tenderloins)
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• 5 cloves garlic minced
• ¼ cup red curry paste
• 14 ounces unsweetened coconut milk (1 can)
• 5 cups chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
• 6 ounces gluten-free rice noodles (or gluten-free ramen noodles)

Garnish

• 1 small lime thinly sliced
• fresh basil
• ⅓ cup peanuts

US Customary - Metric

Instructions 

• Heat olive oil on medium-high heat in a large saucepan or soup pot. Add sliced bell peppers and sliced zucchini, sprinkle lightly with salt, and cook for about 5 minutes or more, stirring once, until softened. Remove to a plate.
• Add chopped onions, carrots, and sliced chicken to the same saucepan. Add another tablespoon of olive oil if needed. Sprinkle with dried basil and a little salt, and cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes.
• Add minced garlic and red curry paste - stir with the chicken, onions, and carrots on medium heat for 1 minute.
• Add coconut milk, chicken broth, fish sauce, and honey.
• Boil for about 1 minute, stirring everything well. Then, reduce to a simmer and cook, covered, for about 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked.
• Add rice noodles (or ramen noodles) and cook for 5 more minutes on low heat (simmer) until the noodles are soft.
• Remove from heat. Adjust seasonings: add 2 tablespoons of lime juice (or more) and 1 more tablespoon of fish sauce (if needed). Add more honey if desired.
• Stir in cooked sliced bell peppers and zucchini.
• Serve in individual bowls, topped with peanuts, lime slices, and fresh basil.

Nutrition

Nutrition Information

Thai-inspired Red Curry Noodle Soup with Chicken

Amount per Serving

Calories

533

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

32

g

49

%

Saturated Fat

 

18

g

113

%

Trans Fat

 

0.01

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

3

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

9

g

Cholesterol

 

52

mg

17

%

Sodium

 

1893

mg

82

%

Potassium

 

924

mg

26

%

Carbohydrates

 

39

g

13

%

Fiber

 

5

g

21

%

Sugar

 

14

g

16

%

Protein

 

26

g

52

%

Vitamin A

 

5373

IU

107

%

Vitamin C

 

58

mg

70

%

Calcium

 

86

mg

9

%

Iron

 

4

mg

22

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition Disclaimer:

The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Keyword red curry noodle soup

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