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Bowl of authentic Thai pad woon sen glass noodles with vegetables and meat garnished with herbs

Easy Thai Glass Noodles Recipe - 20 Minute Weeknight Dinner

This authentic pad woon sen features tender glass noodles stir-fried with ground meat and crisp vegetables in a savory Thai sauce. Ready in just 20 minutes, it's the perfect quick weeknight dinner with restaurant-quality flavors.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Thai
Calories: 385

Ingredients
  

For the Noodles
  • 8 oz dried glass noodles bean thread or cellophane noodles
  • 4 cups hot water for soaking
For the Stir Fry
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil divided
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger minced
  • 8 oz ground pork or chicken
  • 1 medium carrot julienned
  • 4 oz snow peas trimmed
For the Sauce
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 2 tbsp chicken broth or water
Optional Add-ins
  • red pepper flakes for heat
  • fresh cilantro for garnish
  • lime wedges for serving
  • fish sauce for extra umami depth

Equipment

  • 1 Large Wok or Skillet for stir-frying
  • 1 Medium mixing bowl for soaking noodles
  • 1 Small Bowl for sauce mixing
  • 1 Fine Mesh Strainer for draining noodles
  • 1 Sharp knife and cutting board for prep work

Method
 

Prepare the Noodles
  1. Place the glass noodles in a large bowl and cover with hot water. Let soak for 8-10 minutes until softened and translucent. Drain well and cut into shorter lengths with kitchen shears for easier eating. Pro tip: Don't oversoak the noodles - they'll finish cooking in the pan and can become mushy if too soft initially.
Make the Sauce
  1. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and chicken broth until the sugar dissolves completely. Set aside. Pro tip: Make sure the sugar is fully dissolved to prevent burning in the hot pan.
Cook the Protein
  1. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large wok or skillet over high heat. Add the ground meat and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, for 3-4 minutes until browned and cooked through. Pro tip: Don't overcrowd the pan - let the meat develop a nice sear for better flavor.
  2. Push the meat to one side of the pan and add minced garlic and ginger to the empty space. Stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant, then mix with the meat. Pro tip: Adding aromatics to an empty spot prevents them from burning while ensuring they bloom properly.
Add Vegetables
  1. Add remaining oil to the pan, then add carrots and mushrooms. Stir-fry for 2 minutes until carrots start to soften. Pro tip: Keep the vegetables moving in the pan for even cooking and to maintain their crisp texture.
  2. Add snow peas and stir-fry for another minute until bright green and crisp-tender. Pro tip: Snow peas cook very quickly - add them last among the vegetables to prevent overcooking.
Combine and Finish
  1. Add the drained glass noodles to the pan along with the prepared sauce. Toss everything together using tongs for 2-3 minutes until the noodles are heated through and have absorbed the sauce. Pro tip: Use tongs to gently toss - this prevents the delicate noodles from breaking.
  2. Remove from heat and stir in green onions. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional soy sauce or a splash of fish sauce if desired. Pro tip: The noodles will continue absorbing flavors off the heat, so don't over-sauce initially.
Serve
  1. Transfer to serving plates and garnish with fresh cilantro and lime wedges. Serve immediately while hot. Pro tip: Pad woon sen is best enjoyed fresh and hot - the texture changes as it cools.

Notes

  • Soak glass noodles just until pliable - they'll finish cooking in the pan
  • Have all ingredients prepped before starting as stir-frying happens very quickly
  • Adjust sauce quantities to taste as different brands vary in saltiness