Peanut Butter Chicken Noodles

So yes — we all know this is basically satay chicken. That being said for some reason, with young food-sensitive toddlers, giving it a more kid-friendly name like “peanut butter noodles” can really help with acceptance. It takes away some of that initial “I’m not eating that strange-sounding food” anxiety that can come with trying something new.

Same food. Less pressure. It can make a difference.

This recipe is a great dinner for the whole family. A great option for our one meal for one family mantra. It's easy to make plain portions of the core foods for any members of the family who need it without having to make an entire seperate meal.

Quick Recipe Snapshot

Prep time: 15 minutes (plus at least 1 hour marinating)
Cook time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4
Freezer friendly: Best made fresh (sauce keeps in the fridge)
Texture: Soft noodles with tender chicken

Age & Texture Guidance

From around 12 months with the foods cut appropriately:

Chicken: once cooked, chop the chicken slices into small bite sized pieces.
Noodles: vermicelli can be sticky without sauce, so chop into smaller lengths and coat well with sauce for younger babies.
Cucumber: the thin slices in the recipe are appropriate from 12 months on.
Sweetener: use maple syrup rather than honey for children under 12 months.

Allergens Present

• Peanuts (peanut butter — a rather large amount, being peanut butter chicken!)
• Soy (soy sauce)
• Wheat (in most soy sauces)

Allergen Substitutions

• You could recreate this with any other nut butter that is safe for your family, however it will have a different taste profile
• Use a gluten free soy sauce or tamari if avoiding wheat

Why We Love This Recipe

• One meal the whole family shares — no separate cooking
• Easy to serve plain portions for food-sensitive eaters
• A great way to keep peanut in the diet once introduced
• The kid-friendly name genuinely helps with acceptance
• Marinate ahead for a fast dinner on the night