One-Pan Stir-Fry Noodles with Veggies
A quick and cozy one-pan noodle dish that toddlers love! The chicken I used is marinated with my mom’s homemade amazake, giving it natural sweetness and tenderness, then cooked together with soft onions, carrots, and broccoli. Tossed with chewy thin Shanghai noodles and a light, mild sauce, this stir-fry is nourishing, easy to chew, and balanced enough to serve on repeat for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients (serves 2 toddlers)
1 boneless chicken thigh (pre-marinated, diced)
120 g thin Shanghai noodles (I used this)
½ small carrot, finely grated
¼ small onion, very finely diced
2–3 small broccoli florets, chopped into tiny toddler-friendly pieces
A few drops sesame oil (optional, skip for under 2)
Sauce:
1 tsp shoyu koji (or soy sauce)
1 tsp mirin
1 tbsp water
Instructions
Cook noodles
Boil thin Shanghai noodles (or any noodles you have on hand).
Drain and snip into shorter strands with kitchen scissors for toddlers.
Cook chicken & veggies together
Heat a small pan and add the marinated chicken. Cook until the outside is sealed.
Add onion, carrot, and broccoli directly to the same pan. Sauté together with a splash of water until the chicken is fully cooked through and the veggies are tender.
Add noodles
Toss the cooked noodles into the pan with the chicken and vegetables.
Add sauce
Mix shoyu koji, mirin, and water. Pour into the pan.
Stir gently to coat everything and let the sauce bubble for about 30 seconds so the mirin’s alcohol cooks off.
Serve
Cool to a safe temperature before serving. Cut chicken and noodles into bite-sized pieces for toddlers.
Notes:
Marinade: The chicken can be marinated in amazake if you have it, or substitute with yogurt + soy/mirin. Shoyu koji alone also works beautifully.
Customizable: Swap broccoli for zucchini, mushrooms, or spinach depending on what your toddler enjoys.
Family-friendly: Adults can season their portion further with sesame oil, soy sauce, or chili oil after serving toddlers.
