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When you’re craving a noodle stir fry… grab a kelp noodles recipe to the rescue! This keto stir fry, featuring Asian kelp noodles, tastes like the takeout noodle dishes you may be missing. All the flavor, none of the carbs and questionable ingredients. Are kelp noodles keto? YES, they certainly are and kelp noodle recipes like this one will turn you into a kelp noodle believer if you have any doubts!
This easy, paleo skillet stir-fry is a medley of tender chicken, crisp veggies, light kelp noodles, and a naturally sweet Asian sesame sauce. My sea kelp noodle recipe comes together quickly and is packed with protein, fresh produce, and flavorful sauce – you’re going to love this meal! But, if you want it to be a little more filling, pair it with honey garlic chicken for the ultimate feast. And just like my keto ramen or almond chicken, it doesn’t skimp on flavor even though we’re cutting carbs.
Today’s kelp noodles recipe was inspired by my friend, Marina, who introduced me to a variation of this dish. That was my first time trying both kelp noodles and coconut aminos, and right away I was hooked. I added chicken to her recipe to make it a full meal, threw in some extra veggies, and built on the plain coconut aminos to make a sesame chicken sauce that’s simple to make, yet complex in taste. When are you going to add this 30 minute meal to your dinner menu?
The original kelp pasta recipe was originally posted on May 11, 2016 and republished in October 2019, with new tips and photos.
What Are Kelp Noodles?
Kelp noodles are made from edible kelp, a.k.a. seaweed! They have a chewy texture and are very low in calories and carbohydrates.
Recipes using kelp noodles are great for low carb and keto pasta recipes. (They’re one of my favorite keto pasta alternatives!)
How To Make Kelp Noodles
This keto kelp noodle recipe is easy! One of my favorite aspects of this stir-fry kelp noodles recipe is that it’s an all-in-one skillet dinner.
That means less cleanup, and it’s quick to make, too – under 30 minutes from start to finish. No need to make a side dish to go with the main dish, or vice versa, because this one is both.
Here’s how to make kelp noodles:
- Rinse kelp noodles. If you’re wondering how to cook kelp noodles… the answer is you don’t! They need a quick rinse. We’re stir frying them at the end of the cooking process, but they don’t require cooking like traditional pasta.
- Stir fry mushrooms. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok. Fry the mushrooms, until the liquid from the mushrooms has evaporated.
- Stir fry chicken and veggies. Add chicken, carrots, and broccoli to the pan and stir fry until the chicken is almost cooked through.
TIP: You don’t want to fully cook the chicken at this step, so that it doesn’t dry out as you continue to cook the stir fry. You want it just almost done at this point. It will finish cooking in the following steps!
- Mix together kelp noodle stir fry sauce. Whisk together coconut aminos, sesame oil, garlic, and sesame seeds.
- Stir fry Asian kelp noodles. Add the noodles and sauce to the pan. Stir fry until heated through. Season with salt to taste.
Are Kelp Noodles Keto?
A super common question is, are kelp noodles keto friendly? And the answer is yes!
On their own, a 4 oz serving of japanese kelp noodles has just 6 calories and 2 grams net carbs. A great low calorie and low carbohydrate option.
What Do Kelp Noodles Taste Like?
Asian kelp noodles have a very mild flavor, which makes them a great blank canvas for salads, noodle casseroles, and of course, stir fries!
If you’ve never tried a kelp noodles recipe, I urge you to do so. The texture is actually fairly similar to “real” pasta, without all the starch and calories. It’s probably somewhere between spaghetti squash and wheat pasta – not as sweet as the spaghetti squash and a little firmer, but of course there’s still a difference compared to wheat noodles.
Kelp noodles even have some nutrients, including iron, calcium, vitamin K, and fiber. I thought that was pretty impressive for a food that contains almost no calories or carbs. The thickness is about the same as angel hair pasta.
Where To Get Kelp Noodles?
You can buy keto kelp noodles here! Otherwise, your local health food store might carry them as well.
Can You Make Kelp Noodle Recipes Ahead?
Yes, you can make kelp noodle recipes ahead of time. Because the kelp noodles don’t require any cooking, they can easily be made ahead of time and they are perfect for meal prep.
Easy kelp noodle recipes like this one can be made ahead and then stored in the refrigerator. Reheat until hot and they are ready at any time!
More Keto Pasta Recipes
There’s no need to miss out on pasta if you’re low carb or keto, you just need to find a good alternative!
- The Best Low Carb Pasta Alternatives – The ultimate guide to low carb and keto pastas! Tips, tricks, pastas of all kinds, and plenty of recipes to inspire you.
- Zucchini Noodles Alfredo – Zoodles with an alfredo sauce, YUM! If you love the classic alfredo flavor, you’ve got to try it on zucchini noodles. Light, but so full of flavor.
- Zucchini Spaghetti & Meatballs – The classic reinvented. You won’t miss the “noodles” in this dish, I’ve swapped them with zucchini noodles.
- Keto Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai – I love this twist on pad thai. It’s made with chicken, but you could also add shrimp, too!
- Cauliflower Lasagna – Cauliflower stands in for noodles in this keto lasagna. And, the method is way easier than you might expect.
Tools To Make Asian Kelp Noodles
Tap the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.
- 8-Inch Chef’s Knife – Easily chop up the chicken and veggies in this kelp pasta recipe!
- Wok – Kelp noodle recipes are easy to make in a big wok like this one. No noodles will be lost over the side!
- Kelp Noodles– These seaweed noodles are keto friendly pasta are great to stock in your pantry.
Keto Sesame Asian Kelp Noodles Recipe
Keto Sesame Asian Kelp Noodles Recipe
This healthy, EASY kelp noodles recipe is full of tender chicken, crisp veggies, sesame sauce, and Asian kelp noodles. Keto, paleo, and ready in 30 minutes!
Recipe Video
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Ingredients
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Stir fry
Sauce
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Fry the mushrooms for about 5-8 minutes, until the liquid from the mushrooms has evaporated.
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Add the chicken pieces, carrots, and broccoli (focus on the chicken touching the pan). Stir fry for 6-8 minutes, until the chicken is almost cooked through but not dry.
- To make the sauce, whisk together the coconut aminos, toasted sesame oil, garlic, and sesame seeds.
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Add the kelp noodles and sauce mixture to the pan. Stir fry for about 5 minutes, until heated through. Season with sea salt to taste if needed.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/4 of entire recipe
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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17 Comments
Jeannette Gagne
0I used the kelp noodles in my spaghetti sauce…can I freeze the leftovers?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Jeannette, I have not tried freezing these noodles before, but have read on some packaging that it’s not recommended. Let us know if it works if you decide to try it anyway.
Jodi Watson
0Our family loves this recipe. We’ve been making AT LEAST twice a month for well over a year (2 maybe?). My order of cooking is slightly different. I start with the mushrooms and add the chicken after a few minutes (I use thigh meat – SO yum). It creates SO much liquid that I often have to poor off the broth before adding the veggies. We’ve used kelp noodles, sweet potato noodles, and gluten free ramen – can’t choose a fav. We then serve with some red miso paste and it’s rare that we have leftovers. Such a wonderful, healthy, quick and easy meal to pull together any night of the week. Tonight we are going to try a vegan version! Thank you, for creating and sharing this!
Candace
0Can I use regular sesame oil instead of toasted sesame oil?
Wholesome Yum A
0That should be fine, Candace!
Emily
0I’ve been meaning to try kelp noodles – What a unique recipe!
Tara
0So colorful and packed full of veggies! Love the sauce.
Anita
0First time reading about kelp noodles! I didn’t even know these exist. But making the recipe as is, with soba noodles, was a huge success too. 🙂
Matt Freund
0These look delicious. I love stir fry things. I am going to give these a try. They look totally great.
Irina
0This noodle recipe is amazingly delicious!
Marcelle
0I Just have to say this…I have been keto for over two years and your blog is now the FIRST place I go when I am looking for a keto recipe! YOU ROCK, WOMAN! I cannot wait to try kelp noodles (I’ve tried every other kind) and my carboholic husband has liked most of the recipes I have made from your site! KEEP UP THE FANTASTIC WORK!!!! My only issue is that the kelp noodles you recommend are no longer available. Is there another you can recommend? I really don’t want to buy a 12 pack to try them.
Wholesome Yum
0Hi Marcelle, I just checked my link on the recipe card and they’re in stock–they’re sold by the pound in one package.
Susan Rettela
0This sounds great! I use kelp noodles a lot but have discovered that the only way to soften them is to put them in an acid like lemon juice or tomato sauce. Your recipe doesn’t mention this. Your photo looks like they are soft so my questions is what are you doing to soften them before adding them? I’ve tried boiling them and cooking in oil – nothing but acid seems to give them the texture of real noodles so what are you doing to give them the soft texture?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Susan! I haven’t tried that and now need to do it ASAP. I just made this as the recipe was written and they did soften as I cooked them. I look forward to trying your tricks with lemon juice and tomato sauce!
Kimberly Christie
0I soak them for the afternoon in fresh lemon juice and a lot of salt.
Jean
0After cooking, can these recipes be frozen. My husband will not eat Keto/Paleo.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Jean! I have not tried freezing these noodles before, but have read on some packaging that it’s not recommended. Let us know if it works if you decide to try it anyway.