When it’s an emergency dinner, this Spicy Peanut Sauce Noodles recipe saves the day in just 10 minutes! Made with simple pantry ingredients, create the ultimate flavorful Peanut Noodles for dinner tonight!
These ultra light and creamy Peanut Butter Noodles are easily one of my favorite last-minute Pantry Staple Recipes because they’re super cheap and we always have the ingredients on hand. Plus, when hanger kicks in, sometimes emergency noodles are a MUST!
If you have a little extra time, you can serve them with these 5-minute Spicy Garlic Edamame and Chinese Steamed Fish a full spread in under 20 minutes! If you’re a spicy lover, don’t forget the Sichuan Chili Oil (p.s. my spicy chili oil recipe is foolproof)!
❤️ Highlights
🥘Ingredients
You only need a handful of ingredients to make this easy Peanut Noodles recipe!
- Smooth vs Chunky Peanut Butter: Unlike 60% of Americans who prefer smooth peanut butter, I love extra chunky peanut butter for everything usually. For this recipe though, smooth peanut butter is so much easier to make the sauce! Plus, you can always add as many crushed peanuts as you want after anyway!
- Spaghetti Noodles: Spaghetti noodles are always in my pantry and they’re definitely budget-friendly if we happen to run out. You can easily swap these out though for whatever you have on hand (check Variations & Substitutions below for ideas!).
- Chili Oil: This is always a must for me because I loveee spicy! Use your favorite one. We always have my spicy Garlic Chili Oil on hand!
- Rice Vinegar: I like to add just a splash and it makes a world of difference! It brightens the sauce so the noodles don’t feel so heavy… you won’t be able to resist going back for more!
See recipe card for quantities.
📖 Variations & Substitutions
This Peanut Sauce Noodles recipe is delicious as is and they’re SO customizable too!
- Various Noodles: Spaghetti noodles take the longest time in the recipe but if you want noodles even faster, you can use fresh noodles (I like hand-cut wheat!) that usually take no more than 5 minutes! Or, you could even use ramen noodles for a mouthwatering twist of instant ramen 🙂
- Spicy Level: All that mouth-smacking spicy flavor comes from the chili oil you decide to use, so make sure to taste it, then adjust accordingly.
- Bolster Your Meal: Here’s an easy way bulk up your meal! This is especially good if you have extra veggies or protein you need to clear out in the back of the fridge, such as:
- Shredded rotisserie chicken
- Shredded carrots
- Edamame
- Shredded cabbage
- Thinly sliced peppers
- Steamed bok choy
🔪 Instructions
The longest part of this recipe is cooking the noodles, so first things first! Then, while that gets going, quickly make your sauce.
Mix everything together & you’re pretty much ready to eat. Yep, this is seriously the easiest recipe – I promise!
Step 1: Bring pot of water to boil, then add salt, & add spaghetti noodles. Cook according to package instructions.
Step 2: Meanwhile in a mixing bowl, make the sauce by combining smooth peanut butter, low-sodium soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, garlic, & chili oil. Gradually add pasta water, if needed, to get sauce to your desired consistency. Set aside.
Step 3: Drain noodles, pour desired amount of sauce on top, then combine well. At this point, you can also add any mix-ins!
Step 4: Finish by garnishing with green onions & crushed peanuts if you’re feeling fancy, then enjoy!
👩🏽🍳 Key Tips
- Perfecting Consistency: The amount of water to add to your sauce can vary depending on your desired consistency. Add the water last and adjust accordingly.
- Extra Sauce: This recipe makes enough sauce to be deliciously saucy & will continue to slightly thicken over time. I recommend pouring your desired amount of sauce onto the noodles for control. Your noodles won’t dry up with extra sauce and it gives you a little wiggle room if you decide to add mix-ins!
- Make Ahead: If you want to take these spicy Peanut Noodles to lunch, drizzle a little oil on the noodles to keep them from sticking and keep them separate from the sauce so they don’t bloat. Mix them up when you’re ready to eat!
💭 Recipe FAQs
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Spicy Peanut Sauce Noodles
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 8 oz spaghetti noodles
- 1 green onion thinly sliced, optional for garnish
- 1 tablespoon crushed peanuts optional for garnish
For the Sauce:
- 1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 ½ tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 – 4 teaspoons chili oil homemade or store-bought, adjust to your spice level
- ½ – 1 ½ tablespoon water from boiling noodles
Instructions
- In a medium-sized pot, bring water to a boil. Add spaghetti noodles & cook according to the package’s directions.
- In the meantime, combine the sauce ingredients in a mixing bowl. Remember to add the water from the noodles last to slightly loosen the sauce and get it to your desired consistency. Keep in mind the water also dilutes the flavor.
- Drain noodles, pour desired amount of sauce on top. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, if you’re feeling fancy, then enjoy!
Notes
- Noodles: Spaghetti noodles are super convenient but you can also use fresh wheat noodles from Asian markets, or even ramen noodles.
- Peanut Butter Preference:Smooth peanut butter is recommended for the sauce & you can add crushed peanuts for crunch. Chunky peanut butter works too, but you’ll need to add more for a creamy consistency.
- Chili Oil: The spice level depends on the chili oil you use. Make sure taste then adjust to your taste buds!
- Toppings: Bolster your meal by adding toppings like rotisserie chicken, edamame, shredded carrots, cabbage, sliced peppers, or steamed bok choy.
- Key Tips:
- Sauce Consistency: Don’t forget to add water to the sauce last! If you want your sauce to be just right, add water gradually and adjust until it’s perfect.
- Sauciness: This recipe makes a ton of yummy sauce that thickens up a bit as it sits. To keep your noodles from drying out, pour the sauce over them as you like. Plus, extra sauce means you can add in some tasty mix-ins if you want!
- Meal Prep: Want to bring these tasty Spicy Peanut Noodles to work? Drizzle a bit of oil on the noodles to keep them from sticking, then store noodles and sauce separately to keep everything fresh. Combine when you’re ready to eat!
Nutrition
Exact calculations may vary. For the most accurate nutritional information, use your preferred nutrition calculator, actual ingredients, and quantities used for the recipe. Please consult with your physician or registered dietitian if more precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
