Why I Keep Coming Back To Garlic Noodles

I love these Garlic Noodles because this is what I turn to when I need to feed a ton of people but still want it to be delicious. Personally, I love to cook, but sometimes it does feel a little bit tiring, but as soon as you smell the garlic cooking, I know you guys are going to know that you made the right choice to cook! The sauce is super buttery and rich, and the whole thing tastes like if garlic bread and noodles made an amazing baby! You don’t need to have a ton of ingredients on hand to make this, you just need a little bit of time!

What Makes The Sauce So Good

Some people may shrug whenever they hear “Garlic Noodles” because it could be just a few cloves in a huge pile of noodles, but trust me, these noodles are garlic heavy in the best way possible. When you take ten cloves of garlic sautéed in butter until golden brown to form the base of a sauce with fish sauce, oyster sauce, and soy sauce, you get something truly special. Additionally, another sprinkle of parmesan adds even another layer of flavor and umami to bring it all together. The sauce is deceptively simple for the flavor that it provides.

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Ingredients You’ll Need To Make Garlic Noodles

Noodles:

• 6 oz noodles of your choice (spaghetti, lo mein, ramen, etc.)

Sauce:

• 2 tbsp butter
• 10 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 1 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• ½ tsp fish sauce
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp grated parmesan
• 2–3 tbsp reserved noodle water

Optional Garnishes:

• Black pepper
• Sliced scallions

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How to Make Garlic Noodles

Boil your noodles until one minute shy of al dente. Reserve some noodle water before draining.

Mince all the garlic finely.

In a pan, melt the butter over medium heat and sauté the garlic for 2 minutes until golden.

Add the dark soy, light soy, oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and parmesan. Stir everything together for about a minute.

Toss in the noodles and a splash of noodle water. Stir-fry until everything is glossy and the sauce clings to the noodles.

Serve hot. Optionally garnish with black pepper and scallions.

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Tips & Variations

More Garlic = More Flavor:

If you want an even stronger garlic flavor (ya’ll are crazy!) then go for it!

PLEASE Don’t Skip the Fish Sauce:

I know fish sauce smells very fishy, but it helps add depth and umami flavor. I promise it won’t taste fishy!

Parmesan Ties It All Together:

Parmesan is actually used in a lot of Asian noodle dishes because its cheesiness and savoriness helps round out the dish.

Any Noodle Works!

I love this dish because it can use any noodle type. I like to use instant ramen, but use whatever you’d like!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is jarred garlic okay?

You can, but I love to use fresh garlic is what makes this dish a lot more garlicky…if that makes sense. The flavor is sharper, cleaner, and way more satisfying.

What’s the best noodle for this recipe?

Spaghetti is always solid, but lo mein noodles or even instant ramen work just as well. Anything with a little chew to it works perfectly.

Can I make this in advance?

It’s best fresh, but leftovers are still good. Reheat with a splash of water or a little extra butter to make sure the sauce doesn’t congeal too much. I love to microwave it at 2 minutes to reheat it.

Is parmesan necessary?

It’s not essential, but it’s highly recommended! The umami and saltiness help balance the sweetness of the soy and sugar.

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Try These Next

• Want more buttery noodles? Try my Garlic Butter Noodles!
• Craving something that’s a little creamier? Try my Spicy Peanut Noodles.
• Need something a little spicier? Try my Spicy Pork Bulgogi!

→ What’s your lazy day noodle meal? Drop it in the comments!