Why These Garlic Peanut Butter Noodles Are My Favorite

In my household, these Garlic Peanut Butter Noodles are always on repeat because they’re so easy to make and so delicious. The peanut butter gives the sauce this smooth, creamy base while the garlic, soy sauce, and vinegar add their own savory and acidic notes to help give the sauce even more flavor and balance. When you toss the noodles and sauce together, the sauce coats each strand instead of just pooling at the bottom of the bowl. It’s creamy, salty, and will keep you going back for another bite every time!

Why You Need To Mix The Sauce Separately

When making these Garlic Peanut Butter Noodles, you need to mix the sauce separately before adding the noodles so the peanut butter is fully combined with the other ingredients. This is so important because you don’t want chunks of peanut butter to be in your final dish. Additionally, making the sauce ahead of time will also allow the other ingredients to be fully integrated in the sauce as well. When tossing the noodles, you can also use your hands to make sure the sauce really coats those noodles, which will yield that restaurant quality smoothness!

---

What You’ll Need To Make Garlic Peanut Butter Noodles

Noodles

• 8 oz noodles of choice such as spaghetti, udon, or ramen

Sauce

• ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 1 tbsp light soy sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tsp sugar

Optional Garnish

• Sesame seeds
• Chili flakes
• Scallions

---

How to Make Garlic Peanut Butter Noodles

Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles until al dente. Reserve a few tablespoons of hot noodle water before draining.

Stir together the peanut butter, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, minced garlic, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and sugar until smooth.

Add the drained noodles directly into the bowl with the sauce. Toss thoroughly until every strand is evenly coated.

Optionally garnish with scallions, sesame seeds, and chili flakes.

---

Tips and Variations

If you don’t like your sauce too thick,  add more noodle water gradually until the texture feels right to you!

For extra spice, stir in chili flakes directly into the sauce before tossing.

To increase some added texture, add some toasted sesame seeds right before serving!

For a more peanuty flavor, use natural peanut butter instead and mix thoroughly to prevent separation.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use crunchy peanut butter?

Yes, but the sauce will have more texture and may require some hot noodle water to loosen properly.

I noticed my sauce was thick after cooling!

When the noodles cool, the noodle starches solidify and the peanut butter also firms up, so adding a splash of warm water before serving helps loosen it again.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days and in order to reheat, microwave for 2 minutes with a bit of water to bring the sauce back to its original consistency.

---

What to Make Next

If you want more noodle recipes, check out my Peanut Butter Noodles!

For another meal prep idea, you’ll love my Mongolian Ground Beef!

Craving something more indulgent? Make my Korean Fried Chicken!