Creamy Peanut Noodles
Equipment
Ingredients
Noodles
- 8 oz noodles of choice such as spaghetti, ramen, or wheat noodles, I used instant ramen.
Creamy Peanut Sauce
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tsp sugar
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp reserved noodle water
Optional Garnish
- Sesame seeds
- Sliced scallions
- Chili flakes
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the noodles until al dente.
- Reserve a few tablespoons of noodle water before draining the noodles.
- Whisk together the peanut butter, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, minced garlic, rice vinegar, sugar, heavy cream, and noodle water until smooth.
- Add the drained noodles directly into the bowl with the sauce. Toss thoroughly until your noodles are fully covered.
- Transfer the noodles to serving bowls while warm. Optionally garnish with sesame seeds, scallions, and chili flakes.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Table of Contents
Why I Love Using Peanut Butter In My Creamy Peanut Noodles
Peanut butter is one of those ingredients that most people think go with only desserts or snacks, but I think it tastes the best in savory dishes, like these Creamy Peanut Noodles. What I like about using peanut butter for the sauce is it brings an instant richness and depth without needing to be cooked or simmered for long periods of time. The peanut butter flavor isn’t too sweet, don’t worry! The cream also compliments the sauce perfectly and makes it feel smooth instead of rich and dense. The vinegar and garlic also add just enough brightness to the sauce to prevent the noodles from feeling too heavy. With this balance, the peanut butter’s flavors shine, and these Creamy Peanut Noodles end up being a dish that’s comforting, filling, and super easy to make!
How These Creamy Peanut Noodles Come Together in Minutes
One of the biggest reasons I make these Creamy Peanut Noodles so often is because of how quickly they come together. While the noodles cook, you can make the sauce in less than two minutes! The best part is you don’t even need to cut the garlic. I like to use a microplane or a garlic grater instead, and it’s way easier to make a quick dish without any of the dishes. Another trick to make these noodles as luscious as possible is to toss the noodles while they are still warm, as it allows the sauce to fully emulsify and cling to every strand of noodles. These Creamy Peanut Noodles come together very quickly, but it tastes like something that should take a lot more effort.
What You’ll Need To Make Creamy Peanut Noodles
Noodles
- 8 oz noodles of choice such as spaghetti, ramen, or wheat noodles, I used instant ramen.
Creamy Peanut Sauce
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tsp sugar
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp reserved noodle water
Optional Garnish
- Sesame seeds
- Sliced scallions
- Chili flakes
How to Make Creamy Peanut Noodles
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the noodles until al dente.
Reserve a few tablespoons of noodle water before draining the noodles.
Whisk together the peanut butter, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, minced garlic, rice vinegar, sugar, heavy cream, and noodle water until smooth.
Add the drained noodles directly into the bowl with the sauce. Toss thoroughly until your noodles are fully covered.
Transfer the noodles to serving bowls while warm. Optionally garnish with sesame seeds, scallions, and chili flakes.
Tips and Variations
If you prefer your sauce to be a little thinner, add more noodle water gradually until you get the texture you want.
To get an even stronger peanut flavor, increase the peanut butter as much as you’d like while keeping all the other measurements the same.
If you’re into aesthetics and want an even deeper color, increase the dark soy sauce slightly while reducing light soy sauce the same amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use crunchy peanut butter?
Yes, but keep in mind that the sauce will have more texture and may require some extra noodle water to loosen it up.
Why do these noodles thicken after cooling?
When the noodles cool, the peanut butter and cream starts to firm up. If you want to eat it after it’s firm, add a splash of warm water to loosen the sauce again.
Can I make this ahead of time?
You absolutely can! I like to reheat them with a splash of water before throwing it in the microwave for 1 minute.
What to Make Next
If you want even more noodles, you’ll love my Chow Mein!
Want an easy weeknight dinner? Try my Garlic Chicken Stir Fry!
Craving something a little more indulgent? Make my Korean Fried Chicken!
