Spicy Garlic Noodles Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 8 oz noodles of choice, spaghetti, ramen, or wheat noodles
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Spicy Garlic Sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 2 tsp chili flakes, to taste
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp reserved noodle water
Optional Garnishes
- Sesame seeds
- Scallions
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook your noodles until about 1 minute before al dente. Reserve a few tablespoons of noodle water, then drain.
- Heat a pan over medium heat with a bit of oil. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, chili flakes, sugar, and sesame oil. Stir and cook until the sauce begins to slightly thicken.
- Add the noodles along with a bit of reserved noodle water and toss until the sauce evenly coats the noodles.
- Serve in a bowl and optionally garnish with sesame seeds and scallions.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Table of Contents
- Spicy Garlic Noodles Recipe
- Introduction
- Why This Spicy Garlic Noodles Recipe Is Beauty In Simplicity
- Why The Sauce Stands Out In This Spicy Garlic Noodles Recipe
- Spicy Garlic Noodles Recipe Ingredients
- How to Make Spicy Garlic Noodles
- What to Serve with Spicy Garlic Noodles
- How to Store Spicy Garlic Noodles
- Spicy Garlic Noodles Substitutions
- What to Make Next
Introduction
In my opinion, everyone needs a go-to noodle recipe that they can make super quickly when they’re tired, and this Spicy Garlic Noodles Recipe is that exact recipe for me. It’s not only quick but also uses pantry staples and will always be super flavorful. In about 20 minutes you go from boiling water to eating, and it’s this perfect balance of salty, garlicky, spicy, and just enough sweetness to make you keep going in for more and more until the bowl is empty!
Why This Spicy Garlic Noodles Recipe Is Beauty In Simplicity
This Spicy Garlic Noodles Recipe was developed to give the most flavor without adding any extra ingredients or steps. For example, the garlic is cooked first because its flavors will infuse with the oil, which becomes the primary flavor driver for the entire dish. Additionally, once the noodles are added, the flavors that are absorbed are already evenly distributed, so you won’t be getting these big pockets of garlic flavor. Finally, the noodle water is added to help the sauce cling to the noodles, which gives you that smooth finish instead of a dry noodle. Ultimately, these steps aren’t complicated, but these are crucial to making a beautiful dish that will become your weeknight staple!
Why The Sauce Stands Out In This Spicy Garlic Noodles Recipe
The sauce is what defines this Spicy Garlic Noodles Recipe. The sauce uses a combination of both light and dark soy sauce (I use these all the time!), which gives the sauce both that deep, rich color and its signature saltiness. The sugar, on the other hand, balances out that saltiness and some of the spice from the chili flakes. Finally, the sesame oil adds the dish’s signature nutty finish that you’ll find in a lot of classic Asian noodle dishes. It’s in there for a reason and will bring your noodles to the next level!
Spicy Garlic Noodles Recipe Ingredients
Noodles of choice, I used instant ramen – The base of the dish. Ramen, spaghetti, or wheat noodles all work well and will soak up the sauce nicely.
Garlic – The main flavor of the dish. Cooking it in oil creates a strong, aromatic base that perfumes the entire dish.
Sauce (dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, chili flakes, sugar, sesame oil, noodle water) – A balanced mix that seasons the noodles, adds that signature spiciness, and creates a glossy coating that clings to every strand of noodles.
Optional garnishes (sesame seeds, scallions) – Add texture and color to finish the dish.
How to Make Spicy Garlic Noodles
Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles until just before al dente, then reserve some noodle water and drain.
Heat a pan over medium heat with oil and cook the garlic until fragrant.
Add dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, chili flakes, sugar, and sesame oil, then stir to combine. Cook until the sauce begins to slightly thicken.
Add the noodles along with a bit of reserved noodle water. Toss everything together until the sauce evenly coats the noodles.
Serve immediately and garnish with sesame seeds and scallions if desired.
What to Serve with Spicy Garlic Noodles
This Spicy Garlic Noodles Recipe is the base of the entire dish, but if you want to make it more of a complete meal, here are a few of my favorites:
- Grilled chicken. A great source of protein that compliments the spicy garlic sauce perfectly.
- Fried egg. A classic topping that brings another layer of silky richness to the dish.
- Pickled red onions. This is a great topping that compliments the spicy noodles perfectly its acidity.
How to Store Spicy Garlic Noodles
This Spicy Garlic Noodles Recipe can be a little tricky to store because the sauce will thicken up around the noodles, but there are a few ways to get around this. Firstly, you can keep any leftover noodles in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You have a couple of options for reheating as well:
- Reheating in a pan. The best way to restore the noodles and get the same texture and flavor as the day you made them. Add a few tablespoons of water to loosen up the sauce if needed.
- Microwaving. You can microwave the noodles for 2 minutes on medium high power. I like to add a few tablespoons of water and mix prior to microwaving to help with the texture.
Spicy Garlic Noodles Substitutions
This Spicy Garlic Noodles Recipe is very flexible, and you can substitute some ingredients depending on whatever ingredients you have available. A few of my favorite substitutions are:
- Different noodles. Any noodle works! You can use rice noodles, udon, or even pasta depending on what you have. The shape and texture may vary, but the flavors will still be amazing.
- Chili oil. If you don’t have chili flakes, chili oil is a great alternative that adds even more flavor.
- Honey. Can be used instead of sugar.
What to Make Next
Craving something with some extra protein? You’ll love my Chicken Bulgogi!
Want something you can cook on a weeknight? Try my Thai Basil Ground Beef!
Feeling like beef instead? Cook my Mongolian Beef!
