Garlic Lovers, This One’s For You

Garlic Butter Noodles are my ultimate go-to when I need something fast, comforting, and absolutely loaded with flavor. With up to 15 cloves of garlic, there’s no holding back here. The garlic gets sautéed until it’s golden and fragrant, then tossed with butter, soy sauce, and parmesan for a nutty, rich, salty bite. Best part? It all comes together in under 20 minutes, making it a weeknight lifesaver.

Chopsticks lifting a glossy bite of garlic butter noodles from the bowl, showcasing the perfect blend of butter, garlic, and chili flakes.

That Chili Oil Kick Takes It Over the Top

The magic touch in these Garlic Butter Noodles is the finishing drizzle of chili oil. Just a spoonful adds gentle heat, a pop of red color, and that extra layer of depth that balances the richness of the butter and parmesan. I usually reach for a Korean-style chili oil or homemade, but really, whatever you have on hand will work beautifully. It’s that small step that keeps the flavor interesting from the first twirl to the last.

Garlic Butter Noodles Recipe

Main Ingredients

10–15 cloves garlic, minced
6 oz noodles (I used Korean udon, see note 1)
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
¼ cup parmesan
1 tablespoon chili oil
Optional: extra parmesan, parsley, chili flakes

How to Make Garlic Butter Noodles

Cook noodles 1 minute before al dente, then drain.

Melt butter with oil in a pan, add garlic, and sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant.

Minced garlic gently sizzling in a pool of melted butter in a nonstick skillet, the base for garlic butter noodles being prepared.

Add soy sauce, sugar, and parmesan; stir until combined into a sauce.

Parmesan cheese being sprinkled into a rich mixture of garlic and butter in a skillet, enhancing the umami of the garlic butter noodles.

Toss noodles in the sauce until fully coated.

Fresh udon noodles being added to a garlic butter sauce in a frying pan, ready to soak up the savory flavors.

Finish with chili oil and toss again.

A spoon drizzling chili crisp oil onto garlic butter noodles in a pan, adding heat and texture to the dish.

Serve in a bowl with any desired garnishes.

Tips and Variations

• Use any noodles you have: spaghetti, linguine, rice noodles, or even ramen.

• Swap parmesan for pecorino or nutritional yeast for a dairy-free option.

• Add a soft-boiled egg for richness or crispy bacon for texture.

• Use more or fewer cloves of garlic depending on your preference.

• Make it spicy by adding extra chili oil or a pinch of chili flakes.

Weeknight Staple With Endless Possibilities

Because the ingredients are so simple, I almost always have everything I need for Garlic Butter Noodles in my kitchen. It’s the ultimate “emergency dinner” recipe, no planning, no stress, and totally adaptable. If you’re feeling extra, throw in shrimp, leftover chicken, or even sautéed mushrooms for variety.

A bowl of garlic butter noodles topped with shredded parmesan cheese, red chili flakes, and finely chopped parsley, served on a wooden surface.

Why I Keep Coming Back to Garlic Butter Noodles

This is one of those dishes you make once and instantly commit to memory. It’s quick, deeply satisfying, and tastes just as good on the couch in sweatpants as it does plated up for friends. No matter how many recipes I try, I always circle back to this one because it’s the perfect blend of comfort and flavor with almost zero effort.