Why These Peanut Butter Noodles Always Hit the Spot

As someone who grew up Peanut Butter Noodles all the time, I can attest that these just make sense to make, no matter what! They basically take one pot and one bowl to make, you can make it in less than ten minutes, and it tastes amazing! I’ve made these on a late night, for a quick lunch, and also as a cheap side dish for dinner parties, and people always clean up the platter! The sauce is rich, slightly spicy, and has enough acidity and tanginess from the vinegar. The best part is you probably already have all of these ingredients laying around!

What Makes This Dish So Addictive

The perfect balance of the sauce is what makes this dish stand out in my opinion. It’s rich from the peanut butter, salty from the soy sauce, and also has the vinegar, sesame oil, and garlic to help balance out those strong flavors from the peanut butter and soy sauce. A little sugar sweetens the dish out and gives it extra depth while the sriracha just brings its classic spicy flavors. Once you add your reserved noodle water, the sauce loosens up and starts to cling to every noodle. For me, nostalgia is one of the most important flavor profiles, and this dish by all means is the most comforting dish!

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Ingredients You’ll Need To Make Peanut Butter Noodles

Noodles & Sauce

• 6 oz noodles of your choice
• 1 tbsp peanut butter
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp sriracha (adjust to taste)
• 2 tbsp reserved noodle water

Optional Garnishes

• Chili flakes
• Sesame seeds
• Scallions

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How to Make Peanut Butter Noodles

Boil noodles until al dente. Reserve a few tablespoons of the cooking water, then drain.

In a bowl, stir together the peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, sugar, sriracha, and a bit of noodle water until smooth and creamy.

Combine the noodles and the sauce and toss until well coated.

Serve immediately, topped with chili flakes, sesame seeds, and scallions if you’d like.

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Tips & Variations

Make it even spicier!

Swap sriracha for chili oil or add crushed red pepper for more heat.

Use any noodles you want.

You can use spaghetti, ramen, udon, or even soba and it’ll taste delicious! I personally like to use Korean udon because of the extra chewiness.

Add protein!

Toss in shredded chicken or tofu to add some more protein. I personally like to add some Costco rotisserie chicken because it’s both cheap and convenient!

Is your sauce too thick or too thin?

Adjust with more noodle water or a little extra peanut butter to get that perfect clingy consistency.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I serve these cold?

Yes! They’re amazing chilled and make the perfect meal prep or quick lunch. I like to loosen the noodles with a splash of water before serving.

What type of peanut butter works best?

Smooth peanut butter gives you the smoothest sauce, but crunchy works if you want more texture. Just avoid unsweetened natural versions unless you like a stronger peanut flavor.

What can I use instead of sriracha?

Chili ooil, gochujang, sambal oelek, or even a pinch of red pepper flakes.

Can I swap out the rice vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar or fresh lime juice will still bring that acidity if you don’t have rice vinegar on hand.

How long do leftovers last?

Store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently with a splash of water to loosen the sauce, or enjoy them cold straight from the fridge. They kind of stick together when you store in the fridge though.

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Try These Next

• Craving more sweet and salty dishes? Try my Gochujang Carbonara!
• Want something buttery and rich? You’ll love my Garlic Fettuccini Alfredo!
• Looking for an easy crowd-pleaser? Don’t miss my Honey Butter Chicken!