Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles Recipe

Introduction

These Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles offer a creamy, savory, and slightly spicy flavor that’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. With a simple sauce made from pantry staples, this dish comes together easily and can be customized with your favorite veggies or protein.

A white speckled bowl filled with thick, light brown noodles coated in a creamy sauce, topped with chopped green onions, crushed peanuts, and red chili flakes. Two black chopsticks rest on the edge of the bowl. In the background are two small white bowls, one blurred but showing a green sauce and the other with a reddish mix. The bowl sits on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces brown rice noodles
  • 3 large cloves garlic (or 4-5 small cloves)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
  • 1 tablespoon oil (any type, such as olive oil)
  • 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 4 tablespoons low sodium tamari or soy sauce
  • 1/3–1 cup hot water
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1–2 tablespoons sriracha
  • 1–2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional for less spice)
  • Optional: 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the brown rice noodles according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
  2. Step 2: Finely mince the garlic cloves. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a sauté pan over low heat and add the garlic.
  3. Step 3: Sauté the garlic for about 2 minutes until golden brown, then add the grated ginger and cook for an additional minute.
  4. Step 4: Remove the pan from heat and add the peanut butter, tamari or soy sauce, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, sriracha, maple syrup or honey, red pepper flakes, and chili garlic sauce if using.
  5. Step 5: Pour in 1/3 cup of hot water and whisk the sauce ingredients together until smooth. Add more hot water gradually to reach your desired sauce consistency.
  6. Step 6: Taste the sauce and adjust by adding more soy sauce, sriracha, or sweetener as needed to suit your preference.
  7. Step 7: Add about half of the sauce to the cooked noodles and toss to combine thoroughly.
  8. Step 8: Taste the noodles and add more sauce if desired. Reserve extra sauce for serving or to mix with added vegetables or protein.
  9. Step 9: Serve the noodles topped with crushed peanuts, scallions, and extra red pepper flakes if you like it spicier. Enjoy as is or alongside your favorite veggies and protein.

Tips & Variations

  • Use creamy peanut butter for a smoother sauce; natural peanut butter may make it grainier.
  • Add steamed or stir-fried vegetables such as bell peppers, carrots, or broccoli for added nutrition and texture.
  • Protein options like grilled chicken, tofu, or shrimp pair well with these noodles.
  • Adjust spiciness by varying the amount of sriracha and red pepper flakes.
  • For a gluten-free version, ensure tamari or soy sauce is gluten-free and use certified gluten-free noodles.

Storage

Store leftover noodles and sauce separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When ready to eat, gently reheat the noodles in a pan or microwave and stir in the sauce, adding a splash of hot water if needed to loosen it. Avoid reheating the noodles too long to keep them from becoming mushy.

How to Serve

A white bowl filled with thick noodles coated in a light brown sauce, topped with sliced green onions and crushed peanuts scattered across the surface, with small red chili flakes sprinkled over everything. A pair of black chopsticks rests inside the bowl on the left side. The bowl sits on a white marbled surface with parts of another bowl and a small white bowl of chopped green onions visible in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this recipe vegan?

Yes! This recipe is naturally vegan when using maple syrup as the sweetener and tamari or soy sauce without animal products. Just avoid honey to keep it fully vegan.

What type of peanut butter works best?

Creamy peanut butter works best for the smoothest sauce, but natural peanut butter can also be used if you whisk it well. Avoid chunky varieties unless you prefer some texture in the sauce.

Print

Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles Recipe

These Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles are a flavorful and easy-to-make meal featuring brown rice noodles tossed in a creamy, spicy peanut sauce made with garlic, ginger, tamari, and sriracha. Perfect as a quick lunch or dinner, this dish can be enjoyed on its own or topped with your favorite veggies or proteins for a satisfying and customizable meal.

  • Author: Mia
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Asian Fusion
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

Noodles

  • 16 ounces brown rice noodles

Sauce

  • 3 large cloves garlic (or 45 small), finely minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
  • 1 tablespoon oil (such as olive oil)
  • 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 4 tablespoons low sodium tamari or soy sauce
  • 1/3 to 1 cup hot water
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons sriracha
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, can omit for less spice)
  • Optional: 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce

Instructions

  1. Boil water
    Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil to prepare for cooking the noodles.
  2. Cook noodles
    Cook the brown rice noodles according to the package instructions until tender, then drain and set aside.
  3. Saute garlic
    Finely mince the garlic cloves and add them to a sauté pan with 1 tablespoon of oil (olive oil recommended).
  4. Saute garlic and ginger
    Over low heat, sauté the garlic for about 2 minutes until golden brown. Add the grated ginger and continue to sauté for another 1 minute, allowing the flavors to release.
  5. Prepare sauce
    Remove the pan from heat and add the peanut butter, tamari, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, sriracha, maple syrup or honey, red pepper flakes, and optional chili garlic sauce. Start by adding 1/3 cup of hot water and whisk everything together until smooth and well combined.
  6. Adjust sauce consistency
    Add additional hot water gradually (up to 1 cup total) to achieve your desired sauce consistency. The amount needed varies based on the peanut butter brand and personal preference.
  7. Taste and season
    Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning as needed—add more soy sauce for saltiness, more sriracha for heat, or more sweetener to balance flavors.
  8. Toss noodles with sauce
    Place half of the sauce into the drained noodles and toss well to coat evenly. Add more sauce gradually depending on your preference; some may prefer the dish saucier.
  9. Serve
    Serve the noodles topped with crushed peanuts, sliced scallions, and additional red pepper flakes if desired. This dish pairs well with steamed or roasted vegetables and your choice of protein such as chicken or tofu.

Notes

  • Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes and sriracha to control the spice level according to your taste.
  • Using hot water helps the peanut butter blend more smoothly into the sauce.
  • This recipe is versatile; feel free to add cooked vegetables or proteins like tofu or chicken to make it a complete meal.
  • If you prefer a gluten-free dish, ensure the tamari or soy sauce used is gluten-free.
  • Maple syrup can be substituted with honey for a slightly different sweetness.

Keywords: peanut butter noodles, spicy noodles, Asian peanut sauce, brown rice noodles, vegetarian noodles, quick dinner, easy noodles recipe, spicy peanut noodles

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