Quick & Easy Garlic Noodles – Sweet, Savory, Addictive!

These sweet, salty, and downright addictive Garlic Noodles have been a staple in my kitchen for years—literally! This is one of my OG recipes, first published nearly 16 years ago, and to this day, it’s still one of my favorites. I mean, the reviews speak for themselves! With a short and simple ingredient list full of pantry staples, these noodles come together in no time and are perfect as a base for glazed meat or a side to quick stir-fried veggies.

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“I made this for lunch today—easy and delicious—and ended up devouring three portions myself thanks for the great recipe!”

Shara

Easy Garlic Noodles Recipe

Who said noodles had to be boring?! Not me, that’s for sure. In this easy recipe, I make a simple sauce using oyster sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, and toasted sesame oil and toss it with delicate angel hair pasta, garlic (of course), and melted butter. Add in some green onions for a fresh bite, and you’ve got a dish that’s totally addictive… BEWARE.

Quick & Easy Garlic Noodles

Garlic Noodles are sweet, rich, and savory with a strong garlic punch. They make the perfect side dish to any Asian inspired meal.

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• 2 Tbsp oyster sauce* ($0.23)
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar** ($0.06)
• 2 tsp soy sauce ($0.10)
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil ($0.40)
• 8 oz angel hair pasta*** ($0.54)
• 4 cloves garlic ($0.16)
• 1/2 bunch green onions ($0.35)
• 4 Tbsp butter ($0.50)

• Add the oyster sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce and sesame oil to a bowl and stir until combined.

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles according to the package directions (boil for 7-10 minutes). Drain the cooked noodles in a colander, then set aside.

• While the pasta cooks, mince the garlic and slice the green onions. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Once the butter is melted and bubbly, add the garlic and onions (save a few for garnish) and sauté until they are soft and fragrant (1-2 minutes).

• Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the drained pasta and oyster sauce mixture to the skillet, and stir well to coat the pasta. If your pasta is stiff or sticky making it hard to stir, sprinkle a small amount of hot water over the pasta to loosen it up. Garnish the pasta with any reserved sliced green onions, then serve.

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*Oyster sauce can be found in the International aisle of most major grocery stores (look near hoisin sauce). If you can’t find it, it’s worth it to seek out an Asian market, where oyster sauce is likely to be much less expensive than in chain grocery stores. I personally feel that the salty, rich flavor of the oyster sauce makes this dish what it is, and I wouldn’t suggest substituting it. That being said, several readers have said they’ve used hoisin sauce, which is much sweeter, and have enjoyed the results. 
**Feel free to reduce the amount of sugar used by half if you want a more savory sauce.
***I love the delicate texture of angel hair pasta in this recipe. However, you can try another long pasta like spaghetti or use rice noodles.

Serving: 1servingCalories: 354kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 8gFat: 13gSodium: 509mgFiber: 2g

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How to Make Garlic Noodles step-by-step photos

Make the sauce: In a small bowl stir together 2 Tbsp oyster sauce, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, 2 tsp soy sauce, and 1 tsp toasted sesame oil. Stir until combined. 

Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook 8 oz. angel hair pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.

Prep the aromatics: While the pasta is cooking, mince 4 cloves of garlic and slice about 4 green onions (1/2 bunch).

Sauté the aromatics: Heat 4 Tbsp of butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Once melted, add the minced garlic and most of the sliced green onions (save a few for garnish). Sauté the garlic and green onions until soft and fragrant (1-2 minutes).

Add the noodles and sauce: Remove the skillet from the heat, then add the cooked and drained pasta and the prepared sauce. You can add a very small amount of hot water to the pasta to loosen it up, if needed.

Serve: Toss the ingredients in the skillet until the pasta is evenly coated with sauce. Garnish with the reserved green onions and serve.

What Else Can I Add?

This is a great base recipe to which you can add all sorts of other ingredients! I love these garlic noodles as a side dish, but you can add protein and vegetables to make it a meal. Here are some optional extras I think you’ll like:

Storage & Reheating

These garlic noodles are a staple in my weekly meal prep. I just pack them into individual airtight containers and keep them in my fridge for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, I pop them into the microwave until heated through. The noodles do soak up some of the sauce during storage, but I don’t mind that too much. I wouldn’t recommend freezing this one as the noodles can get dry.