These spicy peanut noodles are perfect for a quick and delicious lunch or dinner! They combine chewy knife-cut noodles, a creamy and spicy peanut butter sauce, and tasty toppings. Add your favorite vegetables to turn these flavorful noodles into a balanced meal that is perfect on busy days!
If you love peanut sauce, then be sure to try these spicy peanut noodles! They are super easy to make, taste incredibly flavorful, and are just perfect for anyone who loves noodles.
Similar to my chili oil noodles, this dish comes together very quickly as there is no sautéing involved, making it perfect for lunch or dinner on busy days! Just chop up your favorite vegetables and add them to these noodles for a simple and balanced meal that's just as delicious as a properly cooked meal!
And if you prefer classic stir-fry noodles, feel free to try my chicken yaki udon or ground beef stir-fry noodles. They are super easy to make and taste amazing!
Spicy Peanut Noodles Ingredients
You'll need the following ingredients to make these spicy peanut noodles:
- Noodles: I love to use knife-cut noodles for these spicy peanut noodles as the sauce clings perfectly to the wide shape of the noodles. But you don't have to use knife-cut noodles. Other types of noodles that are great for this recipe are udon noodles, rice noodles, ramen noodles, or soba noodles. Feel free to use the type of noodle that you like and that's available to you.
- Peanut Butter: You'll need regular peanut butter for this recipe. I like to use unsweetened peanut butter, but any type will work. If you like peanut chunks, feel free to use chunky peanut butter. I used a combination of both.
- Soy Sauce: You can use regular Japanese soy sauce or low-sodium soy sauce. Both taste great, the regular soy sauce will yield a saltier final result. So if you are used to using very little salt, you may prefer replacing some of the regular soy sauce with low-sodium soy sauce.
- Chili Oil: Chili oil is a must when making spicy peanut sauce! It adds a lot of flavor and spice. If you don't have access to chili oil, you can use another type of chili sauce like sriracha. It's another favorite of mine when making peanut sauce!
- Honey: You'll need a small amount of liquid sweetener to balance the sauce. I used honey, but you could use another type of sweetener that you like.
- Rice Vinegar: Rice vinegar adds some acidity to the sauce and is a great addition to this dish! Another option is using Chinese black vinegar. It has a different taste but is just as delicious in the peanut sauce!
- Sesame Seeds: Sesame seeds are great for adding texture to the noodles.
- Garlic: Garlic adds a lot of flavor and is a must when making these spicy peanut noodles!
- Green Onion: Green onions are another flavor-boosting addition and are definitely recommended.
How to make spicy peanut noodles
Cook the noodles. First, cook the noodles according to the package instructions. Make sure to save some starchy noodle water. Then drain and set aside.
Prepare the peanut sauce. While the noodles cook, add the peanut butter, soy sauce, chili oil, rice vinegar, honey, sesame seeds, and minced garlic to a bowl. When the noodles are almost done, add some of the starchy noodle water to the bowl. Whisk until combined.
Combine. Now add the noodles to the spicy peanut sauce. Toss until the sauce clings to the noodles.
Serve. Garnish the spicy peanut noodles with green onions and other toppings of your choice (like chopped cilantro and sesame seeds) and enjoy!
Tips & Notes
- Feel free to use another type of noodle if you can't find knife-cut noodles. I love knife-cut noodles as they look beautiful and the sauce clings to them perfectly thanks to their wide shape. But there are many types of noodles that you could use, so feel free to use something that you like and can find. Udon noodles or rice noodles are another delicious option!
- Replace the chili oil with sriracha or another type of chili sauce. Chili oil tastes absolutely amazing and you'll definitely need some type of chili sauce for this recipe. But you can use other types like sriracha or sambal oelek. So don't worry if you don't have any chili oil on hand.
- Adjust the heat level to taste. These spicy peanut noodles are perfect if you like spicy food but might be too hot if you are sensitive to heat. So if you are worried about the spice level, feel free to start with less chili oil and add more to taste.
Variations
- Add some grated ginger to the sauce for extra flavor. It tastes really delicious with these spicy peanut noodles!
- Add a drizzle of sesame oil if you like its taste. I am a huge fan of toasted sesame oil and I love to add some to these spicy peanut noodles. So if you like sesame oil, feel free to add it to the peanut sauce. It's a great addition!
- Use some Thai basil for these spicy peanut noodles. Thai basil is an incredibly delicious ingredient and tastes great with these spicy peanut noodles. I love to use it for noodle dishes, salads, or my Thai basil fried rice.
- Add a squeeze of lime juice to the noodles. A little bit of lime juice really brightens the flavor of the sauce and makes it taste light and refreshing. So feel free to use some lime juice!
How to serve spicy peanut noodles
- Chop up your favorite vegetables and add them to these peanut butter noodles. You could use cucumber, cabbage, carrots, red bell pepper, or baby spinach. When you add them raw, make sure to julienne them very thinly. Or sauté your favorite vegetables and add them cooked.
- Fry an egg and serve it on top for some extra protein. Eggs are a delicious option to add more protein to this dish. You could also boil an egg or use another type of protein for your meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
These peanut noodles are spicy and rich in umami thanks to the soy sauce and chili oil. The peanut butter adds creaminess and extra flavor. If you've tried other peanut-based sauces like satay sauce before, then you might be able to guess what these peanut noodles taste like. I'd say that if you like peanut butter, soy sauce, and chili sauces, then you'll love these spicy peanut noodles.
You can definitely taste the peanut butter, but you'll also notice other flavors that come from the soy sauce and chili oil. It's a really delicious sauce and I'd recommend trying it if you like peanut butter! And even if you aren't a huge fan of peanut butter, you might love the peanut sauce as it combines so many other ingredients.
I'd say that they are spicy but not overly hot. I think most people who like spicy food will enjoy this recipe. If you are sensitive to heat, I recommend starting with less chili oil or using a milder type of chili sauce like sriracha.
Many different types of noodles can be used to make these spicy peanut noodles. My favorite is knife-cut noodles. They look beautiful and are quite wide which makes the sauce cling to the noodles perfectly. Other options are rice noodles, ramen noodles, udon noodles, or soba noodles.
Generally, I'd recommend adding vegetables and more protein if desired. I like to add a variety of julienned vegetables without cooking them. For protein, I'll often add a fried egg. Feel free to check out the post for more information.
You can store leftovers in an airtight container in your refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat them in your microwave with a splash of water to make the sauce creamy again.
More easy and delicious noodle recipe
If you love to make easy and delicious noodle recipes, I recommend trying one of the following dishes! They taste amazing and are easy to make at home.
- Shrimp Udon Stir Fry
- Ground Beef Stir Fry Noodles
- Shrimp Chow Mein
- Korean-Style Spicy Noodles
- Kimchi Udon
Spicy Peanut Noodles
Ingredients
- 6 ounces knife-cut noodles or another type of noodle
- 2 ½ tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon chili oil alternatively use sriracha
- ½ tablespoon rice vinegar
- ½ tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 garlic clove minced
- ¼ cup noodle water
- 1 green onion sliced
- toppings of your choice like chopped peanuts, cilantro, chili oil, sesame seeds
Instructions
- First, cook the noodles according to the package instructions. Then save some noodle water, drain, and set aside.6 ounces knife-cut noodles
- While the noodles cook, add the peanut butter, soy sauce, chili oil, rice vinegar, honey, sesame seeds, and minced garlic to a bowl. When the noodles are almost finished, add the starchy noodle water and whisk until combined.2 ½ tablespoons creamy peanut butter, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon chili oil, ½ tablespoon rice vinegar, ½ tablespoon honey, 1 garlic clove, ¼ cup noodle water, 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- Now add the noodles to the sauce and toss until combined.
- Garnish with green onions and other toppings of your choice (like cilantro, chopped peanuts, sesame seeds), and enjoy!1 green onion, toppings of your choice
Maria
I've not heard of knife cut noodles. Are they a type of wide pasta or more of an egg noodle?
Beri
Hi Maria, knife-cut noodles are a Chinese type of noodle that is made of wheat flour. You can find them in almost any Asian grocery store. If you want to try the recipe, feel free to use another type of wheat noodle or rice noodles if you can't find knife-cut noodles. Hope this helps! 😊