Amazing Honey Garlic Noodles with Toasted Peanuts

Honey Garlic Noodles are sort of a popular, pan-Asian style, Pinterest-y thing, I suppose. But I love my MKL version because it’s sneaky healthy and makes for a fantastic side dish OR main course, depending on whether you want to top it with a protein or not. That part’s up to you. But this tangled heap of noodles comes complete with a tons of fresh veggies, sautéed aromatics (three forms of garlic! Gah!) and a sauce so flavorful, you’ll crave it on the reg. Read on for more or skip to the front of the line …

Honey Garlic Noodles: FAQ’s

What is the best noodle to use?

There really is no right or wrong answer to this question, honestly. I use packets of ramen noodles for this (I toss the flavor packets, but you could honestly use one or two to add extra flavor to the dish). But any long noodle with do nicely in this recipe. I’d stay away from short-cut Italian style pastas, as they won’t grab the sauce as effectively.

Best Noodle Options for Honey Garlic Noodles

• Ramen
• Vermicelli
• Sai Fun (bean thread noodles)
• Angel hair
• Spaghetti
• Linguini
• Soba (thicker, buckwheat noodles)
• Udon
• Glass noodles

To keep this gluten-free, just use a rice noodle, such as vermicelli, sai fun bean thread noodles, or something similar. Furthermore, you’ll need to use tamari sauce instead of soy sauce, as it isn’t brewed with wheat and is therefore gluten free.

What is chili garlic sauce?

Chili garlic sauce (or garlic chili sauce) is a bright red, spicy, and widely available Asian condiment that you can readily purchase in just about any American supermarket, in the Asian/International foods aisle. Very self-explanatory in nature, it is a sauce/condiment that is made from chilis and lots of flavorfuI garlic. I usually have a bottle of this one in my fridge door. You can also make a homemade version, if you’re feeling especially adventuresome. Either way, you’re in for a savory, spicy treat that goes with SO many things.

What you’ll need to make these Honey Garlic Noodles

This recipe doesn’t have to be some set-in-stone thing. Please feel free to riff as you need to customize it to your preferences. Want it spicier? Add more chili garlic sauce. Want a boost of protein? Pile up some roasted or stir-fried tofu cubes or some shredded rotisserie chicken. Broiled shrimp or scallops are also a lovely choice as well. There is a trio of colorful chopped bell pepper (add a jalapeno or Thai chili if you really want extra spice/heat), some minced scallion, and THREE types of garlic.

This recipe is billed as “honey garlic noodles,” after all. So we’ll combine fresh garlic, garlic powder, and the chili garlic sauce to make a very tasty, saucy noodle bowl that hits all ends of the flavor spectrum … especially the garlic one.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup roasted peanuts

4 packages of ramen noodles, or 1 lb. long noodles of your choice

⅓ cup plus 2 tablespoons soy sauce, divided 

4 tablespoons honey, divided

1 teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons peanut butter

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce (or to taste)

2 tablespoons cooking oil

1 bunch of scallions, chopped, whites/green parts separated

8-ounce bag of snap peas or fresh broccoli (optional)

3 bell peppers, any color, diced

4 garlic cloves, minced or grated

Salt and pepper, to taste

SERVING SUGGESTIONS: chopped cilantro, basil, scallion greens, sesame seeds

How to make these Honey Garlic Noodles

This is a stir-fry, so by nature it’s a very fast and straightforward recipe. Veggies and aromatics get wrapped up in a web of bouncy noodles and then covered in a super tasty sauce. Toasted honey-soy peanuts get piled up on top, giving great crunch and complementing the peanut butter in the sauce.

DIRECTIONS

Put the peanuts in a large dry skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and 2 tablespoons of honey and allow the nuts to toast in the mixture, stirring occasionally. The soy/honey will thicken into a sticky sauce, coating the nuts; take about 5 to 6 minutes. When it looks thick and the nuts appear golden, transfer to a bowl to cool (will continue to firm up). Set aside for now

Prepare the noodles according to the package instructions (discard the flavor packets if using ramen), and reserve 1 cup of the cooking water just before draining. 

To make the sauce, combine ⅓ cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons honey, the garlic powder, peanut butter, sesame oil, and chili garlic sauce. 

Add 2 tablespoons cooking oil to a large, deep-ish skillet over medium heat. When it’s hot, add the bell peppers, scallion whites, and snap peas. Season lightly with S&P if desired and cook until tender; about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic. Cook for 30 seconds. Add the cooked noodles, along with the sauce and ½ cup of the reserved cooking liquid. TOSS! 

Serve in bowls with toasted peanuts on top, and some sesame seeds (if desired) and fresh cilantro and/or basil. I serve with extra soy sauce on the side for seasoning. 

If you like the looks of these Honey Garlic Noodles, you might also enjoy:

Thai Inspired Peanut Curry Chicken and Noodles

Dan Dan Noodles

Brown Buttered Pasta over Whipped Ricotta with Lemony Walnuts

Slow Cooker Japanese Beef with Udon

Honey Ginger Shrimp Fried Rice with Crispy Garlic

Coconut Curry Thai Meatball Soup

Print