Pin it These savory garlic noodles come together in just 25 minutes, featuring a luscious sauce made with butter, olive oil, and plenty of fresh garlic. The noodles are coated in a balanced blend of soy sauce, oyster sauce, and brown sugar, creating a dish that's both comforting and full of umami flavor.
Perfect for busy weeknights, this vegetarian main course pairs beautifully with grilled proteins or stands alone as a satisfying meal. The addition of scallions, Parmesan, and sesame seeds adds layers of texture and final flavor touches.
The first time I made garlic noodles, I was skeptical about how something so simple could taste so incredible. I had just moved into my first apartment and wanted to impress my new roommate with what I called fancy pasta on a budget. The smell of garlic hitting that butter and olive oil mixture filled our tiny kitchen, and we both ended up eating straight from the pan while standing at the counter.
Last summer, I served these at a dinner party where my friend Sarah, who claims to hate pasta, went back for thirds. She kept asking what the secret ingredient was, and I just kept saying butter and lots of garlic. The next day she texted me asking for the recipe because her husband could not stop talking about it.
Ingredients
- Spaghetti or Asian wheat noodles: Traditional recipes use thin spaghetti, but any long noodle works beautifully
- Unsalted butter: Using unsalted lets you control the salt level since the soy sauce brings plenty of savory depth
- Olive oil: The butter burns too easily on its own, so this keeps the sauce stable while adding fruity notes
- Garlic cloves: Eight cloves might sound excessive, but this dish is all about that garlic punch
- Light soy sauce: Dark soy sauce can make the noodles look unappealingly dark, so stick to light for that golden color
- Oyster sauce: This adds an incredible umami richness, but grab the vegetarian version if needed
- Brown sugar: Just enough to balance the salty elements and help the sauce cling to every strand
- Scallions: Fresh green onion cuts through the richness and adds a pop of color
Instructions
- Get your noodles going:
- Cook them until they have just a tiny bit of bite, then drain but save some of that starchy water
- Build your base:
- Melt the butter and olive oil together over medium heat until they start to shimmer
- Infuse the garlic:
- Toss in all that minced garlic and stir constantly for just a minute or two until your kitchen smells amazing
- Create the sauce:
- Lower the heat and stir in the soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, and pepper until the sugar dissolves
- Bring it together:
- Add your cooked noodles to the skillet and toss them like crazy until every strand is coated and glossy
- Finish with flair:
- Scatter those scallions on top and add whatever else makes you happy before serving immediately
Pin it My mom started making this every Sunday night, and it became the kind of comfort food we did not even realize we needed until it was there. Something about twirling those garlicky noodles on your fork just makes everything feel okay.
Making It Your Own
I have learned that this recipe is incredibly forgiving. Once I added chili crisp because that was all the flavor I had in the pantry, and it became a new favorite variation.
Serving Suggestions
These noodles are perfect on their own, but they also play nicely alongside roasted vegetables or a simple green salad with a sharp vinaigrette.
Storage And Reheating
The noodles keep surprisingly well in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat them with a tiny splash of water to bring back that silky texture.
- Extra garlic never hurt anyone
- Room temperature noodles absorb sauce better than piping hot ones
- A squeeze of fresh lime brightens everything up
Pin it There is something so satisfying about a dish that delivers maximum flavor with minimum fuss. Make these for someone you love.
Recipe FAQs
- → What type of noodles work best?
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Spaghetti or Asian wheat noodles both work beautifully. The sauce clings perfectly to long, thin noodles, though linguine or fettuccine make excellent substitutes.
- → Can I make these noodles ahead?
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These are best enjoyed immediately while the sauce is glossy and fresh. However, you can prep ingredients in advance—mince the garlic and measure sauces—to speed up cooking later.
- → How do I prevent the garlic from burning?
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Keep heat at medium and stir constantly. Cook just until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. The garlic should turn golden but never brown, which creates bitterness.
- → Is this dish spicy?
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Not inherently. The black pepper adds mild warmth, but the dish focuses on savory, umami flavors. Add chili flakes or fresh sliced chilies if you enjoy heat.
- → What proteins pair well with these noodles?
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Grilled shrimp, pan-seared chicken, or sautéed mushrooms complement the garlicky flavors beautifully. The vegetarian base also stands alone as a complete meal.
- → Can I adjust the garlic intensity?
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Absolutely. Start with fewer cloves if you prefer subtle garlic flavor, or increase up to 10 cloves for an exceptionally robust, aromatic experience.
