These Sesame Peanut Noodles are my favorite kind of comfort food. They are very satisfying but never feel heavy. I love how the creamy nutty sauce coats every bite of the chewy pasta. The little hint of spice makes it even better!
The best part about this quick and easy recipe is it uses simple ingredients you probably already have in stock. It's a huge hit with the whole family and is so versatile. Serve it warm or enjoy it as a cold noodle salad, either way the family will love it!
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Why You'll Love Sesame Peanut Noodles
Quick and easy: uses simple pantry staples like peanut butter and soy sauce.
Customizable heat: easily adjust the red pepper flakes to suit your spice preference.
Kid-approved: the sweet and savory peanut profile is a consistent hit with picky eaters.
Budget-friendly: a restaurant quality meal made with affordable ingredients.
Key Ingredients for Sesame Noodles with Peanut Butter
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and instructions.
- Spaghetti noodles: you can use whatever you have on hand, like regular spaghetti, rice noodles, or even soba noodles.
- Reduced fat creamy peanut butter: this gives us that classic nutty base without being too heavy.
- Sugar-free ketchup: a great way to add a little tang and keep things a bit lighter.
- Hoisin Sauce: an Asian-style ketchup; you can usually find it right in the international aisle at the grocery store.
- Reduced sodium soy sauce: I prefer the lower sodium version, but feel free to use regular soy sauce if that's what's in your pantry.
- Light brown sugar: just a little bit adds the perfect hint of sweetness to the creamy sauce.
- Rice vinegar: this adds a nice pop of brightness to balance the flavors.
- The finishing touches: you'll also want some sesame oil, green onions, cilantro, and a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little kick.
Common Ingredient Substitutions
If you don't have everything in your pantry, don't worry! You can easily swap a few things out and still get a delicious bowl of noodles.
- Noodle swaps: if you're out of spaghetti, any long pasta like linguine or fettuccine works great, or you can use rice noodles for a gluten-free option.
- Nut butter alternatives: if you have a peanut allergy, or just want a different flavor, almond butter or sunflower seed butter are both excellent creamy substitutes.
- Vinegar options: when you don't have rice vinegar on hand, apple cider vinegar is a perfect pantry staple to use for that same bit of tang.
Easy Recipe Variations
- Boost the veggies: I love adding half a cup of thinly sliced red bell pepper for a little extra crunch and color.
- Kick up the flavor: if you want a bolder taste, try whisking a minced garlic clove and half a teaspoon of fresh ginger right into the sauce.
- Swap the heat: you can substitute a teaspoon of your favorite chili sauce if you'd rather use that instead of red pepper flakes.
- Add some protein: you can easily turn this into a main dish by tossing in a cup of shredded chicken or some cooked shrimp.
Top Tips for Success
- Mix while hot: make sure your noodles are still hot when you toss them with the peanut sauce. This helps the sauce melt into the pasta for that perfect creamy texture.
- Don't overcook the pasta: since you'll be tossing the noodles in warm sauce, cook them til they are just al dente so they keep a good bite and don't get mushy.
- Save some pasta water: before you drain your noodles, grab a small splash of the starchy cooking water. If the sauce feels a little too thick, a tablespoon of that water will make it silky smooth.
- Prep your toppings early: this recipe moves fast once the noodles are done, so have your green onions, cilantro, and peanuts chopped and ready to go before you even start the water.
Storage and Reheating
To keep your Sesame Peanut Noodles tasting fresh, here are the best ways to store them:
- In the fridge: you can store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Keep them creamy: If the noodles soak up too much sauce while sitting, just ad a tiny splash of water or a little extra soy sauce before reheating to loosen them back up.
- Cold or hot: these are just as good cold right out of the fridge as they are warmed up!
What to Serve with Sesame Peanut Noodles
If you're looking to make this a full meal, these pair perfectly with my Honey sesame chicken. If you want to add some appetizers to the menu, try my crab rangoon or air fryer egg rolls!
More Recipes You'll Love
If you enjoyed these Sesame Peanut Noodles, you'll want to check out my Cabbage Noodles with Bacon. These Longevity Noodles and Garlic Scallion Noodles are another Asian-inspired side. If you are low carb, Keto Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein make a great meal.
I can't wait to heart what you think of these noodles! If you give them a try, leave a comment and a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below!
📖 Recipe
Sesame Peanut Noodles
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Ingredients
- 6 ounces dry spaghetti noodles
- ⅓ cup reduced fat creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup water
- 3 tablespoons sugar-free ketchup
- 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 scallions thinly sliced
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to directions. Drain and let cool 10 minutes.
- Mix peanut butter through sesame oil together in small saucepan and heat until just warmed and well combined.
- Pour peanut sauce over noodles and toss to combine.
Life Tastes Good says
This is sooo easy!! Looks delish and love that it is healthy too!
Sandra Shaffer says
Anytime I see sesame oil and peanut butter together, I know it's a great tasting dish! So tasty! Way better than take out too!
Mary Ellen says
I love peanut butter noodles. this sounds like a great recipe, it just might be lunch tomorrow! TFS
From Valeries Kitchen says
I am so in love with peanut sauce! This looks easy and wonderful!
Poddys says
The only problem I can see is that this small portion wouldn't be enough to satisfy me. Once I get the taste of sate and noodles, I just want to keep eating. The temptation is too much.
gaga says
I've never seen ketchup as an ingredient in peanut noodles. Sounds intriguing, maybe I'll add a few the next time I make them.
cakewardrobe says
I love peanut noodles! They're so simple but filling and delicious!
Peter M says
These noodles do look freaky'good...slurp!
Tangled Noodle says
This looks delicious but I wonder if I can substitute almond, cashew or another nut butter for peanut? I have a bit of an intolerance to them.
gail says
oooh! what's not to like!! gorgeous photo too 🙂
Elyse says
Like you, I'm a huge peanut butter fan, and this recipe sounds super exciting. Only wish I had had time to read it earlier in the day so I could have made it for dinner! Oh well, there's always tomorrow night 🙂
CookiePie says
Yum yum YUM -- this is one of my very favorite dishes, and yours looks so perfect and delectable!!
Meg says
I love this and the fact that it is a healthier version!
noble pig says
I love low-cal pad thai! Yum.
Lisa says
yum! i would never know this is WW!
Sara says
Those sound so good! They sound kind of similar to the Thai Peanut Noodles that Kate makes, which I also love, so I'll have to try these ones. Mmmm...kinda craving them right now. Wanna bring me dinner? 😉
Aggie says
Oh, yummy looking noodles!! I love recipes like these!
Allie says
I just wanted to stop by and say hi! I stumbled across your blog through a couple other blogs I follow. I love all your post and pictures!