Quick Garlic Noodles Recipe 

If you’re craving something quick, flavorful, and a little bit spicy, this Quick Garlic Noodles Recipe is it.  The noodles are buttery, garlicy, and tossed in a simple sauce that comes together in minutes.  The crunchy coleslaw on top adds a bright, zesty twist with a fresh lime vinaigrette, the perfect balance to the rich, savory noodles.  It’s one of those easy weeknight recipes that feels special without any extra effort.  

So grab your favorite long noodle, a whole bulb of garlic, and a few other ingredients, and you can have dinner on the table in no time.  These asian garlic noodles are good on their own, but if you want to add protein, chicken or shrimp would be good options.   Continue reading for all the ingredients and step-by-step instructions! 

Ingredients Needed for Garlic Noodles:

Butter:  

4 tablespoons of butter.  This helps the garlic sauce become more creamy.  

Garlic:  

1 whole head of garlic.  Separate the cloves and remove the papery skin from each clove.  Then, either finely mince with a knife or add to a mini food processor and pulse until minced.  

Green Onions:  

4 green onions, diced.  Separate the white and green parts.  The white part will be cooked and softened, while the green part tops the pasta at the end before serving.  

Soy Sauce:  

3 tablespoons of soy sauce.  I prefer the low-sodium soy sauce, but regular is totally fine.  

Hoisin Sauce:  

2 tablespoons of hoisin sauce.  Hoisin sauce is a sweet, spicy, dark sauce made from soybeans, vinegar, sugar, garlic, and various spices.  It’s widely used in Southern Chinese cooking.  Similar to ketchup in texture but with a more savory and stickier.  

Chili Paste:  

1 teaspoon of red chili paste.  If you are not familiar with red chili paste, it is a spicy, flavorful condiment made from ground red chili peppers used to add heat and depth to various dishes.  I also like the Trader Joe’s chili crunch oil.  This is also something you can leave out if you don’t like things spicy.  On the other hand, you can also add more if you really like it hot.  

Spaghetti:  

12 oz. of spaghetti or any long noodle you like.  The types of noodles available these days are immense.  So use what you like.   I like spaghetti or linguini, because I always have it on hand.  Trader Joe’s also carries ramen noodles that would work well in this recipe.  Here are some other options you could try:  rice noodles, Chinese egg noodles, or angel hair pasta.

Pasta Water:  

1/2 cup of reserved pasta water.  This is the water that you cook the pasta in. Once the pasta has finished cooking, scoop out 1/2 cup of the cooking water before you drain the noodles.  

Parmesan Cheese:  

1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, finely grated. This may seem like a weird ingredient to add to an asian style dish, but the saltiness of the cheese really adds to the creamy garlic butter sauce.

Coleslaw mix:  

1 bag of any coleslaw mix.  I add about 4 handfuls to a medium bowl.  This is only topping the noodles, so you don’t need a lot.  If you want to make more, you certainly can.  Instead of coleslaw, you could also try chopping up bok choy and bean sprouts for a different flavor profile.  Toss in the same dressing.  

Fresh Cilantro:  

1 handful of fresh cilantro.  Tear off a handful and roughly chop it.   This gets added to the coleslaw.  

Lime vinaigrette:

Add enough to evenly coat all of the cabbage.  See the full recipe below for ingredients.   

Lime Vinaigrette Ingredients:

• White Wine Vinegar:  2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar.
• Lime:  Zest of 2 limes (zest the lime first).  The zest is the outer bright green part of the lime.  Use a micrograter or a box grater to remove.  Only get the green part, as the white part right below can be bitter.  You also need the juice of these two limes.  So after you have removed the zest, then juice them.  
• Dijon Mustard:  1/2 teaspoon of dijon mustard.
• Honey:  1/2 teaspoon of honey.
• Salt:  1/2 teaspoon of salt.
• Black Pepper:  1/4 teaspoon of black pepper.
• Olive Oil:  1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

Step 1:  Make the lime vinaigrette

In a small bowl, whisk together the white wine vinegar, lime zest, lime juice, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper.  Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking continuously until the vinaigrette is well combined and slightly thickened.  Set aside.  

Step 2:  Prepare the coleslaw

Add the coleslaw mix and chopped cilantro to a medium bowl.  Pour the vinaigrette over the top and toss until everything is evenly coated.  Set the coleslaw aside until ready to serve.  You may not need all the dressing, so add a little at first and stir.  You can always add more, but you can’t take it away!

Step 3:  Cook the noodles

Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions.  Try not to cook past al dente; otherwise, the noodles might get mushy.  Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the noodles and set aside if the sauce is not ready.  

Step 4:  Make the garlic sauce

In a large, high-sided large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat.  Add the white parts of the green onions and cook for about 2 minutes, until slightly softened.  

Step 5:  Add the garlic

Reduce the heat to medium heat and stir in the minced garlic, and cook for 1-2 minutes, just until fragrant and softened.  Be careful not to let the garlic brown or burn.  Reduce the heat if needed and stir.  

Step 6:  Add the sauces and spices

Stir in the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and chili paste.  Adjust the amount of chili paste depending on how spicy you like it.  

Step 7:  Combine the sauce and noodles

Pour the reserved 1/2 cup of pasta water into the skillet and let it simmer for about a minute.  Then add the cooked pasta directly into the pan and toss to coat every noodle in the garlic sauce.  

Step 8:  Add the Parmesan cheese

Sprinkle in the grated Parmesan cheese and toss until melted and combined. Taste and adjust seasoning with a little salt or black pepper if needed.  

Step 9:  Finish and serve

Top the noodles with the green parts of the green onions.  Divide the pasta into 4 bowls and finish each serving with a generous scoop of the lime coleslaw.  Serve immediately and enjoy!

And that’s it — a Quick Garlic Noodles Recipe that’s packed with flavor and so simple to make. The buttery garlic sauce, a little kick of spice, and that fresh coleslaw on top come together for the perfect bite. It’s an easy weeknight dinner that feels restaurant-worthy but takes just minutes to pull together — definitely one to keep in your regular rotation.

More Recipes To Try!

Mushroom Noodle Bowls

Teriyaki Turkey Rice Bowls 

Salmon Poke Bowls