Garlic Noodles Recipe

Introduction

Garlic noodles are a simple yet flavorful dish that combines tender noodles with a rich garlic butter sauce and savory seasonings. This recipe delivers a comforting, restaurant-style noodle meal that’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a satisfying lunch.

Ingredients

• 140g (5oz) dried ramen or noodle cakes (2 cakes)
• 30g (2 tbsp) unsalted butter
• 6 cloves garlic, finely minced (about 2 tbsp)
• 2 tsp oyster sauce (vegetarian oyster sauce can be used)
• 2 tsp fish sauce (soy sauce can be substituted)
• 1 1/2 tsp Maggi seasoning (soy sauce can substitute)
• 1/4 cup noodle cooking water (plus more if needed)
• 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
• 1/4 cup green onion, thinly sliced (about 1 stem)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Cook the noodles in a large saucepan following the package directions. Before draining, scoop out about 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Drain the noodles and set them aside.
2. Step 2: In the same saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic becomes soft and fragrant but not browned.
3. Step 3: Stir in the oyster sauce, fish sauce, Maggi seasoning, and 1/4 cup of the reserved noodle cooking water. Mix well to combine all the flavors.
4. Step 4: Return the cooked noodles to the pan. Add the Parmesan cheese and green onions, then toss everything together until the noodles are evenly coated and the sauce is mostly absorbed. If the noodles seem dry, add additional cooking water 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
5. Step 5: Serve the garlic noodles immediately. For an extra touch, top with a fried egg or some blanched broccolini tossed in Asian Sesame Dressing.

Tips & Variations

• Use vegetarian oyster sauce and soy sauce substitutes to make this dish vegetarian-friendly.
• If you want extra veggies, blanch broccolini or snap peas in the noodle water during cooking and toss them in at the end.
• Adjust garlic amount to your taste if you prefer a milder or stronger garlic flavor.
• Freshly grated Parmesan adds the best flavor; pre-grated cheese may not melt as well.

Storage

Store any leftover garlic noodles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a pan over low heat with a splash of water to loosen the sauce and prevent sticking. Avoid microwaving as it may dry out the noodles.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use other types of noodles for this recipe?

Yes, you can use other types of noodles such as spaghetti, udon, or rice noodles. Just adjust the cooking time according to the package instructions and reserve some cooking water to loosen the sauce.

What if I don’t have Maggi seasoning?

If you don’t have Maggi seasoning, soy sauce is a good substitute. It adds a similar umami flavor that complements the garlic and butter.

Garlic Noodles Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 488 reviews

A savory and flavorful Garlic Noodles recipe featuring tender ramen noodles tossed in a rich garlic butter sauce with oyster, fish, and Maggi seasonings, finished with Parmesan cheese and fresh green onions. Perfect as a quick, delicious main or side dish, with an optional serving suggestion of fried egg and broccolini for added nutrition and texture.

• Author: Clara
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 2 servings 1x
• Category: Main Dish
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Asian Fusion

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Noodles

• 140g / 5oz dried ramen or noodle cakes (2 cakes)

Sauce and Finishings

• 30g / 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp (6 cloves) garlic, finely minced
• 2 tsp oyster sauce (sub vegetarian oyster sauce if preferred)
• 2 tsp fish sauce (sub soy sauce as vegetarian option)
• 1 1/2 tsp Maggi seasoning (sub soy sauce if unavailable)
• 1/4 cup noodle cooking water (more if needed)
• 1/4 cup (tightly packed) finely grated Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
• 1/4 cup green onion, thinly sliced (~1 stem)

Instructions

1. Cook the noodles: Prepare the noodles by boiling them in a large saucepan according to the package directions. Once cooked, scoop out approximately 1/2 cup of the noodle cooking water and set it aside. Drain the noodles and set them aside for later.
2. Make the sauce: In the same saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the finely minced garlic and cook, stirring frequently until the garlic becomes soft and fragrant but not browned. Next, add the oyster sauce, fish sauce, Maggi seasoning, and 1/4 cup of the reserved noodle cooking water. Stir the mixture well to combine all the flavors.
3. Toss noodles with sauce: Return the cooked noodles to the saucepan with the sauce. Add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and thinly sliced green onions. Toss everything together thoroughly until the noodles are evenly coated and no excess sauce pools at the bottom. If the noodles seem dry or the sauce is too thick, add additional noodle cooking water one tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is achieved.
4. Serve immediately: Transfer the garlic noodles to serving plates and enjoy them while warm for the best flavor and texture.
5. Optional serving suggestion: For a complete meal, serve the garlic noodles with a fried egg and broccolini. Cook the broccolini directly with the noodles to save time—broccolini takes about 3 minutes, so add it to the boiling water either before, after, or with the noodles depending on their cooking time. Toss with your favorite Asian Sesame Dressing for an extra flavor boost.

Notes

• The recipe uses dried ramen or noodle cakes, but you can substitute with other Asian-style noodles such as udon or lo mein if desired.
• Vegetarian options include replacing oyster sauce with vegetarian oyster sauce and fish sauce with soy sauce.
• Maggi seasoning can be substituted with an additional splash of soy sauce if unavailable.
• Reserve noodle cooking water to adjust the sauce consistency—adding it gradually helps achieve a silky coating without making the noodles soggy.
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese adds a creamy, umami element; pre-grated cheese may not melt as well.
• Adding fried egg and broccolini makes the dish more nutritious and filling but is optional.

Keywords: garlic noodles, ramen noodles, Asian noodles, quick dinner, garlic butter noodles, easy noodle recipe, Parmesan noodles, savory noodles