These sweet, salty, and rich Garlic Noodles are an absolutely addictive dish that you’ll want to make again and again. Serve them as the bed for glazed meat, like my Sticky Soy Ginger Glazed Chicken, Honey Sriracha Tofu, or simple stir-fried vegetables. With a super short ingredient list of pantry staples, this delicious garlic noodles recipe will become a staple in your menu.
All recipes are rigorously tested in our Nashville Test Kitchen to ensure they are easy, affordable, and delicious.
See this recipe used in my weekly meal prep.
Where Do I Find Oyster Sauce?
Oyster sauce can be found in the International aisle of most major grocery stores (look near hoisin sauce). If you can’t find it there, it’s worth it to seek out an Asian market, where oyster sauce is likely to be much less expensive than in chain grocery stores.
What Can I Use in Place of Oyster Sauce?
I personally feel that the salty rich flavor of the oyster sauce makes this dish what it is and I wouldn’t suggest substituting it. That being said, several readers have said they’ve used hoisin sauce, which is much sweeter, and have enjoyed the results. Substitute the oyster sauce in this garlic noodles recipe at your own risk.
What Else Can I Add to Garlic Noodles?
This is a great base recipe to which you can add all sorts of other ingredients! Garlic noodles are great as a side dish, but you can add protein and vegetables to make it a meal. Try adding some Teriyaki Chicken or Honey Sriracha Tofu on top, or check out my Garlic Noodles with Beef and Broccoli for some inspiration.
Looking for a spicy noodle recipe? Check out my Spicy Sriracha Noodles!
Quick & Easy Garlic Noodles
Servings 4Ingredients
- 8 oz angel hair pasta ($0.54)
- 4 cloves garlic ($0.24)
- 1/2 bunch green onions ($0.35)
- 4 Tbsp butter ($0.50)
- 2 tsp soy sauce ($0.20)
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar ($0.05)
- 1 tsp sesame oil ($0.40)
- 2 Tbsp oyster sauce ($0.26)
Instructions
- Add the oyster sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce and sesame oil to a bowl and stir until combined.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles according to the package directions (boil for 7-10 minutes). Drain the cooked noodles in a colander, then set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, mince the garlic and slice the green onions. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Once the butter is melted and bubbly, add the garlic and onions (save a few for garnish) and sauté until they are soft and fragrant (1-2 minutes).
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the drained pasta and oyster sauce mixture to the skillet, and stir well to coat the pasta. If your pasta is stiff or sticky making it hard to stir, sprinkle a small amount of hot water over the pasta to loosen it up. Garnish the pasta with any reserved sliced green onions, then serve.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!Video
How to Make Garlic Noodles – Step by Step Photos
Mix the easy noodle sauce before you begin. In a small bowl stir together 2 Tbsp oyster sauce, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, 2 tsp soy sauce, and 1 tsp toasted sesame oil. Stir until combined.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. While the pasta is cooking, mince four cloves of garlic and slice about four green onions (1/2 bunch).
Heat 4 Tbsp of butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Once melted, add the minced garlic and most of the sliced green onions (save a few for garnish). Sauté the garlic and green onions until soft and fragrant (1-2 minutes).
Remove the skillet from the heat, then add the cooked and drained pasta and the prepared sauce.
Toss the ingredients in the skillet until the pasta is evenly coated with sauce. Garnish the garlic noodles with the reserved green onions and serve.
This easy Garlic Noodles Recipe is totally addictive… BEWARE.
holy fuck that was good, used fettuccine instead of angel hair
I want to learn how to cook
Totally delicious!
I have made this so many times. I used less sugar and more garlic. When I don’t have green onions I have substitute them with red onions that are cooked until transparent, not caramelized. I made it for a pasta class last weekend. Everyone loved it, is always a success.
Absolutely love this recipe! I always add way more garlic and it’s a bit sweet for my liking so I more than half the sugar. Totally addicting and I can’t wait to make this again. Would also highly recommend making this with Trader Joe’s Thai wheat noodles. Those absorb the flavor soooo well.
These were so easy and tasted incredible!! We’ll definitely be making these again!!
❤️
This is a staple. We make it with grilled teriyaki chicken thighs.
We made this and added raw shrimp when we got to the butter step. It was UNBELIEVABLE! * chefs kiss*
I make this recipe often it is so tasty
This is our go to recipe. My son’s girlfriend said it was too sweet, so I made it different the next time. I had to add more sugar because it tasted better the 1st I made it. To each his own, the sweet makes it for me. I prefer this over garlic noodles at a restaurant any day!! I’d give you more stars if I could.
Over all good.. but too sweet for me as well. Maybe add a lil sweet soy instead.
This is really good. I can’t use the oyster sauce so I use teriyaki sauce instead. If I use a sweeter teriyaki I cut down on the brown sugar. But really… great recipe.
I’ve tried these with Spaghetti Pasta Noodles and Udon Noodles. I prefer the Spaghetti Pasta. I don’t normally leave comments but these garlic noodles were sooooo good.
I agree w the others. Half the amount of sugar (1TBS) and the dish is just the right amount of semi-sweet/garlic goodness. Also add some crushed reds on top.
I double the recipe for the sauce specifically and have a jar in the fridge at the ready anytime I want to whip them up.
I love this and make it regularly now. Thank you!
how long do you think the sauce would keep in the fridge?
Super tasty. Enjoyed by everybody.
Used spaghetti, doubled the recipe, cut the sugar in half, added some pepper flakes. The amount of butter can be cut by at least 1/4 for sure. I used a head of green garlic (which is milder) and a few regular cloves too.
Bookmarked!
*green garlic is young garlic, not yet mature. Kinda like a green onion to a full onion. Mine had gotten to starting to form the bulbs stage.
Hello! For vegetarians, substituting oyster sauce with Lee Kum Kee Stir-Fry sauce would be the closest match, not hoisin. The stir-fry sauce is a mushroom based sauce and is meant to mimic the savory umami of oyster sauce.
Was told about this by a work colleague. She told me her mum adds snow peas, broccoli (carrot?) and cream. Did this and was absolutely amazing! Adults and kids equally loved it. Definitely a staple