Easy Chili Garlic Noodles

These chili garlic noodles are a perfect balance of sweet and savory. They’re the perfect dish when you’re craving something bold and spicy but don’t want to wait on takeout. Regular spaghetti becomes the base for a simple chili crisp and garlic oil, then everything is tossed with a savory-sweet sauce that coats every strand.

Because the sauce is built while the pasta cooks, the whole dish comes together in about 20 minutes. It’s simple enough for a weeknight but has so much flavor that it feels like a treat. The noodles make a tasty side dish to serve with just about any Asian main dish. Serve them with sesame pork, Kung Pao chicken, or beef and broccoli.

What You’ll Like About This Recipe

• Fast and weeknight-friendly. You can boil the pasta and build the sauce at the same time, so dinner is ready in the time it takes to cook the noodles—no marinating, no long simmering, and no complicated steps.
• Big flavor from a few ingredients. Chili crisp, garlic, green onions, and a trio of pantry sauces give you heat, savoriness, a touch of sweetness, and that nutty sesame finish without a long ingredient list.
• Flexible heat level. The recipe uses a modest amount of chili crisp, but you can easily dial the spice up or down to suit everyone at the table by adding more to individual bowls.
• Great base for add-ins. These noodles are delicious on their own, but they’re also the perfect canvas for leftover chicken, shrimp, tofu, or extra vegetables like snap peas or bell peppers.

Ingredient Notes

• Spaghetti – Thin spaghetti stands in for Asian noodles and works beautifully to catch the sauce. You can swap in linguine, angel hair, or an Asian-style wheat noodle if you prefer.
• Green onions – These add freshness, mild onion flavor, and a pretty garnish. Cooking the white and light green parts in the oil softens their bite, while the reserved dark green slices brighten the finished dish.
• Garlic – Minced and lightly sautéed garlic is a key flavor here. It should turn fragrant but not brown, or it can become bitter.
• Chili crisp – This chili oil condiment brings heat, crunch, and umami. Start with the smaller amount and add more to taste; different brands vary in spiciness.
• Light brown sugar – A spoonful of brown sugar balances the salty sauces and heat, and the slight molasses note adds depth.
• Low-sodium soy sauce – Soy sauce gives the noodles their savory backbone. Low-sodium helps keep the dish from becoming too salty, especially with salted pasta water.
• Oyster sauce – This thick, savory-sweet sauce adds body and restaurant-style flavor. A little goes a long way and helps the sauce cling to the noodles.
• Sesame oil – A drizzle of toasted sesame oil finishes the sauce with a nutty aroma, so add it after the pan is off the heat to preserve its flavor.

Steps to Make Chili Garlic Noodles

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti until just al dente, following the package directions so the noodles stay firm enough to toss with the sauce.
2. While the pasta cooks, heat the vegetable oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced green onion whites and light greens, the minced garlic, and the chili crisp, stirring just until everything is sizzling and aromatic.
3. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the mixture cool slightly so the garlic stops cooking. Stir in the brown sugar, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil until the sugar dissolves and the sauce is smooth.
4. Reserve a small splash of the starchy pasta water, then drain the spaghetti well and transfer it to a large serving bowl or back into the warm pot.
5. Pour the chili garlic sauce over the hot noodles and toss thoroughly with tongs or two forks until every strand is coated, adding a spoonful of pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce and help it cling.
6. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more chili crisp for extra heat or a little more soy sauce for saltiness.
7. Top the noodles with the reserved dark green onion slices and serve immediately while hot.

Pro Tips

• Salt the pasta water generously so the noodles are well seasoned from the inside out; this allows you to keep the sauce balanced without overdoing the soy sauce.
• Watch the garlic closely as it cooks; it should soften and become fragrant but not darken past pale golden, or it will taste bitter in the final dish.
• Stir the chili crisp before measuring because the crunchy bits often settle at the bottom of the jar and you want an even mix of oil and solids.
• Reserve some pasta water before draining. A splash of starchy water helps the sauce emulsify and coat the noodles, rather than settling to the bottom of the bowl.
• Serve extra chili crisp and soy sauce at the table so everyone can customize their bowl—milder for some, spicier and saltier for others.

Recipe Variations

• Veggie-loaded chili garlic noodles. Toss in quickly sautéed vegetables such as bell peppers, snap peas, shredded carrots, or baby spinach when you combine the noodles and sauce. The vegetables add color, texture, and extra nutrition.
• Vegetarian Option. Replace the oyster sauce with 2 teaspoons of hoisin and 1 teaspoon of soy sauce. If too sweet, thin with a splash of water.
• Shrimp or chicken chili garlic noodles. Top the finished noodles with seared shrimp or thin strips of cooked chicken. The sauce works beautifully with either protein, turning the dish into a heartier main course.
• Peanut or tahini twist. Stir a spoonful of smooth peanut butter or tahini into the warm sauce to make a lightly creamy, nutty version. Thin with a bit of pasta water so it coats the noodles evenly.
• Noodle swap. Use rice noodles, lo mein noodles, or udon instead of spaghetti. Cook them according to package directions and toss with the same sauce for a more traditional noodle texture.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve as a side dish with Kung Pao chicken, beef stir-fry, or sesame pork.
• Pair with egg rolls, dumplings, or lettuce wraps for an appetizer spread.
• Add protein and vegetables to turn it into a full meal.
• Garnish with sesame seeds or crushed peanuts for added texture.

How to Store

• Refrigerate: Cool leftovers completely, then transfer the noodles and sauce to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days, keeping them well covered to prevent drying out.
• Reheat: Rewarm the noodles gently in a skillet over low to medium heat with a splash of water or broth, tossing until hot and loosened. You can also reheat briefly in the microwave, pausing to stir so the noodles heat evenly and don’t dry out.

Chili Garlic Noodles

Diana Rattray

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Servings 4 servings

Calories 278

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Pasta

Cuisine Asian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  

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• 8 ounces spaghetti, thin
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 6 green onions, thinly sliced (set some of the dark green aside for garnish)
• 2 teaspoons garlic, minced and mashed
• 1/2 teaspoon chili crisp, more or less
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil

Instructions

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• Cook the spaghetti in a pot of boiling salted water following the package directions. Add 1 teaspoon of kosher salt for each quart of water.
• While the pasta is cooking, heat the vegetable oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the green onions, garlic, and chili crisp. Cook, stirring, until the mixture is aromatic, about 1 to 2 minutes.
• Transfer the green onion mixture to a small bowl and let it cool slightly. Add the brown sugar, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil.
• Drain the spaghetti and transfer it to a serving bowl. Add the garlic sauce mixture and toss to blend thoroughly.
• Garnish with green onion tops and serve hot.

Nutrition

Calories: 278kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 8gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.02gSodium: 274mgPotassium: 203mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 180IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 1mg

Disclaimer:

Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.

Keyword chili crisp, easy garlic noodles

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