10+ Recipes for Noodles to Spice Up Your Dinner Tonight

Noodles are honestly one of the most flexible foods out there. You can whip up a meal for yourself or a crowd, and there’s always a way to make them work.

They come in all sorts of shapes and are made from different ingredients. You can cook them in so many styles, too—whatever you’re craving.

You don’t need a ton of stuff to make a solid noodle dish. With just a few ingredients and not much effort, you can have something tasty on the table.

This list should help you find ideas no matter what noodles you’ve got lying around. Cooking at home shouldn’t be a hassle—let’s keep it fun and low-stress.

Ingredients

• Noodles (any type)
• Basic seasonings (salt, pepper)
• Cooking oil or butter

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil noodles in salted water until tender.
2. Drain and set aside.
3. Heat oil or butter in a pan.
4. Add noodles and season to taste.
5. Stir and cook until heated through.

1) Soy Sauce Pan-fried Noodles

Soy sauce pan-fried noodles are perfect when you want something fast but still crave flavor. Boil your favorite noodles, then toss them in a hot pan with both light and dark soy sauce.

A pinch of sugar and a splash of sesame oil round out the taste. Frying them until they get a little crispy is the real secret here.

You can easily toss in some veggies or any leftover protein. This dish is ready in about 15 minutes—honestly, that’s faster than takeout.

Ingredients

• 450 g cooked noodles
• 3 tbsp light soy sauce
• 2.5 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 4 tbsp water

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat a pan or wok over high heat.
2. Add sesame oil, then noodles. Stir-fry until slightly crispy.
3. Mix soy sauces, sugar, and water. Pour over noodles.
4. Stir until noodles are coated and sauce thickens slightly.
5. Serve hot and enjoy your soy sauce pan-fried noodles.

Want more ideas? Check out this soy sauce pan-fried noodles recipe.

2) Easy Buttered Noodles with Parmesan

Sometimes, you just need comfort food. Buttered noodles with Parmesan hit the spot—no fancy stuff required.

Cook your noodles until they’re just right, then toss them with a generous amount of butter. The butter melts and coats each noodle, making them extra creamy.

Freshly grated Parmesan adds a savory, salty kick. If you want to get a little fancy, sprinkle in some chopped parsley for color.

Here’s a tip: save a little pasta water before you drain. Adding a splash back in helps the sauce cling to the noodles and gives the whole dish a silkier feel.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz noodles
• 4 tbsp butter
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. Boil noodles in salted water until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.
2. Reserve 1/4 cup cooking water, then drain noodles.
3. In the same pot, melt butter over low heat.
4. Add noodles back to pot and stir in Parmesan cheese.
5. Pour a little reserved water if needed for creaminess.
6. Season with salt, pepper, and parsley. Serve warm.

Want to see a similar take? Here’s FoodieCrush’s Easy Parmesan Buttered Noodles.

3) Garlic Noodles

Garlic noodles are ridiculously simple and always hit the mark. The star is, unsurprisingly, a whole lot of garlic.

Start with spaghetti or egg noodles. While they cook, melt butter in a pan and add a mountain of minced garlic.

Mix in oyster sauce, fish sauce, and soy sauce. Toss the noodles in the sauce so they soak up every bit of flavor.

These noodles have roots in San Francisco’s Vietnamese American restaurants. That sweet-salty thing they’ve got going is hard not to love.

Ingredients

• 8 oz spaghetti or egg noodles
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 teaspoons oyster sauce
• 2 teaspoons fish sauce
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 8-10 garlic cloves, minced

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. Melt butter in a pan over medium heat (about 350°F / 175°C).
3. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
4. Stir in oyster sauce, fish sauce, and soy sauce.
5. Toss noodles in the sauce until well coated. Serve hot.

For the nitty-gritty, check out Garlic Noodles Recipe – The Kitchn.

4) Pad Thai

Pad Thai is probably the most famous Thai noodle dish out there. You don’t need to go to a restaurant to get it right.

Flat rice noodles cook up with a tangy, sweet, and savory sauce. Chicken, shrimp, tofu, or just veggies—add what you like.

The classic sauce uses tamarind paste, fish sauce, and palm sugar. Don’t skip the crushed peanuts and fresh lime juice; they really make it pop.

You can pull this together in under 30 minutes. That’s pretty reasonable for something this good.

You’ll find lots of step-by-step guides online, like this easy Pad Thai recipe.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz flat rice noodles
• 2 tbsp tamarind paste
• 3 tbsp fish sauce
• 2 tbsp palm sugar or brown sugar
• 1 cup cooked chicken or shrimp (optional)
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup bean sprouts
• 1/4 cup crushed peanuts
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil

Cooking Instructions:

1. Soak noodles in warm water for 10 minutes, then drain.
2. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat (about 350°F / 175°C).
3. Add eggs and scramble until cooked.
4. Add chicken or shrimp if using, cook through.
5. Stir in noodles and sauce ingredients; toss to combine.
6. Add bean sprouts and green onions, mix gently.
7. Serve with lime wedges and crushed peanuts on top.

5) Pad See Ew

Pad See Ew is a Thai stir-fried noodle dish that’s way easier to make than you’d think. Wide rice noodles give it that chewy texture everyone loves.

Usually, you’ll see chicken, pork, or beef with Chinese broccoli and egg. The sauce is mostly soy sauce—simple, but it packs a punch.

Everything cooks super fast over high heat. That keeps the veggies crisp and the noodles just the right amount of soft.

You can swap in whatever protein you’ve got. It’s a fun way to bring Thai street food vibes into your kitchen.

Ingredients

• Wide rice noodles
• Chicken breast, pork, or beef
• Chinese broccoli
• Eggs
• Dark soy sauce
• Light soy sauce
• Oyster sauce
• Garlic

Cooking Instructions

1. Soak or boil the rice noodles until soft, then drain.
2. Stir-fry garlic in a hot pan with oil.
3. Add your choice of protein, cook until no longer pink.
4. Toss in Chinese broccoli and stir fry briefly.
5. Push ingredients to the side, scramble eggs in the pan.
6. Add noodles and sauces, stir well to coat everything.
7. Cook for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
8. Serve hot.

Curious? Here’s more on Pad See Ew recipes.

6) Chow Mein

Chow Mein is the go-to for a fast, satisfying noodle fix. You stir-fry noodles with veggies and usually some chicken or beef.

The sauce is a mix of soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and a bit of sugar. It’s simple but really ties everything together.

You can use chow mein noodles, ramen, or even spaghetti if you’re improvising. Cabbage, carrots, and green onions are the usual veggies, but honestly, use what you’ve got.

Stir-frying keeps the veggies snappy and the noodles loaded with flavor. Add a touch of cornstarch to the sauce so it clings to every bite.

Ingredients

• 8 oz chow mein or ramen noodles
• 1 cup shredded cabbage
• 1/2 cup sliced carrots
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 1/2 lb chicken or beef, sliced thin
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. Mix soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and cornstarch with 1/4 cup water. Set sauce aside.
3. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Cook chicken or beef until brown. Remove from pan.
4. Add carrots and cabbage to pan. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes.
5. Return meat to pan, add noodles and sauce. Stir well until everything is heated and sauce thickens.
6. Serve hot and enjoy your homemade chow mein!

Need a little more guidance? Here’s an Easy Chow Mein Recipe.

7) Rice Noodle Stir Fry

Rice noodle stir fry is a lifesaver on busy nights. It comes together in about 30 minutes and leaves you full but not weighed down.

Soak the rice noodles in hot water until they’re soft. Stir-fry with your favorite veggies and protein—chicken, tofu, or whatever’s in the fridge.

The sauce usually has soy sauce, a touch of honey or sugar, and some ginger or chili. Stir-fry everything quickly so the noodles get a little crispy and soak up all that flavor.

If you want to keep things gluten-free, swap in tamari for soy sauce. It’s lighter than takeout but still super satisfying.

Ingredients:

• Rice noodles
• Chicken or tofu
• Soy sauce or tamari
• Honey or brown sugar
• Ginger
• Chili crisp (optional)
• Mixed vegetables (like bell peppers, carrots, bok choy)
• Oil for cooking

Cooking Instructions:

1. Soak rice noodles in hot water for 5-10 minutes until soft.
2. Mix soy sauce, honey, ginger, and chili crisp to make the sauce.
3. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
4. Cook chicken or tofu until browned.
5. Add vegetables and stir-fry until tender.
6. Add noodles and sauce, stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.
7. Serve hot.

Want to dig deeper? There’s a great rice noodle stir fry recipe page you can check out.

8) Turmeric-infused Pad Thai

Want to give classic Pad Thai a bit of a glow-up? Try tossing in some turmeric.

This spice brightens the noodles with a golden color and brings a gentle, earthy flavor. I think it blends nicely with the tangy vinegar and sweet notes in the sauce.

Start by soaking rice noodles in boiling water and turmeric until they’re soft. Next, stir-fry the noodles with garlic, veggies, and whatever protein you like.

Finish with a quick sauce—just vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce. It pulls everything together and keeps the flavors balanced.

This version feels bold and fresh. Great for those nights when you want something healthy but don’t want to spend forever in the kitchen.

Ingredients

• 6 ounces dried rice noodles
• 1 1/2 tablespoons turmeric powder
• 3 tablespoons white vinegar or tamarind paste
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, celery)
• 1 protein choice (tofu, chicken, shrimp)
• Green onion and cilantro for garnish

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil water and soak noodles with turmeric until soft.
2. Mix vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce to make the sauce.
3. Stir-fry garlic and veggies in a pan.
4. Add protein and cook through.
5. Toss in noodles and pour sauce over.
6. Cook for 2-3 minutes until heated.
7. Garnish with green onion and cilantro before serving.

For a similar turmeric noodle method, check out Sunshine Pad Thai’s recipe page.

9) Walnut Miso Noodles

Walnut miso noodles are a creamy, nutty spin on traditional noodle bowls. The sauce comes together by blending walnuts, miso, garlic, and oil into a rich dressing.

Toss it with whole grain noodles for a meal that’s both filling and kind of wholesome. I like to throw in veggies like asparagus or bok choy—they add crunch and keep things interesting.

The warm noodles soak up that savory walnut-miso sauce. It’s easy to make, and the flavors really pop.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces whole grain noodles (spaghetti, soba, or linguini)
• 1/2 cup toasted walnuts
• 1 tablespoon miso paste
• 1 clove garlic
• 2 tablespoons oil (olive or sesame)
• 1/4 cup cooking water
• 1 small bunch asparagus or bok choy, sliced

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook noodles according to package instructions and reserve 1/4 cup cooking water.
2. Toast walnuts in a pan over medium heat until fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
3. Blend walnuts, miso, garlic, oil, and cooking water until smooth.
4. Toss noodles and vegetables with the walnut-miso sauce.
5. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Want more details? Take a look at Walnut Miso Noodles.

10) Vegan Ramen

Vegan ramen is one of those bowls you can’t help but crave on a chilly night. The broth, made with mushrooms, turns out surprisingly rich and deep—no meat needed.

Add in crispy tofu and a heap of veggies, and you’ve got a meal that’s both cozy and filling. I love how easy it is to make this your own.

Pick your favorite vegetables and stir in some miso paste if you want an extra punch of flavor. Cooking ramen noodles with fresh ingredients just makes everything taste better, honestly.

If you want to keep it simple, here’s an easy vegan ramen recipe with just 10 ingredients. It’s satisfying and doesn’t take a ton of effort.

Ingredients

• Ramen noodles
• Mushrooms
• Tofu
• Miso paste
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Green onions
• Soy sauce
• Vegetables (carrots, bok choy, etc.)
• Vegetable broth

Cooking Instructions

1. Toss mushrooms and garlic into a pot. Let them cook until they’re soft.

2. Pour in the vegetable broth. Add ginger and miso paste, then let it all simmer for about 15 minutes.

3. Grab your tofu and pan-fry it until it’s nice and crispy.

4. Cook the ramen noodles separately. Just follow the package directions—it’s usually pretty simple.

5. Now, put the noodles, broth, tofu, and some veggies together in a bowl.

6. Top everything with green onions. Serve it up while it’s still hot.