Garlic Butter Noodles - 15 Minute Recipe!

When I want to impress my family and friends, I make these garlic butter noodles because they come together quickly and taste insanely delicious.

It's an easy recipe that has recently become one of my go-to weeknight dinner recipes. My recipe includes soy sauce, fish sauce, and chili oil for extra umami, elevating this dish to the next level.

So, if you love butter and garlic noodles, this is the quick, no-fuss recipe you’ll find yourself making again and again.

What Are Garlic Butter Noodles?

If you’re new to garlic butter noodles, they’re a simple but rich noodle dish tossed in a creamy butter and garlic sauce that is indulgent and sophisticated. This recipe blends heavy cream, parmesan, chili oil, soy sauce, and fish sauce to create a silky, savory, umami-packed sauce that pairs perfectly with your favorite noodles.

While butter and garlic noodles show up in many Asian-fusion and restaurant dishes today, the roots of buttery, aromatic noodles can be found across different cultures, making this recipe both familiar and unique.

Why You’ll Love Garlic Butter Noodles

• Quick and Easy: This recipe comes together in just 15 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
• Irresistibly Creamy: The heavy cream, parmesan, and butter create the creamiest, silky sauce that's so mouth-watering.
• Comfort in Every Bite: These butter and garlic noodles bring cozy, savory flavors that taste like a restaurant dish.
• Super Versatile: You can add protein, veggies, or use any noodles you love—this dish is easy to customize.
• Family-Friendly: The flavors are rich but simple, making this a recipe the whole family will love.

Equipment You’ll Need

• Large pot
• Large skillet
• Tongs
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Spoon or spatula

Ingredients

• Dry wheat noodles: I like wheat noodles as it soaks up the rich, creamy garlic butter sauce. However, you can use spaghetti, fettuccine, or any other noodle of choice.
• Unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps form the base of the garlic butter flavor.
• Shallot
• Garlic: A key ingredient that adds bold, fragrant flavor to the sauce.
• Dried oregano
• Heavy cream
• Parmesan
• Soy sauce
• Fish sauce
• Sugar
• Chili oil: Adds heat and a layer of aromatic spice
• Noodle water: Helps loosen the sauce and helps everything cling to the noodles. Make sure to reserve a bit extra to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency!
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Chopped cilantro

Customizations

• Protein Options: Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu to make these garlic butter noodles extra filling.
• Vegetable Add-Ins: Toss in spinach, mushrooms, peas, or broccoli for added freshness and texture.
• Noodle Swap: Use rice noodles, ramen noodles, or fettuccine—this recipe works with almost anything.

How to Make Garlic Butter Noodles

Cook the Noodles

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles according to the package instructions. Before draining, scoop out about 1 cup of noodle water to use later.

Drain the noodles, rinse briefly under cold water to remove excess starch, and set aside.

Build the Garlic Butter Base

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter.

Add the minced shallot, garlic, and dried oregano, sautéing for about 1 minute until the shallot softens and everything becomes fragrant.

Create the Creamy Sauce

Pour in the heavy cream, parmesan, soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, chili oil, ⅓ cup of the reserved noodle water, salt, and black pepper.

Stir and let the sauce simmer for 2–3 minutes until it begins to thicken slightly.

Toss and Finish

Add the cooked noodles into the skillet and toss until they’re fully coated in the creamy garlic butter sauce, about 30 seconds.

If the sauce thickens too much, adjust with extra noodle water to reach your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Serve

Remove from heat and plate the noodles. Garnish with chopped cilantro, more chili oil, and enjoy!

Storage

Store leftover garlic butter noodles in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Tips To Make the Perfect Garlic Butter Noodles

• Save Plenty of Noodle Water: It helps loosen the sauce and keeps your garlic butter noodles silky instead of heavy.
• Use Freshly Grated Parmesan: It melts smoother and avoids graininess in the sauce.
• Don’t Overcook the Noodles: Slightly al dente noodles hold up better once added back into the hot sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which noodles are best for this garlic butter noodles recipe?

I love using wheat noodles, but you can easily use spaghetti, fettuccine, egg noodles, ramen, or your favorite noodle of choice—this recipe is super flexible.

Can I add protein and vegetables to this?

Absolutely! Garlic butter noodles taste amazing with shrimp, chicken, tofu, spinach, mushrooms, or broccoli without altering the core flavor.

Why rinse the noodles briefly after draining?

A quick rinse removes excess starch so the noodles don’t clump together before you add them to the sauce.

Can I make this garlic butter noodles recipe spicy?

Yes! Just add more chili oil or a pinch of red pepper flakes for extra heat.

How do I keep the sauce from getting too thick?

Add noodle water gradually until the sauce reach your ideal creamy, silky consistency.

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• Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
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• Korean Spicy Cold Noodles
• Soy Sauce Chow Mein