Name: Spicy Peanut Noodles
Prep time: 12 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces brown rice noodles; 1 red bell pepper; To garnish: extra chili garlic sauce (parsley, scallions, chopped peanuts); 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter; 1/2 cup soy sauce; 2 tablespoons olive or sesame oil; 2 tablespoons rice vinegar; 1 tablespoon maple syrup; 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce; 2 cloves garlic; 1/4 cup water

These Spicy Peanut Noodles are an easy 20-minute meal packed with flavor! Brown rice noodles and crunchy red bell pepper are tossed in a creamy, spicy peanut sauce made with peanut butter, soy sauce, garlic, and chili garlic sauce. Perfect for a quick lunch or dinner, and delicious with tofu, salmon, or shrimp.

Spicy Peanut Noodles have a special place in my heart.

They’re never not good – always so flavorful, warm, and filling.

But of course, it’s important to have the right recipe for peanut noodles. The right recipe takes this dish from amazing to incredible.

And that’s where this recipe comes in.

I used brown rice noodles. I love their shape and texture for this dish.

Once the noodles are cooked, the sauce is where it’s at. It couldn’t be easier to make either. Just blend up all your ingredients in a blender until smooth – and you’re done.

I added in some crunchy red bell pepper with the noodles too. I love the addition of color, flavor, and nutrients that they add. Slice them up super thinly and they blend in with the noodles perfectly.

From there, you just toss the noodles and bell pepper with the sauce. Garnish with crushed peanuts and extra chili garlic sauce.

If you like spice, go nuts with the chili garlic sauce. If you’re like and prefer things more mild, only add a little bit. A little goes a long way.

Don’t forget: you can eat pasta any time. Not only is pasta delicious and nutritious, but also carbs help to keep us filling feel and satisfied. They’re so important!

So make these Spicy Peanut Noodles for an easy lunch or dinner. I love them paired with air fried tofu, seared salmon, or sautéed shrimp.

Make the protein while the water is boiling and the noodles are cooking, and you’ll still have a flavorful, simple meal in 20 minutes flat.

Why You’ll Love These Spicy Peanut Noodles

These noodles make an amazing make ahead lunch or dinner. They’re full of flavor and the recipe tastes just as good eaten the next day.

They’re a great base for any protein of your choice – try them topped with salmon, chicken, or this Crispy Air Fryer Tofu.

If you’re meal prepping, you’ll love having these stored in the fridge. Mix and match the protein you enjoy them with for an easy and satisfying meal.

How to Make Spicy Peanut Noodles

Prep ingredients

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the brown rice noodles and cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring frequently. Drain, rinse, and set aside.

Slice bell pepper

Cut the bell pepper into very thin slices. Set aside.

Add sauce ingredients to food processor

In a blender or food processor, add all of the peanut sauce ingredients.

Blend

Blend until smooth.

Add ingredients to bowl

Add the cooked noodles to a large bowl.

Toss with sauce

And sliced bell pepper. Then add the peanut sauce and toss to combine (Note: You may not use all of the sauce. I used all but 1/3 cup of it. I recommend adding the sauce slowly, tossing the noodles, and adding more as desired).

Garnish

Garnish with scallions, parsley, extra chili garlic sauce, and plenty of chopped peanuts.

Serve

Serve these Spicy Peanut Noodles for an easy and quick lunch or dinner.

If You Love These Spicy Peanut Noodles, Try These

Edamame & Peanut Crunch Salad: The flavors of this salad match the ones in the noodles so well.
Spicy Cucumber Salad: Similar vibes but with cucumber.
5-Minute Spicy Edamame Dip: If you love a little spice, you’ll love this easy high protein dip.
Crispy Rice & Tofu Salad with Sesame Soy Dressing: This salad is packed with veggies, tofu, and a delicious dressing.
Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce: Another peanut sauce recipe that’s so flavorful.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Brown rice noodles: The texture and shape of these Spicy Peanut Noodles work really well in this recipe, but any long noodle shape will work. You can try linguini, ramen, or vermicelli.
Peanut butter: I used classic JIF in the recipe. If you’re using a natural peanut butter, you may want to add a little more maple syrup to add more sweetness.
Soy sauce: A low sodium version works well. You can also swap for liquid aminos or umami joy sauce if you prefer no soy.
Oil: Sesame oil or olive oil both work here.
Rice vinegar: While the sauce will still work with another light vinegar, I really recommend using rice vinegar. It’s a great vinegar to keep in your pantry!
Maple syrup: You can also swap for honey. For a sweeter sauce, add more syrup one teaspoon at a time.
Chili garlic sauce: In terms of spice, a little goes a long way! Start small if you prefer things more mild. If you can’t find chili garlic sauce, use a little sriracha (and a little extra garlic) instead.
Water: Add until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. I prefer a thicker sauce that still tosses with the noodles well. Start with the 1/4 cup listed and add as you see fit.

Spicy Peanut Noodle Tips & Variations

Adding sauce: You may not use all of the sauce on the noodles. I used all but 1/3 cup of it. I recommend adding the sauce slowly, tossing the noodles, and adding more as desired.
Vegetables: Want to add more veg to this recipe? You can thinly slice mushroom, cabbage, or carrots to add too.
Storage: Store Spicy Peanut Noodles in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, simply microwave until warm. You can prepare the sauce ahead of time and reheat and toss it with the noodles when you’re ready to eat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Peanut noodles can be eaten warm, at room temperature, or cold. The creamy peanut sauce works especially well for cold noodles, making them an easy option for lunches or meal prep. Peanut sauces can thicken when chilled, so you may want to stir in a small splash of water before serving

Be careful not to overcook the noodles and rinse them after draining. If they’ll be sitting for a while before you add the peanut sauce, tossing them with a small amount of oil can also help prevent them from sticking together.

They can be. The brown rice noodles used in this recipe are typically gluten-free, but regular soy sauce usually contains wheat. To make the entire dish gluten-free, use a certified gluten-free soy sauce or tamari and check the labels of your other ingredients.

Peanut butter naturally makes peanut sauce thick, and the sauce can become even thicker as it sits or chills. If your sauce becomes thicker than you’d like, whisk in a little warm water until it reaches your preferred consistency.

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: Chinese