Name: Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 tsp minced ginger; ½ cup creamy peanut butter; 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce; 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice ((from 1 whole lime)); 3 Tbsp siracha; 16 ounces rice noodles; ¼ cup chopped nuts ((almonds, peanuts and cashews all work great)); 1 cup edamame; 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced; 1 cup shredded carrots ((from about 2 large carrots)); 1 cup shredded red cabbage; chopped nuts ((almonds, peanuts and cashews all work great)); sliced green onions; cilantro; lime wedges

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These spicy peanut butter noodles are the perfect weeknight dinner, ready in just 25 minutes! This dish is packed with vegetables, and the noodles are super creamy, thanks to peanut butter.

hand holding a bite of vegetable noodle salad with chopsticks

This spicy peanut noodles recipe is on a bi-weekly rotation at our house! It's so flavorful and delicious!

Sometimes peanut sauces can taste too salty or too sweet. But I tested and tweaked this peanut butter sauce multiple times to make sure it's the perfect balance of sweet, salty, umami and spicy.

And for more savory recipes that feature peanut butter, try peanut butter curry and Thai chicken tacos with peanut sauce. And for dessert, why not whip up a batch of 2 ingredient peanut butter cookies while we're at it!?

a large platter of Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles on a white linen

More about Rice Noodles

Peanut noodles are said to have possibly originated from China, Japan, or Indonesia. Perhaps a version was developed in all three countries at the same time! I was inspired by Asian cuisine to create this simplified version of peanut noodles for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

This recipe uses rice noodles which can be found in most grocery stores. And the great thing about them is that you don't need to boil them, saving time and energy! You can soak them in hot water for about 30 minutes to soften while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Why You Should Make This Recipe

It's a quick weeknight dinner recipe to get your meal on the table in 30 minutes.
The creamy peanut sauce is super flavorful. It's a little salty, a little sweet, and has a kick of spice.
Delicious leftovers can be stored in the fridge in airtight containers and still retain their punch of flavor!
This dish tastes great served hot or cold.

Ingredients

Minced ginger
Peanut butter - This is the base for the creamy sauce. Feel free to substitute any nut or seed butter.
Soy sauce
Lime juice - Use a fresh lime for the best flavor.
Sriracha - Add more or less sriracha, depending on how spicy you like your noodles.
Rice noodles
Edamame - Buy shelled edamame to save time so you don't have to shell them all by hand.
Red bell pepper - You can use any colored bell pepper, but I think red gives the best contrast of color to the rest of the vegetables.
Carrots
Purple cabbage
Chopped nuts - Use any of your favorite nuts like peanuts, almonds or cashews
Green onions
Cilantro

metal tongs holding rice noodles over a bowl of vegetables

How To Make Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles

Hydrate the rice noodles: Soften the rice noodles either for 30 minutes in a large bowl of boiled hot water, or boil them for about 10 minutes. Drain the noodles and set aside.
Prepare the sauce: In a medium-sized bowl, mix the minced ginger, creamy peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice and sriracha until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
Prepare the vegetables: Thinly slice the bell pepper, carrots and purple cabbage. Combine in a large mixing bowl along with the edamame and chopped nuts.
Mix everything together: Add the softened rice noodles and spicy peanut sauce. Mix everything with large tongs or spoons until the noodles and vegetables are evenly coated.
Add your toppings: Top with more chopped nuts, green onions, cilantro and lime wedges.

overhead view of ingredients to make spicy noodle salad

Storing

Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.

As rice noodles cool, they tend to stick together. The sauce coating the noodles will help prevent this from happening.

Reheat: Warm leftovers in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes.

Recipe Tips

Add more spice by increasing the amount of sriracha in the sauce or topping your noodles with red pepper flakes or chili oil.
Add extra fresh cilantro, chopped nuts and freshly squeezed lime juice on leftovers. This is my secret to making them tasting like they're fresh again!
Creamy natural peanut butter tends to be the easiest to make a sauce with, since it's thinner than other types of peanut butter.

three plates of Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles in black and white dishes

FAQ

Are rice noodles healthier than pasta?

Rice noodles usually contain less fiber and protein than grain-based pasta. But rice noodles are gluten free. Therefore rice noodles aren't inherently healthier than pasta, but they do have benefits if you're on a gluten-free diet.

Are ramen noodles the same as rice noodles?

No, ramen noodles and rice noodles are different. Ramen noodles contain wheat and they often have a crinkly look. Rice noodles are made from rice flour and they are smooth.

How do you add spice to noodles?

My favorite way to add spice to noodles is sriracha. A little goes a long way and it adds a great flavor to the dish. You could also add red pepper flakes, sambal oelek, garlic chili oil, gochujang, or your favorite hot sauce.

More Weeknight Meals

Hungry for more easy weeknight dinner recipes? Try these: