Spicy Sesame Chili Noodles
These spicy sesame chili noodles are nutty, garlicky, and deeply crave-worthy, coming together in minutes with pantry staples and a seriously good chili oil–style sauce.
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I used to think instant noodles were strictly reserved for broke college days or desperate late nights. You know the kind. Barely flavored, a little sad, somehow both too salty and not salty enough.
That changed the moment I started treating noodles like a blank canvas.
Once you add your own aromatics, sauces, and heat, instant noodles turn into something completely different. These spicy sesame chili noodles are now my go-to when I want something fast but still deeply satisfying. They’re bold, slurpy, and miles better than anything that comes in a silver packet.
If you’ve got noodles and ten minutes, you’ve got dinner.
Why these spicy sesame chili noodles work
Heating sesame oil and pouring it over chili flakes, garlic, and ginger blooms the aromatics instantly, creating a quick, deeply flavored sauce without extra cooking. Nut butter adds richness and body, soy sauce brings salt and umami, and lime juice cuts through the richness to keep everything balanced.
"These were ready in 10 minutes, tops. "
This dish is delicious but the best part is that it's ready so fast! I never have energy to make dinner and this felt interesting AND easy. A win win.
Spicy Sesame Chili Noodles
Ingredients
- 1 package noodles ramen, udon, or rice noodles
- 2 tablespoons chili flakes
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 bunch green onions chopped
- 2 teaspoons minced ginger
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon nut butter
- 1 lime juiced
- ½ cup sesame oil
Instructions
- Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Heat the sesame oil in a small pot over medium heat until fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the chili flakes, garlic, ginger, three-quarters of the green onions, and sesame seeds to a heatproof bowl. Carefully pour the hot oil over the mixture.
- Stir in the nut butter, soy sauce, and lime juice until smooth.
- Add the cooked noodles and toss well to coat.
- Garnish with the remaining green onions and extra sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Adjust the chili flakes to control the heat level.
- Any nut butter works, but peanut butter adds the richest flavor.
- If your noodles feel dry, add a splash of noodle cooking water to loosen the sauce.
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