Looking for a simple and flavorful noodle recipe? Try our quick and easy sesame noodles recipe that’s perfect for weeknight dinners. Packed with protein and veggies and covered in a ridiculously tasty sesame peanut sauce, this dish is sure to become a family favorite!
Sesame noodles are a Sichuan dish first created in the 70s by Shorty Tang at his restaurant Hwa Yuan in New York City. The noodles were dressed in a sauce made of sesame paste, peanut butter, rice vinegar, a bit of sugar, additional spices such as ginger, garlic, and chile-garlic sauce, and cucumbers, then served cold. They quickly gained popularity in New York and eventually became a staple on takeout menus across the US.
You can learn more about the origin of sesame noodles in this article by New York Times writer Sam Sifton.
In this recipe, we’ve adapted the traditional sesame noodles to create a main dish filled with vibrant, crunchy veggies and protein, and opted for ingredients that can easily be found at your local grocery store.
If you’re looking for another delicious Asian-inspired recipe, we’ve got you. These Asian-inspired lettuce wraps are super easy and so flavorful!
Ingredients Needed
While the noodle ingredients are mostly comprised of veggies and noodles (obviously!), the sauce ingredients may feel a little bit intimidating to you if you havenโt made many Asian-inspired dishes. Donโt worry, though – they are all super accessible (your local grocery store is bound to have them) and really bring these noodles to life!
For the Sauce:
- Sesame Oil – 3 tablespoons of sesame oil really make this sauce – sesame oil is powerful (but oh so delicious), but these are called sesame noodles for a reason!
- Lime Juice – 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lime juice adds the perfect acidity to the sauce. We always think that fresh is best when it comes to citrus, so instead of buying a bottle of juice, grab 1 lime and juice it yourself!
- Soy Sauce OR Coconut Aminos – youโll also need a ยผ cup of soy sauce or coconut aminos here. We love this brand of coconut aminos!
- Rice Vinegar – 2 teaspoons of rice wine vinegar,…
- Honey – …1 tablespoon of honey,…
- Fresh Ginger – …a freshly grated 1-inch piece of ginger (donโt be intimidated by this – just peel an inch-long piece of fresh ginger, then grate it with a zester!),
- Creamy Peanut Butter – …2 tablespoons of smooth natural peanut butter (no added sugars!), and…
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (Optional) – …ยผ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes finish out the sauce!
For the Noodles:
- Ramen Noodles – noodles make up the bulk of todayโs dish – youโll need about 10 ounces of ramen noodles, we love these for gluten-free, but if you can’t find them, spaghetti noodles, rice noodles, or even soba noodles work here, too!
- Avocado or Olive Oil – You’ll need 1 tablespoon of either avocado or olive oil to toss the noodles in! This will really keep the noodles from clumping together.
- Cucumber – now for the fun part – all of the fresh veggies! Youโll need to julienne ยฝ of a cucumber,…
- Red Bell Pepper – …julienne 1 red bell pepper,…
- Snap Peas – …thinly slice 1 cup of snap peas,…
- Green Onions – …thinly slice 3 green onions,…
- Fresh Cilantro – …and chop ยผ cup of fresh cilantro!
- Protein of Choice – we went with 2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken here, but this would also be great with pork, shrimp, or even edamame for a vegetarian option.
- Sesame Seeds – youโll finish everything off with a teaspoon of sesame seeds!
Recipe Instructions
This is a super easy recipe! Once all of your veggies are chopped (which is quite therapeutic, I must say), your noodles are cooked, and your sauce is whisked, youโll essentially just throw it all together and give it a good mix!
- Cook the Noodles – start by cooking your noodles in a large pot according to package instructions until they are al dente. Once theyโre done, drain the noodles and rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking process, then toss them with the tablespoon of oil.
- Make the Sauce – while the pasta cooks, whisk together the sesame oil, lime juice, coconut aminos (or soy sauce), rice wine vinegar, honey, freshly grated ginger, peanut butter, and red pepper flakes. The sauce should be thin enough to easily drizzle.
- Combine the Sauce, Noodles, and Veggies – toss the noodles with the sauce, cucumber, bell pepper, snap peas, green onions, and cilantro, then garnish with sesame seeds.
- Enjoy! – You can either eat the dish warm immediately or refrigerate and enjoy as cold sesame noodles!
Add-Ins and Variations
- Add Extra Veggies – the sky is the limit here – if youโve got veggies needing to be eaten, chop them up and throw โem in the mix!
- Use Cooked Veggies instead of Raw – if you don’t like the crunch of raw veggies, you can also go ahead and saute your veggies for about 5 minutes over medium heat, then combine them with the noodles.
- Use Kelp Noodles – to make this dish low-carb, use kelp noodles instead of ramen noodles! To soften the kelp noodles, boil a pot of water, add the juice of one lemon, then add the kelp noodles to the pot, and remove it from the heat. Let the noodles soak in the hot water for about 10 minutes before straining!
Sesame Noodles Frequently Asked Questions
Is sesame pasta the same as tahini?
Good question! Itโs not. Tahini is ground sesame paste (think: the peanut butter equivalent for sesame seeds), but these sesame noodles are actually made from ramen (rice or regular) and a really yummy peanut sesame sauce!
What kind of noodles do you use to make sesame noodles?
We used these rice ramen noodles, but feel free to use any ramen noodles that you love!
What do you serve with sesame noodles?
What do you serve with sesame noodles?
This sesame noodle dish is loaded with protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats, so it really is a complete meal all on its own. If youโre looking for more veggies, though, feel free to double the veggies in the recipe, steam or saute bok choy with sesame oil and lime juice, or just press the easy button and steam some good ole broccoli to serve alongside the noodles.
Can I make sesame noodles ahead of time?
Absolutely! Thatโs actually one of the beautiful things about this dish โ it can be eaten hot or cold, and it saves really well. Because of this, Sesame Noodles are actually an ideal meal prep lunch option. Make a big batch on Sunday, shred a store-bought rotisserie chicken, and portion the two together in individual containers for easy grab-and-go lunches!
More Favorite Asian-Inspired Dishes
- Sheet Pan Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Crispy General Tso’s Chicken Recipe
- Instant Pot Beef & Broccoli
- Teriyaki Shrimp and Vegetable Stir Fry
- Baked Orange Chicken (Gluten Free)
- Teriyaki Beef Sheet Pan Dinner
- Healthy Kung Pao Chicken
- Ginger Pork with Broccoli
Quick and Easy Sesame Noodles Recipe
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1/4 cup soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 inch of ginger freshly grated
- 2 tablespoons creamy natural peanut butter
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
For the Noodles:
- 10 ounces ramen noodles or spaghetti noodles – we used these for gluten-free
- 1 tablespoon avocado or olive oil
- 1/2 cucumber julienned (about 1 cup)
- 1 red bell pepper julienned
- 1 cup snap peas thinly sliced
- 3 green onions thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro
- 2 cups shredded chicken*
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to boil and cook the noodles according to package instructions. Once they are done, drain the noodles, then rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking process, and toss with the tablespoon of oil.
- Whisk together all ingredients for the sauce. It should be thin enough to easily drizzle.
- Toss the noodles with the sauce, cucumber, bell pepper, snap peas, green onions, and cilantro, then garnish with sesame seeds. You can either eat the dish warm immediately or refrigerate and eat cold!
Recipe Notes
- For protein, you can use about 1 pound of chicken, pork, or shrimp here. For a vegetarian option, use edamame.
- For nightshade-free – omit the bell peppers and use more cucumber and snap peas in their place.
- For low FODMAP – omit the snap peas and use an additional bell pepper in their place.
I would say these taste more like peanut noodles than sesame, but they are delicious all the same! I doubled the sauce and used half to marinate 4 chicken breast cutlets overnight and then grilled them the next day to top the salad with and that was excellent.
My favorite sesame noodles that don’t have peanut included are Ree Drummond’s, if you’re looking for something like that. https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a9398/simple-sesame-noodles/
This recipe is now in our weekly rotation! It is so yummy and easy to throw together with minimal cooking time. I subbed almond butter for PB and coconut vinegar for the the rice wine vinegar.
Yay! So glad you guys love this one, Emily!!
Just made this tonight. Ummmm YUMMM!! We used edamame instead of snap peas (didn’t have them) and no chix. It made a good substitution. The sauce is so tasty I feel like you could use it for a marinade for other dishes. Another FedandFit recipe WIN (I swear everything I make by them is delicious)
I meant to give it 5 stars, whoopsie ๐
LOL! Thank you, Jenna!!!
So glad you love this one, Jenna!! I agree – that sauce is SO DELICIOUS!
Holy moly we loved these! I want that sauce on everything! I couldn’t find fresh snap peas, so I used some extra bell peppers and carrot ribbons and it was perfect. Can’t wait to make it again soon!
So glad you guys loved it, Kelly! I agree – that sauce is DELICIOUS!
Holy holy moly. This is soooooo good! The flavors are perfect. I used the recommended gluten free noodles and they are perfect! This will definitely be a repeat!
YES!! So glad you love this one, Jessica…I do too!!!
Loved this dish – the sauce is delicious! My husband couldn’t get enough. We subbed kelp noodles (low carb, no cooking required, neutral taste) and they worked great. I ate the leftovers for lunch, added some some avocado to stretch what I had left, and I think it may have been even better on the second day. This one is definitely a keeper for a hot day or any time you want a simple, refreshing meal.
Great to know, Susan! So glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for the easy tasty recipe. I have been looking for a good Sesame noodle recipe and finally found it. Thank you!
Wahoo! So glad you enjoyed this, Lena! Thanks for sharing with us!
Delicious! And perfect for dinner on a hot day, only have to use the stove to boil the water for the ramen.
Totally agree, Christie! These noodles are the best!
Do you cook the veggies?
We like them raw because they add a nice crunch to the dish. If you prefer cooked veggies over raw, though, feel free to saute the veggies for a couple of minutes while the noodles cook!
My family always loves the asian style meals youโve created and this one is no exception! It was light, yet very filling. I subbed apple cider vinegar because I realized we didnโt have red wine vinegar and it turned out just fine ๐
So good to know, Jessica! These noodles are one of my absolute favorites!