Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles might become your new favorite weeknight dinner! This quick and easy recipe uses simple pantry ingredients. It's a tasty combination of whole wheat spaghetti and creamy peanut butter with a slightly spicy sauce made with fresh lime juice, soy sauce and a touch of maple syrup.
Serve it with a crisp, cucumber salad on the side!
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⭐ Why Melinda Loves Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles
No complicated ingredients are needed. Most everything you need is likely on hand in the pantry. Like Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce and Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese, this is a delicious meatless main course with pasta.
The flavor might remind you of spicy Thai noodles, such as Pad Thai. The tender noodles are coated with a slightly spicy peanut sauce and topped with a squeeze of lime juice and peanuts.
Quick to make! This is a dinner recipe that's ready for the table in about 20 minutes.
Note: Some of the links in this recipe post are Amazon affiliate links, which means I make a small commission from Amazon if you link to and purchase the item. The affiliate process never affects your cost and I only link to products that I use and highly recommend.
🥜 Ingredients to Have on Hand
Here's an easy recipe that combines kitchen staples with a few items from the produce section of the grocery store to create a unique and delicious meal.
Whole Wheat Spaghetti: You can use any shape of whole wheat pasta or replace the pasta with rice noodles, but regular whole wheat spaghetti creates a comforting texture and a nutty flavor.
Peanut Butter: Use your favorite variety. I prefer to use (affiliate link) creamy peanut butter since it adds to the silkiness of the spicy sauce. Natural peanut butter (unblended) will also work, but be sure to stir it thoroughly, and you might need to adjust the sauce with an extra splash of warm water or soy sauce to get the perfect creamy texture. If you buy a new jar of peanut butter for this recipe, be sure to make a batch of Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies!
Hot Chili Sauce: (Affiliate link) Sriracha is perfect here! This is the ingredient that adds spicy heat to the peanut sauce. If you like a little more kick, double the amount and use 2 tablespoons of Sriracha instead of one.
Soy Sauce: I recommend using (affiliate link) low-sodium soy sauce, the flavor is the same as regular soy sauce but it cuts down on the amount of sodium per serving. It's always a good idea to keep soy sauce on hand, it's a great flavor booster for my Better Than Bouillon Gravy Recipe and Elegant Green Bean Casserole.
Top it all off with fresh ingredients that include green onions, limes and cilantro, and sprinkle chopped peanuts on top for a satisfying dish that comes together in minutes.
Scroll to the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
🍜 Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter, soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, fresh lime juice, Sriracha sauce and sesame oil. Whisk to combine.
Step 2: Whisk until the peanut butter dissolves into the other ingredients. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat until the sauce is warmed, silky and smooth.
Step 3: Cook the whole wheat pasta according to the directions on the package, drain and place the pasta in the bowl with the sauce. Toss the pasta to coat all of the noodles. Place a serving of the pasta on a plate and top with optional garnishes: cilantro, green onions, fresh lime juice and chopped peanuts.
💭 Recipe FAQs
Yes, rice noodles are an especially delicious option. But this recipe is super flexible! I love using whole wheat spaghetti, but you can also use ramen noodles, soba or udon noodles. Just cook according to the package directions and rinse briefly with cool water to stop the cooking before tossing with the peanut butter sauce.
Yes, honey is a great substitute, although I prefer maple syrup since the sweetness and flavor are consistent.
I believe so, but with a few substitutions. Use a soy sauce that is specifically labeled as gluten-free and swap the whole wheat spaghetti for rice noodles or a variety of pasta that is clearly labeled as gluten-free. (Please note, I am not a dietitian, and this substitution is offered only as a suggestion.)
If you love extra spice and heat, simply add more sriracha. You can easily customize the spice level to suit your taste.
Pro Tip
To save time, blend the spicy peanut sauce ingredients in the morning, then cover and refrigerate until you get home from work. Warm the sauce in the microwave, cook the whole wheat pasta and toss. Dinner is ready!
🥡 What to Serve with Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles
Oven-Roasted Veggies: If you want to keep this as a meatless main dish, serve the spicy peanut noodles with your favorite collection of oven-roasted veggies, like Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts or Pan-Roasted Asparagus.
Rotisserie Chicken: Boost the protein-power of this meal, but keep it simple by serving the spicy noodles with a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
Tofu: Oven-roasted tofu goes great with these noodles. Here's a recipe for Easy Baked Orange Tofu. Serve it with or without the orange sauce.
🍽 Leftovers and Storage
Store leftover spicy peanut noodles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. To reheat, sprinkle a few drops of water on the noodles, cover and reheat in the microwave until the noodles are hot. Squeeze lime juice on top of each serving and top with fresh cilantro, diced green onions and chopped peanuts.
🥘 More Dinner Recipes
Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles are quick and easy. Here are more dinner recipes that I think you'll enjoy! Each one is a family-favorite.
If you try Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles or any other recipe on my website, I’d love to hear how it turns out and if you enjoyed it. Please leave a 🌟 star rating and comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!
Recipe
Lauren says
Delicious, easy and quick weeknight dinner! I made a cucumber salad as a side. A complex tasting dish to impress guests.
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
I agree. So quick and easy! Thank you for the five star rating Lauren!
Melinda O'Malley Keckler says
(Hi, it's Melinda) This is one of my all time favorite weeknight recipes, I've even served it for guests. Let me know what you think of it too!