Better Than Takeout Asian Garlic Noodles
Asian Garlic Noodles are the best takeout copycat recipe you’ll ever make. After making this many times, I’ve mastered the trick to that perfect, golden sauce. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole and Easy Mongolian Ground Beef Noodles Recipe.
Why This Better Than Takeout Asian Garlic Noodles Is Pure Comfort
- Golden, garlicky sauce that's better than takeout
- Ready in just 20 minutes
- Customizable with your favorite proteins and veggies
What You'll Need for Better Than Takeout Asian Garlic Noodles
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- spaghetti
- garlic
- soy sauce
- oyster sauce
- butter
- garlic powder
- red pepper flakes
- sesame oil
- green onions
- Optional: chicken
- Optional: shrimp
- Optional: broccoli
- Optional: carrots
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- spaghetti: Any type of pasta will work.
- soy sauce: Light or regular, both work fine.
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Stainless Steel Pasta Pot — Even cooking and no sticking. → See on Amazon
- Garlic Press — Makes mincing garlic a breeze. → See on Amazon
How to Make Better Than Takeout Asian Garlic Noodles
- Cook Pasta: Boil spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Sauté Garlic: In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
- Make Sauce: Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes to the pan. Stir well and cook for 2 minutes.
- Toss Noodles: Add cooked spaghetti to the pan. Toss to coat evenly with sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed.
- Serve: Drizzle with sesame oil, garnish with green onions, and serve immediately.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Better Than Takeout Asian Garlic Noodles
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the garlic. It can turn bitter. Keep an eye on it and remove from heat if it starts to brown.
- Time-saving tip: Prepare your ingredients before you start cooking. This will make the process much smoother.
- Flavor boost: Add a splash of rice vinegar for a tangy kick.
- Make-ahead tip: Cook the pasta and prepare the sauce separately. Toss them together just before serving.
Storing & Reheating Better Than Takeout Asian Garlic Noodles
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare the sauce up to 1 day ahead. Store separately from pasta.
Freezing Better Than Takeout Asian Garlic Noodles
Not recommended for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: Use high-quality soy sauce for the best flavor.
- Best substitution: Substitute spaghetti with any type of noodle, like lo mein or ramen.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the sauce and cook the pasta separately. Toss together just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe is easily scalable. Just adjust the ingredients proportionally.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, add more pasta water. If it's too thin, cook it down more.
Want to level up this recipe?
Stainless Steel Wok — Even heat distribution for perfect stir-frying. → Check price on Amazon
Better Than Takeout Asian Garlic Noodles
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- spaghetti
- garlic
- soy sauce
- oyster sauce
- butter
Seasonings
- garlic powder
- red pepper flakes
- sesame oil
- green onions
Optional Toppings
- chicken
- shrimp
- broccoli
- carrots
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Sauté Garlic: In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
- Make Sauce: Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes to the pan. Stir well and cook for 2 minutes.
- Toss Noodles: Add cooked spaghetti to the pan. Toss to coat evenly with sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed.
- Serve: Drizzle with sesame oil, garnish with green onions, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Chef tip: Use high-quality soy sauce for the best flavor.
- Best substitution: Substitute spaghetti with any type of noodle, like lo mein or ramen.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the sauce and cook the pasta separately. Toss together just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe is easily scalable. Just adjust the ingredients proportionally.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, add more pasta water. If it's too thin, cook it down more.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
- Make ahead: Prepare the sauce up to 1 day ahead. Store separately from pasta.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 420
- Protein: 12g
- Fat: 18g
- Carbs: 55g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 1800mg
- Cholesterol: 45mg
- Sat. Fat: 10g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Better Than Takeout Asian Garlic Noodles FAQs
Yes, prepare the sauce and cook the pasta separately. Toss together just before serving.
You overcooked it. Keep an eye on it and remove from heat if it starts to brown.
Not recommended for freezing. The sauce can separate and the noodles can become soggy.
No, this recipe is best made on the stovetop.
Asian Garlic Noodles have a more prominent garlic flavor and a lighter sauce. Lo Mein has a thicker, more flavorful sauce.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Better Than Takeout Asian Garlic Noodles and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
