These insanely delicious garlic noodles are ready in under 20 minutes, making them the perfect partner for any seafood boil or any grilled protein.
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Remember those addictive garlic noodles from seafood boil restaurants? We used to love Kickin Crab! This recipe unlocks the restaurant secret! Now we enjoy them anytime – all in under 20 minutes and for a fraction of the price!
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🥘Ingredients
- Spaghetti Pasta: You can use any pasta like fettucine, angel hair, linguini
- Butter: Adds a rich, creamy base that enhances the overall flavor of the noodles.
- Olive oil: Complements the butter and prevents it from burning while adding a subtle fruity flavor.
- Garlic: Key ingredient that provides a strong, aromatic flavor, essential for authentic garlic noodles. I suggest using the fresh ones.
- Maggi seasoning: Adds a unique umami flavor that intensifies the taste of the noodles.
- Oyster sauce: Contributes a savory, slightly sweet, and earthy flavor that deepens the dish's complexity.
- Fish sauce: Adds a salty, umami punch that enhances the overall flavor profile.
- White or brown sugar: Balances the savory elements with a touch of sweetness.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds a nutty, salty finish that complements the rich flavors of the noodles.
- Green onions for garnish: Adds a fresh, vibrant finish and a mild onion flavor.
See recipe card for quantities.
🔪How to Make Garlic Noodles
- Cook the Noodles: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente (slightly firm to the bite). Reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water before draining.
- Sauté the Garlic: While the pasta cooks, melt butter and olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Once melted and hot, add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Be careful not to brown the garlic.
- Build the Sauce: Add the Maggi seasoning, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and sugar to the pan with the garlic. Stir to combine and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Incorporate the Pasta: Drain the cooked pasta and immediately add it to the pan with the sauce. Toss well to coat the noodles evenly.
- Cheese Time! Add the grated Parmesan cheese and reserved pasta water to the pan. Toss everything together until the cheese melts and a creamy sauce forms. If the mixture seems dry, add a little more pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
- Season & Serve: Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your taste. Garnish with sliced green onions and serve immediately.
Top Tip
- Feel free to adjust the amount of fish sauce and Maggi seasoning depending on your preference for saltiness and savory flavor.
- You can substitute vegetable broth for some of the pasta water for a more flavorful sauce.
- For a richer and more decadent flavor, add another tablespoon of butter when tossing the pasta with the sauce.
📖Substitutions
Here are some substitutions you can make for the ingredients in this garlic noodle recipe:
- Noodles: While spaghetti or egg noodles work great, you can also use other types of noodles like ramen, linguine, or even fettuccine. Just be mindful of cooking times, as some noodles cook faster than others.
- Butter: For a lighter option, substitute olive oil for all or half of the butter. You can also try using vegan butter for a plant-based alternative.
- Maggi Seasoning: If you can't find Maggi seasoning, you can use a combination of soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and a pinch of garlic powder to recreate a similar savory flavor profile. The ratio would be about 1 tablespoon soy sauce, ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, and a pinch of garlic powder.
- Oyster Sauce: While oyster sauce adds a unique umami flavor, you can substitute it with an equal amount of soy sauce or hoisin sauce. However, keep in mind that these substitutions will slightly alter the taste profile.
- Fish Sauce: Fish sauce adds a salty and savory punch, but it's not for everyone. You can omit it entirely or use a splash of soy sauce or anchovy paste for a similar effect.
- Sugar: If you don't have white or brown sugar on hand, you can use a pinch of honey or maple syrup as a sweetener.
- Parmesan Cheese: For a different cheese flavor, try shredded Gruyère, Romano, or even a Parmesan-Asiago blend. You can also use a vegan cheese alternative if needed.
- Green Onions: While green onions are a classic garnish, you can substitute them with chopped chives or thinly sliced scallions.
📖Variations
Here are some variations on this garlic noodle recipe to keep things exciting:
- Chili Flakes: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or chili flakes with the garlic in step 2 for a spicy kick. Adjust the amount to your desired heat level or simply drizzle chili garlic oil.
- Sesame Oil: Substitute half of the olive oil with toasted sesame oil for a nutty aroma and Asian-inspired twist.
- Lemon Zest: Add a teaspoon of freshly grated lemon zest before incorporating the pasta. This brightens the flavor profile.
- Protein Boost: For a more substantial meal, toss in some grilled shrimp, chicken, or tofu with the pasta.
🥗Dishes to Serve with Garlic Noodles
- Seafood: Garlic noodles are a match made in heaven for seafood boils or grilled fish. The garlicky flavor perfectly complements the sweetness and savory notes of seafood.
- Grilled Meats: The savory and slightly sweet flavor of garlic noodles pairs beautifully with grilled chicken like chicken inasal, steak, or pork.
- Vegetables: Garlic noodles are a great way to add some extra flavor to roasted or steamed vegetables. Broccoli, asparagus, or bell peppers are all excellent choices.
- Huli-Huli Chicken: The sweet and savory sauce creates a delicious contrast with the garlicky noodles.
- Chicken Karaage: The crispy, flavorful chicken complements the savory garlic noodles wonderfully
- Anchovies Fried Rice: For a complete Asian-inspired meal, serve your garlic noodles alongside a plate of fried rice.
💡Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! While spaghetti or egg noodles work well, you can also use ramen, linguine, fettuccine, or even rice noodles. Just be mindful of cooking times, as some noodles cook faster than others.
You can use a combination of soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and a pinch of garlic powder to recreate a similar savory flavor profile. The ratio would be about 1 tablespoon soy sauce, ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, and a pinch of garlic powder.
Yes! Substitute olive oil for all the butter, use vegan parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast, and skip the fish sauce. For protein, add cooked chopped vegetables like tofu or sauteed mushrooms.
There are a couple of possibilities:
Not enough reserved pasta water: If the mixture seems dry after adding the cheese, add a little more reserved pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
Overcooked noodles: Drained the pasta water too early? You can add a splash of water or broth to the pan with the noodles and sauce to help loosen things up.
Definitely! Chopped broccoli, peas, bell peppers, or even mushrooms would all work well. Add them to the pan with the garlic and cook for a few minutes until tender-crisp.
Garlic noodles are best enjoyed fresh, but you can pre-cook the pasta and saute the garlic according to the recipe. Then, store them separately in the refrigerator for up to a day. When ready to serve, reheat the garlic mixture and toss with the cooked pasta, adding a splash of water or broth if needed to loosen things up.
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📋 Recipe
Easy Garlic Noodles Recipe
Equipment
- 1 large pot for cooking the pasta
- 1 skillet pan for the sauce
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti pasta or egg noodles
- ¼ cup butter or more!
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablesppon garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon cup maggi seasoning
- 2 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon white or brown sugar
- ½ cup parmesan
- salt and pepper
- green onions for garnish
- pasta water
Instructions
- Cook the Noodles: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente (slightly firm to the bite). Reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water before draining.
- Sauté the Garlic: While the pasta cooks, melt butter and olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Once melted and hot, add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Be careful not to brown the garlic.
- Build the Sauce: Add the Maggi seasoning, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and sugar to the pan with the garlic. Stir to combine and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Incorporate the Pasta: Drain the cooked pasta and immediately add it to the pan with the sauce. Toss well to coat the noodles evenly.
- Cheese Time! Add the grated Parmesan cheese and reserved pasta water to the pan. Toss everything together until the cheese melts and a creamy sauce forms. If the mixture seems dry, add a little more pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
- Season & Serve: Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your taste. Garnish with sliced green onions and serve immediately.
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Notes
- Feel free to adjust the amount of fish sauce and Maggi seasoning depending on your preference for saltiness and savory flavor.
- You can substitute vegetable broth for some of the pasta water for a more flavorful sauce.
- For a richer and more decadent flavor, add another tablespoon of butter when tossing the pasta with the sauce.
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