Peanut Butter Noodles Recipe (2024)

By Eric Kim

Updated Feb. 21, 2024

Peanut Butter Noodles Recipe (1)

Total Time
20 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Rating
4(1,642)
Notes
Read community notes

This nutty midnight pasta is a dream to cook, as it requires just a handful of pantry staples and one pot. Peanut butter (the less fancy, the better) anchors a creamy sauce swathed in umami. Accentuated by a good, salty Parmesan, these noodles recall those cheesy peanut butter sandwich crackers. They make an ideal dinner for one, but the amounts can easily be doubled or quadrupled as needed. For an equally gripping vegan alternative, try swapping out the butter for olive oil and the cheese for nutritional yeast.

Featured in: The Night Owl’s Special: Midnight Spaghetti

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Ingredients

Yield:1 serving

  • Salt
  • 4ounces spaghetti or 1 individual package instant ramen (seasoning packet saved for another use)
  • 2tablespoons creamy peanut butter
  • 1tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1tablespoon finely grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
  • 1teaspoon soy sauce

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (1 servings)

753 calories; 32 grams fat; 12 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 13 grams monounsaturated fat; 5 grams polyunsaturated fat; 92 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 6 grams sugars; 26 grams protein; 414 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Peanut Butter Noodles Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Bring a pot of water to a boil (and salt it, if using spaghetti). Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the cooking water, then drain the noodles and return to the pot. Turn off the heat.

  2. Add the peanut butter, butter, Parmesan and soy sauce. Vigorously stir the noodles for a minute, adding some reserved cooking water, a tablespoon or two at a time, until the sauce is glossy and clings to the noodles. Season to taste with salt.

  3. Step

    3

    Top with more cheese, if you’d like, and serve immediately.

Ratings

4

out of 5

1,642

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

dimmerswitch

What is more delicious? Eric Kim's writing or his recipes? I vote for both. How is it someone so young can be so skilled and so wise? "The man" mentioned in the article that accompanies this recipe is a lucky one...and destined to be a very well fed one too. This is a splendid recipe. With an ounce more pasta it worked to share, out of a single bowl, with the man I have lived with for 45 years.

LondaR

Use crunchy peanut butter. Divine.

Ben S.

Came out delicious with scallions, Lao Gan Ma and sesame seeds added as a garnish!

WarrenRI

I figured out last year that spaghetti cooks quicker and better in a large saucepan. The water boils faster, the long noodles lay right in, I fan them out from the center, and nothing breaks. So much better than a huge pot of water.

ML

Just made it for lunch. Delicious. Oh how I’m cheering for Eric Kim and his man. Long may you eat and live and love.

rickmac

Sure you can zoosh this up with all sorts of complications, but Eric Kim’s recipe speaks to the heart of midnight pasta in its simplicity and speed of production. At midnight, the wait for boiling water is excruciatingly long enough. This is a no chopping delight I can eat straight from the pot!

NameMichelle

Take it up a notch - use some really good tahini!

TC

Simplified Thai peanut sauce noodles? Great with a teaspoon of Trader Joe’s chili onion crunch added.

Lo

This recipe, along with the sesame krispies, is my stoner dream meal

Shelley

No need to add salt, even using low sodium soy and no salt butter! For kids, I'd leave out the soy sauce. Adding a dash of Sriracha is a great idea.

Jessie

He has a gift <3

Rayna

I am not sure what I expected (peanut butter and cheese, whaaattt?) but it was surprisingly good made exactly as the recipe was written (except we used packaged udon instead of the ramen). We are going to try it again, adding some sauteed vegetables and some green onions to bulk it up a little. Also going to try the vegan option at some point, as well.

Laura

This is delicious and quick! I subbed sharp cheddar for the Parmesan(it’s all I had), added a teaspoon or two of sriracha, and garnished with some furikake. I think scallions or green onions would be great additions to the garnish as well.

LL

Pro tip. Save the dregs of peanut butter jars and plop the hot noodles inside along with other ingredients and swirl or shake. Clean jar and tasty noodles.

Jean

I made this for lunch and it was absolutely delicious! Lunch options were limited and I came across this terrific recipe.

Samantha

Came out really well. I used vegan butter and nutritional yeast and it is fantastic!

Kaylee

Make these NOW! Made as a quick lunch, topped with sesame seeds, a scallion I had, and a little chile crisp. Would be just as good as a midnight snack without any toppers. Amazing and so easy.

Diane

I have made the vegan version of this several times now with whatever pasta was handy. I tried regular spaghetti, chickpea penne for extra protein, ramen, and it is always good. It’s my “noon pasta” that I can make in a hurry for lunch before work and have some leftover for supper break. Thank you for this simple and delicious recipe

Tiana L.

I roasted some veggies separately (cabbage, carrots, cauliflower). Skipped the cheese because I’m a little lactose intolerant and it was still good. I also melted the butter and peanut butter in a saucepan on the stove, added some soy sauce, then thinned with take water- easier to mix together.

ben

Is there a good way to add more protein to this? I assume chicken may be good. I like the concept but it lacks protein for my liking.

Kristin aus Kanada

Used spaghettini and split into two pots for sauce: one per recipe, another with the vegan suggestions. Added more soy at the table. As a devotee of nutritional yeast, I preferred the vegan option but both were great. Next time I'll go with butter + nutritional yeast. On that second round I'll try crunchy pb + scallions (and ramen noodles), but I don't think I'd want meat or veg here. Its simplicity is its brilliance.

A2Veenes

I doubled the sauce ingredients and used fresh pasta. I ate more than I should have! Adding some chicken to the leftovers tonight. Will definitely make again.

Donna Minich

I used the seasoning packet that came with the Ramen Noodles. I used Koyo Garlic Pepper flavored organic Ramen noodles. I added the seasoning packet when I added the peanut butter, butter, Parmesan & soy sauce. It was exquisite!!!!

Rrose Selavy

Wonderful. I used soba noodles, which were unfortunately made it all a little mushy, but the flavor was spot on. Garnished with scallions and sesame seeds. Next time I might want to rinse the noodles before mixing.

cookbook club in the fall

Omg! This is so so good and fast.

artistwagoodi

Crunchy peanut butter, tamari instead of soy sauce, a few drops of toasted sesame oil instead of butter, grated ginger and garlic and gochujang sauce mixed with the hot pasta H2O over whole wheat linguine. Yum!

Sally

I put in the seasoning packet from the Shin ramen I used (spicy), added chopped spinach, leftover rotisserie chicken, a dash of fish sauce and a generous handful of chopped cilantro, basil and green onions. With all the extras, it needed more peanut butter. Also a bit of sambal oolek. Very excellent!

kelley

After cooking pasta (save a cup of pasta water), sauté thinly sliced bell pepper, add 3 cloves garlic, chili flakes and teaspoon ginger for the last 2 minutes. Add noodles back in with some pasta water, soy sauce/tamari, peanut butter, and a bit of honey and sesame oil. Stir to combine. Finish with sesame seeds, chile crisp and a squeeze of lime.

j

Add TJ’s chili crunch

R Ray

I really wanted to like this and thought it sounded great. Made as instructed with ramen noodles. I found it quite bland. A little salt helped a bit, but I won’t be revisiting this one.

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Peanut Butter Noodles Recipe (2024)

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