If you love garlic butter, this Asian Garlic Noodles recipe will not disappoint. Best of all, it is so quick and easy to make, it's perfect for weeknights.

Asian Garlic Noodles are usually served as an add-on side dish. Rightfully so because it goes so well with almost everything, spanning across several ethnic cuisines.

I often see Garlic Noodles paired with Vietnamese dishes such as French Beef (Bo Luc Lac) or Vietnamese stir-fried shrimp. Sometimes it's served with mochiko chicken, grilled pork or Chinese fried lobster.

I always tell myself, “Wow, that’s a great combo.” But Asian Garlic Noodles don't have to be just a sidekick to support the star dish. The flavors are bold enough to make it a stand-alone dish.

Which Types of Noodles Can I use For Asian Garlic Noodles?

You can use almost any type of noodles you have on hand. I like to stay away from anything too thin or too soft when it comes to Asian Garlic Noodles.

Wheat noodles, egg noodles, ramen, udon, yakisoba, and even spaghetti works! Noodles that have a toothsome quality or what we call "QQ" in Taiwanese work very well for this dish.

In this Garlic Noodle recipe, I used fresh Taiwanese wheat noodles. However, I often use spaghetti cooked al dente since it's always stocked in our pantry. Either way, it always turns out great.

Sauce for Vietnamese Garlic Noodles

The secret to this Garlic Noodle recipe is the sauce. I use four different types of prepared sauces, each contributing a different flavor profile.

Oyster sauce and light soy sauce make up the base. Dark soy sauce gives a bit of color and a complex richness. Fish sauce is the umami that kicks in at the end of each bite. Combined with creamy butter and you have one heck of a sauce.

Oh, and don’t forget the star of the show, copious amounts of garlic! It wouldn't be Asian Garlic Noodles without garlic. Garlic is super pungent and aromatic and it's why so many Asian dishes begin with garlic.

Asian Garlic Noodles as a Main Course

There are many ways you can turn Asian Garlic Noodles into more than just a side dish. I love adding a few shrimp into the pan as the garlic is cooking (step 3 below). Top it off with steamed bok choy for a quick and complete meal, perfect for weeknights.

My other favorite is adding some leftover char siu and bean sprouts. Cut the char siu into thin strips and toss it in with the garlic butter. Add a handful of bean sprouts and stir fry for a minute before adding noodles.

Or heat up leftover teriyaki chicken and toss it in with Garlic Noodles. Yum! The teriyaki chicken instantly gets a flavor boost from the usual steamed rice it's served with.

No matter how you customize it, I'm sure this Asian Garlic Noodle recipe will become one of your favorite dishes. Our girls request it often!

Just avoid making this recipe ahead of time. Garlic Noodles tastes best when it's made fresh.

How to Make Asian Garlic Noodles

This recipe is so easy to make and so delicious! First, cook your noodles according to the package instructions then drain. Mix all the SAUCE ingredients in a bowl and set it aside.

Heat a wok or a skillet over medium-low heat then add oil and butter. Allow the oil to heat up and the butter to melt. Add freshly minced garlic and sauté until the garlic becomes aromatic.

Lower the heat if the garlic begins to brown. Once garlic starts to turn golden, the flavor profile changes and it becomes mild and nutty.

We want to maintain that strong pungent garlic flavor, so keeping the heat low will do the trick. Just a 5-10 second sauté to take out some of the raw garlicky bite will be enough.

Add in the noodles and toss to coat the noodles with all that lovely garlic flavor. Drizzle in the previously prepared sauce then turn the heat to medium-high. Continue tossing until the noodles are well coated in sauce.

Once most of the sauce has reduced and been absorbed, turn off the heat. Serve Asian Garlic Noodles with chopped scallions and that's it! It's that simple!