The BEST Garlic Noodles in 15 Minutes! (VIDEO)
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These Garlic Noodles are an umami bomb of flavor that you can make in about 15 minutes! Chewy noodles are coated in super flavorful garlic butter with LOTS of fresh garlic – quick, easy, and SO tasty!
Watch the Garlic Noodles Recipe Video!
A Note from CJ
This is for the garlic lovers!
As a certified garlic lover, these Garlic Noodles are a dream come true! The secret is using fish sauce and parmesan cheese – both add a depth of flavor and complexity that makes these more than just butter and garlic noodles!
While garlic noodles go with almost every dish, I love them with Chicken Katsu, homemade Tonkatsu Sauce and a heaping scoop of Hawaiian Mac Salad (just like Hawaii!) If you love garlic like I do, try Garlic Noodles with Crab, Garlic Herb Compound Butter, Garlic Bok Choy, Din Tai Fung Garlic Green Beans, Spicy Garlic Ramen, and Garlic Fried Rice!
The only garlic noodle recipe you’ll ever need!
Ingredient Tips
Refer to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements!
- egg noodles – if you can find it, I recommend using fresh egg noodles by “Golden World”, which I got from the refrigerated section of my local Chinese grocery (99 Ranch). If you can’t find them, use another long noodle (wheat noodles, ramen noodles, and even spaghetti would work!)
- unsalted butter – use unsalted butter to avoid the dish being too salty.
- garlic – I used 20 cloves of garlic but adjust to your preference.
- oyster sauce – I like Lee Kum Kee’s oyster sauce (the bottle with the lady on the label). If you need a vegan alternative, Lee Kum Kee makes one from mushrooms!
- fish sauce – this adds a depth of flavor and umami that you can’t get from soy sauce or oyster sauce.
- MSG – I use MSG in moderation as an optional flavor enhancer.
- parmesan cheese – THIS is the “secret ingredient” for the best Garlic Noodles – it adds savory flavor and saltiness that is subtle but really transforms the dish. Use a microplane to fine shred the parmesan so it melts seamlessly.
How to Make Garlic Noodles
Mix Sauce and Cook Noodles – In a small bowl, combine yyster sauce, fish sauce, light soy sauce, msg, and sugar. Mix to combine and sugar is dissolved and set aside. In a large pot of boiling water over high heat, add the noodles and cook 1 minute less than package directions and drain well and set aside.
Saute Garlic, Add Noodles, and Sauce – In a large pan over medium low heat, melt butter, then add minced garlic and sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant but not browned. Turn the heat up to high, then add the cooked noodles and sauce. Mix well until the noodles are combined with the butter, garlic, and sauce and continue cooking for another 1-2 minutes and the noodles are fragrant and have mostly absorbed the sauce.
Add Cheese, Scallions, and Mix – Turn the heat to low, then add parmesan cheese and freshly chopped scallions. Mix well to combine and serve immediately!
PRO TIPS
CJ’s Recipe & Storage Tips
Don’t Burn Your Garlic – the goal is to infuse the butter with garlic flavor -cook the butter and garlic over medium low heat to avoid browning or burning (otherwise the garlic will taste bitter). Do NOT use high heat for this step of the dish!
This dish comes together very quickly and some part are more sensitive than others (i.e.: infusing the garlic and preventing it from burning) – therefore, it’s crucial you have all of your ingredients prepped and easily accessible before you begin cooking.
Storage – You can store leftover Garlic Noodles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days. I like to reheat the Garlic Noodles in a hot pan or wok with a couple tbsp of water to help loosen it up. The texture of the noodles will change as they sit in the refrigerator – but the flavors will taste even better! You can also reheat until warmed through in the microwave.
If you tried this Garlic Noodles or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
The BEST Garlic Noodles (Video)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 2 tbsp Fish Sauce
- 1 tbsp Light Soy Sauce
- 1/4 tsp MSG
- 1/2 tbsp Sugar
- 16 oz Fresh Egg Noodles, I recommend fresh egg noodles (sometimes labeled Pancit); if using dried noodles use 8 oz dry – see note
- 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 20 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine Oyster sauce, Fish sauce, light soy sauce, msg, and sugar. Mix to combine and sugar is dissolved and set aside.
- In a large pot of boiling water over high heat, add the noodles and cook 1 minute less than package directions and drain well and set aside.
- In a large pan over medium low heat, melt butter, then add minced garlic and sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Turn the heat up to high, then add the cooked noodles and sauce. Mix well until the noodles are combined with the butter, garlic, and sauce and continue cooking for another 1-2 minutes and the noodles are fragrant and have mostly absorbed the sauce.
- Turn the heat to low, then add parmesan cheese and freshly chopped scallions. Mix well to combine and serve immediately!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This Garlic Noodles recipe was originally published in January 2023, and updated in January 2026.
I’d never think to add fish sauce to garlic noodles but it gives the noodles so much umami flavor and pairs well with the oyster sauce and garlic. Love making this with some fried shrimp. Yum!
My family love these noodles.
I had some delicata squash that I roasted in the oven with Dashi (bonito flakes) and then I used rice noodles because it was all I had. It was so delicious ~ REALLY DELICIOUS. Just insanely good and I so wish I made it sooner. WOW, would this have been an amazing dish to put in the rotation while raising my kids!!!
Thanks so much Tracey! Please consider giving the recipe 5 stars – it really helps the blog!
Yum, I made these this morning, they are yummy. Thank you for the recipes and inspiration to cook again.
Thank YOU Melissa! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
What a fabulous recipe – pure comfort food in 10 minutes. I ate mine with honey garlic chicken and am now assured I am safe from vampires for the next week!
I did make a few tweaks to the recipe, after some found it too salty. Soy sauce and fish sauce are both great for that hit of umami but with both being salty and the oyster sauce being salty, I omitted the soy altogether and just used 2 teaspoons of fish sauce, plus I added a squeeze of a quarter of a very juicy lemon with a little extra sugar to get the liquid proportion right. Tasted the sauce before adding and it was the perfect hit of salty, sweet and savoury for me.
Final hint for anyone stuck like me with no scallions available – I used the green end of a leek!
Thank you so much CJ – keep the recipes coming
Thank you so much Ruth!
I make your garlic noodles often- Delicious!!
It was a success in my household. I substituted the fish sauce with squid sauce I find it less salty and I also used low sodium soy sauce and a garlic butter I previously made instead of 20 garlic gloves.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Yoshi!
I would love for you to do vegetarian/vegan recipes too!!! Or at least give substitutions… Love your recipes and have modified some for vegetarian!
This was so good thank you CJ!! I am a grad student and sometimes need to satisfy my cravings in a fast and easy way, this hit the spot. Will be adding into rotation. I added stir fry veggies and it was a great meal
Thanks so much for the kind words, Natalie! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Delicious!!
Loved!!!! The flavor was incredible, but super salty. The butter was flavorful but oily. After making the recipe I experimented w trying a low sodium alternative. Ended up doing it again by doing a broth sauté on the garlic and adding a tablespoon of Almond butter (gives it creaminess). Still too salty. Next time will do a water sauté w the garlic. Add in the almond butter tablespoon. And will halve the fish sauce (super high in sodium!). But ultimately incredible ingredients for a great dish!!!