Sesame Noodles

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Total Time 20 minutes

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Sesame Noodles – cool, creamy and perfect for packed lunches and potlucks, and ready in just 20 minutes! You’ll love this addictive recipe for Sesame Peanut Noodles packed with crunchy vegetables and tossed in a simple sauce made from creamy peanut or cashew butter and the added optional of red pepper flakes to control their heat (vegan and gluten-free swaps included below!)

If you’re after more simple noodle dishes, try my Chicken Pad Thai, Kung Pan Noodles, Spicy Korean Beef Noodles, Thai Drunken Noodles, and my tried-and-tested Mongolian Beef and Broccoli Noodles.

Sesame peanut noodles in a bowl on a wooden cutting board.

Why This Recipe Works

They go big on textures and flavors: Slippery noodles, a cool, creamy sauce, crunchy vegetables and toasted sesame seeds all come together in these Cold Sesame Noodles for the ultimate better-than-takeout bite!

These Peanut Noodles genuinely taste better cold: Making them perfect for make-ahead lunches, lunchboxes or potlucks!

Close up top view of sesame peanut noodles in a bowl on a wooden cutting board.

Ingredients

  • Egg noodles: or udon noodles if you want these noodles to be vegan, and soba noodles if you need them to be gluten-free!
  • Carrot: peeled and cut into thin matchsticks.
  • English cucumber: seeds removed and cut into matchsticks.
  • Salad onions: thinly sliced.
  • Creamy peanut or cashew butter
  • Soy sauce
  • Rice vinegar
  • Minced ginger
  • Toasted sesame seeds
  • Sriracha or chilli garlic sauce
  • Toasted sesame oil
  • Red pepper flakes: for serving.
  • Lime wedges: for serving.

Here’s How to Make It

  1. Cook the noodles: Cook the noodles in a large pan of water as per the package instructions. Drain and run them under the cold tap to rinse off the starch, then leave to drain.
  2. Make the sauce: In the bottom of a large bowl stir the peanut or cashew butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, minced ginger, sesame seeds, sriracha and toasted sesame oil together to make a smooth paste. 
  3. Mix the noodles: Add the rinsed and drained noodles, and stir until they’re well coated with the sauce. Then stir in the prepared vegetables, reserving a few of the chopped salad onions for garnish.
  4. Serve: Divide the noodles between four bowls, and top with the reserved salad onions, and some more sesame seeds and red pepper flakes.
A hand holding chopsticks grabbing sesame peanut noodles from a bowl.

Expert Tips

  • Make these noodles meal prep friendly. These noodles keep well, but if you’re prepping in advance store the cucumber on top of the mixed noodles ready to stir in just before serving to prevent the noodles becoming too wet.

FAQs

What can I serve these Sesame Noodles with?

These Sesame Peanut Noodles are great on their own for lunch, but to make them a more complete meal (they make a great summer dinner after a hot day!) add some baked salmon, crispy shrimp or poached chicken.

Can I use spaghetti noodles instead of egg noodles?

Honestly, it’s the delicious creamy sauce that make these noodles special so use whatever you have to hand!

Top view of sesame peanut noodles in a bowl on a wooden cutting board.

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Sesame Noodles

Sesame Noodles – cool, creamy and perfect for packed lunches and potlucks, and ready in just 20 minutes! You'll love this addictive recipe for Sesame Peanut Noodles packed with crunchy vegetables and tossed in a simple sauce made from creamy peanut or cashew butter and the added optional of red pepper flakes to control their heat (vegan and gluten-free swaps included below!)
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
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Ingredients 

  • 12 oz egg noodles
  • 1 carrot, peeled and cut into thin matchsticks 
  • 1/2 English cucumber, seeds removed and cut into matchsticks
  • 3 salad onions, thinly sliced
  • 3 tbsp creamy peanut butter, or cashew butter
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tsp fresh ginger, minced
  • 2 tsp toasted sesame seeds, plus extra for serving
  • 1 tsp sriracha, or chili garlic sauce
  • 1/2 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • red pepper flakes, for serving
  • lime wedges, for serving

Instructions 

  • Cook the noodles in a large pan of water as per the package instructions. Drain and run them under the cold tap to rinse off the starch, then leave to drain.
  • In the bottom of a large bowl stir the peanut or cashew butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, minced ginger, sesame seeds, sriracha and toasted sesame oil together to make a smooth paste.
  • Add the rinsed and drained noodles, and stir until they’re well coated with the sauce. Then stir in the prepared vegetables, reserving a few of the chopped salad onions for garnish.
  • Divide the noodles between four bowls, and top with the reserved salad onions, and some more sesame seeds and red pepper flakes. 

Notes

These noodles keep well, but if you’re prepping in advance store the cucumber on top of the mixed noodles ready to stir in just before serving to prevent the noodles becoming too wet. 

Nutrition

Calories: 418kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 359mg | Potassium: 394mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2641IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this?Leave a star rating or comment below!
Tiffany of Creme de la Crumb in the kitchen

Welcome!

Hey there, I’m Tiffany – chef, photographer, mother, and avid taco eater. I am passionate about turning simple flavors and ingredients into tasty meals the whole family will love, with minimal prep and cleanup so there’s more time to spend eating and enjoying. Stay awhile, and help yourself to a taco or two!

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23 Comments

  1. Matea says:

    These noodles look so tasty! Must make for dinner soon!

  2. Jen Flinn says:

    5 stars
    Yummy!

  3. Traci says:

    I’m making this dish for my fiancé! It looks amazing.

  4. Tiffany says:

    Thanks Camille!!! 🙂

  5. Nicole Ray says:

    5 stars
    Yummy

  6. Nina says:

    Yum! I am going to be trying this recipe.

  7. Tiffany says:

    Hi Gretchen! Thanks so much for your sweet comments on my food photos – can’t tell you how much that means to me! There isn’t a way for me to see if you successfully entered until the giveaway is over, but if you entered in your email instead of a Facebook login that works!! 🙂

  8. amy says:

    looks yummy! thanks!

  9. Mary Ann Kinsinger says:

    Looks and sounds delicious!

  10. amber says:

    We love a peanut sauced pasta in this house!