Quick and Easy 20-Minute Garlic Rice Noodles Recipe

Craving quick noodles? These garlic rice noodles take under 20 minutes with simple pantry ingredients. Savory, buttery, and delicious. Get the easy recipe now!

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Recently, when we were out to eat, I had a meal with some rice noodles. I’ve only cooked with them once before when I made Pork and Noodles with Bok Choy. I forgot how good they are and how easy they can be to make. 

Garlic rice noodles are an easy dish to make alongside so many main foods. These are great with almost any protein, especially if you are adding garlic to the meal. They are also perfect for Asian-inspired cuisines. 

This garlic rice noodles recipe is a fusion of pantry-friendly ingredients with Asian-style stir-fry techniques. Inspired by dishes like Singapore noodles and Thai garlic noodles, this recipe brings global flavor to your table with just a handful of ingredients.

The first time I made this, I had to learn how to cook rice noodles. It’s similar to regular noddles, but also a little different. Rice noodles need to be cooked for a shorter amount of time, and are a little less forgiving.

Serving Suggestions

The first time I made this easy garlic rice noodles recipe, they were a side dish for some pork. The next time I made them, we added sauteed shrimp and broccoli to the noodles after they cooked. It was delicious and turned the easy rice noodles recipe into a full meal. This is a great way to meal prep for the week, too. 

Add-Ons & Garnish

With something as versatile as noodles, there are so many ways you can dress these up. Add some of these to the table in a small bowl so everyone can add what they want.

• Mix in some fish sauce or oyster sauce
• Garnish with red pepper flakes or sesame seeds
• Add in vegetables such as broccoli, snow peas, chopped red peppers, green beans, or sliced spring onions
• Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, fresh herbs, or hot sauce 

Tips and Variations

• Noodle Options: While rice noodles are used here, feel free to experiment with other types of noodles like egg noodles, wheat noodles, or even ramen noodles.
• Add Protein: Enhance this dish by adding cooked shrimp, chicken, or tofu.
• Vegetable Boost: Incorporate vegetables such as bok choy, snow peas, or green beans for added nutrition and color.
• Spice It Up: For those who enjoy a kick, add red pepper flakes or a drizzle of homemade chili garlic sauce.
• Flavor Enhancers: Consider adding a splash of fish sauce or oyster sauce to deepen the umami flavor.
• Soak, Don’t Cook: Soak your rice noodles in warm water until just pliable (don’t boil them!) to prevent mushy texture.

If you want another Asian-inspired meal with more protein, try my teriyaki chicken noodle bowl for a complete meal.

About the Ingredients

Rice Noodles

The rice noodles are the base of this recipe. I like the rice noodles for their flavor and texture. They are also a great option for those who need to eat a gluten-free diet, as they are made of only rice and water. But you can certainly use any type of noodles. If you are ok with wheat noodles, try this with ramen noodles, egg noodles, or angel hair pasta. 

Butter

The butter is used to sauté the shallot and garlic. You could also use an oil such as avocado oil or olive oil. For added flavor, use toasted sesame oil. 

Shallot

The sweet taste of the shallot is preferred for this recipe, although sweet onion, white onion, or pearl onion would work as well. 

Garlic Cloves

To make things easy, I like to buy the jarred minced garlic, especially for a recipe that needs a lot, like this one. You can use 6 fresh cloves of garlic instead. Feel free to increase or decrease the amount of garlic to suit your tastes. 

Brown Sugar

While it isn’t much sugar, this helps offset the bitterness of the garlic and also helps to thicken the sauce a bit. The molasses in the brown sugar helps hold it together. 

Soy Sauce

Regular soy sauce is a great addition to the flavor of garlic rice noodles. For a gluten-free option, substitute with liquid aminos. 

Green Onions

Slicing green onions to garnish the noodles helps bring this whole recipe together. You can skip these if you’d like, if it’s too much onion for your tastes. 

Ingredient Tips and Swaps

• Rice Noodles: Medium-width rice noodles work best. Thin vermicelli is more delicate and quick-cooking.
• Soy Sauce: Use low-sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos for a gluten-free option.
• Garlic: Fresh minced garlic gives the best flavor, but pre-minced or garlic powder works in a pinch.
• Vegetables: Add shredded carrots, snow peas, or bell peppers for a veggie-packed version.
• Protein Add-ins: Stir-fry in tofu, shrimp, or leftover rotisserie chicken for a complete meal.

Garlic Rice Noodles Step by Step

Ingredients

• 8 oz rice noodles
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 shallot, diced
• 6 tsp garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 green onions, sliced

Preparation

Prepare rice noodles al dente according to the package directions, without rinsing. Move the cooked noodles to a large bowl and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet on medium-high heat, melt the butter then add the shallot and garlic, cooking for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.

Add sugar and mix in until incorporated.

Pour in the soy sauce and simmer for 1 minute.

Add the noodles and cook another 3-5 minutes until the noodles have absorbed the sauce.

Serve garnished with green onions.

Garlic Rice Noodles Leftovers

Storage: Store leftover noodles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. 

Reheating: The best way to reheat is in a saucepan over medium heat until warmed through. If the noodles are too dry, add a little bit of butter or soy sauce as they heat. 

Freezing: I don’t suggest freezing garlic rice noodles. They will lose their texture and end up very soggy when reheated. 

Recipe

Garlic Rice Noodles

Craving quick noodles? These garlic rice noodles take under 20 minutes with simple pantry ingredients. Savory, buttery, and delicious. Get the easy recipe now!

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Course:

Side Dish

Cuisine:

American

Diet

Vegetarian

Keyword:

garlic

|

garlic noodles

|

rice noodles

Dietary Needs:

Egg-Free

|

Nut-Free

Servings: 4

4.88 from 24 votes

Ingredients

• 8 oz rice noodles
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 shallot (diced)
• 6 tsp garlic (minced)
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 green onions (sliced)

Recommended Equipment

• Saucepan – Medium
• Skillet

Instructions

• Prepare rice noodles al dente according to the package, without rinsing, and set aside
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet on medium-high heat, melt the butter then add the shallot and garlic, cooking for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant
• Add sugar and mix in until incorporated
• Pour in the soy sauce and simmer for 1 minute
• Add the noodles and cook another 3-5 minutes until the noodles have absorbed the sauce
• Serve garnished with green onions

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Nutrition Facts

Garlic Rice Noodles

Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)

Calories 330 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 5g25%

Trans Fat 0.3g

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g

Monounsaturated Fat 2g

Cholesterol 23mg8%

Sodium 929mg39%

Potassium 124mg4%

Carbohydrates 58g19%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 323IU6%

Vitamin C 4mg5%

Calcium 41mg4%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

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