Take a packet of instant noodles to a whole new level. Add a quick, tasty sauce & you have 5 Minute Satay Peanut Butter Noodles.
Go on, get that packet of instant noodles out of your cupboard and turn them into something really special for lunch with a quick creamy peanut sauce.
These quick 5-minute satay peanut butter noodles are made with a cheap packet of dried ramen noodles, the type that comes with a sachet of seasoning.
You won't need the sachet of seasoning, just a few simple ingredients from your store cupboard.
Jump to:
- 🥢 Cheap instant noodles
- 🥣 Quick satay sauce
- 🥡 One pot cooking
- 📋 What you need to make 5 minute peanut butter noodles
- 🍶 Substitutes for rice wine vinegar
- 🥜 Noodle toppings
- 👩🏻🍳 Related recipes
- ⭐ Sign up for a free recipe sent to your inbox every morning
- 👩🏻🍳 How to make quick satay instant noodles
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
At a glance - quick satay peanut butter noodles
⏲️ Ready in: 7 minutes (5 minute cook time)
👪 Serves: 1
🍽 Calories: 696
🧾 Main ingredients: instant noodles, peanut butter, maple syrup, vinegar, garlic (powdered or fresh), chilli powder, salt & pepper
👩🏻🍳 Suitable for: Vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, egg-free, vegetarian
Summarise & save this recipe:
🥢 Cheap instant noodles
This recipe uses a cheap packet of instant noodles, sometimes called ramen noodles. They type that comes in a packet, not a tub.
I buy the curry flavour basic instant noodles from Tesco, which only cost 39p per packet, but you'll find them in most supermarkets and grocery stores.
This one is accidentally vegan, so the seasoning packet can be used, but for this recipe, you can buy any flavour, as we aren't using the spice blend, just the nest of noodles.
It's the cheapest way of buying quick vegan noodles.
🥣 Quick satay sauce
These quick noodles are coated in a rich, creamy satay sauce made with peanut butter.
Satay sauce is basically a sauce made with peanut butter, a little sweetness, a bit of heat and a little acid (from rice wine vinegar) to balance the flavours out.
Sometimes it's made with coconut milk for a creamy finish, but I don't add it to these noodles.
You can use crunchy or smooth peanut butter, and I include alternatives to the rice wine vinegar (in case you don't have any).
If you love peanut butter, try these peanut butter & date brownie bars or these peanut butter oat bars.
You can even make your own peanut butter in a blender, it's super easy to make and completely pure.
🥡 One pot cooking
The simple sauce ingredients are added to a pan with the nest of dried noodles, and they are cooked together.
A few minutes later, you have springy noodles beautifully coated in silky satay sauce.
So forget the expensive takeout and make some quick noodles at home instead.
📋 What you need to make 5 minute peanut butter noodles
Here's what you need to make these boss lunchtime noodles:
- Instant noodles - a nest of dried noodles (skip the seasoning that comes with the noodles)
- Peanut butter - crunchy peanut butter or smooth peanut butter
- Soy sauce
- Rice wine vinegar - I share some substitutes below
- Maple syrup - or agave nectar, but remember it's much sweeter so use less
- Garlic powder (garlic granules) - or fresh garlic, crushed or finely grated
- Chilli flakes (red pepper flakes) - or chilli powder
- Salt and black pepper - to season
- Water
Toppings (optional)
- Spring onion - also called green onion or scallions
- Sesame seeds
- Salted peanuts
See the printable recipe card at the bottom of this page for the full ingredient list, method, notes and nutritional information.
🍶 Substitutes for rice wine vinegar
The rice wine vinegar helps round out the flavour in the satay sauce; it brings balance with the heat and sweetness, but if you don't have rice wine vinegar, you can make a swap.
Instead of rice wine vinegar, you can add white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or even some freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice.
🥜 Noodle toppings
You can serve these tasty lunchtime noodles just as they are, but it's quite nice to add a topping or two.
They can add a bit of colour, flavour and even crunch.
Here are some ideas.
- Spring onion - also called green onions or scallions, slice them thinly
- Fresh coriander - also called cilantro
- Jalapeno chilli peppers - thinly sliced
- Drizzle of sriracha sauce - for a bit of heat
- Roasted salted peanuts - roughly chopped
- Salted cashews - or unsalted cashews
- Sesame seeds
There are so many options, but these are my favourite ramen noodles toppings.
👩🏻🍳 Related recipes
Looking for more quick noodle recipes? Try these:
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👩🏻🍳 How to make quick satay instant noodles
These step-by-step photos will show you how to make these quick 5 minute peanut butter noodles (followed by the printable recipe card, which you can also hit print and save as a PDF on your device).
Step 1
- In a shallow casserole pan, frying pan or pot, add the peanut butter, maple syrup, vinegar, soy sauce, flavourings and seasonings (full recipe below).
Step 2
- Add the boiling water to the pan and mix well over medium heat (don't worry if the sauce doesn't look smooth, it will emulsify into a silky sauce as it cooks with the noodles).
- Break in the next of noodles and stir while cooking for 4-5 minutes until the sauce has thickened and the noodles are soft.
- Spoon into a bowl, add the toppings and enjoy!
📖 Recipe
Quick 5 Minute Satay Peanut Butter Instant Noodles
Ingredients
Noodles
- 100 g instant noodles (1 packet (not the pot) of instant noodles, discard the seasoning sachet)
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar (or whote wine vinegar)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (garlic granules or 1 clove crush fresh garlic)
- 1 teaspoon chilli flakes
- 1 pinch salt and pepper
- 300 ml boiling water
Toppings (optional)
- 1 spring onion (also called scallion or green onion, finely sliced)
- 1 pinch sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon salted peanuts (more if you like)
Instructions
- Add all the sauce ingredients to a pan and warm through, mixing (don't worry if it doesn't look completely smooth, it will come together into a silky sauce as it cookes).
- Now break the nest of noodles into the sauce and cook on medium for 4-5 minutes until the sauce is thick and noodles are cooked through.
- Serve topped with sliced spring onion (green onion/scallion) and a pinch of sesame seeds and a few salted peanuts or cashews.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Look for supermarket own-brand noodles, as they are cheaper and the flavour doesn't matter as you are not using the flavouring sachet.
- You can add a little more water at the end if you prefer a looser sauce.
- The toppings are optional.
Julie says
I am obsessed with peanut butter so this is perfect for me.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Oh well yes, you definitely need this recipe in your life! Enjoy the noodles.
Jill says
These looks do tasty Jacqs and I am sure I have a pack of noodles at the back of the cupboard somewhere. Hope they are still in date. Cross your fingers for me! Jill x
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Hope you find that packet and enjoy your noodles Jill x
Deb says
Going to make this for dinner tonight. Just off to the shops now. Thanks for the inspiration! 😘
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Oh fabulous. Enjoy the noodles Deb/
Jennifer says
Boy you were right when you said they had flavour. I approve.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Haha yes, a very rich flavour. I am glad you enjoyed them Jennifer.
Seb says
i will deffo try this, a nice change from the pack that comes with it
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Oh yes definitely and a much richer sauce too. I hope you enjoy the noodles.