Garlic Chili Oil Noodles

Name: Garlic Chili Oil Noodles
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: ⅓ cup neutral oil, like avocado or grape seed; 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated; 1 shallot, finely chopped; 1 tbsp chili flakes, regular, Korean gochugaru or szechuan chili; ½ tsp sea salt; 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds; 1 tsp miso paste; 1 tsp sesame oil; 8 oz flat wheat noodles (could also sub ramen or udon or rice noodles, if gluten free); 6 green onions, thinly sliced; 3 tbsp soy sauce or tamari; 2 tsp rice vinegar; 2 tsp brown sugar or coconut sugar

posted: 03/20/23 by Deryn Macey Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe·★★★★★5 from 2 reviews

These spicy garlic chili oil noodles are ready in 20 minutes and packed with heat and flavour!

Overhead view of a bowl of garlic chili oil noodles topped with scallions and sesame seeds.

Table of Contents

About these Noodles

This garlic chili oil noodle recipe is the perfect combination sweet, salty, spicy and umami flavours. It’s also easy to make in just 20 minutes, making it a great dish to whip up for a flavourful weeknight meal.

The recipe features a spicy chili oil made with garlic, shallot, sesame oil and miso paste and a simple sauce made with soy sauce, rice vinegar and brown sugar.

Toasted sesame seeds and green onions add another layer of flavour and texture.

Noodle lover? You’ll also want to try these Miso Noodles, Ramen Noodle Stir Fry and Red Curry Noodles.

Chopsticks lifting garlic chili oil noodles with scallions and green onions from a bowl.

If you’re looking for a satisfying noodle dish that pairs well with different veggies and proteins, this recipe is yummy on its own and makes a great base for experimentation.

Not only that, it requires minimal ingredients you most likely already have on hand.

Whether you’re a spicy food lover or just looking for something new to try in the kitchen, I think you’ll love these simple addictive noodles!

Ingredient Notes

Please scroll down the page to find the full recipe with ingredient measurements and complete instructions.

The following sections provide notes on specific ingredients, possible substitutions and a visual step-by-step overview of how to make the recipe.

All the ingredients needed for making a garlic chili oil noodle recipe with miso paste, green onion, sesame seeds and soy sauce. Each ingredient is labelled with text.

Chili Garlic Oil Ingredients

Oil: You’ll need a neutral oil like avocado oil or grapeseed oil. I used grapeseed oil.
Garlic: Use fresh/raw garlic cloves.
Shallot: Use one small shallot or about 1/4 cup minced.
Chili Flakes: You can use chili flakes (red pepper flakes), Korean gochugaru or Szechwan chili flakes. The recipe calls for 1 tbsp but you can increase it for more heat.
Miso Paste: You can use any variety of miso paste. White or yellow miso paste is milder in flavour while dark or red miso paste has a stronger flavour.
Sesame Seeds: You can purchase toasted sesame seeds or toast your own in a dry pan on the stovetop over low heat until they’re lightly browned.

Noodle & Sauce Ingredients

Noodles: You can use flat wheat noodles, ramen, udon or for a gluten-free option, rice noodles.
Green Onion: You’ll need 1 small bunch or about 6-8 green onions (scallions).
Soy Sauce: You can use soy sauce or for a gluten-free option, tamari.
Rice Vinegar: Seasoned or unseasoned rice vinegar works.
Sugar: Use brown sugar or coconut sugar.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Make the Garlic Chili Oil

In a small pot, heat the oil, garlic, shallot, chili flakes and salt over low heat. Cook the mixture for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until the oil is warm and garlic is fragrant.

Quick Tip: Be sure to keep an eye on it to avoid burning the garlic which will make the oil bitter. When you see small bubbles forming in the oil, remove it from the heat.

A hand stirring chopped garlic, shallot and chili flakes cooking in oil with a wooden spoon in a small pot.

Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the miso paste, sesame seeds and sesame oil. Set the oil aside to infuse.

Once it’s cooled enough, taste and season with additional salt, if needed.

Quick Tip: This can be done a few hours in advance to allow more time for the flavours to infuse. It can also be make in advance, cooled and stored in the fridge for up to 1 month in a sealed container. Just be sure to bring it to room temperature before using in the recipe if it’s been chilled.

Garlic chili oil with sesame seeds in it in a small pot.

Step 2: Cook the Noodles

Cook your choice of noodles al dente according to their pacakage instructions. Drain them once they’re cooked.

Step 3: Prepare the Sauce

Mix together the soy sauce, rice vinegar and sugar in a a small bowl.

A hand mixing a dark sauce with a whisk in a small dish.

Step 4: Finish Noodles

Add about 4 tbsp of the chili oil to a pan and heat over medium heat.

Chili garlic oil being stirred by a wooden spatula in a skillet.

Add most of the green onions, reserving some for topping, the cooked noodles and the soy-sugar mixture.

Use tongs to toss everything together and coat the noodles in the sauce.

Chili oil noodles with green onions in a large skillet.

Serve the Noodles

Serve your noodles in a bowl drizzled with more garlic chili oil, a dash of soy sauce, green onion and sesame seeds.

Overhead view of a bowl of garlic chili oil noodles topped with sesame seeds and green onion. Another bowl can be seen just out of frame.

Additions

Serve with Crispy Baked Tofu or other protein of choice.
Mix in cooked, shelled edamame.
To add more vegetables, stir fry them in the chili garlic oil until tender before adding the scallions, noodles and sauce. You could also stir fry them separately and serve them on top of the noodles.
Vegetables that work well are broccoli, mushrooms, carrot, bok choy, snap or snow peas or cabbage. Keep it simple by choosing 2-3 cups of 1-2 veggie add-ins.

Hands using chopsticks to lift chili oil noodles with scallions from a bowl.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of noodles should I use for this recipe?

You can use any type of noodles you like. Flat or wide wheat noodles are suggested but ramen noodles, udon noodles or even just spaghetti or linguini noodles work too.

If you need the recipe to be gluten-free, you can use rice noodles (be sure to use gluten-free tamari instead of soy sauce as well).

Can I make the garlic chili oil ahead of time?

Absolutely! The chili oil can be made in advanced and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month. In fact, making it ahead of time will give it even more time for the flavours to infuse the oil.

You can even just make it an hour or two ahead to allow extra time for infusion before using it in the recipe.

If it’s been stored in the fridge, just make sure you let it come to room temperature before adding it to a hot pan.

Can I add vegetables or protein to the recipe?

For sure! This recipe is easy to customize with extra veggies like bell peppers, bok choy, carrot, broccoli or cabbage or by adding a protein like crispy tofu or tempeh.

How spicy are garlic chili noodles?

I can’t eat very spicy food and these noodles are fine for me. There’s some heat but it’s not overpowering.

You can also adjust the level of of spiciness but using more or less chili flakes than is listed in the recipe.

Notes & Tips

Cook your noodles al dente as they’ll cook a little more once you add them to the pan.
Taste the chili oil and season with additional salt, if needed.

Close up of chilli garlic noodles with scallions in a small bowl with chopsticks resting in it.

Storing

Store leftover noodles in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
If the noodles are dry after storing, you can add a splash or water or broth to loosen them.
Reheat the noodles in a pan on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated through.
Chili oil noodles are not ideal for freezing.

Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section to leave a star rating and review.
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