This simple and economical recipe for Sesame Noodles has been a favorite of mine for decades! It is ALWAYS a hit with family & friends at BBQ's and parties. People ask me to make it again and again!
This easy Sesame Noodle recipe has been my go to for parties forever, people literally hunt me down for the recipe everywhere I bring it. It was one of the very first recipes I shared here on my food blog when I started it and for a good reason!
If you want a more robust Asian Noodle Salad, try this its another that people go crazy for. I have been know to make pounds and pounds of this amazing Asian Pasta Salad with Chicken.
This easy Asian Noodle Salad is always a hit at parties and BBQ's. It's so easy to make and transport! It's super inexpensive to make to feed a crowd. AND it goes with almost everything!
Table of Contents
What noodles should you use to make this?
- The noodles I use most often to make this is just regular dry linguini from the pasta aisle. However, you can easily swap up the type of noodles used.
- When I first started making these Asian Noodles, I would go to an Asian grocer for my ingredients (that's before things like chili garlic sauce were available in grocery stores). I would purchase rice noodles and use those, however over the years I found people enjoyed the linguini more.
- You can use whole wheat noodles, or rice noodles. I have not tried with gluten free noodles but I assume that would be just fine.
Bonus! Not only does this recipe for Asian Noodles come together so quickly, it is SO inexpensive to make! You can make a double batch of this to serve a dozen people for under $10.00!
Plus you can make this in under 20 minutes start to finish!!
Why you will love this easy side dish recipe
- Everyone loves it, vegetarians and carnivores alike! It's a great meatless offering
- If you want to add meat, Asian flavor marinated grilled and sliced chicken breasts or thighs are a delicious idea to add.
- Make these noodles spicy or tame, its easy to customize
- Made with ingredients most people already have on-hand.
- This side dish recipe can be made in 20 minutes or less.
- SUPER economical recipe to make and feed a crowd. Recipe easily doubles or triples.
- Still delicious for leftovers the following day. When bringing this to a BBQ or gathering, I always make extra and leave a container at my house for us the next day.
Ingredients
- linguine
- red bell pepper
- scallions
- soy sauce
- red wine vinegar or rice wine vinegar
- olive or avocado oil
- sesame oil
- sugar
- chili sauce with garlic
Tips
- This makes a fabulous lunch and is easy to bring to work, just throw some in a container or large mason jar, pack a fork and you are good-to-go!
- I enjoy this best served at room temperature, which makes it a perfect picnic item as well.
- Use a mason jar to make the marinade/sauce, it is easy to store , shake and pour.
- Use linguini noodles or any Asian noodles you may enjoy.
- As soon as noodles are finished cooking, quickly rinse with cold water to cool down, strain, blot dry and then add ½ of the sauce toss, add in veggies and shortly before serving add the rest of the sauce.
- Sauce pools under the noodles so toss often.
If you want a more robust salad, check this recipe out. It's more work however people LOVE this!!
The spicier the better is my motto when it comes to these, however I do make a non-spicy portion as well for my kiddos. I am easing them into hot & spicy foods. They are beginning to appreciate spice, especially my son however they are just not on their parents level...YET!
Side Dish recipes you'll love
Enjoy!! - Colleen
Recipe originally posted way back in 2010, updated May, 2024.
Colleen Kennedy is the author of 3 cookbooks and has appeared on QVC and other shows inspiring home cooks of all levels. She has a popular TikTok channel @ColleensCooking with hundreds of short recipe videos. Colleen lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and kids, she started Soufflé Bombay in 2009. Read more about her here.
Sesame Noodles Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound of linguine cooked to package directions
- 1 red pepper slice into toothpick-like slices (Add more or less based on your preference for peppers)
- 4-5 scallions sliced thin both the white and green
- ½ cup soy sauce
- 2 TBS red wine vinegar or rice wine vinegar
- 2 TBS olive oil
- 3 TBS sesame oil in the Asian section of the grocery store
- 1 TBS sugar
- 1 ½ TBS chili sauce with garlic in the Asian section of the grocery store add in more for spicy flavor
Instructions
- While your salted water comes to boil. Make your sauce first by combining the soy sauce, vinegar, olive oil, sesame oil, sugar and chili sauce with garlic. Shake vigorously in a mason jar or pop the sauce in your blender for a minute to mix well.
- As soon as you drain your noodles, run them under cold water until cool. Blot noodles dry with paper towels. Give sauce a quick shake, add half of it to the noodles, stir well with tings to combine.
- Slice pepper and scallions.
- Assemble the dish by adding the peppers and scallions. I usually do this in the pot I made the pasta in then turn out the coated noodles in the serving dish. Toss well and add remaining sauce just before serving, tossing well once again.
Deanna - Teaspoon of Spice says
This noodle lover is loving this one (and your Chicken Pho - gotta check that out....)
Back for Seconds says
Sometimes the simple recipes are the best! Looks wonderful!
Kirsten/ComfortablyDomestic says
Sesame noodles are one of my favorite comfort foods! I'll be trying this recipe, for sure!
The Food Hunter says
Don't you just love recipes that you know are going to be a hit with everyone.
Ginny McMeans says
I can see why this is a favorite. Great flavorings!
Martha @ A Family Feast says
I've been craving some sesame noodles - and here is your recipe! Must make very soon!
Brenda@SugarFreeMom says
Love all the spices and it looks like an easy, perfect dish for any weeknight!
Amanda @ The Kitcheneer says
I too am a noodle lover and I am loving this!
Maryanne @ the little epicurean says
YUM! I'm a big fan of noodles. I make a similar recipe but I add a little almond butter to thicken the sauce. I'm going to have to try your version!
Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez says
You gotta know it's a good one when it's been a favorite for so long! I love the sound of these noodles, they remind me of some that I order from a local chinese place - for the sole purpose of eating them the next day. Yum!
Cookin' Canuck says
I absolutely adore sesame noodles, and I can see why your friends hunt you down for this recipe. I'm tempted to mix this with shrimp and veggies for dinner tonight.
Angie says
This is so easy, and I know my son would love these noodles. They are so much healthier than take out!
Erin Dee says
I've never tried any kind of Asian noodles. Only Italian type stuff. I definitely need to try, though, because these look great!
Anita says
I could live off of noodles. Both your sesame noodles and pho look fabulous!
Nutmeg Nanny says
My husband LOVES sesame noodles. I never make them because I'm allergic to sesame but I'm happy to pass this recipe to him 🙂
Angie Barrett says
That was such an awesome idea to take copies of the recipe with you! You KNOW it's a good one if you already know people are going to begging for it! I love any type of noddle and I'm already in love with these!
The Redhead Baker says
This sounds like something my fiance would LOVE! Maybe I'll surprise him with a batch for him to pack for lunch at work!
Lauren says
Ssesame noodles are the best! I never thought to bring them to a bbq before...I might need to make them my signature dish for summer 2015.
Cynthia Cook says
Love this recipe! When I want to turn it into the star of the show I add some steamed broccoli florets, rotisserie chicken, OR grilled shrimp, and top with toasted sesame seeds! Fantastic!!
Colleen says
Love all of your ideas! These are so easy and so versatile for sure! I just made this recipe this weekend which is similar but more robust. Sometines I add chicken and sometimes (like this weekend) I make it without. People go crazy for it. https://soufflebombay.com/the-best-prettiest-pasta-salad-evah/
Maddie says
I just tried these for the first time & I love them! I’ll definitely be making them again! They taste just exactly like sesame noodles I used to get from a grocery store that I loved. I’m so happy I can make them at home now. Thank you for sharing this recipe 🙂
Colleen says
Yay! Great to hear that Maddie! AND they are so inexpensive to make...for parties or lunch. Which is a bonus!