In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in the convenience of instant-cooked meals. However, with a little creativity and some readily available ingredients, you can elevate your noodle dishes from bland to grand. We’ve rounded up 11 flavorful and easy sauces for noodles that are sure to make mealtime more satisfying. Whether you’re a fan of oriental-inspired flavors or something more adventurous, there’s a sauce on this list that’s sure to tantalize your taste buds.
And the best part? These sauces can be made with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. So why settle for bland when you can spice things up with these 11 easy sauces for noodles?
Asian Garlic Noodle Sauce
The first recipe we’re exploring is Garlic Noodle Sauce, a harmonious blend of flavors. Garlic adds a distinct savory dimension to various dishes, including noodle meals. When combined with other ingredients like soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and brown sugar, the result is an unforgettable light noodle sauce experience. Although the mixture may seem transparent when added to cooked noodles, each bite promises to be a flavorful revelation.
The key is to balance the garlic’s potency by ensuring it doesn’t get overcooked, as this can result in bitterness. With attention to this detail, you’ll savor every morsel of noodles smothered in garlicky goodness.
Chow Mein Sauce
While Chow Mein is a well-known stir-fried noodle dish often purchased from local Chinese delis, its rich history and cultural influence are worth exploring. The recipe has evolved through the fusion of Cantonese culinary traditions and Chinese-American cuisine. What’s essential to note is that the signature sauce, though it may vary depending on regional and national influences, remains a crucial component of this beloved dish.
Fortunately, you can still achieve an authentic and delicious homemade Chow Mein experience by combining the savory flavors of soy sauce, sesame oil, and oyster sauce – with the option to add a touch of sweetness from sugar for added depth.
Creamy Garlic Noodle Sauce
Indulge in a rich and aromatic creamy garlic noodle sauce that’s surprisingly quick to prepare! While it may initially resemble other white sauces like Carbonara and Fettuccine Alfredo, its unique blend of spiced, earthy, and milky flavors – punctuated by the pungency of minced garlic – sets it apart from the rest.
Whether you’re using it as a topping or cooking your noodles together with the sauce, this Creamy Garlic Noodle Sauce is sure to captivate everyone’s senses and leave them craving more.
Gochujang Noodle Sauce
If you’re a fan of Korean cuisine, you’ll love this easy-to-make noodle sauce recipe! Gochujang, a traditional chili paste, is made from fermented soybeans, sticky rice, and chili powder. Like sriracha, gochujang can add depth or heat to your dishes, depending on the level of spiciness. Known as the Gochujang Hot Taste Unit (GHU), its heat range spans from mildly hot to extremely hot. So, if you’re using this sauce as the main condiment, be prepared for a flavorful but fiery experience.
However, you can always tone it down by choosing a milder gochujang or adding ingredients like rice vinegar and honey to balance out the heat.
Lo Mein Sauce
Lo Mein, a Chinese noodle dish, stands as a dry alternative to traditional Chinese noodle soups. While it’s not completely devoid of moisture, its saucy nature is what sets it apart. The telltale sign of Lo Mein’s presence is the way sauce drips from the noodles when lifted with a fork or chopsticks. This flavorful aspect is precisely why many people opt for this dish – the sauce adds depth to the thick noodles.
Fortunately, preparing the sauce is a straightforward process requiring only a handful of common ingredients, including soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil. To achieve the signature sauciness of Lo Mein, it’s essential to toss the noodles with the prepared sauce, allowing the flavors to meld together harmoniously.
Mentsuyu (Cold Noodle Sauce)
While noodle sauces are often blended with noodles and garnishes to distribute their flavors evenly, a different approach is taken for cold noodle dishes like soba and sōmen. Instead of tossing the sauce with the noodles, dipping sauces are typically prepared for these types of dishes. Mentsuyu, in particular, is a popular choice for its harmonious flavor combination with noodles.
To prepare mentsuyu, simply mix soy sauce, Japanese rice wine (mirin), bonito flakes, and water together in a saucer. The best way to enjoy this savory sauce is by dipping your noodles into it before taking a bite.
Sweet & Spicy Chili Garlic Noodle Sauce
Looking for a garlic sauce with an extra kick? Consider adding chili paste to create a spicy twist. Alternatively, introduce a touch of sweetness by incorporating sugar into the mix. To bring out the best flavors, pair the sauce with noodles and garnishes, then indulge in the delightful combination.
Supreme Soy Noodle Sauce
Supreme Soy Noodles makes a bold statement that lives up to its name. The dish’s foundation lies in its robust noodles, which are so satisfying on their own that they can easily become a filling meal. But what truly elevates this dish is the rich sauce, boasting a deep color and a flavor profile that perfectly complements the noodles.
While the individual ingredients may be familiar – think light and dark soy sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce, mirin, and garlic – it’s the harmonious blend of these elements that makes the sauce truly special. Whether you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing dish to serve at family gatherings or a quick pick-me-up to satisfy your hunger on-the-go, Supreme Soy Noodles is an excellent choice.
Teriyaki Noodle Sauce
While teriyaki sauce is often associated with grilled chicken, it’s also an excellent accompaniment for noodles. The classic recipe typically combines soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sugar, yielding a rich and savory flavor profile. This trifecta of ingredients already makes for a delectable sauce that can be paired with noodles. To elevate the taste further, consider adding citrus notes like orange juice to balance out the sweetness and savoriness.
Once the sauce is prepared, you can either mix it into the cooked noodles or serve it as a topping, allowing each bite to be infused with the aromatic flavors. Ultimately, this teriyaki sauce will add an exciting dimension to your noodles that’s sure to leave you craving more.
Thai Red Curry Sauce
Thailand may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of curry, but it has its own unique version – Kaeng Phet or red curry. This popular Thai dish is characterized by a bold and spicy flavor profile, courtesy of the red chiles used in its signature red curry paste.
The paste, made from those fiery peppers, adds depth and heat to the sauce, which also typically includes coconut milk, tomato paste, lime juice, and cornstarch, along with other ingredients that contribute to its rich and complex flavors. One of the best things about Kaeng Phet is how quickly it can be prepared – in just 15 minutes or so, you can have a delicious and authentic Thai red curry sauce ready to go.
It’s no wonder then that cooks and enthusiasts alike use this versatile sauce as a base for their noodle dishes.
Yakisoba Sauce (Stir-Fried Noodle Sauce)
The iconic Yakisoba sauce is an essential addition to any easy noodle sauces list. But what exactly is Yakisoba? It’s actually a cooking technique that involves stir-frying noodles with a specially formulated Japanese-style Worcestershire Sauce. This unique condiment brings together the flavors of soy sauce, oyster sauce, ketchup, and sugar in harmony, creating a taste experience unlike any other.
The bottom line
Preparing noodle sauces is a straightforward process that requires minimal cooking time and few ingredients. The best part? These easy recipes don’t sacrifice quality or flavor in the process. Whether you’re looking to add some excitement to your weekday meals or need a pick-me-up after a long day, these 11 simple yet flavorful sauces are sure to elevate your noodle dishes.