Peanut Butter Noodles

By Eric Kim

Updated July 23, 2024

Peanut Butter Noodles
Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Sue Li. Prop Stylist: Sophia Eleni Pappas
Total Time
20 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Rating
4(4,045)
Comments
Read comments

This nutty midnight pasta is a dream to cook, as it requires just a handful of pantry staples and one pot. Peanut butter (the less fancy, the better) anchors a creamy sauce swathed in umami. Accentuated by a good, salty Parmesan, these noodles recall those cheesy peanut butter sandwich crackers. They make an ideal dinner for one, but the amounts can easily be doubled or quadrupled as needed. For an equally gripping vegan alternative, try swapping out the butter for olive oil and the cheese for nutritional yeast.

Featured in: The Night Owl’s Special: Midnight Spaghetti

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: Give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.

    Subscribe

  • Share this recipe

  • Print this recipe

Advertisement

Ingredients

Yield:1 serving
  • Salt
  • 4ounces spaghetti or 1 individual package instant ramen (seasoning packet saved for another use)
  • 2tablespoons creamy peanut butter
  • 1tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1tablespoon finely grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
  • 1teaspoon soy sauce
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (1 servings)

753 calories; 32 grams fat; 12 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 13 grams monounsaturated fat; 5 grams polyunsaturated fat; 92 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 6 grams sugars; 26 grams protein; 414 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring a pot of water to a boil (and salt it, if using spaghetti). Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the cooking water, then drain the noodles and return to the pot. Turn off the heat.

  2. Step 2

    Add the peanut butter, butter, Parmesan and soy sauce. Vigorously stir the noodles for a minute, adding some reserved cooking water, a tablespoon or two at a time, until the sauce is glossy and clings to the noodles. Season to taste with salt.

  3. Step 3

    Top with more cheese, if you’d like, and serve immediately.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Ratings

4 out of 5
4,045 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Comments

LL

Pro tip. Save the dregs of peanut butter jars and plop the hot noodles inside along with other ingredients and swirl or shake. Clean jar and tasty noodles.

dimmerswitch

What is more delicious? Eric Kim's writing or his recipes? I vote for both. How is it someone so young can be so skilled and so wise? "The man" mentioned in the article that accompanies this recipe is a lucky one...and destined to be a very well fed one too. This is a splendid recipe. With an ounce more pasta it worked to share, out of a single bowl, with the man I have lived with for 45 years.

LondaR

Use crunchy peanut butter. Divine.

Lynda

This is recipe is quick and delicious! It's great for a light lunch or late night snack!

Elaine W

Yum!! Added a scallion cut into 1/2”pieces with the peanut butter, etc. Also added a little toasted sesame oil. When serving, topped with another scallion sliced thin on the bias and some chopped peanuts. Easy peasy and amazingly good!

Heather

I don't eat cheese so I left out the parmesan, but I did use a little bit of the instant ramen seasoning packet to get some of the salt back and it was delicious.

Private comments are only visible to you.

Recipe Tags

or to save this recipe.