Asian Shrimp Garlic Noodles

I remember the first time I made Asian Shrimp Garlic Noodles for a small dinner with friends. The kitchen smelled like hot garlic and sesame, and the shrimp sizzled in the pan while everyone hovered with a glass of wine. We ate from shallow bowls, stealing extra scallions and squeezing lime over our portions. That simple, slightly glossy bowl of noodles felt like a quiet, polished moment you want to photograph and remember.

Why You’ll Love It

This recipe balances glossy, savory noodles with bright shrimp and fresh scallions, so it works as an easy weeknight dinner or a show-off dish for friends. It comes together quickly, uses pantry-friendly sauces, and looks beautiful on a plate, so you can serve it straight from the pan or transfer into a shallow bowl for a more styled presentation. People who love garlic, a touch of sesame aroma, and plump, pan-seared shrimp will reach for seconds.

Serves 4
Prep Time: 15 |
Cook Time: 10 |
Total Time: 25

Ingredients

• 12 ounces dried lo mein noodles or spaghetti
• 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined (tails removed)
• 6 cloves garlic finely minced
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons light soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon fish sauce optional
• 3 scallions thinly sliced on the diagonal
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
• 1 lime cut into wedges
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the noodles according to package directions until just tender. Drain, toss with a teaspoon of sesame oil to prevent sticking, and set aside.
2. Pat the shrimp dry and season lightly with salt and pepper.
3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat add vegetable oil. When the oil shimmers, add shrimp in a single layer. Sear 1 to 2 minutes per side until pink and lightly browned. Transfer shrimp to a plate and set aside.
4. Lower heat to medium and add butter to the same skillet. When melted, add the minced garlic and cook for 30 to 45 seconds until fragrant, stirring so it does not brown.
5. Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and fish sauce if using. Stir to combine and let the sauce warm for 30 seconds. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add red pepper flakes if you want heat.
6. Add the cooked noodles to the skillet and toss gently to coat the strands evenly with sauce. If the pan seems dry, add a splash of reserved pasta water or 1 tablespoon water to loosen.
7. Return the shrimp to the skillet and fold them into the noodles until everything is evenly distributed and heated through, about 1 minute.
8. Remove from heat. Plate the noodles into shallow bowls, sprinkle with sliced scallions and toasted sesame seeds, and serve with lime wedges.

Recipe Variations

• Spicy Chili Garlic Shrimp Noodles Swap brown sugar for honey and add 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce to the sauce for a bolder, spicier profile.
• Vegetarian Garlic Noodles Use firm tofu cubes or roasted mushrooms instead of shrimp and replace fish sauce with extra soy sauce for depth.
• Lemon Sesame Shrimp Noodles Add 1 teaspoon lemon zest and reduce lime to half for a brighter citrus lift, and omit fish sauce.
• Peanut Garlic Noodles Stir in 2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter into the sauce for a creamy, nutty variation that pairs well with chopped roasted peanuts on top.

Make Ahead: – Cook the noodles up to 24 hours ahead, toss with a little sesame oil, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat briefly in a hot skillet with a splash of water or sauce.
– Mince the garlic and slice scallions up to 2 days ahead and store separately in airtight containers.
– Cooked shrimp do not refrigerate well for more than 24 hours; for longer make ahead, keep raw peeled shrimp refrigerated and cook at serving time.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Yield: 4

Asian Shrimp Garlic Noodles

Print

This recipe balances glossy, savory noodles with bright shrimp and fresh scallions, so it works as an easy weeknight dinner or a show-off dish for friends. It comes together quickly, uses pantry-friendly sauces, and looks beautiful on a plate, so you can serve it straight from the pan or transfer into a shallow bowl for a more styled presentation. People who love garlic, a touch of sesame aroma, and plump, pan-seared shrimp will reach for seconds.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 12 ounces dried lo mein noodles or spaghetti
• 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined (tails removed)
• 6 cloves garlic finely minced
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons light soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon fish sauce optional
• 3 scallions thinly sliced on the diagonal
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
• 1 lime cut into wedges
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the noodles according to package directions until just tender. Drain, toss with a teaspoon of sesame oil to prevent sticking, and set aside.
2. Pat the shrimp dry and season lightly with salt and pepper.
3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat add vegetable oil. When the oil shimmers, add shrimp in a single layer. Sear 1 to 2 minutes per side until pink and lightly browned. Transfer shrimp to a plate and set aside.
4. Lower heat to medium and add butter to the same skillet. When melted, add the minced garlic and cook for 30 to 45 seconds until fragrant, stirring so it does not brown.
5. Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and fish sauce if using. Stir to combine and let the sauce warm for 30 seconds. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add red pepper flakes if you want heat.
6. Add the cooked noodles to the skillet and toss gently to coat the strands evenly with sauce. If the pan seems dry, add a splash of reserved pasta water or 1 tablespoon water to loosen.
7. Return the shrimp to the skillet and fold them into the noodles until everything is evenly distributed and heated through, about 1 minute.
8. Remove from heat. Plate the noodles into shallow bowls, sprinkle with sliced scallions and toasted sesame seeds, and serve with lime wedges.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 436Total Fat 22gSaturated Fat 6gUnsaturated Fat 16gCholesterol 255mgSodium 2353mgCarbohydrates 27gFiber 3gSugar 6gProtein 32g

Easy Shrimp Recipes.com, occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although allchickenrecipes.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

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Conclusion

This Asian Shrimp Garlic Noodles recipe is one of those kitchen wins that looks graceful and comes together without fuss. The glossy, garlicky sauce clings to each strand while the seared shrimp add texture and color. It is flexible, forgiving, and easy to style for serving, so you can make it a relaxed weeknight staple or a pretty dish to photograph for guests. Trust your taste as you adjust salt, heat, and acidity, and enjoy the small ritual of tossing scallions and sesame seeds on top before serving.