I love cooking noodles and stir-fries. My incredible collection of easy noodle recipes is my go-to for family dinners during the week. They are easy and quick to cook in woks (I have about 5 woks in different sizes!). Plus these noodle recipes are simply delicious and packed with protein, vegteables and tasty Asian stir-fry sauce.
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🥡 Why cook Noodles for dinner?
Everybody loves noodles! There is something incredibly satisfying about slurping smoking hot noodles coated in delicious Asian sauces with chopsticks (or a fork!). This is why you should cook my easy noodle recipes for dinner,
- Noodle recipes are super easy and quick to make, ready in under 30 minutes for a fast dinner.
- With healthier ingredients from your pantry and lots of fresh produce, my noodle recipes are better than takeout.
- There is a wide variety of cuisines to cook from – make delicious noodle stir-fries from Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Indo-Chinese, American Chinese, Singaporean and modern fusion cuisines.
- Noodles are great for reheating and packing away for school and work lunches.
- They can be made ahead and freeze well.
- Noodles are a meal prepper’s dream.
🍜 Different Noodle Varieties and how to stock them
Noodles come in all shapes and sizes. Different cuisines have different noodles made with a variety of ingredients. You can find most noodles at Asian super stores or smaller specialty stores and supermarkets. Here are some of the noodle varieties I use in my recipes.
- Egg Noodles – Egg noodles are an adaptable workhorse in the kitchen, made simply from wheat flour and eggs. They are loved for the deep, rich flavour and the way they just melt in your mouth. And let’s not forget that pleasing chew – its a big part of their appeal. They show up in all sorts of dishes from around the world – Chinese, South East Asian, and also European. They get used in everything from quick stir-fries and hot soups to big casserole dishes and rich creamy pastas. You can get them fresh or dried, and they come in just about every shape and size – think super thin wonton noodles, broader ribbon shaped noodles, the springy lo mein noodle and the thick, chewy Hokkien noodle which is a favourite of mine. And what really makes them shine is that they are just so good at soaking up all the good stuff – sauces, broths, whatever – making them a top choice for quick weeknight dinners and all the comforting family favouite meals.
- Rice Noodles – Light, silky and naturally gluten-free, rice noodles are made from rice flour and water. They cook faster than wheat and egg noodles. They soak up sauces beautifully while still retaining their delicate texture. You’ll find them at the heart of many beloved Asian dishes, from Thai Pad Thai and Vietnamese Pho to Malaysian stir-fries and Singapore-style noodles. Rice noodles come in slightly wide and flat size and a fine, thin size known as vermicelli that cooks by just soaking in hot water.
- Glass Noodles – Also known as cellophane or bean thread noodles, these translucent noodles are made from starches like mung bean, sweet potato or potato and are also naturally gluten free. They have very little flavour of their own, which is exactly what makes them so versatile—they eagerly soak up rich sauces, fragrant broths and bold seasonings. They’re delicious in stir-fries, soups, hot pots and fresh salads.
- Buckwheat noodles – They have a wonderfully nutty, earthy flavour that’s quite different from regular wheat noodles. In Japan, they’re best known as soba and may be made entirely from buckwheat or blended with wheat flour for a softer texture. They’re equally delicious served chilled with a dipping sauce on a warm day, a quick soba noodle salad or in a comforting bowl of hot soup.
- Udon Noodles – My favourite noodles of all time! These are thick, soft Japanese wheat noodles with a satisfyingly chewy bite (yum!). Their mild flavour makes them incredibly versatile, pairing beautifully with everything from delicate broths to rich curries and hearty stir-fries. They’re comfort food in noodle form.
- Ramen Noodles – Ramen noodles are made from wheat flour with the addition of kansui, an alkaline water that gives them their signature springy texture and slight chew. They’re most famous for swimming in deeply flavoured ramen broths, but they’re just as good stir-fried or tossed through savoury sauces.
- Instant Noodles – Instant noodles are all about convenience, but they don’t have to taste ordinary. With the addition of fresh vegetables, a perfectly cooked egg, leftover chicken or a homemade sauce, they can be transformed into a quick, satisfying meal in minutes. Also great for making snack like Noodlecakes.
- Specialty Noodles – Across Asia, you’ll find countless regional noodles made from ingredients beyond wheat and rice, including sweet potato, mung bean, tapioca, yam and millet. Each has its own unique texture and character, offering a glimpse into local traditions and the incredible diversity of noodle-making around the world. You can also find Yakisoba noodles, chowmein noodles, biang biang noodles, la mian noodles and shirataki noodles for your noodle experiments.
🍲 Easy Noodle Recipes
Here are some of my favourite easy noodle recipes that we stir-fry for dinner a couple of times every week.
Easy, 20-min Chicken Udon Noodles stir-fried in a delicious homemade stir-fry sauce and packed with juicy chicken and loads of veggies. A great weeknight dinner recipe!
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Caramelized beef, green stir-fry veg, aromatics, Asian sauces and chewy udon noodles make these Beef Hoisin Noodles a weeknight winner! Better than takeaway and healthier too!
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Make these garlicky Prawn Hokkien Noodles in just 10 minutes – Stir-fried with Chinese green leafy vegetables, cabbage and the best chilli paste – sambal olek, these thick, chewy, golden noodles are spicy and delicious!
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Also known as bee-hoon, Singapore Noodles are anglicised, curry-spiked, thin rice noodles are full of flavour and so easy to make. Char-siu pork is typically used as choice of protein, my version celebrates prawns!
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This Prawn Yakisoba is a copycat version of the super popular Yakisoba served at my local Japanese restaurant “Sushi Mee” on Sydney’s north shore. It tastes just like the real deal, delicious stir-fried noodles with juicy prawns and veggies, tossed in the most delicious homemade Yakisoba sauce.
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Chicken Schezwan Noodles are delicious Indo-Chinese stir-fried noodles made with a bold, fiery, sweet, spicy and tangy Schezwan sauce.Thoroughly addictive and can be made ahead for packed lunches!
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A vegetarian version of the Thai favourite flat rice noodles, this Tofu Pad See Ew is delicious and packed with crispy tofu, lots of greens and smoky, saucy rice noodles.
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A sizzling wok of perfect rice noodles tossed with big juicy Yamba prawns, slices of charred tofu, crisp snow peas and the sweet, sour, salty, spicy flavours of the most beloved Asian takeaway dish – Pad Thai becomes a speedy weeknight dinner.
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Delicious spicy and smoky Minced Pork Noodles made with a secret spice that makes it taste like crispy twice cooked pork belly! Great weeknight dinner.
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Panda Express Chow Mein is a popular stir-fried noodle dish made with chewy wheat noodles, cabbage, celery, onion, spring onion and aromatics tossed in a hot wok with delicious Asian sauces.
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Saucy delicious mixed mushrooms cooked with beautiful Asian sauces and spices ladled over really easy stir-fried gingery ramen noodles. This a favourite recipe everyone will absolutely love, no matter what the weather!
A less spicy and vegetarian version of the notorious Sichuan Chinese Dan Dan Noodles. This feisty noodle bowl is made with mushroom and radish cooked in a spicy and creamy peanut butter based sauce. Heaped on homemade spelt noodles, this is a truly fantastic weeknight dinner recipe!
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