16 Easy Noodle Recipes

When dinner needs to be filling, flexible, and budget-friendly, noodles get the job done every time. This roundup pulls together 16 of our most-cooked noodle recipes, including longtime reader favorites, comforting noodle soups, and simple meals that stretch ingredients AND give big flavor. Which, coincidentally, is exactly what I look for when planning my family’s meals for the week!

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All recipes are rigorously tested in our Nashville Test Kitchen to ensure they are easy, affordable, and delicious.

Quick and Easy Fan-Favorites

These fan favorites are the noodle recipes readers have been making and remaking for years. If you’ve been cooking with us for a while, you’ve probably already made at least one of them already. 😊

1. Garlic Noodles Quick & Easy Garlic Noodles

Garlic Noodles are sweet, rich, and savory with a strong garlic punch. They make the perfect side dish to any Asian inspired meal.

$2.34 recipe / $0.59 serving

These sweet-savory garlic noodles have been a longtime favorite in our readers’ kitchens since 2009(!) A short list of pantry staples like brown sugar, soy sauce, and lots of garlic mix with butter and angel hair pasta for an utterly addictive noodle dish. I love that it doubles as an easy side or a base you can dress up with proteins or veggies.

2. Spicy Sriracha Noodles Spicy Sriracha Noodles

These sweet, tangy, and spicy sriracha noodles take only a few minutes to make and are an inexpensive alternative to take out.

$2.50 recipe / $1.25 serving

Our viral spicy sriracha noodles are THE dish for anyone that craves real spice. I’m talking fiery heat that’ll make you sit up and pay attention. They take about 15 minutes to make and use ingredients like soy sauce and sriracha to deliver bold flavor that’s way more exciting than a takeout order.

3. Fried Cabbage and Noodles Fried Cabbage and Noodles

Fried Cabbage and Noodles is a simple and inexpensive comfort food that can be served as a side dish or the base to full meal.

$2.83 recipe / $0.71 serving

This simple fried cabbage and noodles combines sautéed onions, tender cabbage, and buttery egg noodles for a comforting bowl that really hits the spot. It’s a brilliant budget-friendly meal or hearty side with almost anything!

Belly Filling Noodle Soups

These noodle soups are all about comfort without complication. The ingredient lists are small, hands-on time is minimal, and they’re built for real-life cooking. Honestly, I can’t think of a better kind of recipe to have on standby.

4. Chicken Noodle Soup The Best Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup This is the BEST easy Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup recipe. It's delicious and made from scratch, just like Grandma used to make!Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card. $11.11 recipe / $1.39 serving

This chicken noodle soup is the kind of soul-soothing classic you’ll turn to when you want real comfort. A simple simmer of chicken, vegetables, herbs, and egg noodles creates a rich soup that’s far better than anything from a box, and it freezes like a dream.

5. Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Slow cooker chicken noodle soup is an incredibly easy and soothing winter recipe that will fill you up and warm you from the inside out!

$9.22 recipe / $1.15 serving

If hands-off cooking is more your style, try our slow cooker chicken noodle soup instead. It’s made entirely from scratch using budget-friendly bone-in chicken breast, water, simple veggies like carrots and celery, and dried pantry herbs.

6. Sopa de Fideo Sopa de Fideo

Sopa de Fideo is an incredibly simple yet flavorful soup made with a tomato based broth, toasted vermicelli noodles, fresh lime, and cilantro.

$6.82 recipe / $1.14 serving

Sopa de fideo is a simple, comforting Mexican noodle soup made with toasted vermicelli simmered in a lightly spiced tomato broth. It’s a fun and flavorful alternative to the usual noodle soups, but is still inexpensive and easy for a weeknight.

7. Noodle Soup Jar Meal Prep Noodle Soup Jars

These easy meal prep noodle soup jars are a fast, convenient, and budget-friendly make-ahead lunch idea. Just add hot water, mix, and enjoy!

$3.25 recipe / $0.81 serving

These meal prep noodle soup jars are basically upgraded instant ramen in a jar! You just add hot water, shake, and you’ve got an easy lunch you can meal-prep for the week. I’m obsessed with how customizable they are, and they’re such a clever way to keep noodle soup on hand without making a whole pot.

More Satisfying Full Meals

Here you’ll find noodle meals that go beyond being just a side. They’re satisfying, well-rounded, and made to keep everyone full!

8. Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles

Sweet, salty, rich, and crunchy, these Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles hit all the bases. It’s fast, easy comfort food for busy nights! 

$3.75 recipe / $1.25 serving

These pork and peanut dragon noodles take about 25 minutes (from start to finish) and use just 7 ingredients total. That’s what I call a quick and easy noodle fix! The pork adds bulk without costing a ton. However, you could definitely swap in your favorite vegetarian meat crumbles to make this dish meat-free.

9. Chicken Peanut Noodles Peanut Noodles with Chicken

These Peanut Noodles with Chicken are an easy meal with a rich, creamy, sweet, and savory flavor that is completely addictive.

$7.32 recipe / $1.83 serving

These peanut noodles with chicken bring together a creamy, savory peanut sauce and tender pieces of chicken for a meal that feels satisfying without being fussy. I think you’ll like how this one turns simple ingredients into a meal that feels a bit elevated (perfect for those days when you want dinner to feel special but still EASY).

10. Beef Stir Fry Noodles Easy Beef Stir Fry Noodles

These everyday fast beef stir fry noodles are easy enough to make on a busy weeknight and delicious enough to keep you from calling for take-out.

$7.93 recipe / $1.98 serving

OG Budget Byters might remember this one from way back in 2016. These 30-minute beef stir fry noodles stretch ½ pound of ground beef into 4 veggie-packed portions, which is hard to beat when you’re working with a tight grocery budget.

11. Lime Shrimp Dragon Noodles Lime Shrimp Dragon Noodles

These spicy Lime Shrimp Dragon Noodles are a fast, easy, and inexpensive alternative to take out. This version features tender shrimp and fresh lime.

$4.97 recipe / $2.49 serving

I think it’s fair to say we love dragon noodles here, and these lime shrimp dragon noodles bring a bright twist to the lineup. These noods are layered with garlicky heat and fresh lime flavor, and the shrimp cook quickly, so dinners ready fast.

12. Tuna Noodle Casserole Tuna Noodle Casserole

Tuna Noodle Casserole is a creamy and comforting classic American dinner full of noodles, a creamy mushroom sauce, tuna, and peas. 

$8.65 recipe / $1.44 serving

This tuna noodle casserole is made with egg noodles, canned tuna, peas, mushrooms, and a creamy homemade sauce, then baked with a cheesy breadcrumb topping for the most nostalgic family dinner.

Noodle Salads

If you love noodles but want something lighter and a little crunchy, this is your section. These salads bring big flavor and serious texture without feeling heavy! I make them on repeat for lunches, potlucks, and easy summer dinners.

13. Cold Peanut Noodle Salad Cold Peanut Noodle Salad

This Cold Peanut Noodle Salad with homemade peanut lime dressing is the perfect meal prep for summer! No reheating necessary.

$5.30 recipe / $1.33 serving

This cold peanut noodle salad is perfect for summer potlucks, with chewy noodles, crisp veggies, and a creamy peanut dressing that everyone loves. If you’re meal prepping, I recommend keeping the dressing separate until serving. I also like to add edamame or tofu for a little extra protein!

14. Ramen Noodle Salad Ramen Noodle Salad This light and fresh ramen noodle salad recipe features crisp cabbage, shredded chicken, crunchy ramen noodles, and an easy vinaigrette. Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card. $4.51 recipe / $0.75 serving

Okay, this is a fun one. In this ramen noodle salad, the ramen goes in uncooked, so it stays crunchy like little croutons, which gives the whole dish an unexpected and addictive texture. I can’t get enough of using the sesame-soy vinaigrette on other salads either!

Try these Bowls, too!

Noodle bowls are my answer to the “everyone wants something different” dinner dilemma. You can build them out based on your family’s preferences or whatever needs to get used up. I often mix and match proteins, sauces, and veggies whenever I make these noodle bowls!

15. Teriyaki Noodle Bowls Teriyaki Noodle Bowls These teriyaki noodle bowls are fast, easy, and super flavorful. Forget take out and whip up your own healthy Asian meal at home. Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card. $7.56 recipe / $1.89 serving

I make these teriyaki noodle bowls when I want an easy vegetarian dinner using frozen stir-fry vegetables, though fresh veggies work just as well! You can also swap the homemade teriyaki sauce for a bottled version. These bowls are delish as written, but go ahead and add some chicken, tofu, salmon, or tempeh if you fancy more protein!

16. Peanut Tofu Noodle Bowls Peanut Tofu Noodle Bowls

These Peanut Tofu Noodle Bowls feature light and airy rice noodles, cold crunchy vegetables, and a deliciously bright peanut lime dressing.

$10.40 recipe / $2.60 serving

I could dip, drizzle, or toss everything in this creamy peanut sauce and never get tired of it!! These peanut tofu noodle bowls are chock-full of crispy tofu, crunchy veggies, rice noodles, and a rich peanut sauce. SO good.

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