Peanut Butter Noodles

Name: Peanut Butter Noodles
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients: Salt; 4 ounces spaghetti or 1 individual package instant ramen (seasoning packet saved for another use); 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter; 1 tablespoon unsalted butter; 1 tablespoon finely grated Parmesan, plus more for serving; 1 teaspoon soy sauce

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(3,854)
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

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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

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Preparation

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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.
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.
Step 3
Top with more cheese, if you’d like, and serve immediately.

Ratings

4 out of 5

3,854 user ratings

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Comments

LL1 year ago

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.

dimmerswitch1 year ago

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.

LondaR1 year ago

Use crunchy peanut butter. Divine.

Ell D2 days ago

Wow. Just used this to doctor up a boxed Mac n cheese (Annie’s). Used the cheese packet in the box instead of parm but then added butter and PB and soy. Elevated the boxed Mac n cheese game!

Belinda1 week ago

Made as written but used crunchy peanut butter and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. So good and love that its a meal for one.

Christina Robison2 weeks ago

Thank you once again, Eric Kim! We love these peanut butter noodles. Had ‘em again tonight with a side of chicken (for my husband). Sometimes we have a sunny side up egg on top. Sometimes with a sprinkle of crushed bacon - Yum! We enjoy it equally plain and simple. Tasty! Thank you Mr. Kim.

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