This is the kind of recipe that earns a permanent spot in your weekly rotation. It comes together in under 15 minutes, uses just a handful of pantry staples, and delivers that rich, savory, peanut-y flavor you’d expect from your favorite takeout spot — except you made it yourself…. in record time!

A white bowl filled with creamy Cold Sesame Noodles with 4-Ingredient Peanut Sauce, topped with chopped green onions and sesame seeds, sits on a light wooden table with a fork, blue napkin, and another bowl of plain noodles in the background.

These cold sesame noodles are a family favorite in my house — and it’s easy to see why. The peanut sauce is ridiculously simple to pull together, the whole-grain pasta keeps you full and satisfied, and the whole thing works warm or cold, making it just as good for a quick weeknight dinner as it is for next-day lunch straight from the fridge. Easy, tasty, and peanut-buttery…. that’s my kind of recipe!

FIY, I love using whole grain spaghetti or legume-based pasta here because both can help boost the fiber and protein, making the dish a little more nourishing while still keeping it crave-worthy.

A glass bowl with a dollop of peanut butter and a pool of dark liquid, likely vanilla extract, on a light wooden surface—ingredients ready for Cold Sesame Noodles with 4-Ingredient Peanut Sauce.
A glass bowl filled with a smooth, caramel-colored Cold Sesame Noodles with 4-Ingredient Peanut Sauce mixture is shown from above. A metal whisk with a black handle rests inside the bowl on a light wooden surface.
A white bowl filled with plain cooked spaghetti topped with a generous spoonful of creamy peanut butter, reminiscent of Cold Sesame Noodles with 4-Ingredient Peanut Sauce, sits on a light rustic wooden surface.

And don’t sleep on this peanut sauce— the magic combo is peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Together they create a rich, silky sauce with big flavor and almost no fuss.

Plus, the sauce is way more versatile than just noodles. I love to jazz it up with extra spices and sriracha sauce or add a drizzle of honey for a touch of sweetness, but you’re the boss of your sauce! Use it as a dressing, a dip, or a drizzle on any of these:

A white bowl of Cold Sesame Noodles with 4-Ingredient Peanut Sauce is topped with chopped green onions and sits on a plate next to a fork, sesame seeds, uncooked noodles, extra sauce, green onions, and a blue napkin on a light wooden table.
A white bowl filled with Cold Sesame Noodles with 4-Ingredient Peanut Sauce, topped with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. A fork lifts the noodles, while a bottle of sriracha hot sauce sits slightly out of focus in the background.

It’s totally customizable

Use any pasta you love — whole grain, high-protein, chickpea, lentil, soba, you name it. Nut allergy in the house? Swap in any seed butter. This recipe plays by your rules!

Bonus: if you happen to have ’em in your pantry, sliced scallions and toasted sesame seeds are two extra tasty garnishes!

This recipe is delicious warm, but to stay true to its name, it’s especially fab cold straight from the fridge the next day! That’s when the noodles soak up all the peanut sauce goodness and become even more irresistible.

A bowl of Cold Sesame Noodles with 4-Ingredient Peanut Sauce is topped with green onions and sesame seeds, set beside extra sesame seeds, dipping sauce, a blue napkin, sriracha sauce, and another bowl of noodles in the background.
A bowl of Cold Sesame Noodles with 4-Ingredient Peanut Sauce is topped with chopped green onions and sesame seeds, served with fresh green onions, a small bowl of sesame seeds, a blue napkin, and a fork on a wooden table.

Takeout, fake-out! 

Don’t get me wrong — I love supporting local restaurants and we do order takeout occasionally.  But there’s something so satisfying about recreating restaurant favorites at home in a way that’s just as delicious and wayyy more nutritious. Some of my Asian-inspired go-tos include Cauliflower Fried Rice, Miso Soup (with the probiotic perks!), Egg Roll Bowls,Sheet Pan Pineapple Chicken, Edamame Crunch Salad and Chicken Teriyaki. 

A white bowl filled with Cold Sesame Noodles with 4-Ingredient Peanut Sauce, topped with chopped green onions. A fork lifts a portion above the bowl. In the background are another noodle bowl and a bottle of hot sauce.

Try my Asian-Style Salad with Tofu and Crunchy Brown Rice!

A white bowl filled with creamy Cold Sesame Noodles with 4-Ingredient Peanut Sauce, topped with chopped green onions and sesame seeds, sits on a light wooden table with a fork, blue napkin, and another bowl of plain noodles in the background.
(5 stars) 2 ratings

Easy Cold Sesame Noodles with Peanut Sauce

A family favorite that’s creamy, flavorful, and so easy. Tender noodles get tossed with a rich peanut-sesame sauce made from simple pantry staples—delicious warm or cold!
Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
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Ingredients
 

  • 1 (12-ounce) box whole grain spaghetti, legume-based pasta, linguine, or noodles of choice
  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter*
  • 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon ginger powder
  • 2 tablespoons warm water, plus more as needed to thin (I typically use 4 tablespoons total)

Optional Add-Ins

  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha or favorite hot sauce, or 1½ to 2 teaspoons if you like a real kick
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey, for a slightly sweeter sauce

Optional Garnishes

  • Sliced scallions, toasted sesame seeds, chopped peanuts, cucumber ribbons, shredded carrots
Ingredient Details to Know
*You can use any nut or seed butter of choice (almond butter, sunflower seed butter, soy nut butter, etc.)

Instructions
 

  • Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water if serving chilled.
  • Meanwhile, make the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, soy sauce, seasoned rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, garlic powder, and ginger powder until a thick paste forms. Add 2 tablespoons warm water and whisk until smooth and creamy. Continue adding more warm water as needed until the sauce becomes silky and pourable. I typically use about 4 tablespoons total. The sauce makes about 1 cup.
  • If you like heat, whisk in 1 teaspoon Sriracha. I typically add 1½ teaspoons for heat. If you prefer a slightly sweeter, more rounded sauce, whisk in 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey. Toss the noodles with the sauce until evenly coated. As a guide: start with about 1 tablespoon sauce per 1 cup cooked noodles, then add more as needed. The sauce is rich and thick, so a little goes a long way!
  • Garnish with scallions, sesame seeds, or any toppings you love and enjoy warm or cold.

Notes

• Serving size: About 1 cup cooked pasta tossed with 1 tablespoon sauce.
• Customize the flavor: Start with ¼ teaspoon each garlic powder and ginger powder for balanced flavor. If you like a bolder sauce, increase either one to ½ teaspoon. I typically start by increasing the ginger powder.
• Cold noodles soak up sauce: As the noodles chill, they absorb more sauce. If making ahead, simply stir in a splash of warm water before serving to loosen everything back up. And if you’d like it warm, microwave for 30 to 60 seconds.
• Best noodle options: Whole grain spaghetti, legume-based pasta, linguine, ramen noodles, lo mein noodles, and thin spaghetti all work beautifully.
• Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Make it gluten-free: Use gluten-free noodles and swap soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos.
• Make it nut-free: Use sunflower seed butter or soy nut butter instead of peanut butter.
• Protein boost ideas: Toss in edamame, shredded chicken, tofu, shrimp, or sliced steak.
• Veggie additions: Add shredded cabbage, snap peas, bell peppers, or broccoli slaw for extra crunch and color.
Author: Joy Bauer, MS, RDN, CDN

Nutrition Information per serving

Serving Size: 1 cup pasta with 1 tablespoon of sauceCalories: 250Carbohydrates: 40gProtein: 12gTotal Fat: 6g— Unsaturated Fat: 5g— Saturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 115mgPotassium: 320mgFiber: 6gTotal Sugar: 3g— Natural Sugar: 3g— Added Sugar: 0gCalcium: 20mgIron: 2.4mg
Nutrition information is calculated using a leading industry software. That being said, brands can vary, and there may be slight fluctuations in the numbers.
I’m hoping you loved this recipe! If you made it and want to share feedback, I’d be so grateful to hear from you. Please leave a review below or tag @joybauer on Instagram!