Ramen, pad Thai and lo mein never get old, but there are countless other noodle recipes out there that are just as satisfying—and simple to prepare. Whether you start with soba, rice, udon or glass noodles, these dishes are bound to hit the spot. Read on for 26 easy Asian noodle recipes that we can’t get enough of, from shrimp glass noodle salad to 30-minute miso noodle soup.
20 Traditional Chinese Food Dishes You Need to Try, According to a Chinese-Malaysian Chef
Uyen Luu/Vietnamese
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Time Commitment: 35 minutes
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Why We Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, one pan
Consider this dairy-free, protein-rich recipe the easiest way to use up neglected veggies. Sugar snap peas, snow peas, zucchini, green beans and kale are all fair game.
Stir-Fry
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Time Commitment: 10 minutes
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Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
This popular Thai dish couldn’t be easier to prepare. Whisk together a few pantry staples to create a sauce, stir fry veggies in hot oil, add noodles and eggs to the mix and boom—you’ve got a dairy-free, pescatarian dinner for the books.
Maria Siriano/The Probiotic Kitchen
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Time Commitment: 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, one pot
The probiotics are strong with this one. Unlike the uber-light miso soup you’re used to, this vegan, gluten-free spin is extra hearty, thanks to soba noodles, meaty mushrooms and wilted spinach.
I Am A Food Blog
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Time Commitment: 25 minutes
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Why We Love It: <30 minutes, kid-friendly, vegan
You can pull off this vegan, dairy-free takeout favorite in under a half-hour. The secret to the umami-laced sauce is toasted sesame oil and two types of soy sauce.
Recipe Tin Eats
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Time Commitment: 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
These spicy, protein-rich Sichuan noodles are coated in an intense sesame-chile sauce that’s dairy-free and loaded with Chinese chile paste and Sichuan pepper powder. Crown it with hoisin pork and sui mi ya cai (aka preserved mustard greens).
Spoon Fork Bacon
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Time Commitment: 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy
This Korean-Chinese noodle recipe calls for thick udon noodles and a silky, savory black bean sauce mixed with diced pork, zucchini and onions. Even better, it contains a whopping 41 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per serving.
I Heart Umami
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Time Commitment: 40 minutes
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Why We Love It: keto-friendly, low-carb, beginner-friendly, gluten free
Try this Paleo, keto, low-carb shirataki noodle dish once and you’ll make it for every summer picnic you ever host. It’s finished with nuoc cham, a Vietnamese fish sauce vinaigrette that’s often used for dipping.
Damn Delicious
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Time Commitment: 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, high protein
Complete with tender flank steak, thin-sliced bell peppers, broccoli and a flourish of sesame seeds, this dish packs a serious punch of dairy-free protein.
I Am A Food Blog
This Vietnamese tomato and crab noodle soup boasts shrimp, pork shoulder and savory-sweet crab meatballs. And thanks to the rice noodles, it’s gluten-free to boot.
Recipe Tin Eats
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Time Commitment: 15 minutes
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Why We Love It: <30 minutes, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
It doesn’t get lower lift than this lightning-fast, dairy-free recipe. Think veggies, chicken and instant ramen, drenched in sweet-yet-zingy chow mein sauce.
Spoon Fork Bacon
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Time Commitment: 25 minutes
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Why We Love It: <30 minutes, make ahead, beginner-friendly
Count on this low-carb, gluten-free, pescatarian glass noodle salad to refresh your palate on a hot summer day. It’s finished with roasted peanuts, julienned veggies and lots of fresh herbs.
Damn Delicious
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Time Commitment: 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: high protein, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Since it’s made with instant ramen noodles, ground beef and pantry staples, this dairy-free recipe goes easy on the wallet.
I Am A Food Blog
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Time Commitment: 45 minutes
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Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
This classic dim sum couldn’t be simpler to pull off, despite the vegan recipe calling for making the gluten-free rice noodles from scratch. (And while you could use a rice noodle maker, you can totally make them using a plate and a wide-rimmed sauté pan with a lid instead.)
Recipe Tin Eats
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Time Commitment: 45 minutes
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Why We Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
This dairy-free Malaysian main made with coconut milk is guaranteed to soothe the soul at first sip. The key is sautéing the laksa paste with garlic, ginger, chile and lemongrass for maximum flavor.
I Heart Umami
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Time Commitment: 20 minutes
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Why We Love It: gluten free, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
It’s gluten-free, Paleo and loaded with crunchy ingredients that’ll keep you coming back for more. We’re talking fried chow mein noodles, toasted almonds and all the fresh produce.
Damn Delicious
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Time Commitment: 50 minutes
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Why We Love It: high protein, dairy free, beginner-friendly
Sweet dreams are made of Thai coconut curry noodle soup. It’s dairy-free, fragrant and impeccably balanced, from the luscious coconut milk to the bold red curry paste to the zingy lime juice.
I Am A Food Blog
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Time Commitment: 20 minutes
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Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein
Because your nut allergy shouldn’t stand between you and this protein-packed essential. The recipe feeds two, so simply double (or triple) the ingredients to cook for more.
Spoon Fork Bacon
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Time Commitment: 15 minutes
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Why We Love It: <30 minutes, gluten free, <10 ingredients
If you want to curb the spiciness of the gluten-free buckwheat noodles tossed in hot pepper sauce, add a bit of honey to the mix (and top your vegetarian plate with extra cucumbers).
Damn Delicious
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Time Commitment: 40 minutes
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Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, high protein
Make the shrimp-pork wontons yourself, according to the recipe, or save time by using store-bought frozen wontons instead. Either way, this dairy-free recipe won’t disappoint.
I Am A Food Blog
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Time Commitment: 10 minutes
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Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
The secret to this vegetarian, dairy-free tonkotsu copycat? Whisking the ramen’s seasoning packet, Kewpie mayo and a few pantry staples together, then combining it with the noodle water to create a thick, luxurious broth.
Recipe Tin Eats
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Time Commitment: 20 minutes
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Why We Love It: <30 minutes, make ahead, beginner-friendly
The citrusy, garlicky vinaigrette would taste good on just about any salad you can imagine, but we especially like it on this gluten-free, pescatarian gem.
I Heart Umami
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Time Commitment: 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: gluten free, low carb, keto-friendly, beginner-friendly
If you’re on a low-carb or gluten-free diet, dangmyeon, or Korean sweet potato noodles, are your new best friend. The sauce is nothing but coconut aminos, aged balsamic and toasted sesame oil.
Spoon Fork Bacon
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Time Commitment: 20 minutes
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Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, gluten free
Wide, flat rice noodles meet crushed peanuts and a homemade garlic chile oil. This crowd-pleaser is gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan, BTW.
Connie Miller of CB Creatives/Milk Street: Noodles
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Time Commitment: 25 minutes
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Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
The trick to the impeccably tender asparagus, you ask? Separating the soft tips from the sturdy stocks, then tossing the stalks into the noodle water as it boils before adding the tips.
CONNIE MILLER OF CB CREATIVES/MILK STREET: NOODLES
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Time Commitment: 20 minutes
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Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
Punchy, salty and just sweet enough, this lightning-fast dish won’t disappoint. Udon is the go-to noodle here, but lo mein, shirataki or even linguine will do, if you’d prefer.
Louise Haggar/A Splash of Soy
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Time Commitment: 15 minutes
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Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
It may be unconventional, but it’s certainly delicious. The funky fermented pasta is finished with crispy seaweed, scallions and a runny egg for good measure.
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