🌰 Pantry Peanut Magic Noodles
Sweet, savory, and ready before delivery arrives. No fresh produce, dairy, or meat required.
⏱️ Total Time: 17 minutes (Prep: 3 min | Cook: 14 min)
(Time includes boiling water and sauce mixing)
📦 Only 7 Pantry Ingredients
(All shelf-stable, no substitutions needed)
- Dry spaghetti – 8 oz (225 g)
- Creamy peanut butter – ¼ ¼ cups
- Soy sauce – 3 tbsp
- Honey – 2 tbsp (or maple syrup)
- Vinegar – 1 tbsp (apple cider, white, or rice vinegar)
- Garlic powder – 1 tsp
- Crushed red pepper flakes – ¼ tsp
✨ No salt or pepper added separately—soy sauce provides the sodium, garlic and peppers deliver depth.
👩🍳 Instructions
- Boil pasta: Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Add spaghetti; cook 8–10 minutes until al dente. Just before draining, reserve ¼ cup water, then drain pasta.
- Whisk sauce: While cooking pasta, whisk all remaining ingredients (peanut butter through peper flakes) in a bowl until smooth. If stiff, microwave for 10 seconds.
- Combine: Return pasta to hot but off-heat pot. Pour sauce over, add 2 tbsp reserved pasta water, and toss vigorously until silky and fully coated. Add more sauce or water as needed.
- Serve: Divide into bowls and enjoy immediately. The sauce clings perfectly—no toppings required!
💡 Why This Works
- Pantry-perfect: Every item lives in a cabinet or spice rack. No fridge needed.
- Flavor balance: Sweet from honey, umami from soy, tang from vinegar, warmth from peppers.
- Forgiving: Sauce thickens as it cools—just add a splash from your reserved water to refresh.
- Versatile: Swap spaghetti for ramen, soba, or even canned chickpeas for a grain-free version (still 7 ingredients!).
Perfect for empty-fridge emergencies, lazy evenings, or proving that simplicity tastes magical 🌶️✨