Description
This Instant Pot Garlic Noodles recipe is a quick, flavorful, and easy-to-make Asian-inspired main course that combines tender pasta with a rich garlic butter sauce enhanced by soy and oyster sauces. Perfect for busy weeknights or simple gatherings, it’s a delicious dish that can be customized with proteins or vegetables for a complete meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Cooking Liquid
- 8 oz spaghetti or linguine
- 2 cups water or low-sodium vegetable broth
Sauce and Seasonings
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Garnishes
- 2 green onions, sliced
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Garlic Butter Base: Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Once the pot is hot, add the unsalted butter and allow it to melt completely. Stir in the minced garlic and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant but not browned, then press Cancel to stop sautéing.
- Mix the Sauce and Add Pasta: Pour in the soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and water or vegetable broth. Stir gently to combine all the ingredients. Break the pasta in half and layer it in a crisscross pattern inside the pot to prevent it from clumping. Press the pasta gently into the liquid but avoid stirring.
- Pressure Cook the Pasta: Secure the Instant Pot lid and make sure the valve is set to sealing. Set to Pressure Cook (Manual) mode for 4 minutes. After cooking is complete, allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then carefully perform a quick release to release any remaining pressure.
- Toss and Thicken: Open the lid carefully. Gently toss the noodles in the sauce to evenly coat and help the noodles absorb the remaining liquid. Let the noodles sit for 2–3 minutes if you want the sauce to thicken further.
- Serve and Garnish: Serve the garlic noodles warm, topped with sliced green onions, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes if you prefer a bit of heat.
Notes
- Add sautéed shrimp, grilled chicken, or stir-fried vegetables to transform this into a full meal.
- For a vegan version, substitute unsalted butter with plant-based butter and replace oyster sauce with a vegan oyster sauce alternative.
- Break the pasta in half and layer it carefully to avoid clumping during pressure cooking.
- Do not stir pasta into the liquid before cooking to prevent sticking.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pressure Cooking
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
