Sesame Noodles are made with spaghetti noodles tossed in a honey sesame sauce and mixed with fresh cilantro, green onions, rotisserie chicken (for added protein), and crunchy peanuts (or a nut of choice!). This recipe is a true crowd pleaser and one of my family’s favorites!

Asian-inspired dishes are one of my favorites because they always have such delicious flavors and are typically easy to pack the veggies in! My Peanut Noodles with Vegetables and Ramen with Vegetables are super delicious and I know they’ll be new family favorites of yours! Kung Pao Cauliflower is another delicious meatless option! 

A pot filled with chicken Sesame Cilantro Noodles.

Why This Recipe Works

  • Kid-friendly dinner. This sesame noodles recipe is a family favorite. In fact, my son is going through a picky eating stage, but he devours this when I serve it for dinner. Big mom win there! No matter the age you’re feeding or differing taste preferences, I feel confident in saying you can serve this for a meal and satisfy everyone’s taste buds.
  • Easy sesame noodle recipe. I’m always on the lookout for dinner recipes that come together quickly. This simple sesame noodles recipe is ready to go in just 30 minutes! 

Ingredient Notes

Cilantro Noodles Recipe ingredients on a baking sheet.
  • Spaghetti Noodles: You can use whatever pasta you’d like! 
  • Cooked Chicken: Rotisserie chicken is a great option here.
  • Toasted Sesame Oil: This forms the base of our honey sesame sauce.
  • Soy Sauce: The soy sauce adds a saltiness to the sauce. If you are worried about sodium content, you can use a low-sodium soy sauce instead. 
  • Honey: This will balance the saltiness perfectly. 
  • Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Feel free to add more for a spicy sesame sauce! 
  • Fresh Cilantro: This is crucial to the flavor of the dish. It’s the perfect flavor complement to the sesame. 
  • Peanuts: If you don’t have peanuts or you are dealing with a peanut allergy, you can use cashews or other nut of preference.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of water to boil over medium heat. Once boiling, add salt and spaghetti noodles. Cook according to the package directions — until al dente. 
  2. Make the sesame sauce. Whisk the sesame oil, vegetable oil, soy sauce, garlic powder, honey and salt in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the honey is well combined, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add the crushed red pepper flakes.
  3. Toss pasta and add mix-ins. Add the honey sesame sauce, shredded chicken, cilantro, green onions and nuts to the cooked noodles. Stir to combine, top with sesame seeds if desired, and serve immediately! 

Recipe Tips

You can add more or less red pepper flakes depending on the level of heat you’re going for. I used 1/4 tsp in this recipe which results in a very mild dish.

Feel free to use whatever nuts you prefer or have on hand. I updated some of the photos in this post and so some photos have peanuts and some have cashews! Both taste amazing — it’s just up to your preference. I will say that peanut sesame noodles are probably my favorite version! 

This sesame noodle recipe is delicious both warm and cold. If you’re hesitant about adding the peanuts to the dish because you’ll have leftovers, you can hold the peanuts and add them to individual servings.

On the other hand, I really enjoy having the peanuts marinate in the sauce overnight. The peanuts don’t soften much, in fact, they render to being the perfect texture and crunchiness.

Here are some delicious variations to switch up this sesame noodle recipe:

  • Change up the protein. Feel free to use beef, steak, shrimp, pork, or tofu.
  • Add in more vegetables. You don’t need to stop at the green onions and cilantro. Chopped spinach, bok choy, sautéed kale, collard greens, snow peas, or cooked bell peppers are a few delicious options that come to mind. 
  • Switch up the nuts. You can use whatever nut you like in this recipe! Hazelnut, walnuts, peanuts, cashews, etc. 
  • Use different noodles. Feel free to use gluten free noodles, Chinese noodles, ramen noodles, soba noodles, udon noodles, etc.

Make Ahead, Storing, and Freezing

Store any leftover sesame noodles in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. Reheat in the microwave. 

I don’t recommend freezing pasta or else it will get mushy when thawed! Best enjoy this easy sesame noodles recipe fresh! 

A black pot with spaghetti noodles coated in a sesame cilantro sauce topped with chicken, green onions, and cilantro.

Recipe FAQs

What nuts go with sesame noodles?

I love peanuts or cashews in this chicken sesame noodles recipe. But you can really do whatever you’d like. A salted and roasted nut is probably the best option. Use what you have on hand or what you prefer. 

Do I need fresh cilantro?

Yes you do! Not only does it add a bright pop of green to the pasta, but it is very fragrant and flavorful and makes a big difference in the flavor of the dish. 

Are sesame noodles gluten free?

So one thing to note is that this is a sesame sauce recipe with noodles. So the noodles themselves are just regular spaghetti noodles. The base for the sauce is sesame oil, which is where the name sesame noodles comes from. You can, however, use gluten free noodles or sesame noodles along with the sesame pasta sauce if you’d like! 

Are sesame noodles healthy?

The good news is that sesame oil is high in antioxidants and the sweetener for the sauce is natural (honey)! Plus there is the healthy protein represented with the chicken and the nuts. There are easy ways to bulk up the healthiness of the dish even more: use whole wheat noodles, use low sodium soy sauce, add a bunch more veggies like red bell pepper and kale. 

A small white bowl filled with Sesame Cilantro Noodles with a fork twirling the spaghetti noodles.

More Dinner Recipes

Did you make this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Leave a star rating and review or scroll below the recipe card and do so there. 

Stay up-to-date by following us on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest.

A black pot with spaghetti noodles coated in a sesame cilantro sauce topped with chicken, green onions, and cilantro.
Print Save Review
5 from 5 votes

Sesame Noodles

This sesame noodle bowl is a quick dinner for those crazy weeknights. Your family will go crazy for it!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients
 

  • 1 lb (or 16 oz) Spaghetti noodles
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken - cooked and shredded
  • 1/3 cup toasted sesame oil
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/4 – 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes - *add more to make spicier
  • 1/2-3/4 cup cilantro - I love cilantro so I always add 3/4 cup.
  • 3/4 cup peanuts, or whatever salty nuts you have on hand
  • 1/2 cup sliced green onions

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot over medium heat, bring water to boil. Once water is boiling add 3 tsp of salt to the water. Add the spaghetti noodles to the boiling water. Cook until al dente. 
  • Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, whisk the sesame oil, vegetable oil, soy sauce, garlic powder, salt, and honey. Cook over medium heat for 3 minutes, whisking constantly. Remove from heat. Add the crushed red pepper flakes. 
  • When pasta has finished cooking, drain the water. Add the shredded chicken, sauce, cilantro, green onions, and nuts to the pasta. Stir to combine. Serve immediately. 

Notes

Here are some delicious variations to switch up this sesame noodle recipe:
  • Change up the protein. Beef, steak, shrimp, pork, tofu, etc.
  • Add more vegetables. Chopped spinach, bok choy, sautéed kale, collard greens, snow peas, or cooked bell peppers are a few delicious options. 
  • Switch the nuts. Hazelnut, walnuts, peanuts, cashews, etc. 
  • Use different noodles. Gluten free noodles, Chinese noodles, ramen noodles, soba noodles, udon noodles, etc.

Nutrition

Calories: 681kcal (34%)Carbohydrates: 76g (25%)Protein: 24g (48%)Fat: 32g (49%)Saturated Fat: 10g (50%)Cholesterol: 24mg (8%)Sodium: 1163mg (48%)Potassium: 510mg (15%)Fiber: 4g (16%)Sugar: 17g (19%)Vitamin A: 210IU (4%)Vitamin C: 2.4mg (3%)Calcium: 46mg (5%)Iron: 2.3mg (13%)
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Leave a star rating and review on the blog post letting me know how you liked this recipe! Take a picture and tag @saltandbaker on Instagram and Facebook so I can see what you’re making!