
A quick & easy garlic chili oil noodles made in a flavorful sauce, a kick of spice, and ready in under 20 minutes! A perfect weeknight meal if you’re looking for something quick, spicy, filling, and delicious.
So many have seen the viral chili oil noodles TikTok of hot oil being poured over aromatics and then added to your noodles. This method is commonly used in Chinese cooking and is meant to bring out the flavors of aromatics and spiciness. Like much of today's cooking, there are many modern and adapted versions of this method in popular culture. The closest to the more authentic method for hot chili oil noodles is to infuse the oil with a blend of aromatics first, then pour it over the crushed chili flakes. The quick and easy method is to heat the oil and pour it over a simplified version of the aromatics you'll use in the recipe. I use the quick and easy method for my version of the garlic chili oil noodles to make these for the sake of keeping it simple!

📋 Ingredients
Noodles. I used Ocean's Halo ramen noodles in this recipe. I loved the texture and comfort feeling that ramen noodles give to this recipe.
Vegetables. Because adding vegetables always gives you color and added nutrition to your dish! I used red onion, scallions, and bell peppers in this version of chili oil noodles.
Chili Noodles Sauce. I kept the sauce simple and used maple syrup, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sriracha.
Garlic Chili Oil Recipe.
- Oil. I recommend using a neutral-flavored oil with a higher smoke point. For budget purposes, vegetable oil or canola oil is sufficient. If you'd like to, avocado oil or grapeseed oil are other options.
- Chili Flakes. Traditionally Sichuan chile flakes are commonly used for the garlic chili oil recipe. I made mine with gochugaru as this is easier to access at grocery stores closer to me and something I use in other recipes of mine. I am a big believer in using what is an added benefit to your pantry. Sichuan chile flakes can be found at most Asian grocery stores. You can also use red pepper flakes. However, it's important to note that the spice levels vary with which flakes you use. For example, Sichuan chile flakes are spicier than gochugaru. Also, the brand you use also varies so it's important to taste test according to your spice levels!
- Aromatics. White sesame seeds, garlic cloves, and ginger. I recommend not completely grinding the garlic and ginger and keeping it coarse as the oil tends to absorb more the smaller the garlic and ginger are.

📖 Instructions
- Cook the noodles of your choice according to the package. I used ramen noodles. Do not overcook them! I like to undercook for about 1 minute since I will be tossing them again with the vegetables and the hot oil.
- In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the red onions and the bottom half of the scallions (save the top half for garnishing). Saute until soft and slightly translucent. Add the bell peppers and saute for about 1 minute (I like to keep mine with a slight crunch but if you like yours softer, you can saute for an additional 2 minutes). Add the maple syrup, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sriracha.
- Add the noodles, gently toss, and turn off the heat.
- In a small sauce pot or sauté pan, heat vegetable oil until it is very hot. Combine all the garlic chili oil ingredients except oil in a large heat-proof bowl.
- Once the oil is hot, pour your hot oil into that bowl and mix. If you're not sure your oil is hot enough, add a piece of your minced garlic into the oil and if it immediately sputters in the oil, it is hot enough.
- Pour the hot oil over the noodles and combine well.
- Garnish with cilantro and green parts of scallions and serve!
💭 Variations & FAQs
Vegetables. These garlic chili oil noodles work well with a variety of vegetables. I am big on adding veggies to your dish! Other vegetables that work well in this dish would be cabbage, zucchini, mushrooms, carrots, or even snow peas.
Protein. If you want to add a protein option to this meal, I like to make my Easy Tofu Recipe and add it in there. You can also add edamame or make it on the side, like this roasted edamame.
Can I make gluten-free chili oil noodles?
Yes, simply swap out the ramen with rice noodles and the soy sauce with tamari.
Can I make this less or more spicy?
This dish is meant to have a slight kick to it but to make it, you can add 2 teaspoons of gochugaru instead of 1 tablespoon. Alternatively, if you want it spicier, I like to add in a jalapeno and extra gochugaru on top before serving!
If you loved these Garlic Chili Oil Noodles, please let me know in the comments below! I’d love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest! Subscribe to my weekly emails at the bottom so you never miss a new recipe!
📖 Recipe
Easy Garlic Chili Oil Noodles
Ingredients
- ~8 oz ramen noodles*
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil, avocado oil, canola oil
- red onion, sliced
- 3 scallions,, save green tops for garnishing
- 1 medium bell pepper, thinly sliced,, any color bell pepper works here
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 teaspoon rice vinegar
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
Chili Garlic Oil
- ⅓ cup neutral oil , avocado oil, canola oil
- 1 tablespoon gochugaru,, or Sichuan red pepper flakes, or red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons white sesame seeds
- 6 garlic cloves, , roughly chopped
- 1 inch ginger, , grated
- lime, cilantro, and scallians to garnish
Instructions
- Cook the noodles of your choice according to the package. Do not overcook them! I recommend to undercook about 1 minute since you will toss them again with the vegetables and the hot oil.
- In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the red onions and the bottom half of the scallions (save the top half for garnishing). Saute until soft and slightly translucent. Add the bell peppers and saute for about 1 minute. Add the maple syrup, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sriracha.
- Add the noodles, gently toss, and turn off the heat.
Garlic Chili Oil
- Combine gochugaru, sesame seeds, garlic, ginger in a heat proof bowl.
- In a small sauce pot or sauté pan, heat vegetable oil until it is very hot. If you're not sure your oil is hot enough, add a piece of your minced garlic into the oil and if it immediately sputters, it is hot enough. Once the oil is hot, pour it into the heat-proof bowl garlic chili oil mixture and stir. Be careful as it is very HOT.
- Pour the hot oil over the noodles and combine well.
- Garnish with cilantro, green stems of scallions, and a squeeze of lime. Serve warm!
Notes
Nutrition Info
Jgohel
Very delicious
Payal
So flavourful, delicious and quick to make, it turned out amazing! Can’t go wrong with this recipe!
Roy
This is a great recipe! It is spiced perfectly and the aromatics are wonderful. The cilantro and scallion garnishes add more than the typical garnish and really complete the dish. We enjoyed it as a main course but it could be used as a side .
Neil
So delicious! This is a must try!!
Dina Gohel
Delicious. I’ll make it.
Tiffany
Such a great and easy recipe!!