Minute Garlic Sesame Shrimp Noodles Quick and Easy Meal

September 23, 2025 by Julie

Looking for a quick and tasty meal? Try my Minute Garlic Sesame Shrimp Noodles! This dish comes together in just minutes, perfect for busy days. With simple ingredients like shrimp, rice noodles, and garlic, you’ll whip up a flavorful meal everyone will love. Ready to elevate your weeknight dinners? Let’s dive into the recipe and bring some excitement to your table!

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

– 8 oz rice noodles

– 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined

– 3 tablespoons sesame oil

– 3 cloves garlic, minced

– 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Additional Ingredients

– 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup

– 1 tablespoon rice vinegar

– 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

– 2 green onions, sliced

– 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Seasoning Ingredients

– Salt

– Pepper

In this recipe, I focus on simplicity and flavor. The rice noodles form the base, offering a chewy texture. Fresh shrimp adds protein and a sweet taste. Sesame oil gives the dish a rich, nutty flavor. Garlic provides a wonderful aroma that makes your kitchen smell amazing. The soy sauce adds saltiness and depth.

For additional flavor, I use honey or maple syrup. This adds a hint of sweetness. Rice vinegar brightens the dish with a tangy note. Optional red pepper flakes can give you a little heat. Green onions add freshness and color, while sesame seeds provide a nice crunch.

Don’t forget the salt and pepper. These basic seasonings make your dish pop. Each ingredient works together to create a quick and easy meal that feels special. You can mix and match ingredients as you like. The key is to keep it simple while enjoying great flavors.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Cooking the Noodles

Boil a pot of water. Add 8 oz of rice noodles to the boiling water. Cook them for about 4-5 minutes, following the package instructions. Once cooked, drain the noodles and set them aside.

Preparing the Sauce

In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of honey or maple syrup, 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes if you like it spicy. Set this sauce aside for later.

Sautéing the Garlic

Heat 3 tablespoons of sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 cloves of minced garlic to the skillet. Cook the garlic for about 30 seconds, until it smells great. Be careful not to burn the garlic.

Cooking the Shrimp

Now, add 1 pound of peeled and deveined shrimp to the skillet. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Cook the shrimp for 2-3 minutes. They should turn pink and opaque. Flip them halfway through to cook evenly.

Combining Ingredients

Next, add the cooked rice noodles to the skillet with the shrimp. Pour the sauce you prepared over the noodles and shrimp. Toss everything together until the noodles are well coated and heated through, about 2 minutes.

Garnishing and Serving

Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in 2 sliced green onions and 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds. Portion the noodles and shrimp into bowls. You can add extra green onions and sesame seeds on top for a nice touch if you’d like.

Tips & Tricks

Perfectly Cooked Shrimp

To cook shrimp just right, avoid overcooking them. Overcooked shrimp turn tough and chewy. Cook them until they turn pink and opaque. This usually takes 2-3 minutes. Look for a bright color change; that’s your cue! If you see them start curling up tightly, they are done.

Enhancing Flavor

To boost flavor, think about adding spices. You can try ginger, lime zest, or even a dash of chili powder. Balancing sweetness and saltiness is key. The honey or maple syrup adds sweetness, while soy sauce brings salt. Adjust to your taste. If you want it sweeter, add more honey. If it needs more salt, add a splash of soy sauce.

Noodle Cooking Tips

For rice noodles, soak them in hot water for about 4-5 minutes. This helps them cook evenly. After soaking, drain them well to prevent clumping. Rinse with cool water if needed. This helps keep them separate and prevents sticking. Toss them lightly with a bit of sesame oil to keep them from clumping together in the skillet.

Variations

Alternative Proteins

You can swap shrimp for chicken or tofu. Chicken thighs work well for a juicy bite. Just cut it into small pieces, season, and cook in the same way as the shrimp. For a plant-based option, tofu is great. Press it to remove water, then cut it into cubes. Cook it until golden and crispy for added texture. You can also add vegetables like mushrooms or zucchini to keep it fresh and vibrant.

Gluten-Free Options

If you need a gluten-free meal, use gluten-free rice noodles. These noodles are easy to find and cook just like regular noodles. You can also replace soy sauce with tamari. Tamari has a rich flavor and is perfect for gluten-free cooking. This way, you can enjoy your meal without worry.

Add’ins and Extras

Feel free to get creative with vegetables. Bell peppers add sweetness, while broccoli gives a nice crunch. You can also try snap peas or carrots for color and taste. Consider adding sauces like sriracha for heat or hoisin for sweetness. Garnish with fresh cilantro or crushed nuts for extra flavor and crunch. The options are endless, so have fun experimenting!

Storage Info

Refrigeration

To store leftovers, let the shrimp noodles cool down first. Place them in an airtight container. Make sure to cover the container well. They will stay fresh in the fridge for up to three days. If you notice any strong odors, it’s best to toss them out.

Reheating Instructions

When you’re ready to eat, you can reheat your shrimp noodles easily. The best way is to use a skillet. Heat a bit of sesame oil over medium heat. Add the leftovers and stir gently. This helps keep the shrimp tender and the noodles warm. You can also microwave them. Just cover the bowl with a damp paper towel. Heat in short bursts, stirring in between, until warmed through.

Freezing Guidelines

Yes, you can freeze this dish! To freeze, let the noodles cool completely. Then, portion them into freezer-safe bags or containers. Squeeze out as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. You can store them for up to two months. When you’re ready to eat, thaw them in the fridge overnight. Reheat as mentioned above for the best taste.

FAQs

How long does it take to make Minute Garlic Sesame Shrimp Noodles?

This dish takes about 20 minutes to make. You need 10 minutes for prep and 10 minutes for cooking. It’s quick and perfect for busy days.

Can I use frozen shrimp for this recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen shrimp. Just thaw them first. Place them in cold water for 15-20 minutes. Fresh shrimp taste great, but frozen works well too.

What can I substitute for sesame oil?

You can use olive oil or avocado oil instead of sesame oil. Olive oil has a light flavor, while avocado oil is mild and buttery. Both can work in this dish.

Is this recipe spicy?

The recipe is not spicy by default. If you like heat, add red pepper flakes. Start with a small amount and adjust to your taste. It’s easy to make it spicier!

Can I make it vegetarian or vegan?

Yes! To make it vegetarian, replace shrimp with tofu or mushrooms. For vegan, use maple syrup instead of honey. These swaps keep the flavor while making it plant-based.

This blog post shared a tasty recipe for Minute Garlic Sesame Shrimp Noodles. You learned about key ingredients like shrimp and rice noodles. I guided you through easy cooking steps. Plus, I gave tips for perfect shrimp and noodle texture.

Remember, you can customize this dish with different proteins and vegetables. You can adjust flavors to suit your taste. Cooking can be fun and rewarding. Enjoy your shrimp noodles!

$- 8 oz rice noodles - 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined - 3 tablespoons sesame oil - 3 cloves garlic, minced - 2 tablespoons soy sauce - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar - 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional) - 2 green onions, sliced - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds - Salt - Pepper In this recipe, I focus on simplicity and flavor. The rice noodles form the base, offering a chewy texture. Fresh shrimp adds protein and a sweet taste. Sesame oil gives the dish a rich, nutty flavor. Garlic provides a wonderful aroma that makes your kitchen smell amazing. The soy sauce adds saltiness and depth. For additional flavor, I use honey or maple syrup. This adds a hint of sweetness. Rice vinegar brightens the dish with a tangy note. Optional red pepper flakes can give you a little heat. Green onions add freshness and color, while sesame seeds provide a nice crunch. Don’t forget the salt and pepper. These basic seasonings make your dish pop. Each ingredient works together to create a quick and easy meal that feels special. You can mix and match ingredients as you like. The key is to keep it simple while enjoying great flavors. Boil a pot of water. Add 8 oz of rice noodles to the boiling water. Cook them for about 4-5 minutes, following the package instructions. Once cooked, drain the noodles and set them aside. In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of honey or maple syrup, 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes if you like it spicy. Set this sauce aside for later. Heat 3 tablespoons of sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 cloves of minced garlic to the skillet. Cook the garlic for about 30 seconds, until it smells great. Be careful not to burn the garlic. Now, add 1 pound of peeled and deveined shrimp to the skillet. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Cook the shrimp for 2-3 minutes. They should turn pink and opaque. Flip them halfway through to cook evenly. Next, add the cooked rice noodles to the skillet with the shrimp. Pour the sauce you prepared over the noodles and shrimp. Toss everything together until the noodles are well coated and heated through, about 2 minutes. Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in 2 sliced green onions and 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds. Portion the noodles and shrimp into bowls. You can add extra green onions and sesame seeds on top for a nice touch if you’d like. To cook shrimp just right, avoid overcooking them. Overcooked shrimp turn tough and chewy. Cook them until they turn pink and opaque. This usually takes 2-3 minutes. Look for a bright color change; that’s your cue! If you see them start curling up tightly, they are done. To boost flavor, think about adding spices. You can try ginger, lime zest, or even a dash of chili powder. Balancing sweetness and saltiness is key. The honey or maple syrup adds sweetness, while soy sauce brings salt. Adjust to your taste. If you want it sweeter, add more honey. If it needs more salt, add a splash of soy sauce. For rice noodles, soak them in hot water for about 4-5 minutes. This helps them cook evenly. After soaking, drain them well to prevent clumping. Rinse with cool water if needed. This helps keep them separate and prevents sticking. Toss them lightly with a bit of sesame oil to keep them from clumping together in the skillet. {{image_2}} You can swap shrimp for chicken or tofu. Chicken thighs work well for a juicy bite. Just cut it into small pieces, season, and cook in the same way as the shrimp. For a plant-based option, tofu is great. Press it to remove water, then cut it into cubes. Cook it until golden and crispy for added texture. You can also add vegetables like mushrooms or zucchini to keep it fresh and vibrant. If you need a gluten-free meal, use gluten-free rice noodles. These noodles are easy to find and cook just like regular noodles. You can also replace soy sauce with tamari. Tamari has a rich flavor and is perfect for gluten-free cooking. This way, you can enjoy your meal without worry. Feel free to get creative with vegetables. Bell peppers add sweetness, while broccoli gives a nice crunch. You can also try snap peas or carrots for color and taste. Consider adding sauces like sriracha for heat or hoisin for sweetness. Garnish with fresh cilantro or crushed nuts for extra flavor and crunch. The options are endless, so have fun experimenting! To store leftovers, let the shrimp noodles cool down first. Place them in an airtight container. Make sure to cover the container well. They will stay fresh in the fridge for up to three days. If you notice any strong odors, it's best to toss them out. When you're ready to eat, you can reheat your shrimp noodles easily. The best way is to use a skillet. Heat a bit of sesame oil over medium heat. Add the leftovers and stir gently. This helps keep the shrimp tender and the noodles warm. You can also microwave them. Just cover the bowl with a damp paper towel. Heat in short bursts, stirring in between, until warmed through. Yes, you can freeze this dish! To freeze, let the noodles cool completely. Then, portion them into freezer-safe bags or containers. Squeeze out as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. You can store them for up to two months. When you’re ready to eat, thaw them in the fridge overnight. Reheat as mentioned above for the best taste. This dish takes about 20 minutes to make. You need 10 minutes for prep and 10 minutes for cooking. It’s quick and perfect for busy days. Yes, you can use frozen shrimp. Just thaw them first. Place them in cold water for 15-20 minutes. Fresh shrimp taste great, but frozen works well too. You can use olive oil or avocado oil instead of sesame oil. Olive oil has a light flavor, while avocado oil is mild and buttery. Both can work in this dish. The recipe is not spicy by default. If you like heat, add red pepper flakes. Start with a small amount and adjust to your taste. It’s easy to make it spicier! Yes! To make it vegetarian, replace shrimp with tofu or mushrooms. For vegan, use maple syrup instead of honey. These swaps keep the flavor while making it plant-based. This blog post shared a tasty recipe for Minute Garlic Sesame Shrimp Noodles. You learned about key ingredients like shrimp and rice noodles. I guided you through easy cooking steps. Plus, I gave tips for perfect shrimp and noodle texture. Remember, you can customize this dish with different proteins and vegetables. You can adjust flavors to suit your taste. Cooking can be fun and rewarding. Enjoy your shrimp noodles!$