Make this Peanut Butter Broccoli with Noodles for a flavor packed pasta dish inspired by Thai flavors. This dish combines sriracha with rich and creamy peanut butter for a sauce that’s as complex as it is tasty.
You can easily put this together for a quick weeknight meal, or make it as a sit-down dish to enjoy with friends and family. These noodles will spice things up and you’ll love every bite!
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💚 About This Recipe
Creamy, peanut-y, and just a little spicy, this is a guaranteed new favorite weeknight dinner! With noodles, healthy broccoli, and a homemade peanut sauce, this easy recipe has everything you need for a healthy meal.
With just a handful of ingredients, this delicious Thai-inspired peanut butter broccoli pasta dish is ready in under 30 minutes. Just like my Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken and these One Pot Spicy Thai Noodles, this simple recipe is sure to please your whole family!
🧂 Ingredients Needed
- noodles - I like to use nice wide egg noodles for a satisfying bite.
- broccoli florets - fresh broccoli is my preference for this recipe, but you could use frozen broccoli in a pinch.
- peanut butter - provides a creamy and nutty flavor.
- maple syrup - for some natural sweetness.
- soy sauce - adds another level of savory, umami flavor.
- ground ginger - provides a warm, slightly spicy flavor that complements the peanut butter.
- sriracha - adds the kick of heat to this recipe, but it can be reduced or omitted.
- shredded carrots - for some added color, crunch, and nutrition.
🔪 Instructions
- Steam the broccoli florets until they're tender crisp.
- Cook the noodles to al dente according to the package instructions.
- Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl combine peanut butter, soy sauce, maple syrup, ginger, and sriracha. Mix until smooth and well combined.
- Add the shredded carrots into the pot with the noodles about 5 minutes before they're done cooking.
- Drain the noodles, reserving about ¾ cup of pasta water. Mix it into the peanut butter sauce until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Add the broccoli and peanut sauce to the cooked noodles and carrots.
- Toss until the broccoli and noodles are coated in the sauce, adding pasta water as needed.
❔ FAQs
Steaming broccoli is thought to be the "healthiest" way to cook broccoli, as this helps retain the healthy components like soluble protein and vitamin C.
This variety of noodle is made by combining eggs and flour, whereas more common varieties of noodles like spaghetti are a combination of flour and water. Egg noodles tend to have a bit of a richer flavor, and have a bit of a softer texture.
Rinse cooked noodles in cold water and toss with a little oil before adding to the dish.
💭 Expert Tips and Tricks
- Taste the peanut butter sauce before you mix it into the pasta and adjust the flavor as needed.
- Start with a smaller amount of sriracha and add more to taste.
- Don't worry if you forget to reserve some pasta water! Use a bit of warm water, or even some chicken broth or vegetable broth for additional flavor.
- For a pop of color, garnish with chopped parsley, cilantro, or green onions. A squeeze of fresh lime juice is also a great way to add a punch of refreshing flavor!
📌 This broccoli and peanut butter pasta is fantastic for a quick weeknight meal the whole family will love! The Thai-inspired flavors and slight kick of heat lead to a satisfying and filling dish.
💡 Substitutions and Variations
- I like egg noodles for this peanut butter broccoli pasta, but any kind of pasta will work just fine!
- Garnish with chopped peanuts for a bit of crunch.
- Creamy peanut butter is easier to mix into the sauce, but you can also use crunchy if you want to distribute some crunchy peanuts throughout the pasta.
- Add cooked chicken, shrimp, or tofu for extra protein. Add these to the dish when tossing in the sauce.
🔊 What readers are saying...
"I made this tonight! It was so quick and easy and we all loved it."
- Jessie
🥫 Storage and Reheating
Transfer your peanut butter broccoli and noodles leftovers to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, or in the freezer for 2 months or so. Allow the noodles to thaw in the fridge before reheating.
You can easily reheat these noodles and broccoli with peanut sauce in the microwave, or transfer back to a pot on the stovetop with a bit of broth or water to get the sauce creamy again.
🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
To stretch this peanut butter broccoli pasta even further, serve your noodles alongside a Chickpea Pasta Salad or some Air Fryer Corn Ribs. If you want even more hearty nutrition, pair with Air Fryer Cauliflower or Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes!
✔️ More Pasta Recipes You'll Love
- White Wine Shrimp Pasta with Arugula - This light and refreshing shrimp dish pairs noodles with a white wine sauce.
- One Pot Lemon Pasta - You'll love this super easy one-pot dish with a zingy lemon flavor!
- Zucchini Mushroom Pasta - Hearty and earthy, this is a one pot pasta dish that's perfect for a filling dinner.
- One Pot Cheesy Enchilada Pasta - This delicious recipe from Butter Your Biscuit takes the classic enchilada dish and turns them into a filling and comforting pasta recipe!
Pasta and Broccoli with Peanut Sauce
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📋 Recipe Card
Easy Spicy Peanut Butter Broccoli With Noodles
Ingredients
- 12 ounces wide noodles (1 package)
- 2-3 cups fresh broccoli florets (you can substitute frozen in a pinch)
- ¾ cup peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons sriracha sauce (or more, if you like a bigger kick!)
- 1 cup shredded carrots
Instructions
- Cook the noodles to al dente, according to package directions.12 ounces wide noodles
- While the noodles are cooking, steam the broccoli florets until tender crisp. (In a microwave-safe bowl, add the florets and a tablespoon or two of water, cover with plastic wrap with an opening to let steam out, and microwave for 1 minute, then additional time if needed, until tender-crisp.)2-3 cups fresh broccoli florets
- Combine the peanut butter, maple syrup, soy sauce, ginger, and sriracha sauce and mix until smooth. Set aside.2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 3 teaspoons ground ginger, 2 teaspoons sriracha sauce, ¾ cup peanut butter
- About 5 minutes before the noodles are done, add the shredded carrots into the pot.1 cup shredded carrots
- When the noodles are done, reserve about ¾ cup of the pasta water, then drain the rest from the noodles.
- Stir as much pasta water as needed into the peanut butter mixture to thin it a bit.
- Add the steamed broccoli into the pot with the drained noodles and carrots.
- Add the peanut butter sauce into the pot and toss to coat the broccoli and noodles.
Notes
- Use any kind of noodles or pasta that you like.
- I like to taste the peanut butter mixture before adding it into the noodles to determine if I need to stir in any additional ingredients for flavor.
- If you forget to reserve pasta water, you can just use some warm water, or for additional flavor you can even use vegetable or chicken broth.
- Sprinkle chopped peanuts on top if desired to add some crunch and additional peanut flavor.
- To make this dish go farther, you can add some cooked chicken, tofu, or shrimp to the dish when tossing the noodles with the peanut butter sauce.
- Garnish with chopped parsley or cilantro to brighten the look of the dish when serving. Or squeeze a lime over top to add a burst of citrus-y freshness!
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in February 2014, and was republished with tips, step by step photos, and a recipe change in February 2024.
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Happy cooking!
jem
I'm not sure how I missed this recipe last year. Yum! Since I'm gungho about lowering calories, I substitute PB2 for the peanut butte r and that cuts the fat to almost zero. Although I always prefer non-processed foods, I'll occasionally use PB2 because it's such a great substitute for peanut butter in recipes that call for a lot of peanut butter (and fat). I buy organic PB2 because, in the defatting processing of peanuts, any pesticide would be concentrated in the final product -- so it's best if they start with peanuts that haven't been subjected to pesticides. It doesn't make much sense to spare your body from a lot of fat and then subject it to a lot of pesticides!
Sandi @ A New York Foodie
This looks great Kristin!! I love the addition of the peanut butter which makes everything taste wonderful. Thanks for sharing!
Kristin King
I know, it is hard to go wrong with peanut butter, right? 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Sandi!
Kristin King
I know, it is hard to go wrong with peanut butter, right? 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Sandi!
Britni
I love peanut sauce and Kristin this looks fantastic! Thanks for sharing on the weekend re-Treat link party. Hope you link up to the party again tomorrow!
Britni @ Play. Party. Pin.
Diane Balch
I love your balance of spicy and sweet in this dish. Thanks for sharing it with us on foodie friday.
Katherines Corner
Thank you for sharing at the hop my friend xo
Jonathan
This looks like a fantastic recipe. I'm vegetarian and love slightly spicy pasta dishes!
Jess
This looks SO tasty! I've pinned and shared it! 🙂
Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!
Jessie
I made this tonight! It was so quick and easy and we all loved it. I set aside plain pasta for my 17 month old but he wanted the pasta with the sriracha sauce! He has good taste apparently. 🙂
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch)
You had me at spicy peanut butter sauce. What a great idea to combine the broccoli and pasta with a wonderful flavor. Thanks for sharing.
Jessie
This looks delicious! We will definitely be trying out this recipe soon!