Rice noodles are light, versatile, and cook in just minutes, making them the perfect base for quick and flavorful meals. Whether you’re craving a comforting bowl of soup, a fresh stir-fry, or a spicy noodle salad, rice noodles adapt beautifully to any flavor profile.
These 11 easy rice noodle recipes are designed for busy nights when you want something delicious on the table fast. From a classic pad thai loaded with veggies and peanuts to a fragrant coconut curry noodle bowl, these dishes are simple, satisfying, and full of flavor. Rice noodles also pair well with all kinds of proteins—shrimp, chicken, beef, tofu—or can be enjoyed as a light vegetarian option.
You’ll find everything from zesty noodle salads with lime and herbs to hearty stir-fries with garlic and chili, perfect for weeknight dinners or even meal prep. Most of these recipes take under 30 minutes, and because rice noodles cook so quickly, most of the time is spent building bold sauces and prepping fresh ingredients.
Whether you’re in the mood for spicy noodle soups, peanut rice noodle bowls, or a refreshing cold noodle salad, this collection has a recipe to match every craving. Simple, flexible, and absolutely delicious—rice noodles make quick dinners easier than ever.
Thai Rice Noodle Salad
Toss rice noodles with romaine lettuce, red bell pepper, red and green onions, cucumber, garlic, ginger root, jalapeno pepper, and fresh basil and cilantro. “With these noodle bowls, the real clincher is the sauce, and this one is quite good,” says Buckwheat Queen. “Delicious.”
Authentic Pho
The key to this authentic Vietnamese noodle pho is the beef broth, which slowly simmers with onions, star anise, ginger, and fish sauce. “If you have a large enough slow cooker you can set the broth going in the morning and have pho for supper after work,” says Arlene Preston. “This recipe is great, it tastes just like the pho at my favorite restaurant!”
A Pad Thai Worth Making
“The wonderful national noodle dish of Thailand, this is a recipe for those who like it HOT,” says Fatty Arbuckle. “It can be adjusted to your taste, add ingredients that you like and make it as spicy or tart as you want to. It is also great as a basis for a stir fry of leftovers.” It’s ready in 30 minutes.
Quick and Easy Pancit
“Wonderful! Tasted just like my mom’s pancit! I used rice noodles and soaked them for about 10 minutes did the trick, but make sure to break the noodles before soaking them or you’ll have some really long noodles. The noodles, when cooked, will come out with an al dente texture to them. Even Mom’s leftovers still had that a day or two later,” Jeanne Cupertino says.
