Let’s look at 19 of the best udon noodle recipes, including popular Yaki Udon, Curry Udon from Japan, and some noodle soup options, too! 🍲
You’ve probably come across these chewy and comforting Japanese noodles called udon, which is relatively thicker than other types of noodles like buckwheat.
These delicious noodles are primarily cooked in a dashi-based broth and mixed with other vegetables or meat like pork, beef, and chicken.
Udon noodles originally came from China and were then introduced to Japan.
Due to their versatility, these udon noodle recipes have become popular all over Japan, especially in southern parts of the country like Osaka and Kyushu.
Udon is primarily cooked in five ways; the simplest is the Kake udon, served in a dashi-based broth, and the miso nikomi, a stew cooked with miso and vegetables.
You may also go a bit heavier with Curry Udon made with Japanese curry roux or a filling udon suki, a hot pot soup topped with many veggies and meat.
Finally, the most common one is the Yaki Udon, a simple stir-fried recipe with soy sauce and sesame oil topped with scallions.
But don’t fret—we have 19 udon noodle recipes you can try!
Don’t miss #16 if you want something unique and savory.
This Yaki Udon With Shrimp recipe is a simple stir-fried dish tossed in a savory and yummy sauce.
All you need are shrimps, the noodles, and sauce, and you’ll be enjoying munching on the noodles in under 20 minutes!
Use Japanese soy sauce and mirin for this recipe.
However, if these aren’t available, you can always replace them with dark soy sauce and rice vinegar.
This recipe is an ultimate udon noodle dish to try if you love a bit of heat from black pepper.
The excellent balance between the different flavors of this recipe is a must for your tastebuds.
You get the umami taste of the oyster sauce, the rice vinegar’s tanginess, and the black pepper’s heat.
The pepper also gives this recipe some complex citrus and piney notes.
If you want to whip up something in 15 minutes, this Spicy Vegetable Udon is a must-try.
You can choose your preferred meat like chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp, or add more vegetables to this recipe if you wish.
The unique spicy sauce is made with sambal oelek or Asian chili garlic sauce if you can’t find one.
Udon is such a versatile noodle that you only need a handful of ingredients and condiments to create a tasty dish.
This recipe uses hoisin sauce for its base and mushrooms, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, chicken, and other seasonings.
Hoisin tastes similar to American-style barbeque but is richer, saltier, and less sweet, which means it will elevate this dish’s flavors pretty well.
You get all the pleasant flavors from this stir-fried udon noodle recipe that brings you sweet and spicy profiles.
Combine sambal oelek, hoisin, vegetable demi-glace, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and red peppers, and you’re good to go.
Top it with a silky soft-boiled egg and some roasted peanuts for that added crunch.
If you want a lighter noodle recipe, try this Summer Veggie Noodle dish that’s stir-fried to perfection.
These super thick noodles are perfect for absorbing this sauce’s delectable flavors.
Although this recipe is meatless, you can always add some chicken bits if you want a bit of protein.
Enjoy this dish’s veggie goodness, like grilled corn, zucchini, bell peppers, and sliced cabbage.
The mild taste of the shrimp against the flavorful oyster sauce, sesame oil, and light soy sauce brings out the best profiles in this dish.
Make sure to peel, devein, and add some chopped-up scallions for that extra peppery and spicy kick.
This is an udon noodle recipe you need on a stressful day.
Enjoy the thick and creamy mushroom sauce that will pair well with the wheat noodles.
The shitake, cremini, and oyster mushrooms give off that slightly woodsy, earthy, and meaty flavor that will balance the mild udon noodle flavors.
Simmer the cream or milk, and everything goes well in this delightful sauce that mostly gives you a satisfying umami flavor.
You might get addicted to this quick Kimchi Udon Noodle Stir Fry recipe.
The mild udon noodle flavor neutralizes the perfect spicy kick of the kimchi.
Plus, the kimchi also gives this recipe a nice texture.
The main ingredients to make this dish a heavenly delight are kimchi, udon noodles, bacon, and spicy Korean sauce.
This cozy One-Pot Vegan Noodle Soup is something you can make in minutes by grabbing pantry-friendly ingredients.
Keeping things simple in cooking is always better, which is why this dish tastes delicious.
You just need to prep everything like tofu, corn, mushrooms, green onions, cabbage or bok choy, and carrots, and put these in one pot and allow the flavors to combine.
Here’s an Italian dish with an Asian twist that only uses black bean sauce and tomato paste.
But don’t be fooled by these simple ingredients, as this Asian-inspired bolognese udon pasta is filling and tasty.
The marriage of black bean sauce and tomato paste might sound weird, but both go together very well.
This recipe uses frozen udon noodles, but you can always use fresh ones.
Here’s another recipe that uses frozen udon noodles, which you need to thaw by putting in cold water.
Nonetheless, this stir-fried spicy pork noodle recipe requires no boiling and is cooked in one wok.
You’ll enjoy a bit of heat from the sambal oelek and the salty, metallic taste of the chicken bits.
You may use boneless pork loin cutlets for this recipe or substitute pork for boneless chicken thighs or breasts.
The bold flavor of the peanut sauce in this recipe makes this dish stand out.
If you love peanut butter, try these Peanut Sauce Udon Noodles cooked with soy sauce, red chili flakes, vinegar, maple syrup, lemon juice, and smooth or crunchy peanut butter.
This sweet, salty, and flavor-dense recipe will make your weeknight meals worth it.
This udon noodle recipe features pork cooked and scallions, giving the dish that sharp, peppery flavor.
The special ingredient in this recipe is the mirin, which tastes a bit like sake, only sweeter and with much lower alcohol content.
The mirin can transform very bland sauces and flavors into something unique and distinctive.
Try these Sesame Ginger Beef Udon Bowls for the entire family during your weeknight dinners.
To make the sesame ginger sauce, combine unsalted beef stock, sodium soy sauce, brown sugar, sriracha, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch.
Enjoy the unique, aromatic, and slightly sweet and spicy ginger sauce with the nutty profiles of sesame oil.
Cook with a tasty thinly sliced beef flank steak, broccoli, and edamame, and you have a complete meal.
Instead of the typical curry stir-fried noodles, you can transform them into a hearty and rich Curry Udon Noodle Soup.
The broth is a hearty and unique soup that tastes slightly sweet and spicy from the yummy curry.
The enticing pork loin strips also add to that flavorful broth.
The unique ingredients include Japanese basics like Japanese curry roux and soup stock dashi.
Here’s a light and filling Asian Noodle Kale Salad that everyone will enjoy during their weekday brunch or dinner.
It’s relatively easy to whip up with only a handful of ingredients such as bell peppers, baby spinach, carrots, and green onions.
The dressing is vibrant and combines fresh orange juice, tamari sauce, mirin, lemon juice, sesame oil, and olive oil.
18. Kitsune Udon
Kitsune is a popular Japanese noodle dish that features deep-fried tofu, which is seasoned to delectable perfection.
It’s also topped with narutomaki fish cake, and you can add a pinch of Shichimi togarashi if you prefer.
There’s nothing like a steaming hot egg drop soup to comfort you on a rainy weeknight.
However, this Japanese Noodle Egg Drop Soup can be served hot or cold, depending on your preference.
Add some scallions, spinach, and sesame seeds for various exciting flavors.
Season with shichimi chili powder if you prefer, and serve.
The bottom line
These 19 udon noodle recipes are a must-try if you want something quick and easy when you’re on the go.
The simple ingredients are easy to grab in your kitchen cupboards or pantry, which makes these recipes hassle-free.
Now choose the recipe you desire, grab those udon noodles, gather the other ingredients, and start cooking!
Unique Udon Noodle Recipes 🍲
Let’s look at 19 of the best udon noodle recipes, including popular Yaki Udon, Curry Udon from Japan, and some noodle soup options, too! 🍲
Ingredients
- Yaki Udon With Shrimp
- Black Pepper Stir Fried Udon
- Spicy Vegetable Udon
- Hoisin Chicken Udon
- Sweet & Spicy Udon Stir Fry
- Summer Veggie Noodle
- Garlic Shrimp Udon Noodles
- Creamy Mushroom Udon
- Kimchi Udon Noodle Stir Fry
- One-Pot Vegan Noodle Soup
- Asian Meat Sauce Pasta
- Spicy Pork Udon Stir Fry
- Peanut Sauce Udon Noodles
- Stir-Fried Udon With Pork & Scallions
- Sesame Ginger Beef Udon Bowls
- Japanese Curry Udon Noodle Soup
- Asian Noodle Kale Salad
- Kitsune Udon
- Japanese Noodle Egg Drop Soup
Instructions
- Skim through our Udon Noodle Recipes list.
- Select the recipe you’re looking for.
- Prep the ingredients as instructed.
- Spill your thoughts on our Facebook page!