Gochujang Butter Noodles

Name: Gochujang Butter Noodles
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients: 1 lb spaghetti; 4 tbsp unsalted butter; 2 tbsp gochujang paste; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 2 tbsp honey; 2 tbsp soy sauce; 2 tsp toasted sesame oil; 4 scallions, thinly sliced; 2 tsp sesame seeds, toasted

A 2026 viral-roundup pantry staple: gochujang bloomed in melted butter with garlic and honey, loosened with soy sauce and starchy pasta water, then tossed with noodles for a fifteen-minute sweet-spicy dinner.

15 minEasyServes 4520 cal/serving

KoreanDinnerStovetopVegetarianKosher-styleNut-FreeShellfish-FreePork-FreeCorn-Free

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Ingredients

1 lb spaghetti
4 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp gochujang paste
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
4 scallions, thinly sliced
2 tsp sesame seeds, toasted

Instructions

1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the 1 lb spaghetti until al dente, according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
2

While the noodles cook, melt the 4 tbsp unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
3

Add the 2 tbsp gochujang paste and 4 minced garlic cloves to the melted butter and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant and deep red.
4

Stir in the 2 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp soy sauce, and 2 tsp toasted sesame oil, then add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.
5

Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet and toss until every strand is coated, adding more pasta water as needed for a glossy sauce.
6

Remove from heat and divide among bowls. Top with 4 thinly sliced scallions and 2 tsp toasted sesame seeds before serving.

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Questions

What should Gochujang Butter Noodles look like when it is ready?

Go by the cues in the method rather than the clock. Step 5: cook until every strand is coated, adding more pasta water as needed for a glossy sauce.

Why save the pasta water for Gochujang Butter Noodles?

Step 1 reads: "Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain." The water is full of starch. Added back as step 1 directs, it emulsifies the sauce so it clings to the pasta instead of pooling in the bowl.

Is there a substitute for gochujang in Gochujang Butter Noodles?

The entry for Gochujang Butter Noodles calls for 2 tbsp gochujang paste. In its place: Mix two parts sriracha or another chili paste with one part white miso and a pinch of sugar. It lands close on heat and body and a little short on fermented depth.

Can I make Gochujang Butter Noodles less spicy?

Yes. The heat in Gochujang Butter Noodles comes from 2 tbsp gochujang paste. For a milder plate, start with half the gochujang and add more to taste at the end; nothing else in the method changes.

Can I make Gochujang Butter Noodles dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in Gochujang Butter Noodles is 4 tbsp unsalted butter. Swap the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Does Gochujang Butter Noodles contain sesame?

Yes: 2 tsp toasted sesame oil and 2 tsp sesame seeds, toasted. The full allergen list for this entry is gluten, dairy, soy and sesame. Seeds used as a garnish can simply be left off; the oil has no true substitute. Packaged ingredients vary by brand, so check labels if the allergy is serious.

Serve it with

Pressure Cooker Korean Soy Braised Potatoes side
Gyeran Salad salad
Ssamjang (Korean Dipping Paste) sauce
Sikhye drink

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