Spicy Peanut Noodle Bake (High Protein)

Name: Spicy Peanut Noodle Bake (High Protein)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 13.5 oz full-fat coconut milk; 3 cups vegetable broth; 3 cloves minced garlic; 2 tsp ginger paste (or minced ginger); 2 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gf option); 1 tbsp rice vinegar; 1 tsp maple syrup; 2 tbsp chili garlic sauce (add 3 tbsp for extra heat ); 1/2 cup natural peanut butter; 1.5 cup shelled edamame; 16 oz super firm tofu (cut into 1-2 inch cubes ); 10 oz high protein spaghetti noodles (or gf noodles); 1 medium sliced red bell pepper; 3 cups fresh spinach; diced green onion; fresh cilantro; crushed peanuts; red pepper flakes

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I’m fed up with cleaning five dirty pots and pans after dinner prep! How about you? That’s why I created up this SUPER EASY spicy peanut noodle bake that only needs one casserole dish!

I’ve noticed many dump-and-bake recipes are packed with carbs and lack protein. This recipe is different; it focuses on plant-based protein with high protein super firm tofu, shelled edamame, peanut butter, and high-protein spaghetti made from lentil and chickpea flour. Each serving has 30g of protein! Also, unlike other recipes that call for multiple cans of high-fat coconut milk, you only need one can and some vegetable broth for this healthier dish!

Spicy Noodle Bake Ingredients

Full-fat coconut milk – You just need one 13.5 oz can. I recommend full-fat for the most flavor, but lite coconut milk could also work if you are trying to reduce fat & faclories.
Vegetable broth – Use low sodium broth for less salt.
Minced garlic & ginger – Adds a lot of flavor to our dish!
Soy sauce – Can also use tamari if you prefer GF. Use low sodium for less salt.
Rice vinegar – Just a touch to balance out the salty flavors
Maple syrup – Just a touch to balance out the acidity and salty flavors
Peanut butter – Choose a natural, drippy peanut butter.
Chili garlic sauce – You can find this at most supermarkets near the Asian section. This is the one I used.

Proteins

This is a protein-packed recipe with 30g of protein per serving!

Super firm tofu – This has more protein than just basic extra firm tofu. You can find it right next to the other tofu. It’s also great because you don’t have to press it!
High protein spaghetti noodles – There are numerous brands out there that now make high protein noodles. These tend to be made with chickpea or lentil flours to boost their protein content. I used this high protein pasta from Barilla but you could also try Banza or Brami.
Shelled edamame – These are packed with protein! We will use 1.5 cups – but you could add even more if you’d like!

Veggies

Of course I couldn’t create a pasta dish without veggies!

Red bell pepper – Get a medium or large one and slice it thinly. You could also use a different colored pepper if you prefer.
Spinach – 3-4 heaping cups of fresh spinach. If you decide to use frozen, make sure to thaw and drain because that extra liquid will not be good for your pasta dish.

⭐️ Feel free to add other veggies you like. I give suggestions below for more ideas.

How to Make Spicy Peanut Noodle Bake

1. Combine ingredients in a casserole dish

Preheat the oven to 400°F and get out a 9×13 casserole dish.

Combine your coconut milk, vegetable broth, minced garlic, ginger, soy sauce, peanut butter, chili garlic sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup until well combined. Stir in your fresh spinach (don’t worry this will wilt down a lot!) and shelled edamame.

Tip #1: If your peanut butter and coconut milk are not mixing well, pop the mixture in the microwave for 60 seconds.

Tip #2: If you want this to be a spicier peanut noodle bake add 3 tbsp of the chili garlic sauce. 🌶️

2. Add noodles

Add your noodles and spread evenly in the liquid. Try to make sure they are submerged in the liquid.

3. Add tofu & red pepper

Top it with your sliced red bell pepper and tofu cubes on top. No need to submerge the tofu – since they are sitting on top they will get browned!

4. Bake

Bake for about 35-40 minutes in the oven, tossing it halfway through to ensure even cooking. Make sure you stir the edges well to prevent the noodles from sticking together or to the side. When it’s close to being done, (carefully) taste test a noodle to make sure it is cooked through – I recommend taste testing around the 30 minute mark.

⭐️BTW – your dish MAY seem more liquidy at first – but it thickens up pretty quickly, especially as the noodles absorb a little more of the broth.

5. Finish off with toppings

Finish off your dish with green onion, cilantro, crushed peanuts and red pepper flakes. Enjoy!

How to Store Leftover Baked Noodles

You can store this in the casserole dish or a separate glass container up to 3 days. The noodles begin to absorb the liquid over time, so this dish is really best in the first 24 hours. You can reheat in the microwave for convenience or pop the whole casserole dish in the oven for 30 minutes at 350°F.

What else could I add to this dish?

There are lots of variations!

Try other colored peppers
Add bok choy, mushrooms, scallions, or whatever other veggie you like.
Instead of tofu you could try chickpeas as an alternative plant-based protein.
Switch up the noodles – you could use udon, linguine, skinny spaghetti, and more!

Common Questions

My noodles came out hard. What can I do?

If your noodles are still hard after 35 minutes you need to cook it for longer. Make sure to stir it well, especially half way through the cooking process. This ensures even cooking.

What can I add to make this dish spicier?

Add more chili garlic sauce and finish off with more red pepper flakes. You could also drizzle some sriracha on top.

Why did my noodles come out soggy?

Unfortunately your dish is overcooked. I recommend you taste test your noodles around the 30 minute mark to check doneness to prevent them from overcooking and getting soggy.

Spicy Peanut Noodle Bake (High Protein)

Spicy Noodle Bake Ingredients

How to Make Spicy Peanut Noodle Bake