• This social media–famous hack uses a free soy sauce packet from takeout to add deep umami flavor to buttered noodles.
  • It works with any pasta or noodles you have on hand.
  • You can customize it with add-ins like chili crisp, herbs, cheese, or a jammy egg for extra flavor and protein.

Buttered noodles are one of life’s greatest pleasures. And when it comes to upgrades to the perfect two-ingredient dish, the opportunities are seemingly endless—but are adjustments even necessary? Pasta tossed in melted butter, which emulsifies around each noodle, is so luscious and comforting on its own. Still, black pepper, Parmesan cheese, chicken broth, white wine, fresh herbs, and so many more household ingredients have been known to add a little extra zhuzh to the simple dish.

Now, a new flavor bomb has entered the buttered noodle villa, and it’s an ingredient you can even have on hand for free: soy sauce. Hold onto those leftover soy sauce packets from takeout orders, because just one packet can amp up the flavor. The result? An umami-packed dish that elevates the humble buttered noodle into a whole culinary experience.

Why adding soy sauce to buttered noodles is brilliant

Adding just a teaspoon or two of soy sauce instead of salt to season your buttered noodles brings out the dish’s savory flavor. This is due to umami, a taste found in naturally fermented ingredients like soy sauce and Parmesan cheese. In fact, both ingredients contain natural monosodium glutamate (MSG), a compound that awakens the taste buds and highlights the full flavor potential of any ingredient. And like salt, a little soy sauce goes a long way.

How to make soy buttered noodles

Techniques for making buttered noodles vary, but we amped ours up with a little bit of garlic, some scallions, and a little vegetable bouillon base. We love how it’s delicious, easy, comforting, and can all be made in one large skillet!

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, divided
  • 2 small cloves garlic, grated
  • 1 scallion, whites and light greens, finely chopped; dark greens, sliced
  • 6 oz. short pasta (such as shells, orecchiette, or fusilli)
  • 1/2 Tbsp. vegetable bouillon base (we used Better Than Bouillon)
  • 1 tsp. soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. finely grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

  1. Melt 1 Tbsp butter in large skillet on medium. Add garlic and scallion whites and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 to 2 min.
  2. Add pasta, bouillon base, and 3 cups water; whisk together to dissolve. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until pasta is al dente and sauce is glossy and clings to pasta, 8 to 11 min.
  3. Add soy sauce, Parmesan, and remaining 1 Tbsp butter; stir to incorporate. Divide among bowls and sprinkle with remaining scallion greens.

Soy buttered noodles variations

best pasta shapes
Getty Images

Soy buttered noodles are great on their own, and the method works with long and short pastas, Asian dry and fresh noodles, gluten-free pastas, and high-protein boxed pastas. (Note: Traditional soy sauce contains wheat and is not gluten-free.)

For a deeper soy flavor: Try seasoning your pasta cooking water with soy sauce instead of salt to infuse each noodle with soy flavor. (This may slightly darken lighter noodles.)

For a richer base: Use salted butter, or add chili flakes, garlic, or herbs to the butter sauce for extra flavor.

For extra toppings: Finish the pasta with more herbs, shredded hard cheese, or a drizzle of chili crisp for spice.

For a protein boost: Add a soft-boiled, over-easy, or poached egg on top of the noodles.

Most importantly, hoard those soy sauce packets. You never know when you’ll want to add more umami.

Headshot of Tina Martinez
Recipe byTina Martinez
Food Producer

Tina Martinez (she/her) is the food producer for the Hearst Lifestyle Group. Her work for Good Housekeeping includes recipe development and testing as well as food styling. She also brings the Kitchen & Cooking Lab’s expertise to GH’s popular “I Tried It” series, where she tests viral recipes and food trends. She has worked in the food industry since 2007, with experience as a restaurant line cook, culinary educator, and food stylist for editorial, digital, and television platforms. Tina now lives in Westchester with her husband after leaving Brooklyn for a little more suburban greenery. When she’s not cooking, she enjoys discovering local breweries, hiking in national parks, and digging for treasures at thrift stores. Instagram: @tina.d.martinez  TikTok: @tinadmartinez