Americans celebrate National Noodle Day each year on October 6. It’s another fun, food-oriented holiday with no school closures or time off work, but definitely with an emphasis on revisiting old favorites as well as trying new things.
National Noodle Day will be celebrated on Friday, October 6, 2023.
Unfortunately you’ll find a lot of websites with headlines that claim to know the origins of October 6 as a noodle-based holiday. But the actual origins of the holiday are fairly murky. That likely means October 6 was chosen as National Noodle Day by some kind of food marketing board…but does it really matter?
Scroll Down for a List of Noodle Recipes ⬇
Noodle Varieties: Old And Varied
The four thousand year old bowl of noodles discovered in China is a fascinating bit of food archeology, and you’ll read about noodles as a traditional food in both eastern and western traditions.
In Italian, the word “pasta” means paste, and noodles are often thought of with Italy firmly in mind. But Italian noodles aren’t the only varieties that you’ll find on the American dinner table, most countries have some kind of a tradition that involves a noodle or noodle-like option.
Nations like Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, China, Turkey, and Greece all have their own favorite combinations, textures, and colors.
Noodles can be made from a variety of grains including rice, wheat, barley, buckwheat, and are typically starchy and malleable when boiled. It’s easy to overcook some varieties, while other noodles are quite sturdy. Much depends on the country of origin, the dish the noodles are being served in, etc.
You can buy pre-cooked pasta, raw noodles that haven’t been boiled yet, and every variety in between. Some noodles are made of vegetables as well as flour (spinach noodles, anyone?) and some are made gluten-free to help those with dietary sensitivities. As a staple ingredient in so many international recipes, noodles are quite flexible!
Check out this page about types of noodles!
How Did We Get National Noodle Day?
PBS reports that Spanish travelers likely introduced noodles to America, but Thomas Jefferson was an additional factor in the rise of noodles in American cuisine–he apparently loved them so much after being introduced to macaroni in France that he brought two cases with him on his return, and sent out for more when that supply ran out.
Later, World War Two brought much Italian food culture to America including spaghetti. Some Hollywood films of the era showed American families struggling to understand how to traditionally eat Italian noodles, which in the 21st century seems horribly outdated…but once upon a time, Americans really didn’t know how to eat spaghetti!
National Noodle Day likely came much later, but as mentioned above, you won’t find an origin story about this observance. There is a tantalizing hint of what COULD be an origin story, as National Noodle MONTH is observed in March. That holiday was initiated by the National Pasta Association. Could they be the responsible party behind the scenes for October 6?
National Chains That Feature Noodles
Buca di Beppo, Pizza Hut, Maggianos, Noodles And Company, Panda Express, and many other national chains all feature noodles on their menus. So have Applebee’s, Olive Garden, and too many others to comprehensively name here. But a few notables include:
- Boxer Ramen, Portland, Oregon
- Ichiran
- Ippudo
- Ivan Ramen, New York City, U.S.
- Jinya Ramen Bar
- Joy Lee
- Momofuku
- Noodle Box
- Sam Woo Restaurant
- Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum
- Wong’s King, Oregon, U.S.
How To Celebrate National Noodle Day
Try making your own noodles at home on October 6! It sounds a lot more daunting than it really is–the most basic recipe involves water, flour, salt, and egg. If you are more pressed for time, going out for noodles is a great idea, but it’s most fun on the 6th when you go somewhere to try a dish or noodle you’ve never had before. Trying new things on Noodle Day is one of the best ways to experience this fun informal holiday.
Different Types Of Noodles To Try On National Noodle Day
- Angel Hair Pasta
- Egg Noodles
- Harusame Noodles
- Hiyamugi Noodles
- Ho Fun Noodles
- Kluski Egg Noodles
- Ramen Noodles
- Rice Stick Noodles
- Soba Noodles
- Shirataki Noodles (aka konjac noodles)
- Somen Noodles
- Spaghetti Alla Chitarra
- Tagliatelle
- Trofie
- Tokoroten Noodles
- Udon Noodles
Noodle Recipes for National Noodle Day
There are plenty of delicious ways to celebrate National Noodle Day. Whether you want to try making your own noodles or just try a new noodle dish, here are some ideas to help you make the most of this fun observance dedicated to the ever popular noodle.
Homemade Pasta
Want to make homemade pasta from scratch but don't have a machine? Here's a recipe and step-by-step guide to making your own pasta at home without using a pasta maker.
Make Your Own Fresh Egg Noodles
Another homemade noodle recipe, these egg noodles are perfect for dishes that aren't traditional Italian pastas. Use these for old fashion chicken and noodles, stroganoff, and other hearty comfort food meals.
Easy Lo Mein
Lo mein is one of my all time favorite comfort foods and I love that you can make it with almost anything for lots of variation. Here is an easy veggie lo mein recipe that is ready in just 15 minutes. Use this as the base recipe, then throw in some sliced pork, beef, chicken or shrimp. This is a great recipe to have in your weeknight dinner rotation because you can change it up every time.
Farmhouse Chicken and Noodles
This is one variation of old fashioned chicken and noodles, and although this may look simple, the flavors are phenomenal and it's oh so comforting.
Udon Noodle Recipe
This easy udon noodle soup recipe is a flavorful and light meal for lunch or dinner. If you haven't tried udon noodles before, this is a great place to start!
5-minute Quick Faux Pho Recipe
This quick and easy faux pho recipe is a great way to use instant ramen noodles with a flavorful broth and fresh toppings. Perfect for a quick lunch or weeknight meal.
Smoked Mac and Cheese
One of my most popular recipes, this smoked mac and cheese uses the classic, all-American macaroni noodle. You really can't go wrong with mac and cheese, but this one will become one of your new favorites to serve the family.
Szechuan Beef Pasta
This szechuan beef pasta is a flavorful blend served on top of vermicelli - you can use regular spaghetti or rice noodles. This recipe is so good, you'll want to make a double batch to keep on hand for easy weeknight meals or to freeze for later. And it's super easy to make!
47 Pasta Recipes with Tons of Glowing, 5-Star Ratings
Here's a roundup of more than 40 pasta recipes using all different types of traditional Italian noodles. Pick one you haven't tried before, either with a new type of noodle or a new flavor, to celebrate National Noodle Day.
17 Best Chinese Noodles Recipes
Here's a list of Chinese-style noodle recipes including chow mein, soups, and stir fries. Gove some of these a try for National Noodle Day if you're looking for Asian-inspired flavors. Better than take-out!
How to make Indian Street Style Veg noodles
If you're looking for Indian-inspired noodles, try these Indian street style veg noodles. Comforting, packed with flavorful sauce, and loaded with crunchy vegetables. This one will be a hit.
Easy Bihon Pancit - Here's How to Make It
If you haven't tried pancit, you should. This traditional Filipino noodle dish is one of my favorites and this is a fantastic recipe for you to use to make them at home. You'll be hooked on these noodles for sure.
25 Authentic Japanese Noodle Recipes
Here's a list of traditional Japanese noodle dishes for you to try. Pick one for National Noodle Day! There are cold noodle dishes, udons, stir fries, soups, and yakisoba so there's something for whatever your tastebuds are craving.
30 Inspiring Ramen Noodle Recipes
How many different ways can you use ramen noodles? Find out with this list! There are even dessert recipes here to experience ramen noodles in a whole new way. How sweet is that?
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