Flavorful broth, tender noodles, and fresh vegetables come together in a quick hurry into a yummy and simple udon soup chock full of shrimp.
I make this one fairly often and change out the noodles + veggie based on what I have on hand. It’s an easy recipe that works great for busy weeknights.
Try my 30-minute African Peanut Soup Recipe if you like the flavors on this one!

Key ingredients:
- Onion.
- Beef Broth. Chicken broth works great too but you’ll probably like the deep beef flavor.
- Soy sauce.
- Garlic powder. Of course fresh garlic will always taste better, if you have it.
- Ginger powder. Fresh ginger, if you have it, is even better.
- Raw shrimp. The raw shrimp is totally worth the extra flavor. But if you REALLY don’t want to use raw…go ahead + grab the pre-cooked shrimp. Watch the recipe for the timing on that.
- Udon noodles. If you have not yet found the magic of udon noodles let me fill you in…they are crazy fast + easy (like your college self WISHES they had known about these!) but have the BEST thick + chewy texture. Use fresh udon noodles if you can find them at your grocery store.
- Peanut butter. Crunchy peanut butter is my favorite to use.
- Cabbage. Swap out for fresh spinach or kale, if you would like.

Add INS to try:
- Bok Choy. Baby bok choy, if you can find it!
- Shiitake Mushrooms. Saute these with the onions to help make that broth yummy.
- Snow peas. Add these at the end to keep them crunchy.
- Rotisserie chicken. Some leftover chicken makes this a full meal.
- Bean Sprouts.
- Fresh ginger. Srsly, that fresh ginger brings a zesty bite that is lovely.
- Fresh vegetables like carrots, peppers, + celery.
can i use something other than Udon Noodles?
Definitely. In fact, the instruction photos have rice noodles instead. Udon noodles will likely be the favorite of the family but use rice or ramen, or soba noodles if you prefer.
How to make Shrimp Udon Noodle Soup:
- Heat sesame oil on medium heat in a large saucepan.
- Add chopped onion and saute on medium heat until onion is translucent. About 5 minutes.
- Add part of the broth, soy sauce, pepper, salt, red pepper flakes, garlic, and ginger powder.
- Bring to low boil, remove from heat, add raw shrimp, noodles, cabbage, peanut butter, and remaining broth. (NOTE: if using cooked shrimp add the shrimp after the cabbage has wilted, just to heat it)
- Return to heat and heat just until hot (do not let boil), the shrimp is cooked, and the cabbage is wilted.
- Serve with a drizzle of sesame oil and chopped green onions.

15 Minute Shrimp Udon Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 small onion chopped
- 32 oz beef broth divided
- 1/4 cup soy sauce sliced green onions, peanuts for toppings
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon ginger powder
- 2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 lb raw medium shrimp, peeled & deveined
- 8 oz Udon noodles
- 1 cup peanut butter creamy is fine, if you prefer. Use all-natural peanut butter for the best flavor.
- 1 cup sliced cabbage sub mushrooms, thinly sliced carrots, spinach, or other favorite veggies
Instructions
- Heat oil on medium heat in large pot.
- Add chopped onion.
- Cook on medium heat until onion is translucent. About 5 minutes.
- Add 2 cups of broth, soy sauce, pepper, salt, red pepper flakes, garlic, and ginger powder.
- Bring to low boil and remove from heat.
- Add raw shrimp, noodles, cabbage, peanut butter, and remaining broth. (NOTE: if using cooked shrimp add the shrimp after the cabbage has wilted, just to heat it)
- Return to heat and heat just until hot (do not let boil), the shrimp is cooked, and the cabbage is wilted.
- Serve with a drizzle of chili oil and fresh cilantro.
Notes
- Use reduced sodium soy sauce to cut the sodium levels down.Â
- Taste your soup at the end and if you find it bitter…add a bit of sugar or honey. Broths and peanut butter greatly differ in the sugar + salt they they contain. Most natural honey does not contain sugar and yet the more inexpensive peanut butters contain a great deal. Be sure to taste and adjust!