Five Ways to Upgrade Your Instant Ramen
Written by Samantha Falla
Instant ramen is one of those foods that almost everyone has sitting somewhere in their pantry. It's cheap, takes only a few minutes to make, and is especially convenient when you don't feel like putting much effort into dinner. But eating the same packet of noodles and seasoning over and over again can get boring pretty quickly.
Luckily, instant ramen is also one of the easiest foods to upgrade. A few ingredients can completely change the flavor and turn a basic packet of noodles into something that feels much more like an actual meal. Whether you want something spicy, creamy, cheesy, or packed with toppings, here are five easy ways to upgrade your next bowl.
1. Creamy Spicy Ramen
If you love spicy ramen but want something a little richer, adding a creamy element balances the heat and makes the broth extra smooth.
Ingredients:
1 package instant ramen
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon sriracha, or more to taste
Ramen seasoning packet
2 tablespoons sliced green onion
Directions:
Cook the ramen noodles according to the package instructions, but don't drain the water.
In your serving bowl, combine the mayonnaise, egg yolk, garlic, sriracha, and ramen seasoning.
Slowly add a few spoonfuls of the hot ramen water to the mixture while stirring constantly.
Add the remaining broth and noodles and stir until everything is creamy and combined.
Top with green onion and an extra drizzle of sriracha if you like things spicy.
Upgrade it even more: Add a soft-boiled egg, corn, shredded chicken, or sesame seeds.
2. Peanut Butter Ramen
Peanut butter and ramen might sound like an unusual combination, but trust the process. Peanut butter creates a thick, nutty sauce that works perfectly with soy sauce and a little spice.
Ingredients:
1 package instant ramen
1½ tablespoons creamy peanut butter
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon sriracha or chili sauce
½ teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons hot ramen water
Green onion or crushed peanuts for topping
Directions:
Cook the ramen noodles according to the package directions. Before draining, save about two tablespoons of the cooking water.
In a bowl, mix the peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, sriracha, garlic powder, and reserved ramen water.
Drain the noodles and add them directly to the sauce.
Toss until the noodles are completely coated.
Top with green onions, crushed peanuts, or an extra drizzle of chili sauce.
Upgrade it even more: Add shredded carrots, cucumber, chicken, or edamame to turn it into a full meal.
3. Cheesy Garlic Ramen
This is ramen's answer to mac and cheese. It's creamy, cheesy, garlicky, and perfect when you're craving comfort food.
Ingredients:
1 package instant ramen
½ cup milk
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon butter
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Half of the ramen seasoning packet
Directions:
Cook the ramen noodles in water until tender.
Drain almost all of the water, leaving about two tablespoons in the pot.
Reduce the heat to low and add the butter and milk.
Add the cheese, garlic powder, black pepper, and half of the seasoning packet.
Stir continuously until the cheese melts and creates a creamy sauce.
Remove from the heat and serve immediately.
Upgrade it even more: Mix in bacon bits, broccoli, buffalo sauce, or shredded chicken.
4. Egg and Chili Crisp Ramen
Sometimes the best upgrades are the simplest. A runny egg and a spoonful of chili crisp add richness, texture, and plenty of flavor without requiring a long ingredient list.
Ingredients:
1 package instant ramen
1 egg
1 tablespoon chili crisp
1 teaspoon soy sauce
½ teaspoon sesame oil
1 green onion, sliced
Ramen seasoning packet
Directions:
Prepare the ramen according to the package directions and add the seasoning packet.
While the noodles cook, fry an egg in a separate pan until the white is cooked but the yolk is still slightly runny.
Stir the soy sauce and sesame oil into the finished ramen.
Transfer the ramen to a bowl.
Place the fried egg on top and spoon chili crisp over the noodles.
Finish with sliced green onion.
Break the yolk right before eating so it mixes into the broth and makes it richer.
Upgrade it even more: Add sautéed mushrooms, spinach, bok choy, or leftover vegetables.
5. Honey Garlic Chicken Ramen
If you want to turn a 50-cent packet of ramen into an actual dinner, adding chicken and a homemade sauce is one of the easiest ways to do it.
Ingredients:
1 package instant ramen
½ cup cooked shredded chicken
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon minced garlic
½ teaspoon sesame oil
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 green onion, sliced
Directions:
Cook the ramen according to the package instructions, leaving out the seasoning packet.
Drain the noodles and set them aside.
In the same pot or a small pan, combine the soy sauce, honey, garlic, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes.
Heat the sauce for about one minute, stirring frequently.
Add the shredded chicken and stir until heated through and coated in the sauce.
Add the cooked ramen noodles and toss everything together.
Transfer to a bowl and top with sliced green onion.
Upgrade it even more: Add steamed broccoli, carrots, snap peas, or sesame seeds.
The best thing about instant ramen is that there really aren't many rules. Leftover chicken from last night's dinner? Throw it in. Half an avocado that needs to be eaten? Add it on top. An almost empty bag of frozen vegetables? Into the pot it goes. Think of the ramen packet as the starting point rather than the entire meal. With ingredients you may already have in your refrigerator or pantry, those basic noodles can become something completely different every time you make them.
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