13 Creative Ramen Noodle Recipes That Go Beyond the Instant Meal (2024)

Packaged ramen might be considered food for college kids, but it's time to ditch the stereotype. They're an affordable ingredient used in ramen noodle recipes in restaurants and by home cooks for noodle bowls, coleslaws, and salads. Here you'll find some delicious ramen recipes for classic dishes and more unique dishes (think stuffed chicken breast or meat loaf). Grab a few packages and try one of these creative uses for ramen noodles.

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Sesame Noodle Slaw

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13 Creative Ramen Noodle Recipes That Go Beyond the Instant Meal (1)

Here's a ramen noodle recipe for coleslaw you can serve at your next gathering. The seasoning packet from the instant ramen helps flavor the homemade dressing. The ramen noodles add an irresistible crunch to the fresh cabbage mixture. Put together this easy ramen noodle salad up to four hours before mealtime to let the flavors meld.

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Ramen Gnocchi Carbonara

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13 Creative Ramen Noodle Recipes That Go Beyond the Instant Meal (2)

That's right, we made gnocchi (usually made with potato) from crushed ramen noodles! Tossed with peas, bacon, Parmesan, and a sour-cream-and-butter sauce, this might be your new favorite ramen noodle recipe. Top with extra Parm and some parsley to achieve a truly restaurant-worthy dish.

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Ramen-Wrapped Cod with Chopped Salad

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13 Creative Ramen Noodle Recipes That Go Beyond the Instant Meal (3)

This ramen noodle recipe is one of our most creative takes on the instant meal packets. Weird as it may sound, wrapping Cajun-seasoned cod in cooked ramen noodles and crisping them on the stovetop makes a delicious weeknight meal the whole family will love. The simple ranch salad serves as a nice cooling contrast to the crunchy, flaky seafood dinner.

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Teriyaki Chicken Noodle Soup

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13 Creative Ramen Noodle Recipes That Go Beyond the Instant Meal (4)

Skip the styrofoam cups of noodles and opt for this homemade ramen noodle recipe. Pack Mason jars with a hearty beef stock base, veggies, chicken, and ramen noodles for the most delicious work lunch you've ever had. Rotisserie chicken makes an easy shortcut ingredient here.

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Thai Chicken Pasta Salad

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13 Creative Ramen Noodle Recipes That Go Beyond the Instant Meal (5)

Here's a twist on pasta salad you'll make on repeat. A sauce of peanut butter, coconut milk, tangy lime juice, and a hint of cayenne perks up rotisserie chicken and fresh veggies for a flavor-packed ramen noodle recipe.

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Confetti Chicken Big Bowl

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13 Creative Ramen Noodle Recipes That Go Beyond the Instant Meal (6)

This one-dish chicken recipe combines the cozy comfort of a bowl of soup with the light freshness of seasonal produce. It's the best of both worlds. Plus, it's a complete meal with veggies, ramen noodles, and chicken.

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Peanutty Noodle Slaw

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13 Creative Ramen Noodle Recipes That Go Beyond the Instant Meal (7)

Bottled Asian salad dressing and peanut butter make a quick, flavorful dressing for this coleslaw twist. Broken ramen noodle pieces absorb the dressing, taking on the delicious flavors and getting softer the longer you chill before serving. Use pre-shredded cabbage or broccoli slaw mix to keep the prep time to a minimum.

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Ramen-Stuffed Chicken Breasts

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13 Creative Ramen Noodle Recipes That Go Beyond the Instant Meal (8)

Never stuffed chicken with noodles before? Now's your chance! We turned the concept of chicken Parmesan inside out by stuffing chicken with ramen noodles while keeping the classic ingredients of bread crumbs, cheese, and sauce. Give it a whirl at your next family dinner to impress everyone.

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20-Minute Ramen Noodle Bowls

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13 Creative Ramen Noodle Recipes That Go Beyond the Instant Meal (9)

Talk about quick and easy dinners. This 20-minute ramen noodle recipe gives the instant packages a homemade feel by cooking in broth and peanut sauce rather than water. To keep things interesting, we've included eight (yes, eight!) tasty variations, such as sweet-and-sour and Thai curry.

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Ramen Noodle Frittata

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13 Creative Ramen Noodle Recipes That Go Beyond the Instant Meal (10)

Ramen noodles in a frittata might seem like an odd combo but don't knock it until you try it. It contains flavorful ingredients such as coconut milk, green onions, rice vinegar, and ginger. From there, the ramen noodles are mixed with hearty eggs and a fresh cabbage topper. This frittata recipe turns a good morning into a great morning!

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Ramen Meat Loaf

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13 Creative Ramen Noodle Recipes That Go Beyond the Instant Meal (11)

This creative ramen noodle recipe strays far from Grandma's traditional meat loaf recipe. The ground beef mixture is stuffed with ramen noodles and coated in a hoisin-base sauce that gets a kick from Asian chili paste. It challenges basic meat loaf in the most delicious of ways.

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Coconut-Curry Noodle Bowl

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13 Creative Ramen Noodle Recipes That Go Beyond the Instant Meal (12)

With upgrades on instant ramen noodles like this, you won't even think about reaching for a takeout menu. This ramen noodle bowl is loaded with flavor from coconut milk, garlic, veggies, and curry powder. Top it with chopped peanuts for a bit of crunch.

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Waka Waka Salad

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13 Creative Ramen Noodle Recipes That Go Beyond the Instant Meal (13)

Try this side-dish ramen salad at your next potluck (it makes enough to serve a crowd!). Broken, dried ramen noodles and chopped peanuts add a satisfying crunch to the fresh vegetable recipe. Napa cabbage is recommended here since it gets nice and tender, but regular green cabbage will also get the job done.

Inexpensive Recipes That Satisfy

Ramen noodles aren't the only cost-conscious ingredient you can use to make a satisfying meal. Substitute expensive veal or boneless chicken breasts with eggplant for a hearty parmesan dish. A few slices of deli ham and nutritious sweet potatoes are combined in these flatbreads that are easy on the wallet. Pasta is a satisfying and budget-friendly base for these stuffed shells made with frozen veggies. Anytime you can make a casserole, you'll save a few dollars on side dishes—just make a Caesar salad, and dinner is served.

13 Creative Ramen Noodle Recipes That Go Beyond the Instant Meal (2024)

FAQs

What else can I make with ramen noodles? ›

15 Recipes to Make with Ramen Noodles That Aren't Soup
  • Ramen Slaw. How about a crunchy slaw or not-so-sad-salad that you'll actually look forward to eating? ...
  • Ramen Burgers. Yes ... ...
  • Ramen and Cheese. Mac and cheese, you've been one-upped! ...
  • Ramen Snack Mix. ...
  • Ramen Pizza. ...
  • Ramen Crusted Chicken. ...
  • Ramen Lettuce Wraps. ...
  • Ramen Bars.

How do you hack instant ramen? ›

Instant ramen can taste even better and more filling with a few quick modifications. Famed chef Roy Choi has said he adds American cheese, butter, and egg to his instant ramen. You can also try adding soy sauce, kimchi, or peanut butter for added flavor.

How do you jazz up ramen noodles? ›

10 Ingredients to Spice Up Your Ramen
  1. Sriracha. For those looking to add a different kind of kick in the form of heat, Sriracha is your option! ...
  2. Peanut Butter. ...
  3. Dried Seaweed. ...
  4. Furikake. ...
  5. Kimchi. ...
  6. Miso Paste. ...
  7. Soy Sauce. ...
  8. Eggs.
May 4, 2022

What to add to ramen to make it creamy? ›

Add butter, milk and contents of seasoning packet. If your tastes desire, you may not use all of the seasoning packet. Heat on low heat and stir until butter is melted and noodles are coated with creamy sauce. Serve.

What do Japanese add to instant ramen? ›

Traditional Ramen Toppings
  1. Tamago. “Tamago” is Japanese for “egg.” In ramen, they're usually either hard- or soft-boiled, but a chef might add a raw one to the soup while it cooks. ...
  2. Chashu. Chashu is thinly sliced cuts of roasted or braised pork. ...
  3. Menma. Menma is fermented bamboo shoots. ...
  4. Negi. ...
  5. Seaweed. ...
  6. Kamaboko. ...
  7. Butter. ...
  8. Rayu.
Sep 25, 2023

How do you make ramen taste good without the packet? ›

RAMEN SEASONING
  1. 1 tablespoon garlic powder.
  2. 1 tablespoon onion powder.
  3. 1 1/2 tablespoons onion flakes.
  4. 1 tablespoon dried parsley.
  5. 1 tablespoon dried green onions.
  6. 1 tablespoon coconut sugar (use regular if you don't have this)
  7. 1 teaspoon ground ginger (use 1 1/2 teaspoons if you want it spicier)

How do you flavor ramen without seasoning packets? ›

Some alternative seasonings to use in ramen instead of the packet include soy sauce, miso paste, sesame oil, chili oil, garlic powder, ginger, and green onions. These ingredients can add depth of flavor and enhance the taste of your ramen.

How do you bulk up ramen noodles? ›

Once the noodles are cooked, keep a little of the cooking water, and then drain. Add the hot noodles gradually, in 2-3 batches (so you don't scramble the eggs), to the eggy mixture, tossing as you go. Drizzle in a small amount of the cooking water and then toss well with tongs.

What can I add to noodles for flavor? ›

  1. Butter and Milk (France) To give your noodle recipe a French twist, all you'll need are two ingredients: butter and 🥛 milk. ...
  2. Kimchi (Korea) ...
  3. Fried Bacon and Egg (USA) ...
  4. Peanut Butter and Sriracha Sauce (Thailand) ...
  5. Sliced Cheese (Italy) ...
  6. Sesame Oil and Soy Sauce (Japan) ...
  7. Garlic and Soy Sauce (China) ...
  8. Canned meat.
Sep 24, 2023

How to make Kylie Jenner ramen? ›

You just cook your ramen like normally, then just beat up an egg, add it to your noodles with some garlic powder, the seasoning packet that came with your noodles, and a stick of butter. Give it a little stir for a minute. Little confession. I have actually never had an egg in my noodles before.

What is the easiest ramen hack? ›

It's time to spice up your instant ramen game with these easy hacks.
  1. Try the egg-drop method. ...
  2. Slice up some green onion and sprinkle it on top for added flavor. ...
  3. Add mixed veggies of your choice. ...
  4. Add bean sprouts for an extra crunch. ...
  5. Add sesame. ...
  6. Make and add a ramen egg. ...
  7. Swap your flavor packet for miso paste.
Apr 2, 2024

What does egg do to instant ramen? ›

There are several reasons why adding an egg to your instant ramen can transform it into a more delicious and satisfying meal: Enhanced Flavor: The creamy yolk and tender egg white bring a richness and new depth of flavor to the dish.

What to eat with ramen to make it a meal? ›

The best side dishes to serve with ramen are egg rolls, fried rice, shrimp fried rice, bok choy, chicken dumplings, chicken paprikash, crispy tofu, buffalo chicken dip, teriyaki chicken, Ling Ling potstickers, Narutomaki, kimchi, Chinese tea eggs, spicy cucumber salad, grilled fish and chicken tempura.

How to make eggs that go in ramen? ›

The key to a perfect ramen egg is a slightly undercooked yolk. If you want a truly runny yolk you'll want to boil the eggs for 6 minutes exactly, but for the perfect ramen egg, you want them slightly more cooked. The ideal cooking time for the classic ramen egg is 6 minutes and 30 seconds.

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