Ramen noodles with chicken are a quick and tasty snack that many of us ate as kids. However, plain chicken ramen can get boring after a while. Luckily, there are lots of easy ways to make instant noodles taste like they came from a restaurant!
This post will talk about 15 of my favorite things to add to chicken ramen to make it taste great. With a few extra items from your fridge and pantry, you can turn plain ramen noodles into a delicious meal.
Why Upgrade Instant Ramen?
Instant ramen noodles are inexpensive, easy to store, and ready in just 3-5 minutes However, on their own, they can be lacking in nutrients and flavor
You can make ramen a healthy meal by adding seasoning, vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats. Plus, it becomes so much tastier!.
Chicken ramen in particular can use a little boost in flavor. Many instant noodle seasoning packets are high in salt and MSG but low in other seasonings.
Adding healthy oils, spice blends, fresh herbs, citrus, and other things to plain chicken noodles makes them taste much better.
15 Easy Ways to Make Chicken Ramen More Delicious
Here are my top recommendations for taking instant chicken noodles from bland to brilliant:
1. Add Soy Sauce
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A splash of soy sauce adds a savory, salty flavor. It provides the umami taste that chicken ramen often lacks.
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Be careful of adding too much if your seasoning packet is already high in sodium.
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For extra flavor, use low-sodium tamari instead of regular soy sauce.
2. Mix in Miso Paste
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Miso paste gives an instant boost of rich, savory taste to ramen broth. It has a delicious fermented flavor.
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Whisk a teaspoon or two into the broth once the noodles are cooked.
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Red or white miso both work well.
3. Top with a Fried Egg
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A fried egg takes just a minute to cook but really brings the textures together.
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The runny yolk mixes with the broth to make it creamier.
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For the prettiest presentation, cook the egg sunny-side up.
4. Add Some Vegetables
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One of the easiest ways to make chicken ramen healthier is to throw in some quick-cooking vegetables.
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Try mushrooms, spinach, bok choy, bean sprouts, carrots, cabbage, snap peas, or broccoli.
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For crunch, top with sliced radish, cucumber, or avocado.
5. Sprinkle on Green Onions
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Green onions (scallions) add a pop of color, crunch, and flavor. They’re a classic ramen topping!
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Chop the green onion whites for the broth and use the greener tops as garnish.
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Chives, garlic chives, or leeks also work well.
6. Drizzle with Sesame Oil
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Nutty, aromatic sesame oil adds so much flavor for so few calories.
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Just a teaspoon or two is plenty to drizzle over a finished bowl of noodles.
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Toasted sesame oil has the strongest flavor.
7. Mix in a Handful of Leafy Greens
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Leafy greens like spinach or arugula wilt nicely in the hot broth.
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They add nutrients and texture without overpowering the chicken flavor.
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Stir them in during the last 1-2 minutes of cooking so they wilt but don’t overcook.
8. Crack an Egg In
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For the ultimate ramen hack, stir a raw egg into the noodles as you cook them.
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The hot broth cooks the egg, making it just barely set with a luxurious, creamy texture.
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The runny egg yolk also helps thicken and enrich the broth.
9. Add Spicy Chili Crisp
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For extra heat and crunch, top ramen with chili crisp or chili oil.
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The blend of chilies, fried garlic, and aromatic spices gives a spicy kick.
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Add to taste – start with 1 teaspoon and add more if you want more heat.
10. Sprinkle Furikake
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Furikake is a Japanese dried seasoning that’s fantastic on ramen.
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It contains dried fish, seaweed, sesame seeds, sugar, and salt for a tasty umami sprinkle.
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Use it instead of or in addition to the seasoning packet.
11. Stir in Peanut Butter
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Peanut butter might sound odd, but it’s amazing mixed into ramen!
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It adds creaminess, protein, and nutty depth of flavor.
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Stir in 1-2 teaspoons smooth or crunchy peanut butter as the noodles cook.
12. Top with Fresh Herbs
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Herbs like cilantro, basil, mint, or dill add brightness and flavor for barely any calories.
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Chop the herbs and sprinkle them on top of the finished noodle bowl.
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No fresh herbs? Use dried basil, oregano, or thyme instead.
13. Swap the Broth
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Instead of water, use chicken, vegetable, or beef broth for a flavor boost.
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Opt for low-sodium broth to keep the salt under control.
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You can also save vegetable scraps in the freezer and make your own quick homemade broth.
14. Mix in Chicken
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Shredded rotisserie chicken, sliced grilled chicken, or diced chicken thighs all mix nicely into ramen.
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It transforms chicken noodles into a heartier, more filling meal.
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For extra protein, add tofu, shrimp, beef, or pork.
15. Finish with Lime Juice
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A squeeze of fresh lime at the end adds brightness and acidity to cut through the rich broth.
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If you don’t have a lime, lemon juice also works nicely.
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Add just a little and adjust to taste – start with 1/2 teaspoon.
Simple Ways to Make Restaurant-Quality Ramen at Home
As you can see, it’s easy to think beyond the seasoning packet and make chicken ramen noodles restaurant-worthy. With just a few minutes of prep and some pantry staples, you can enjoy delicious noodle bowls at home.
Here are some of my favorite ramen mix-in combinations:
- Soy sauce, mushrooms, bok choy, green onions
- Miso, peanut butter, spinach, chili crisp
- Fried egg, basil, bean sprouts, lime juice
- Chicken, carrots, cabbage, cilantro
- Tofu, broccoli, sesame oil, furikake
So next time you’re craving comforting chicken noodles, take it up a notch with these easy add-ins. Your tastebuds will thank you! What’s your favorite way to upgrade basic ramen?
Simple Add-Ins to Boost Your Ramen Experience
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The easiest way to quickly upgrade a bowl of instant noodles is with ingredients that require no extra cooking. Im talking simple sauces and condiments like:
- Miso paste
- Chili bean sauce
- Thai curry paste
- Japanese curry powder
- Fish sauce
- Harissa
- Vinegar
- Ponzu
I love condiments so much that I have a whole double-layered shelf in my fridge, as well as the whole door and a whole pantry cabinet dedicated to them. This is so easy for me to do. The key is not to go overboard with too many different competing flavors. I often make this mistake after long nights out, assuming that when it comes to hangover cures, more is better. Not the case. Keep it simple. Bear in mind that if youre using a salty condiment, you should omit some of the seasoning packet. You can also add:
- In the finished dish, add spices like white pepper, sichuan pepper, or chile flakes. For the broth, add a cinnamon stick, star anise, and coriander seeds (remove them before serving, though!).
- Fried sesame oil, chili oil, or a fat from an animal (pork, chicken, or duck are all great)
- Lemon or lime juice—a quick squeeze right before serving can do a lot to make flavors better.
But imagine this scenario: Youre in college, the power went out in your dorm room, and you obviously had no choice but to finish all the beer in the fridge rather than let it warm up. Youre hungry, but you cant use the water kettle. Keanu Reeves pops up in your brain and asks: What do you do? What do you do?
Heres the answer: Just crunch up the noodles in the bag, tear off a corner, add the seasoning packet, hold the torn corner and shake it up, then consume. Lick your fingers clean after this one. Its like eating Cheetos, but with delicious, complex flavor fingers instead of “orange cheeze. “.
Adding Vegetables to Instant Ramen
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Lets face it: Ramen aint health food. But its pretty simple to add a bit of roughage to your starch.
- Baby spinach, romaine lettuce, bean sprouts, thinly sliced cabbage, watercress, scallions, and other vegetables that cook quickly can be added to the soup right before it’s served. They should wilt in a matter of seconds.
- You can add broccoli, cauliflower, snap peas, snow peas, shredded carrots, and any other vegetable that takes longer to cook to the noodles as they’re cooking. I believe in you, young grasshopper. It might take some work to get the timing just right.
- Frozen vegetables can be very useful. Corn and peas freeze especially well, and are often much better than their fresh counterparts! I like to run them under hot water from the tap for about 30 seconds to thaw them out. Then, they can be drained and added right to the hot soup right before serving.
Ultimate Chicken Ramen – Must Try!
FAQ
What to mix with chicken ramen noodles?
10 Ingredients to Spice Up Your RamenSriracha. For those looking to add a different kind of kick in the form of heat, Sriracha is your option! . Peanut Butter. Dried Seaweed. Furikake. Kimchi. Miso Paste. Soy Sauce. Eggs.
How to jazz up chicken ramen?
- Miso paste.
- Chili bean sauce.
- Thai curry paste.
- Japanese curry powder.
- Fish sauce.
- Harissa.
- Vinegar.
- Ponzu.
How do I make my chicken ramen noodles better?
how to Make Ramen Better – Step by StepUse Your Own Broth. Skip the flavoring packet and use your own broth, whatever kind you prefer. Add Aromatics. Sauce it Up. Add Vegetables. Add a Protein. Top it Off.
What’s a good combo with ramen noodles?
There are many different kinds of toppings that can be used in traditional ramen recipes. Here are some of the most common ones: 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. Chashu. Menma. Negi. Seaweed. Kamaboko. Butter. Rayu.
Can you add meat to ramen noodles?
One of the best ways to elevate the ramen experience is to add meat to the noodles. Whether you add meat during the preparation or cook it separately, good meat pairs exceptionally well with instant noodles for a delicious meal.
Can you add soy sauce to ramen noodles?
Soy Sauce – Adding a splash of soy sauce to ramen adds salt plus umami flavor and it couldn’t be simpler. If you have an already salty seasoning packet this might not be the best option, but if you’re using dried noodles or fresh ramen noodles this can add the salty hit you want in a bowl of ramen.
How do you use Chicken Ramen seasoning?
Here are ten creative ways you can use your homemade chicken ramen seasoning to add a burst of flavor to various dishes: Ramen Noodles: The most obvious use is to sprinkle the seasoning into your ramen noodles while cooking to transform your simple bowl of ramen into a flavorful and satisfying meal.
What goes well with ramen?
Pork Belly – Pork belly (chashu) is a classic ramen pairing. It’s fatty and rich – it flavors the broth and pairs beautifully with the noodles. Coconut Milk: A few tablespoons to ¼ cup of coconut milk or coconut cream can make your ramen taste better and add a creamy, non-dairy touch.
What can you add to ramen if you have luncheon meat?
If you want to make your dish a little fancier, you can always add basil, onions, and some white pepper to your ramen to give it a little color and kick. Luncheon meat isn’t for everyone, but tons of Asian cultures have noodle dishes with luncheon meat in them.
What’s a good bowl of ramen?
Every good ramen has a little kick of heat. Add to your preference! This can easily be overdone, so use a measured hand. But a good bowl of ramen will have just a little hint of sweet. My favorite? – #2 Kecap Manis! If you’re American, like me, you may not have trained your sour palate.