12 Ramen Recipes to Elevate Your Instant Noodles

It's easy to turn a package of instant noodles into a quality weeknight meal! Here are the ramen recipes that will transform this dorm room staple.

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Ramen topped with an egg and bacon
courtesy @molly_yestoyolks/Instagram

Ramen with Bacon and Soft-Boiled Eggs

Molly Meehan of Yes to Yolks adds a soft-cooked egg, crispy bacon bits and a sprinkle of sliced scallions to take packaged ramen from good to great. Instead of using the included seasoning packet, Molly flavors her broth with miso, lemongrass and ginger. Yum!

Also, if you’re looking for a new way to eat ramen, you might want to put a new trend, creamy ramen, at the top of your list.

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Image of purple-colored ramen
Courtesy healthy little vittles

Miso Tahini Ramen Noodle Bowls

You’ve never seen ramen quite like this before! Gina Fontana of Healthy Little Vittles adds lots of umami flavor to this vegan ramen recipe, using ingredients like miso, tahini, carrot, mushroom, bok choy and edamame. She also turned us on to black rice ramen noodles, which add a stunning purple hue to the dish. Craving for more? Learn how to make miso ramen.

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Duck Fat noodles
courtesy Betty liu

Duck Fat Scallion Oil Noodles

If you haven’t cooked with duck fat before, now’s the time to start. It’s what recipe developer Betty Liu uses to whip up this savory ramen dish. She cooks duck breast as her main protein for the meal and fries chopped scallions in duck fat. Find recipes made with ramen noodles that go beyond the bowl.

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Courtesy the woks of life

Quick and Easy Kimchi Ramen

Sarah Leung over at The Woks of Life uses kimchi (a staple of Korean cuisine made from salted and fermented vegetables) to flavor this batch of ramen. It’s quick and easy but delivers major flavor. Go the extra mile by learning how to make your own kimchi from scratch.

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TMB studio

Ramen Corn Chowder

To spruce up a package of chicken ramen noodles, this is one of the best ramen recipes to follow. Best of all? “This tastes so good, as if it simmered for hours, but it’s ready in 15 minutes,” says Darlene Brenden of Salem, Oregon.

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Turkey noodle ramen soup
TMB studio

Turkey & Noodle Tomato Soup

Thanks to the surprising addition of a bottle of V8, this budget-friendly soup recipe is packed with nutrients. For a heartier weeknight meal, Jennifer Bridges of Los Angeles recommends serving it with a side of biscuits like these homemade Southern Buttermilk Biscuits.

End up with leftovers? Transfer the cooled soup to freezer-proof containers and store for up to three months.

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Elote Ramen
COURTESY FOODBEAST

Elote Ramen

Take your instant ramen to new heights with this simple but delicious elote-inspired recipe. With the addition of popular Mexican street corn flavors—think Cotija cheese, mayo, lime, hot sauce and a healthy dash of Tajin—you’ll never want to have a bowl of plain ramen again.

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Bowl Of Creamy Ramen
Molly Allen for taste of Home

Creamy Ramen

This viral ramen recipe from TikTok user @teekeatz results in a bowl of creamy, almost carbonara-like noodles. All you need to accomplish this comforting weeknight dish are three simple ingredients: an egg, mayonnaise and a clove of garlic.

Out of Kewpie mayo? Here’s how to make Japanese mayonnaise at home.

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Red Curry Carrot Soup
TMB studio

Red Curry Carrot Soup

This colorful ramen noodle soup is comfort in a bowl. Dilnaz Heckman of Buckley, Washington, created this recipe with coconut milk, red curry paste, curry powder, turmeric, frozen meatballs, chicken broth, garlic, zucchini, carrots, shredded cabbage and a touch of fish sauce, plus 5 packets of ramen. For additional texture, Dilnaz recommends garnishing the bowl with fresh bean sprouts or chow mein noodles before serving.

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Miso Ramen
Courtesy Pickled plum

Homemade Miso Ramen

For a taste of Japan, whip up a batch of this miso ramen. Caroline Nika Phelps of Pickled Plum says this hearty Japanese ramen traces its roots back to Hokkaido, the country’s northernmost island, where you’ll often find it served with toppings such as sliced pork, mushrooms and seasoned bamboo shoots. The key to achieving a nutty, flavorful broth comes down to the type of miso paste you use—here’s everything you need to know about miso.

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Toh One Pot Chicken Ramen Via Thetoastedpinenut.com
Courtesy The toasted pine nut

One-Pot Chicken Ramen Bowl + Zoodles

Making homemade ramen takes time, but you only need 10 minutes of prep work to make four servings of this one-pot chicken ramen from Lindsay Grimes Freedman of The Toasted Pine Nut. While the broth simmers away, prep your toppings: Lindsay recommends soft-boiled eggs, fresh cilantro and sliced jalapenos for a burst of flavor and color.

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Curry Ramen
courtesy Christie at home

Japanese Curry Ramen

The secret ingredient to transforming any bowl of instant ramen? A cube of Japanese curry mix! Christie Kung of Christie at Home also recommends adding a tablespoon of Japanese mayo, minced garlic and green onion to further elevate the ramen. You can also serve with a side of tsukemono, or Japanese pickles.

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Christabel Lobo
Christabel is a freelance writer and illustrator who specializes in all things food and travel. As a restaurant expert, she always knows the best place to grab a bite wherever she is in the world. Growing up in Dubai as a third-culture kid and then moving to the United States has given her the ability to effortlessly and empathetically write about many cultures and cuisines. She brings that firsthand experience to her food writing at Taste of Home, specializing in sharing recipes, techniques and great dishes from around the world. Her writing has also been published in Allrecipes, EatingWell, Lonely Planet and many more.