Ramen noodles, they’re the staple food of every college student and young adult. These noodles have helped sustain us through all of our hectic schedules, all-nighters, and broke times between paychecks. It’s hard to imagine how we’d manage without them! However, after chowing down on the same beef, chicken, or shrimp flavored noodles night after night, they can begin to wear out their welcome. To help take the monotony out of your noodles and give you a new lease on ramen, here are 10 delicious ways to use ramen noodles.
Gone are the days of just dumping the flavored salt packet into your ramen noodles and calling it a day. If you’re craving some extra flavor and spice, try mixing your ramen with red pepper flakes, curry powder, chili oil, or hot sauce. These spices not only help break the blandness of the plain seasoning but can give you the extra kick that you’ve been craving!
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but for college students trying to make the most of their sleep, getting up early just to make breakfast can seem like an unnecessary hassle; especially if you have an 8 am class! To help make the morning just a little bit easier, pull out a pack of ramen noodles, and add some breakfast essentials! Bacon, either fresh cooked or microwavable, can be added along with a hardboiled or freshly cooked egg. You can also throw in some cheddar cheese for an extra boost of delicious morning flavor. For an in-depth recipe check out this helpful page!
If you love Kimchi as much as I do, then adding it to your ramen is a must. This simple deviation can completely transform your noodles and take them to a whole new level. To make this delicious dish cook your ramen as usual, and when done, move them from saucepan to skillet. Toss in some sesame oil, garlic, and kimchi while cooking over medium heat. When everything is combined and heated, you can either dig in as is or take this time to cook up a sunny side egg for extra culinary points.
Ramen noodles also make the perfect base for a creative stir fry. While this creation can have many different variations, my personal favorite includes sauteeing noodles with sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, and red chilis. You can add in several veggies such as peas, bell pepper, onion, and broccoli, along with a variety of proteins like diced chicken, beef, pork, or tofu. When it comes to this type of stir fry there is no right or wrong way to make it. For additional inspiration, here is a quick and easy miso-based ramen stir fry that is definitely worth giving a try!
A smart way to make your ramen noodles go a long way is to make use of the leftovers you have in your fridge. Rotisserie chicken, turkey, ham, or beef roasts can be cut up and added to your noodles to help give them a hearty and flavorful boost. This is especially helpful around the holidays and gives you a creative way to make use of all the meat in your fridge, without worrying about it going to waste. Additionally, heating up chicken or turkey on the stove helps reduce the gamey flavor that often occurs from microwaving.
Whether you’re vegetarian or just love veggies, this nutritious spin on plain ramen noodles is sure to make your mouth water. You can combine almost any veggie you can think of, mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, carrots, onions, bell peppers, the list goes on and on. You can even add tofu if you want to include some protein. Substitute the seasoning packet for some vegetable broth, and you have yourself a healthy and delicious ramen dish!
Ham and cheese aren’t just for quick sandwiches, adding them to your ramen noodles is an easy way to create a whole new experience. You can use either ham off the bone or chopped up deli ham, along with a sprinkling of cheddar cheese for this easy dinner. While it may not sound too appealing off the bat, trust me when I say that it might end up being your go-to for those late nights when you just need a quick tasty bite.
If you’re looking to add a hearty southern flair to your plain ramen noodles, then this is perfect for you. Combine ground beef with a cheap pack of tex-mex seasoning and top off your cooked noodles with the mixture, just make sure to drain them first! You can even go all out and add a splash of crema, guacamole, salsa, and cilantro for the ultimate quick and delicious meal!
Many people don’t realize that uncooked ramen can also be used in a variety of ways, one of which is a delicious salad topping. You can either break up the noodles and toss them in seasoning, or you can crumble and mix them into whatever kind of salad you want to make! This gives you the option for a quick healthy meal, while still allowing you to make use of all your extra noodle packs.
Last, but not least, ramen noodles are the perfect substitute for traditional macaroni noodles. For this recipe, you can either cook up the noodles and add a couple of slices of Velveeta cheese, or you can make your own cheese sauce out of any cheese you want. My personal favorite is white cheddar mixed with butter and garlic! Like many of the above, there is no right or wrong way to create this mac and cheese alternative. Feel free to mix and match the cheesy goodness and create your own gooey masterpiece!
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