Chicken ramen is beloved for its convenient, tasty, and comforting qualities But while the classic bowl of noodles and broth is delicious in its simplicity, there are endless ways to elevate this pantry staple into a restaurant-worthy meal
In this article, we’ll explore over 30 delicious ingredients to mix and match in your chicken ramen, taking your bowl from basic to gourmet. Read on for inspiration to customize your chicken ramen and tantalize your taste buds!
Protein Power-Ups
Adding protein transforms ramen from a carb-heavy snack into a well-rounded meal Here are 10 satiating proteins to try
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Eggs: Soft or hard boiled, the rich creaminess of eggs is a perfect ramen topper. For soft boiled, cook eggs in simmering water for 6 minutes. For hard boiled, cook for 12 minutes.
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Chicken: Grilled, roasted, or rotisserie chicken adds hearty shreds of protein.
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Beef: Thinly sliced steak or brisket lend deep, savory flavor.
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Pork: Pork belly, shoulder, or loin provide meaty bites.
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Shrimp: Large shrimp infuse sweet, briny notes into the broth.
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Tofu: Cubed and pan-fried tofu offers a plant-based protein boost.
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Edamame: These soybeans provide an extra serving of plant protein.
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Tempeh: Seared tempeh cubes add nutty richness.
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Peanuts: Roasted peanuts provide crunch and plant-based protein.
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Cashews: Toasted cashews lend subtle nutty flavor.
Vegetable Additions
Veggies provide vitamins, minerals, and texture to balance the carbohydrates in ramen. Here are 10 veggies to mix in:
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Bok choy: This crisp Asian green adds crunch and freshness.
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Bean sprouts: Crunchy, fresh sprouts pair perfectly with noodles.
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Carrots: Grated or sliced, carrots lend sweetness.
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Zucchini: Ribbons of zucchini add summertime flavor.
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Corn: Kernels impart natural sweetness and color.
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Mushrooms: Sliced mushrooms add meaty umami.
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Spinach: Quick-wilting spinach infuses vitamins and verdant color.
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Kale: Sturdy kale stands up to simmering broth.
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Broccoli: Small florets cook quickly for a nutrition boost.
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Cabbage: Shredded cabbage contributes pleasant crunch.
Flavor Boosters
Ramen is all about the flavor. Liven up the broth with any of these 15 additions:
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Soy sauce: A dash of soy sauce amplifies savory umami.
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Fish sauce: A spoonful lends Thai flavor.
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Lime juice: A squeeze of lime adds brightness.
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Chili oil: A drizzle infuses spicy heat.
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Sesame oil: A touch of sesame oil imparts nutty aroma.
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Sriracha: Add as much of the garlicky hot sauce as you like.
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Gochujang: The Korean chili paste brings a spicy, sweet kick.
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Miso paste: A spoonful of white or red miso adds savory depth.
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Ginger: Grated ginger root adds zing.
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Garlic: Minced garlic punches up flavor.
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Hoisin sauce: The sweet Chinese sauce adds gingery flavor.
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Korean BBQ sauce: These thin sauces lend a smoky, spicy nuance.
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Sesame seeds: A sprinkle provides nutty crunch.
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Furikake: The Japanese dried seasoning features sesame, seaweed, fish flakes and more.
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Chili crisp: Fried chilies, garlic, and oil add intense flavor.
Noodles and Broths
Ramen is all about the interplay between noodles and broth. Switch them up with these options:
Noodles
- Wheat noodles for extra nutrition
- Rice noodles for gluten-free
- Udon noodles for chewy texture
- Soba noodles for nutty flavor
- Glass noodles for translucency
- Shirataki noodles for low carb/calorie
Broths
- Mushroom broth for earthy flavor
- Beef broth for meaty savoriness
- Vegetable broth for clean flavor
- Seafood broth for briny goodness
- Coconut milk for creamy richness
- Miso broth for hearty umami
Toppings and Garnishes
No ramen is complete without crunchy, aromatic, vibrant toppings. Try these:
- Green onions
- Pickled ginger
- Nori seaweed strips
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Crushed peanuts
- Lime wedges
- Fresh cilantro
- Chopped scallions
- Bean sprouts
- Shredded cabbage
- Radishes
- Jalapenos
Meal-Sized Ramen Bowls
For a heartier ramen meal, try these full-bowl recipes:
- Chicken tortilla ramen with shredded chicken, black beans, corn, avocado, cilantro, and lime
- Thai chicken ramen with chicken, mushrooms, chili oil, fish sauce, and basil
- BLT ramen with bacon, lettuce, tomato, Parmesan, and creamy miso dressing
- Chicken posole ramen with chicken, hominy, cabbage, avocado, lime, and cilantro
- Chicken stir fry ramen with chicken, broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, and hoisin sauce
- Chicken taco ramen with chicken, black beans, salsa, corn, avocado, cilantro, and lime crema
- Chicken pot pie ramen with chicken, peas, carrots, celery, puff pastry topper
The possibilities for elevating basic chicken ramen are endless! With an array of proteins, vegetables, broths, noodles, spices, and garnishes at your fingertips, you can customize ramen bowls to perfectly suit your tastes and mood. From simple weeknight meals to impressive weekend creations, chicken ramen makes for an endlessly adaptable canvas. So roll up your sleeves, crank up the stove, and get creative transforming chicken ramen into your new favorite meal!
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
Im a condiment devotee (Ive got a whole double-layered shelf of my fridge plus the entire door and a full pantry cabinet devoted to them), so this is a particularly easy thing 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:
- Spices like white pepper, sichuan pepper, or chile flakes to the finished dish, or try adding a cinnamon stick, star anise, and coriander seeds to the simmering broth (remove em before serving!)
- Fats like toasted sesame oil, chile oil, or an animal fat (pork, chicken, or duck are all awesome)
- Citrus juices—a quick squeeze of lemon or lime right before serving can go a long way to brightening flavors.
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.
- Quick-cooking vegetables like baby spinach, romaine lettuce, bean sprouts, thinly sliced cabbage, watercress, and scallions (amongst others) can be stirred into the soup right before serving. They should wilt in a matter of seconds.
- Longer cooking vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, snap peas, snow peas, shredded carrots, and whatever else your heart fancies can be added to the noodles as theyre cooking. It may take a bit of finagling to get the timing just right, but I have faith in you, young grasshopper.
- Frozen vegetables can work great—corn and peas in particular fare well frozen (often being significantly better than their fresh counterparts!). I like to thaw them out by running them under hot water straight out of the tap for 30 seconds or so. They can then be drained and added directly to the hot soup just before serving.
Ultimate Chicken Ramen – Must Try!
FAQ
What’s good to add to chicken ramen?
- Miso paste.
- Chili bean sauce.
- Thai curry paste.
- Japanese curry powder.
- Fish sauce.
- Harissa.
- Vinegar.
- Ponzu.
How to enhance chicken ramen noodles?
Sauce it Up
You can stir sambal, chili garlic sauce, sriracha, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, gochujang, soy sauce, or any number of other sauces into your broth for more flavor. Or add them to the finished bowl as a sort of table seasoning.
How to make chicken ramen have more flavor?
Garlic and ginger are two aromatics that can help liven up the flavor of your broth. Not only do ginger and garlic bring a great punch of flavor, but they’re also an easy addition to your meal. After you fully remove the peel of your garlic cloves, simply drop them into the hot broth to disseminate their flavor.
What seasoning for chicken ramen?