Easy Homemade Ramen - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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Quick and easy homemade ramen. This broth is simple to make yet bold and flavorful. It’s perfect for pouring over some ramen noodles and loading up with your favorite toppings! This is an easy dinner that everyone will love!

Japanese food is one of my favorite cuisines. I love trying to recreate all of the delicious flavors at home! You should definitely give this hibachi chicken, chicken katsu, and seared ahi tuna a try!

Easy Homemade Ramen - The Recipe Critic (1)

Quick and Easy Japanese-Style Ramen

Ramen is one of my favorite comfort foods, especially when the temperatures drop! It’s important to note that this is NOT the ramen that I’m sure we’ve all had at some point in life, college days maybe? The days before a paycheck when you realize you only have a couple dollars to your name. I’m sure we’ve all had similar experiences.

This recipe is inspired by traditional Japanese ramen. I love it because it has rich, savory broth and of course – all of the delicious toppings! For my take on this recipe, I added sauteed mushrooms, bokchoy, sliced green onions, grilled chicken, and of course soft boiled eggs! The best part about making homemade ramen is that you can customize the broth and toppings exactly how you want! You’ll have to try these yakitori skewers as well for a dinner inspired by delicious Japanese cuisine.

Ingredients Needed

Here is everything you need to make the tasty, savory broth, as well as some topping ideas! The great thing about making homemade ramen is that you can customize the broth and mix and match toppings to your liking. Check out the recipe card below for exact measurements.

  • Sesame Oil: Used for cooking the vegetables in. I love using sesame oil to cook with because it adds the best nutty flavor.
  • Minced Garlic: Makes the broth nice and savory!
  • Ginger Paste: A classic ingredient in Asian cuisine. This adds zip to the flavor of the broth.
  • SlicedMushrooms: Regular brown mushrooms work great here! You can also use shiitake mushrooms.
  • Chicken Stock:Chicken broth is typically what I have on hand and great for a savory soup base. If you want your ramen to have more of the classic Tonkotsu flavor, use pork broth instead. You can also use vegetable broth as a vegetarian/vegan alternative.
  • Water: Adjusts the consistency of the ramen soup.
  • Soy Sauce: Add a splash for savory flavor!
  • Baby Bokchoy: I love adding greens to ramen. These can bechopped or left whole. You can also use spinach!
  • Instant Ramen Noodles: You only want the uncooked noodles. Throw out those seasoning packets! You can also use fresh ramen noodles if you can find them.
  • Salt and Pepper: Addto taste.

Optional Toppings

  • Grilled Chicken: I added sliced grilled chicken but you can also use pork or chashu. For a vegetarian protein, try adding tofu!
  • Soft Boiled Egg: A must-add for ramen.
  • Sliced Green Onions: Add extra flavor to the broth.
  • Sesame Seeds: For garnish and nutty flavor.

How to Make Homemade Ramen

It’s so easy! Plus, this homemade ramen comes together in less than 30 minutes, making it a great option for dinner on busy weeknights. The family is going to love it!

  1. Sauté Vegetables: Add the sesame oil into a large pot and heat over medium heat. Add in the garlic and ginger and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add in the sliced mushrooms and cook for 3-5 minutes or until softened.
  2. Add Liquids: Pour in the chicken stock, water, and soy sauce.
  3. Simmer: Then bring to a boil and simmer for about 5 minutes.
  4. Cook Bokchoy: Add the bokchoy and then simmer for an additional 2 minutes to soften the leaves.
  5. Add Noodles: Remove the pot from the heat. Then place the ramen noodles in the hot pot of broth. Allow the noodles to sit for ONLY a couple of minutes until they loosen and soften up. The noodles will soften quickly, so this should be done right before serving.
  6. Transfer to Serving Bowls: Divide the ramen, veggies, and broth evenly into bowls.
  7. Add Toppings: Top the ramen with sliced grilled chicken and soft boiled eggs. Then garnish with toppings of choice and enjoy!

Making Soft-Boiled Eggs

No ramen is complete without some soft-boiled eggs. I steam my eggs, and anywhere between 7-9 minutes will give a good soft boiled egg depending on how runny you want it. 7 minutes will give a pretty runny egg while 9 minutes gives a more formed center.

Easy Homemade Ramen - The Recipe Critic (2)

Ways to Customize Your Homemade Ramen

This ramen broth comes together easily and it’s so simple to customize. You’re going to love it! Homemade ramen is the perfect winter meal. It just warms the soul!

  • Want to Add More Flavor to Your Broth? Just sauté some aromatics: onion, garlic, ginger, miso, lemongrass. Feeling adventurous? Add in some sliced jalapeños. But be warned, the heat can get intense with just a small amount.
  • Topping Ideas: For the toppings you can really do whatever you want. We have done sliced up pork, beef, bacon, in this instance we went for chicken. Toss in some spring onion, dried seaweed, chopped red peppers, and a soft boiled ramen egg for a pretty epic flavor combo. You can also add narutomaki- these are the flat, round, pink and white fishcakes traditionally added to ramen. You can find them at your local Asian market.

How Long Does Homemade Ramen Last?

Once the noodles and all of the toppings are added, you’ll want to consume your ramen within an hour or two. If you need to store your ramen, store the noodles and broth separately so the noodles don’t get soggy.

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More Hearty Soup Recipes

Feeling the urge to cuddle up with some comforting soups? Here are a few more of my favorite recipes to warm you up from the inside out! They’re always a hit with everyone in my family and SO easy to make! Need more dinner inspo? Find my full list of soup recipes here.

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Easy Homemade Ramen

5 from 7 votes

By: Alyssa Rivers

Quick and easy homemade ramen. This broth is simple to make yet bold and flavorful. It’s perfect for pouring over some ramen noodles and loading up with your favorite toppings! This is an easy dinner that everyone will love!

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes minutes

Total Time: 23 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ginger paste
  • 1 1/2 cups mushrooms, sliced
  • 4 cups chicken stock or broth of choice
  • 4 cups water
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 5-6 leaves baby bokchoy, chopped or left whole
  • 4 packs of ramen noodles throw out those seasoning packets!!
  • salt and pepper to taste

Toppings:

  • 1 pound grilled chicken, sliced
  • 2 soft boiled egg, halved
  • 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
  • sesame seeds, for garnish

Instructions

  • Add the sesame oil into a large pot and heat over medium heat. Add in the garlic and ginger and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.

  • Add in the sliced mushrooms and cook for 3-5 minutes or until softened.

  • Pour in the chicken stock, water, and soy sauce.

  • Bring to a boil and simmer for about 5 minutes.

  • Add the boychoy and simmer for an additional 2 minutes to soften the leaves.

  • Remove the pot from the heat. Place the ramen noodles in the hot pot of broth. Allow the noodles to sit for ONLY a couple of minutes until they loosen and soften up. The noodles will soften quickly, so this should be done right before serving.

  • Divide the ramen, veggies, and broth evenly into bowls.

  • Top the ramen with sliced grilled chicken and soft boiled eggs. Garnish with toppings of choice and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Originally posted September 20, 2017

Updated December 1, 2022

Nutrition

Calories: 126kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 8gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 2328mgPotassium: 283mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 0.8mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Asian American, Japanese

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

Read More About Me

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Easy Homemade Ramen - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

What is the ramen hack? ›

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.

Is homemade ramen hard to make? ›

We'll be honest: Homemade ramen noodles are a lot of work, and Sakai's recipe requires some elbow grease (kneading by hand!) and special equipment (a pasta maker!), but don't let that scare you off: It's worth it, and we're here to guide you every step of the way.

What makes ramen taste better? ›

Insider talked to chefs about the best ways to upgrade instant ramen noodles. Cooking the noodles in stock can add flavor, and you can also add things like eggs or bacon. Soy sauce, herbs, and seaweed are also easy additions that can boost instant ramen's flavor.

Why was ramen illegal in Japan? ›

Wheat products, such as bread and noodles, became a popular alternative. During the war, the Japanese government banned outdoor food vendors to control rationing. American troops maintained this ban during their occupation, so many Japanese people turned to black market food carts for “stamina food.”

What are the 5 things in ramen? ›

Ramen is a Japanese noodle soup dish with Chinese-style alkaline noodles. It is the harmony of five key elements of ramen: broth, tare (sauce), noodles, toppings, and oil.

What is the hardest ramen to make? ›

While there are many good, humble bowls of shio out there, many ramen chefs see this as the most difficult type of ramen to make, since they can't rely on incredibly flavorful miso and soy sauce to provide the dimension their broth might otherwise lack.

Can you crack an egg into ramen to cook? ›

In a medium bowl, combine the noodles and the seasoning packet with 2 cups of water and microwave on high power until the noodles are cooked, 4 minutes. Stir the noodles and crack the egg on top. Microwave on high power until the egg white is just cooked through but the yolk is still runny in the center, 1 minute.

What meat to use in homemade ramen? ›

Adding Meat: To make a heartier version of ramen, add cooked shredded chicken, shrimp, or cooked and diced pork chops to the ramen along with the noodles to warm the meat through. Lower-Sodium: Use low-sodium broth and low-sodium soy sauce to help control the level of sodium in this ramen.

How to make Kylie Jenner top 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.

How to make ramen like a pro? ›

First, bring the water to boil in a pot, and then add the noodles. Once the noodles soften, bring the water temperature down to low heat and add the seasoning packet for flavor. After the noodles cool down, transfer them to a bowl, and enjoy!

What pairs well with ramen? ›

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 do you make ramen taste authentic? ›

Add seasonings and toppings

Using fresh green onions, nori- Japanese seaweed, garlic and ginger are also great ways to add some spices to your ramen broth. If you prefer your ramen a little spicy, Kimchi- a traditional Korean side dish can top off your ramen for an extra spicy boost.

References

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