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I Upgraded Instant Ramen Into Real Meals and Stopped Skipping Dinner
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items You get home at 8pm, too tired to cook but too broke to order delivery. So you stare at that packet of ramen and think ‘this isn’t dinner.' Wrong. With the right add-ins, toppings, and a couple of decent bowls, that 50-cent pack becomes something you...
Sections
7
Instant Ramen Packs Worth Building a Meal Around
Eggs and Proteins That Make Ramen Actually Filling
Frozen Vegetables That Actually Work in Ramen
Sauces and Seasonings That Change Everything
Fresh Toppings From the Fridge That Take 30 Seconds
Bowls and Utensils That Make Eating Ramen Feel Right
Instant Ramen Packs Worth Building a Meal Around
Not all ramen packets are created equal. Some taste like a salt lick, others have actual flavor you can work with. These are the ones that hold up when you start piling on toppings.
Grab this if you want a broth that actually has a kick. Before I found Shin, every bowl tasted like hot water with regret. The spice level wakes you up on those rough Tuesday nights.
Nongshim Shin Ramyun Green Ramen Noodle Soup Pack
Keep a stack of these in your pantry for when payday is still a week away. Toss in an egg and some frozen peas and suddenly it's a bowl your roommate wants to steal.
Maruchan, Ramen Noodle Soup, Chicken Flavor, 36 oz
Try this when you want to sweat through dinner on purpose. My partner thought I was crying the first time I ate it. For spice lovers who think Sriracha is mild.
Samyang Buldak Hot Spicy Chicken Ramen
Switch to this if regular instant ramen broth always disappoints you. The noodles are thicker and the pork flavor is creamy without being weird. Closest to restaurant ramen I've gotten from a packet.
Raoh Tonkotsu Ramen Noodle Soup, 3.53 oz Packet
Toss the soup idea entirely and go dry noodles with this one. Fry an egg on top, add cucumber slices, and you've got a 10-minute meal that tastes like you studied abroad in Jakarta.
Indomie Mi Goreng Instant Stir Fry Noodles Original Flavor
Use this if your stomach can't handle the spicy stuff but you still want real flavor. Lighter broth, clean taste, perfect when you're feeling a little under the weather and need something gentle.
(6 pack) Nongshim Soon Veggie Vegan Ramen Noodle
Eggs and Proteins That Make Ramen Actually Filling
Plain ramen leaves you hungry again in 45 minutes. Adding protein turned my sad bowl into something that actually kept me full until morning.
Soft boil one of these for 6.5 minutes, slice it in half, drop it in your broth. Before I started doing this, ramen was a snack. Now it's a meal. The runny yolk mixing into hot broth is unreal.
Great Value Large White Eggs, 12 Count
Slice a handful of these into your bowl when you literally cannot be bothered to cook a single thing from scratch. Perfect for the person who considers boiling water their maximum cooking effort.
Grilled Chicken Breast Strips, 22 oz (Frozen, Fully Cooked)
Pan-fry thin slices until they're crispy on the edges, then lay them across your noodles. Sounds weird until you try it. My Korean friend showed me this and I never went back to plain ramen.
SPAM, Classic Canned Meat, 3-12 oz., Gluten ...
Tear a few slices into your broth while it's still boiling. The fat renders out and adds this salty richness that makes cheap ramen taste expensive. Works especially well with miso-style broths.
Hormel Natural Choice Uncured Hard Salami Deli
Bake a handful of these and dump them right on top of your finished bowl. For anyone who wants seafood ramen but doesn't want to deal with raw shrimp and the smell lingering in your apartment for three days.
SeaPak Oven Crispy Popcorn Shrimp, Ready to Bake
Cube it, pan-fry it with a little soy sauce until golden, pile it on top. If you're plant-based and tired of ramen being just noodles and broth, this is how you fix it. Took me embarrassingly long to figure out.
Nasoya, Refrigerated Soy Extra Firm Organic Tofu, 14 oz
Frozen Vegetables That Actually Work in Ramen
Fresh veggies go bad before I remember to use them. Frozen bags sit in my freezer for weeks and drop right into boiling broth without any chopping or guilt.
Toss half a bag into your pot during the last two minutes of cooking. Carrots, corn, peas, green beans. Went from eating beige noodle soup to something with actual color and nutrients.
Birds Eye Steamfresh Mixed Vegetables
Drop a handful in while the noodles cook. Broccoli soaks up spicy broth like a sponge and adds crunch. For anyone whose doctor keeps saying ‘eat more greens’ and you keep nodding and not doing it.
Great Value Frozen Broccoli Florets Steamable Bag, 12 oz
Stir this in right at the end so it barely wilts. Adds iron, adds green, takes zero effort. My mom would be proud if she saw vegetables in my ramen. She won't, but still.
Birds Eye Chopped Spinach, Frozen Vegetables, 10 oz. Box
Use about a cup per bowl. Snap peas, water chestnuts, peppers. Makes your ramen look like it came from a stir-fry place. Stock up because this bag disappears faster than you'd expect.
Great Value Frozen Broccoli Stir Fry Mixed Vegetables 20
Swap out half the noodles for this if you're trying to eat lighter but still want a full bowl. Sounds suspicious, tastes legit. My skeptical brother tried it and asked for the recipe, which is literally just ‘add it.’
Green Giant Riced Veggies Cauliflower, 10 oz, ...
Sprinkle some into miso or chicken-flavored ramen. Sweet corn in broth is a Japanese ramen shop staple and it costs you about 15 cents per bowl. Wish someone had told me this years ago.
Great Value Frozen Whole Kernel Corn 12 oz ...
Sauces and Seasonings That Change Everything
The flavor packet gets you 60% of the way there. These extras close the gap between instant ramen and something you'd pay $16 for at a restaurant.
Splash a teaspoon into any ramen broth right before serving. Deepens the flavor without making it too salty if you only used half the seasoning packet. A bottle lasts forever and fixes bland bowls instantly.
Kikkoman Soy Sauce, 10 oz Bottle
Swirl this on top in a spiral. You know the move. For anyone who thinks the ‘spicy’ flavor packet is lying to them. A little goes a long way, but I always use too much and regret nothing.
Huy Fong Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce, 17oz Bottle
Drizzle about a spoon over your finished bowl. The red oil pools on top of the broth and adds this smoky heat that makes people ask what restaurant this is from. It's from my kitchen at midnight, thanks.
Roland Hot Chili Oil, 6.2 fl oz
Try a tiny splash in tonkotsu or miso ramen. Cuts through the richness and brightens the whole bowl. Figured this out by accident when I grabbed the wrong bottle and it turned out better than the original.
Mizkan Rice Vinegar, Mild Japanese Cooking
Dab a pea-sized amount into your broth and stir. Clears your sinuses and adds a sharp bite that pairs perfectly with seafood-style ramen. For the person who puts wasabi on everything and gets weird looks at dinner.
S&B Neri Wasabi Paste 1.52 Oz Box - Pack of 10
Finish every single bowl with three drops of this. Three. Not more, or it overpowers everything. The nutty aroma hits you before the first bite and makes the whole experience feel intentional instead of desperate.
Kadoya Pure Roasted Sesame Oil, 5.5 fl oz Bottle
Fresh Toppings From the Fridge That Take 30 Seconds
Frozen stuff handles the bulk, but a few fresh ingredients on top make your bowl look and taste like you actually tried. These all last a while in the fridge so nothing goes to waste.
Slice these thin and scatter them on top of literally every bowl. Takes 20 seconds, adds color and a sharp bite. Kept forgetting to buy them until I started putting them on my grocery list in all caps.
Fresh Whole Green Onion 1 Bunch, Fresh Produce
Grate a thumbnail-sized piece into spicy ramen broth. Warms you up from the inside when it's freezing outside. Grabbed this on a whim during a cold snap and now it's a permanent fixture in my fridge drawer.
Fresh Ginger Root, Each
Squeeze half a lime over your finished bowl, especially with chicken or shrimp flavors. The acid wakes everything up. Went from flat broth to bright broth with one squeeze. So simple it's almost annoying.
Fresh Lime, Each
Slice a few thin and drop them in during the last minute of cooking. They soak up broth and get silky. Perfect if you want that ramen-shop mushroom topping without buying fancy shiitakes.
Sliced Brown Mushroom, 8 Oz.
Spoon one of these single-serve cups on top of a spicy bowl. Creamy avocado plus hot broth is a combo that sounds wrong but works so well. For the person who puts avocado on everything, you know who you are.
Wholly Avocado Smashed Avocado Minis, 2 oz Plastic Cup
Bowls and Utensils That Make Eating Ramen Feel Right
Eating ramen out of a regular cereal bowl with a fork is technically possible but spiritually wrong. Getting proper bowls changed how much I enjoy the whole experience.
Deep enough to hold a full pack of ramen plus broth plus toppings without spilling. Eating from a real ramen bowl instead of a pasta plate made me feel like I had my life together. Low bar, but still.
Better Homes & Gardens 12 in Bamboo Melamine Serve
Grab these if you want something sturdy that goes in the dishwasher without drama. Wide mouth lets you pile on toppings. Replaced my sad mismatched mugs and suddenly dinner looked intentional.
Mainstays Dining and tableware bowls
Use a deep spoon to actually drink the broth instead of tipping the bowl like a caveman. These are the right shape for scooping noodles and liquid at the same time. Small upgrade, big difference.
HIWARE Matte Black Thick Heavy-Weight Soup Spoons
Pour hot broth over your arranged toppings without splashing yourself. Learned this the hard way after burning my hand with the ‘just tip the pot’ method. For anyone who's been there.
OXO Good Grips Brushed Stainless Steel Ladle
Keep a few of these around for prepping toppings before you assemble your bowl. Sliced green onions in one, corn in another, egg in a third. Makes the whole process feel organized instead of chaotic.
Libbey Moderno Glass Cereal Bowl in Clear, 12 piece set
Snacks and Sides That Round Out a Ramen Night
Sometimes ramen alone is perfect. Other nights you want a little something on the side to make it feel like an actual sit-down dinner instead of survival mode.
Microwave these for two minutes and serve them next to your ramen bowl. Suddenly you're having a full Asian-inspired dinner for under $4. My roommate started doing ramen night just because of these dumplings.
Bibigo Frozen Chicken & Vegetable Steamed Dumplings
Tear sheets of this and lay them on top of your broth or eat them on the side. Salty, crispy, and weirdly addictive. For anyone who saw seaweed in ramen shops and wondered where to buy it.
Annie Chuns Organic Seaweed Snacks, Sesame
Sprinkle a pinch on top of your finished bowl for unexpected crunch. Sounds bizarre but the texture contrast against soft noodles is addictive. Stole this trick from a cooking video at 2am and never stopped.
Shop Kikkoman Panko Bread Crumbs Japanese Style Food
Pile some alongside your bowl or drop it right into spicy broth. The tang and fermented funk cuts through rich broth perfectly. Once you start adding kimchi to ramen, plain ramen feels incomplete forever.
[KOREA] Jongga Sliced Kimchi 42.3 oz 2 pack
Eat a few slices between bites to reset your palate, especially with heavy tonkotsu-style bowls. Refreshing, slightly sweet, and makes you feel fancy for someone eating instant noodles at 11pm.
(3 pack) Roland Sushi Ginger, Sliced, 8 oz