The orange square packs of instant ramen are praised by college students and budget-shoppers alike. They are also scorned by foodies and connoisseurs of real ramen. Perhaps there is a middle ground? I think we can all agree, that little sodium-filled packet of harsh flavors and additives has got to go. But the noodles themselves? Perfect for tossing into a salad or a skillet meal. Let’s check out some Asian-inspired dinners made easy thanks to instant ramen!
Asian Chicken Noodle Soup
When we were thinking of what to make for dinner last week, we initially were going to make our classic version of this staple, but then we noticed we had a couple of things in our pantry that could give this dish some Asian flair. Coconut milk, ramen noodles, fresh ginger, cilantro, and soy sauce are just some of the more unusual chicken noodle soup ingredients, and the flavor they add is really something! Get the recipe here!
15-Minute Spicy Thai Noodles
Using a couple of pantry staples we were able to make a flavorful, perfectly spicy, noodle bowl that tastes like it could have come from our favorite take-out spot. If you’re picturing tons of ingredients, some of which you can’t even pronounce, you’re in for a treat – this is seriously so easy. Store-bought ramen packages (you can save or throw away the included flavor packets since we don’t use them in this), chicken breast, brown sugar, sriracha, soy sauce, peanuts, garlic, and ginger do all the heavy lifting here and make this dish really pop. Get the recipe here!
Asian Ramen Noodle Salad
It’s so sad that salads get such a bad rap sometimes, or that people only think of them as being boring – they are incredibly versatile and such a great option when you want to whip up something healthy and flavorful for your family; plus, it’s so easy to cater them to your tastes, or use them as an opportunity to clean out your fridge. Instead of your typical, run of the mill version with mixed greens, we wanted to put an Asian spin on our meal and make Asian ramen noodle salad the other night. While you might not think you can mix up a tasty Asian dish, bursting with all the traditional flavors you love, don’t worry, one quick trip to the grocery store is all you need to get this dinner on the table. Get the recipe here!
20-Minute Beef & Broccoli Ramen Stir Fry
Whenever I get Chinese takeout, my go-to dish is beef broccoli. There’s just something about the tender, juicy beef coupled with the snap of broccoli that is so satisfying! Typically beef broccoli is served with rice, but the switch-up in this recipe is noodles that are cooked right in the same pan, making this meal not only quick and easy to cook, but easy to clean up as well. That’s a win-win in my book. Get the recipe here!
Egg Roll Ramen Skillet
When eating out or ordering Chinese food, a side of egg rolls is always a must. There’s just something about the combination of sweet and tender cabbage and carrots with savory pork that’s hard to beat. So why not take that winning flavor combination and turn it into a main dish? An excellent plan if I’ve ever heard one. That’s just what we’ve done here with our Egg Roll Ramen Skillet. It’s a one-dish dinner that has that sublimely savory egg roll flavor tossed in with the carby comfort of ramen noodles. (In other words, yum.) Get the recipe here!