32 Best Cheap Ramen Noodle Recipes

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Ramen noodles have helped the lives of many people over the world. From college students, to struggling families, to those who have a tight budget or maybe just don’t feel like going to the grocery store. Cheap Ramen noodle recipes are a life-saver.

When it comes to quick and easy meals that cost little to nothing, ramen noodles are the ultimate recipe.

While they may not be the healthiest option, having them on hand in the pantry for emergencies (or when you’re craving a quick snack) is usually a good idea.

In this article, we will be looking at 32 of the greatest, cheapest ramen noodles recipes you can whip up within the comfort of your own kitchen.

So, let’s get started!

How To Use Ramen Noodles To Create Tasty Meals

While having a stash of ramen noodles may seem like a good way to save money at the time, it can be challenging to figure out how to make them into exciting – or at the very least, not boring – meals.

Yes, you can eat them on their own, but where is the fun in that? Beside the tiny packet of flavoring that may come along with it, you will basically be eating a plain bowl of noodles.

You should add a few of extra components to the mix to guarantee that the end product is a great, worthwhile meal.

Here are a couple of tips that may help you in the long run.

Try Out Different Brands

Have you been playing it safe with the same, old brand of ramen for as long as you can remember? Why not try experimenting with new ones, testing out some different tastes?

Ramen noodles come with many different flavors of seasoning packs, including chicken, beef, oriental, and kimchi.

If you have been playing it safe with chicken all these years, why not switch it up? 

It’s important to remember that the seasoning packs act as a stock, so you could even throw the pack away and use your own stock!

Experiment with different flavors, and who knows? You could discover your very own, unique, homemade favorite flavor of ramen.

Maruchen is a well-known brand of Ramen noodles. You can get this pack of 24 chicken flavored noodles for $9! That is a cheap meal.

Another well known brand with a variety of noodle flavors including hot and spicy is Paldo which you can purchase here on Amazon.

Adding Extra Ingredients

The key to creating not only a tasty meal, but a nutritious meal, is to add plenty of yummy, vitamin-packed veggies. Plus, veggies are inexpensive and easy on the budget.

Here are a couple of vegetables that you should consider adding to your next ramen recipe:

• Mushrooms
• Cilantro
• Celery
• Carrots
• Cabbage
• Garlic

Meat and fish are also a great way to pack some protein into your dish, as well as adding some well-deserved flavor. 

As long as you’re not a vegetarian, here are some yummy ingredients that will definitely improve your plain, flavorless noodles:

• Chicken
• Pork
• Shrimp
• Beef

Additionally, here are some other ingredients that will never fail to give a plain bowl of ramen noodles some extra flair:

• Eggs
• Cheese
• Peanuts
• Tofu

32 Yummy, Cheap Ramen Noodle Recipes

Below, we have listed 32 tasty ramen noodle recipes that include all four of the meaty/fishy ingredients that we previously mentioned.

We have also included a list of the greatest vegetarian recipes.

So, let’s waste no more time! Let’s dive straight into these delicious, easy-to-make recipes.

Chicken Ramen Noodle Recipes

Chicken-flavored ramen noodles are the favorite of many, even without adding extra ingredients.

However, if you haven’t already, you should definitely consider adding some chicken breast into your noodles to enhance the flavor.

You can incorporate meat and flavors into your cheap Ramen recipes to make it more interesting. You can even just add chicken broth!

Here are some delicious chicken ramen noodles recipes for you to try that are easy on the budget.

1. Easy Chicken Ramen Noodles

This chicken and ramen meal can be made in 30 minutes! It is very flavorful and with chicken and an egg it is packed with protein.

2. Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup

Delish is an all star recipe site with tons of great stuff to try. This chicken noodle soup with Ramen is comfort food in a bowl.

3. Chicken Ramen Noodle Stir Fry

There are so many options of ways to make stir fry. It is healthy, inexpensive and easy to cook as well! Try this ramen noodle stir fry with chicken for an easy weeknight meal.

4. Slow Cooker Chicken Ramen Noodles

If you are looking for easy recipes to try the slow cooker, or crock pot, is always a winner. Try this cooked ramen noodles recipe in the slow cooker.

If you don’t have a slow cooker or need an upgraded one, try this Instant Pot from Duo Nova that includes a slow cooker function as well as a few other options.

5. Thai Chicken Ramen

For something more exotic, they this Thai flavored instant ramen recipe. It includes a thai green curry paste, coconut milk and crushed peanuts.

6. One Pot Teriyaki Ramen Chicken

Teriyaki is such a great flavor! It really helps the cooked noodles taste more like a restaurant meal. Try this teriyaki one for something unique and quick to put together.

7. Skillet Chicken Ramen Noodles

Only 30 minutes to make this quick meal and cooking it in a skillet gives a whole different flavor to this super cheap chicken dish. Plus it is a good one to use in your meal prep plan.

8. Healthy Chicken Ramen Bowl

Clean eating can still be cheap eating! Love this healthy, noodle bowl recipe with chicken broth. You can cook this entire dish in one pot and in 20 minutes!

Pork Ramen Noodle Recipes

Pork ramen is a staple dish in Japanese culture, and for good reason. The juicy meat does wonders for the flavors of the overall cooked noodles!

If you want to amp up the flavor and protein level of your low cost ramen noodle recipe just add pork.

Once you try pork in your ramen, you probably won’t go back. It turns it into a hearty meal.

Here are some yummy pork ramen noodle recipes.

9. Egg Roll Noodles

Veggies, meat and lots of noodles make this a power packed and tasty ramen recipe. Plus the flavor is like an egg roll!

10. Spicy Pork Ramen Noodle Soup

It only takes 30 minutes to make this spicy and comforting pork and noodle soup. Garlic and ginger provide flavor.

11. Easy Japanese Ramen Noodles

This is a legitimate Japanese recipe. Bean sprouts, spinach, and cabbage are just a few of the healthy veggies in this.

12. Pork Ramen Noodles

Cookiesandcups.com gives lots of options for this pork ramen. Like swapping out the noodles, or making it spicy or sweeter. And, it is an easy one to whip together! She even says you could swap the sauce out for BBQ for different take!

13. Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder Ramen

Another tasty; slow cooker instant ramen meal with pork and a nice soy sauce flavoring. It includes the chicken and pork flavor of traditional Japanese tonkatsu ramen.

14. Spicy Pork Ramen (Ja-Ja Men)

Ja Ja Men in Japanese means fried sauce noodles. This is a delicious, spicy pork dish in a salty and savory sauce.

Shrimp Ramen Noodle Recipes

Instant ramen noodles mixed with some juicy shrimp is another favorite of many, especially with some added smoky bacon and some fresh veggies.

For those in the pescatarian club, these ramen noodle recipes are for you! Shrimp is an excellent way to include protein.

Here are some delicious and cheap shrimp ramen noodles recipes for you to try out.

15. Easy Shrimp Ramen Soup

With sesame oil in it, this is a nice, traditional shrimp ramen soup. Comforting and easy to make! Even though it is a soup, the addition of shrimp makes it feel like a complete meal.

16. Garlic Shrimp Ramen

Garlic, shrimp and broccoli turn instant ramen into a flavor-packed meal everyone will love. Did you know that broccoli has major cancer fighting abilities?

17. 20-Minute Sriracha Shrimp Ramen

Warning, this isn’t for anyone who doesn’t like spice! Sriracha heatens up these shrimp instant noodles.

18. Spicy Shrimp And Ramen Soup

Caramelized shallots, green onions, jumbo shrimp and tons of vegetables make this spicy homemade ramen dish delightful.

19. Chili Lime Shrimp Ramen Noodles

Garlic, ginger, sesame oil, shallots, and chili powder means you can ditch the standard seasoning packet and make a tasty shrimp ramen with spicy lime flavoring.

Low Budget Beef Ramen Noodle Recipes

You may have tried beef-flavored ramen noodles, but have you tried ramen noodles mixed in with some decadent slices of roast beef?

If not, we have a treat in store for you. We definitely recommend giving the following inexpensive ramen recipes a try.

Here are a handful of beef-filled ramen noodles.

20. Beef And Broccoli Ramen

Beef, broccoli, minced garlic and sriracha hot sauce make this Asian-inspired homemade ramen meal flavorful.

21. Garlic Beef And Veggie Ramen

Soy sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, garlic and some other flavorful ingredients help make this beef and veggie dish super tasty.

22. Cheeseburger Ramen Casserole

Bet you didn’t know you could make an all American cheeseburger casserole with ramen! Ditch the standard ramen packet for this unique and hearty meal.

23. Mongolian Beef Ramen Noodles 

Mongolian beef is its own unique and hearty flavor. Spice up your ramen with this complete meal recipe. The recipe calls for flank steak, bell peppers, green onions and a bunch of flavorful ingredients.

24. Healthy Ramen Noodles Stir Fry

Another stir fry dish that is healthy and easy to make. It includes bell peppers, broccoli, onions and ground beef. If you make a lot of stir fry you could consider investing in a wok to make cooking easier.

Vegetarian Ramen Noodle Recipes

Lastly, we have the vegetarian options for those who steer far away from meat. Even if you do eat meat, these cheap Ramen recipes are so delicious that anyone will love them!

Fresh veggies are great, no matter what your diet preference, and super healthy.

Here are some veggie-filled cheap ramen noodle recipes for you to try. You can also take most of the meat recipes in this post and just substitute tofu for the meat and create a vegetarian dish.

You can also try these vegetarian meal prep recipes to prepare for your whole week.

25. Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles

With toasted sesame flavors, a little spice and a little brown sugar, this garlic instant noodles dish is a crowd pleaser.

26. Crunchy Asian Ramen Noodle Salad

You can actually make a healthy salad with Ramen! This one is Asian flavored with sliced almonds for the crunch. It also includes avocado, edamame and coal slaw mix.

27. Cheesy Ramen Noodle Bowls

I don’t know about you but I love cheese. Which is why this cheesy ramen bowl is so good! It is a really simple recipe and one even picky kids will like.

28. 5-Ingredient Ramen With An Egg

Only five ingredients including a sunny side up egg for protein! Parmesan cheese and mixed veggies give flavor.

29. Shiitake Mushroom Kale Ramen

Shiitake mushrooms, kale, vegetable stock and ginger give this easy meal a fantastic and comforting flavor.

30. Sesame Peanut Butter Noodles

Peanut sauce is another one of my favorites. Try this thai inspired, peanut flavored noodles dish. This recipe features honey, soy sauce and peanut butter and only takes 10 minutes to make!

31. Spicy & Creamy Miso Instant Ramen

Spicy and creamy make an ideal mix for homemade ramen. Plus you can add your own toppings like dried mushrooms or roasted seaweed to make it your own.

The recipe calls for unsweetened soy milk as the cream base, perfect it you try to steer clear of regular milk.

32. Sesame Noodles Recipe

The fact that this sesame recipe can be served warm or cold makes it an excellent option for meal prepping or even a nice side dish.

How to Upgrade Your Ramen Recipes

Even though it is very cheap and budget-friendly, and seems like a super simple ingredient, Ramen can be turned into a gourmet meal very easily.

You don’t have to just eat it the way it comes! You can even build your own easy cheap ramen recipes using your favorite ingredients.

Here are some tips on how to turn ramen into an upgraded and flavorful meal.

Add Sauce

You can make just about any sauce, throw in some instant ramen noodles and have a meal. Teriyaki, sesame, and peanut sauce are just a few of the options. Oyster sauce and even barbeque can be used as well.

Even just a simple soy sauce or hoisin sauce will work.

Mix Up the Base Broth

If you don’t want to use the seasoning packet that comes with the ramen you can make your own broth.

Try chicken broth, bone broth mix in, or better than bouillon for a heavier flavor. Just cooking the instant needles in broth instead of water will make a big difference in flavor.

Add MEat

Another easy way to improve the flavor of ramen and turn it into a heartier meal is simply to add meat.

Pork or chicken mix well with instant ramen noodles. Turkey is of course a leaner and healthier meat, plus it is less expensive. There are many Asian recipes with meat and noodles that you can use.

If you are a vegetarian but still want the added protein you can add tofu or eggs. A soft boiled egg, sunny side up, or hard boiled egg can be added on top of your meal.

Or you can just mix the egg into ramen soup and let it cook into little bits. I always add an egg this way into a basic ramen packet when making soup and it is delicious.

Add Your Favorite Flavors

You can add your favorite spice. Or maybe ginger, lime, or garlic just to name a few. Just pick your favorite extra flavors and mix them in.

Sriracha or your favorite spicy sauce will add some heat.

Include Veggies

Vegetables will help make your meals healthier. But, they will also make more of a meal out of a ramen noodle base.

You can add cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, mushrooms or pretty much any of your favorite veggies.

If you have something in the fridge that is about to go bad, mix it together with an instant ramen package and make a meal!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Make $1 Ramen Better?

The nice thing about ramen is it is a super cheap base for some excellent meals. You can make it better just by adding a few simple ingredients and still be saving money.

And you can mix and match what you do, the options for a variety of meals is endless.

Here are some ways to make ramen taste better:

• It’s all about the sauce! You can add teriyaki sauce, peanut or sesame.
• Add flavored ingredients like ginger, green onions, garlic.
• Mix in some meat. Any type of meat will upgrade your ramen. Chicken or pork are two favorites but you can also use beef like flank steak or roast even depending on the recipe. If you are a vegetarian, you can opt for tofu instead.
• Add an egg. Mixing an egg into the actual broth and letting it cooked, or adding a cooked egg on top will add protein and flavor to your dish.
• Veggie upgrades. Mix in your favorite veggies for a healthy, extra flavor.
• Additional flavors and textures. You can add hot sauce, sesame oil, lime, chili, bacon bits or fresh herbs like basil to amp up your ramen meals!

What Can I Make With a Package of Ramen Noodles?

You can make just about anything with Ramen. You can use them as a base for soups, salads, stir fry, casseroles and more.

Just use your imagination!

Here are some meals you can make with a package of ramen:

• Stir fry
• Chicken noodle soup
• Any type of soup
• One pot meals
• Slow cooker dishes
• Thai or Asian inspired meals
• Gnocchi
• Skillet dishes
• Casseroles
• Noodle slaw
• Side dishes

Final Thoughts

So, there we have it: those are our 32 top picks for delicious and cheap ramen noodle recipes. You don’t have to eat boring, plain noodles to save money.

You can make a full and healthy meal from ramen, just get creative! We hope our chosen recipes have inspired you to create some of your own!

Good luck, and happy cooking.

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