This recipe for Spicy Ramen Noodles is a serious upgrade on the standard seasonings. Garlicky ramen noodles are mix with a simple yet spicy sauce, then served with fresh scallions sprinkled on top.
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YUM!!! I made this for lunch yesterday and I'm still thinking about it. Great recipe! Making it again today.
Why You’ll Love These Spicy Ramen Noodles
In addition to be totally delicious, there is a lot to love about this hot and spicy ramen recipe:
- Affordable. As every young college student knows, ramen noodles are the most budget-friendly food you can buy. Any brand or flavor works here since you’ll toss the flavor packet to make your own sauce.
- Adaptable. Whether you’re a true heat-seeker and hot sauce fanatic, or just appreciate a touch of warmth, you can easily adjust the spice level to taste.
- Quick. From start to finish, you can have a hearty meal on the table in just 10 minutes. That’s much faster than ordering takeout or picking up a prepared meal at the grocery store!
- SO tasty. Every bite of this ramen noodles dish is spicy, garlicky and oh so flavorful. You can serve it with your favorite mains or make yourself a big bowl and dig in.
What You’ll Need
Here’s a quick look at what you’ll need to make spicy ramen. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for ingredient amounts:
- Dry ramen noodles – You’ll need 3 packages of 3 ounces each, for 9 ounces of dry noodles in all.
- Unsalted butter
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Fresh ginger – If you can’t find fresh ginger, you can also use the kind you find in a tube. You’ll need about 2 teaspoons if you are using the paste.
- Scallions – Separate the green and white parts. We’ll sauté the hardier white bottoms and reserve the delicate green tops for garnish.
- Crushed chili flakes
- Brown sugar – Just enough to balance out the heat, not make it overtly sweet.
- Soy Sauce – Use low-sodium or “lite” soy sauce.
- Mirin – Otherwise known as Japanese cooking sake, this is a seasoned rice wine with added salt and sugar. You can find it in the import section of most grocery stores.
- Fish Sauce – Add instant umami with just a small splash of fish sauce. It might smell strongly fishy, but don’t worry! It only tastes subtly savory when used in small amounts.
- Sesame oil – Toasted sesame oil is best for the richest flavor.
- Chili garlic sauce – Anywhere from 1 to 3 teaspoons should do the trick; personally, I think 2 teaspoons is perfect, but spice preferences are subjective.
- Sriracha – I love the balanced sweetness and relatively mild warmth that sriracha is known for, but you can use any other hot sauce if you prefer a sharper bite.
How to Make Spicy Ramen Noodles
This kind of recipe is based upon intuitive cooking. There’s a good chance you can nail the recipe without even reading the instructions, but for best results, here’s the full rundown:
- Prepare the sauce while heating the water for the noodles to save time. All you need to do is whisk together the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl until incorporated.
- Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-low heat, along with the olive oil, garlic, ginger, and white parts of the scallions. Cook on low for 3 minutes, until aromatic, then add the chili flakes.
- Cook the ramen according to the package directions and drain thoroughly. Add the noodles to the skillet, tossing with tongs to combine.
- Add the sauce mixture and toss until well incorporated. Cook on low heat for about 2 to 3 minutes, until there’s no excess liquid remaining
- Remove from the heat and top with scallion greens. Enjoy hot!
Can I Use Other Kinds of Noodles?
No ramen? No problem! You can use pretty much any type of noodle you have on hand, including gluten-free alternatives if needed. Just be sure to follow the cooking instructions on the package to make sure they’re perfectly al dente. A few suggestions for what I’ve found work best include:
- Spaghetti
- Linguine
- Udon
- Soba
- Rice vermicelli
Tips for Success
Consider this spicy noodles recipe your blank canvas to dress up or down to your heart’s content. The real beauty of this formula is that it’s impossible to go wrong. Here are some tips for success, and ideas on how to make it your own:
- Drain the noodles thoroughly. You don’t want to water down the dish with the excess cooking liquid. It’s also important to stop the cooking process quickly so the noodles don’t get overdone and become mushy.
- Start with less hot sauce and add to taste. A little bit of chili garlic sauce and sriracha can go a long way, so start with a small amount and dial it up as needed. You can always add more, but you can’t take it out!
Variation Ideas
- Dress it up with veggies for more flavor and nutrition. This is a perfect opportunity to mix in some wilted spinach to get your greens in. Try adding lightly bean sprouts, sliced bell peppers, snap peas, or asparagus to add veggie goodness with a satisfying crunchy contrast.
- Speaking of crunch, don’t forget that chopped peanuts make an excellent topper. Toast them lightly in a dry skillet if they’re not already roasted to really bring out their rich, nutty flavor.
- Make it vegan and/or vegetarian. Simply swap out the fish sauce for soy sauce, use more olive oil instead of butter, and you’re good to go!
- Pump up the protein. Crispy tofu is a perfect pairing, as is sautéed shrimp, shredded chicken, beef strips, or any combination of those options. I have even been known to add leftover steak.
What to Serve with Spicy Noodles
You can serve these spicy ramen noodles with vegetable stir-fries, soups, salads, or any protein you prefer. Classic accompaniments include hot and sour soup, wonton soup, miso soup, sauteed greens, and maple tofu. I love serving them with spring rolls!
How to Store and Reheat Extras
This is such a crowd-pleasing recipe that it’s unlikely you’ll have leftovers, but in case you want to prep ahead, it does keep well in the fridge.
- Fridge. Store any extras in an airtight container for 5 – 7 days in the fridge.
- To reheat. Add a small splash of water or vegetable broth to loosen up the noodles, and microwave at full power for 60 – 90 seconds, stirring well, until hot all the way through.
More Pasta Dinner Ideas
Spicy Ramen Noodles
Make instant ramen noodles more exciting with a hot and spicy sauce that comes together in minutes. Everyone will adore this quick-fix meal!
Ingredients
Noodles:
- 3 packages ramen noodles, noodles only, toss the broth packets
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 cloves fresh garlic, minced, 2-3 tablespoons total
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- Scallions, white and green parts chopped separately
- Generous pinch of crushed chili flakes
For the Sauce:
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons mirin
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1-3 tablespoons chili garlic sauce, depending on how much heat you want (I use 2)
- ½ – 1 tablespoon sriracha, depending on how much heat you want
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to boil. While the water is heating, make the sauce by combining the sugar, soy sauce, mirin, fish sauce, sesame oil, chili garlic sauce and sriracha in a bowl. Mix well. Set aside.
- Melt the butter. In a medium sized skillet over medium low heat melt the butter. Add the olive oil, garlic, ginger and white parts of the scallions. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring constantly for about 3 minutes. Add chili flakes.
- Cook your ramen noodles. You can do this according to the package directions. This usually takes about 3 minutes. Drain the noodles and add them to the buttery garlic and ginger mixture, tossing the noodles with tongs.
- Add sauce mixture to the noodles and toss until well incorporated. Cook on low heat for about 2-3 minutes, until excess liquid has evaporated and the noodles have absorbed some of the spicy sauce.
- Turn off the heat and serve. Sprinkle scallion greens on top.
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Notes
This recipe makes 2 servings if you are just eating two big bowls of noodles, or 3-4 servings if you are serving with something else.
Nutrition
Calories: 456kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 2222mg | Potassium: 145mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 361IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
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Love this noodle recipe!
Wonderful! Thank you for letting me know!
Very easy and tasty!
So glad you like the recipe! We are big spice noodle fans in our house too. 🙂
Loved this recipe. These noodles really hit the spot.
So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
YUM!!! I made this for lunch yesterday and I’m still thinking about it. Great recipe! Making it again today.
Thank you for trying the recipe and letting me know you liked it!
That’s sound delicious i’m going to try this reciepe, thanks for sharing
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!