Easy Ramen Ideas

If you’re sick of eating the same ramen bowls every semester, try out these 10 quick hacks to spice up your noodles

Ramen noodles: one of the easiest yet most versatile meals for anyone. You can eat it raw, cooked, or turn it into a gourmet meal and it’s sure to fill you up without emptying your wallet. It’s the perfect meal for any broke college student, and there are so many different combinations and meal ideas to go with it. Check out these ten quick and easy ramen noodle ideas to spice up your meals and get you through the semester.

Spicy Ramen
Mix in any spices or sauces you have laying around to add as much heat to your bowl as you desire. My favorites are sriracha, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. You can also try other spices like cayenne pepper, curry powder, or even sliced jalapeno’s if you really want to bring the heat.

Uncooked
If you’re tight on time and feeling up for it, you can even eat the noodles raw. If this doesn’t sound too appealing to you, try sprinkling the seasoning powder in a bag with them and shake it up. Dip the noodles in salsas, dips or dressings and you have one of the simplest college snacks.

Ram n’ Cheese
Another simple snack with a bold twist. prepare your ramen normally, then before you eat it while it’s still hot, mix in two slices of your favorite cheese and you’ve created a whole different meal.it doesn’t get much easier than this!

Ramen Burrito
This one takes a little more prep time and ingredients but definitely worth it in the end. It’s basically just a normal burrito with noodles replacing the rice. Make sure to drain your noodles thoroughly or you’ll be stuck with a soggy burrito.

Ramen Noodle Salad
If you’re getting bored of your boring daily salad, add a little flavor by sprinkling on some crunched up dry noodles. The prep time for this one might even be quicker than the ramen noodle soup. The dried noodles will help to give your salad a crunchy bite, without all the calories of salted croutons.

Mexican Taco Ramen
If you want tacos but don’t feel like putting all the effort into a full dinner, go halfway and try a taco ramen soup. You can either sprinkle the taco seasoning in your broth or mix it in as you’re frying the beef. I like mixing the seasoning with the ramen while it’s cooking then frying this beef with chili powder to give it an extra kick of spice. Simply drain the cooked noodles and top them with the beef, cheese, tomato, sour cream, or whatever other taco toppings you prefer.

Thai Peanut Noodles
With just a few simple ingredients you can turn a simple bowl of ramen into an exquisite Thai meal in minutes. Boil the ramen as you would normally but save about 1/3 of the water for the peanut butter mixture. Mix your leftover water with peanut butter and soy sauce and mix it with your noodles. You can even throw in some shredded rotisserie chicken if you’re feeling a little crazy.

Add Veggies
This one doesn’t take much prep time and you can usually find all the supplies in your fridge. Some of my personal favorites are broccoli, carrots, and mushrooms but you can even add bell peppers, cabbage, and asparagus depending on your personal preference. Next time you’re at the store grab a bag of frozen veggies and you’ll be set on meals for weeks.

Add Your Own Broth
This one takes a little more prep time and ingredients but definitely worth it in the end. It’s basically just a normal burrito with noodles replacing the rice. Make sure to drain your noodles thoroughly or you’ll be stuck with a soggy burrito.

Add Toppings
This is a simple way to spice up your bowl without much effort at all. Some of my favorite toppings are bacon bits, sesame seeds, and green onions. You’ll be surprised how much-added flavor a few simple toppings can bring.

Check out this blog for other easy recipes to make in your dorm room.

Check out our full Back to College blog series for more inspiration.

Chelsea McCulley is the Digital Asset Manager at mDesign
and an avid reader and Jane Austen fan.

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