Money is tight, and instant ramen noodles are cheap, but they aren’t the healthiest. However, there are a number of budget-friendly and deliciously healthy ways to make instant ramen noodles filling and a little more diverse.
Cheap Instant Ramen Noodle Recipes
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, the economy is a hot mess between insane inflation and shortages. A lot of people are struggling to put food on the table and resorting to cheaper eats. Nothing is wrong with that, and I’m all for budgeting and minimizing costs.
But I also know food is important to our health and in order for us to be in good health we have to be able to get a range of food into our systems so that we’re getting proper vitamins and minerals. So, that being said we have to spice up those noodles.
Cheap Instant Ramen Noodle Recipes
1. Vegetable Stir-Fry Instant Ramen Noodle Recipe
Vegetables are generally cheap. So you can have all the fresh veggies on hand or grab a bag of stir fry veggies at the store. The veggies will go well with the chicken, beef, or whatever flavored broth that comes with your ramen noodles. Your stir-fry ramen noodles will be feeling and delicious!
2. Kylie Jenner Instant Ramen Noodle Recipe
This is a ramen noodle recipe I have found that is full of protein and fat. While eggs may not be the cheapest right now, a dozen should feed a family of 4 at least 3 bowls of ramen if you use 1 egg per bowl. Eggs for where I live right now is $3.89, still pricy, but doable for my family anyway. That aside, you will need eggs, ramen noodles, and butter to make these Kylie Jenner ramen noodle recipe.
I personally like add green onions to mine. They’re cheap, something fresh, and really bring up the noodles.
3. Cheesy Instant Ramen Noodle Recipe
This one is so simple! While I can’t have dairy, this will be perfect for any macaroni lover! All you need for this cheesy ramen noodle recipe is ramen noodles and American cheese! It is creamy, sweet, and rich! I bet it is so good.
4. Sesame Garlic Instant Ramen Noodle Recipe
Yum! Sesame garlic ramen noodles sound so good. Sesame oil, brown sugar, garlic, and soy sauce (or Worcestershire sauce if you’re like me with a soy allergy.) Plus fresh green onions and sesame seeds on top for a nice crunch. Sounds delicious to me,
5. Mayo Instant Ramen Noodle Recipe
Who would of thought of putting mayo in ramen noodles? Believe it or not mayo ramen noodles are pretty good. I was surprised too. Add a soft boiled egg for protein, green onions, and seaweed! I really enjoy it and hopefully you do too!
6. Breakfast Instant Ramen Noodle Recipe
Breakfast is perfect for dinner. Add ham lunch meat, eggs, bell peppers, and onions. It’s like a ramen noodle omelet. It’s filling simple, and honestly, if you don’t have bell peppers or onions, use what you have on hand! Make this breakfast ramen noodle recipe your own!
7. Curry Instant Ramen Noodle Recipe
I love curry. And it is anti-inflammatory, the curry anyway. Curry powder, mayo, ramen noodles, fresh green onions and ramen noodles are all you really need for this delicious curry ramen noodle recipe! If you like spicy ramen noodles, this is for you!
8. Teriyaki Instant Ramen Noodle Recipe
Teriyaki ramen noodles are easy to make and tasty! All you need is teriyaki sauce, mushrooms, broccoli, peas, and onions make this ramen noodle dish so delicious and filling.
9. Creamy Cheesy Chicken Instant Ramen Noodle Recipe
If you love rich noodles, than this creamy cheesy chicken ramen noodle recipe is for you! Cream of chicken, cheddar, canned chicken is so yummy and perfect if you have kids! Add a fresh element like shaved carrots, pea pods, green onions, to make it more flavorful!
10. Spicy Peanut Butter Instant Ramen Noodle Recipe
I haven’t tried these, because I have a nut allergy, but I used to love noodles and salads with peanut dressing and sauce. So it definitely piqued my interest. Chili garlic sauce, peanut butter, brown sugar, and soy sauce is all you need for this rich and creamy spicy peanut butter ramen noodle recipe.
Instant Ramen Protein Ideas
Need protein? Try leftover meats like pork, chicken, whatever is on hand. You can also use cheaper meats like:
- Canned Meats
- Imitation Crab Meat
- Chicken Hearts
- Chicken Quarters
- Ground Pork
Don’t discount vegetables though! There are plenty of vegetables with protein in them and veggies tend to be a little cheaper, most of the time, not all the time. The veggies with the highest protein are:
- Green Peas
- Spinach
- Artichokes
- Corn
- Avocado
- Asparagus
- Brussel Sprouts
- Mushrooms
- Kale
What Are Ramen Noodles?
Never had ramen noodles before? New to the ramen noodle game. Got you covered! Ramen noodles are similar to udon noodles. Both are a wheat-based noodle that originally came from Japan. It is chewy and springy.
Popular Instant Ramen Noodle Brands
There are so many ramen noodle brands. I know we generally only see a few at the large box stores, but there are a number of popular ramen noodle brands. They’re all a little different, but many of them are delicious! Some of the more popular brands are:
- Maruchan
- Shin Ramyun
- Nongshim
- Sapporo Ichiban
- Nissin
- Indomie
- Samyang
- Prima Taste
Deliciously Cheap and Easy Instant Ramen Noodle Recipes That Are Filling
Ramen noodles are so versatile. Add leftovers, veggies, protein, eat them as is. There are so many ways you can do. They’re not the healthiest on their own, but when money gets tight, they’re always cheap and filling. That’s why we add things to them! Make your own ramen noodle recipes!
How did your ramen noodles turn out? How do you eat your ramen noodles?