Who doesn’t love a quick and comforting bowl of ramen? This Easy Ramen Noodle Soup recipe is a healthier version of the classic packaged ramen, and it’s just as convenient! This homemade version is loaded with umami flavor, and best of all, you can customize it with your favorite veggies, protein, or seaweed for a heartier meal.
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
From kids to college students to adults, I don’t know many people who don’t love a good ramen noodle soup. It’s quick, easy and not to mention super affordable! This version takes it to the next level and boosts the nutritional value a bit! Here’s why I love it:
- Healthier than store-bought ramen. By skipping the seasoning packet, you avoid excess sodium and artificial additives. Instead, miso, soy sauce, and spices bring a deep, savory flavor to your bowl.
- Quick and Easy: Just like my Ramen Noodle Stir Fry and Dumpling Soup, this recipe is super easy to make. Ready in less than 15 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights.
- Customizable: Use cooked chicken, shrimp, or tofu and throw in some fresh veggies like spinach or seaweed to make this dish your own. I usually lay out a bunch of options, let everyone tell me which ones they want and personalize each person’s bowl!
The Ingredients
- Chicken Stock or Vegetable stock – Make your own chicken stock or use your favorite store-bought stock as the base for a flavorful soup.
- Yellow or white miso – Adds richness and umami flavor to the soup.
- Packaged ramen noodles – Seasoning packet discarded for a healthier option. You could also use soba noodles, rice noodles or even whole wheat spaghetti if you wanted!
- Shiitake mushrooms, sliced thin – For that earthy flavor and extra nutrition! Feel free to substitute other vegetables you have on hand if your crew doesn’t like mushrooms.
- Soy sauce – Adds depth and saltiness. Opt for low sodium if you’re looking to have less salt content.
- Mirin – A touch of sweetness to balance the flavors. If you’re having trouble finding mirin, try your local Asian grocery store!
- Garlic powder & Onion powder – For that classic savory seasoning.
- Scallions – Adds freshness and crunch at the end.
- Optional Add-ins: Fresh spinach, nori, wakame, hijiki, arame, chicken, shrimp, or cubed tofu – the perfect way to customize your ramen.
*For a full list of ingredients and measurements, see the recipe card below.*
How to Make Healthier Ramen Noodle Soup
Step 1: In a large saucepan, add the chicken or vegetable stock, water, mirin and miso. Bring everything to a boil.
Step 2: Add the ramen noodles, mushrooms, and any optional ingredients like cooked chicken, tofu, or additional veggies. Cook for 3 minutes, until the noodles are soft and everything is heated through.
Step 3: Add the scallions and serve.
Easy Ramen Noodle Soup Video
Tips for Customizing Your Ramen
- For a protein boost: Add some cooked chicken or shrimp, or keep it vegetarian with cubed tofu.
- Boost the greens: Fresh spinach, nori, or even a sprinkle of wakame will add some nutrition and texture to your bowl.
- Spice it up: Drizzle a bit of sriracha or top with chili flakes for a kick.
More Easy Soup Recipes
This Easy Ramen Noodle Soup lets you enjoy all the comforting flavors of ramen but with a healthier, more wholesome twist. It’s so simple, you’ll forget about those salty seasoning packets forever! Whether you need a quick lunch or a satisfying dinner everyone will love, this recipe will hit the spot.
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Easy Ramen Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- 32 ounces chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons yellow or white miso
- 2 3-ounce packages ramen noodles
- 4 shiitake mushrooms, sliced thin
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (low sodium if you prefer)
- 2 tablespoons mirin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 cup scallions, green and white, sliced
Optional Additional Ingredients:
- fresh spinach, nori, wakame, hijiki, arame, chicken, shrimp, cubed tofu
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, add the chicken or vegetable stock, water, mirin and miso. Bring everything to a boil.
- Add the ramen noodles, mushrooms, and any optional ingredients like cooked chicken, tofu, or additional veggies. Cook for 3 minutes, until the noodles are soft and everything is heated through.
- Add the scallions and serve.
Video
Notes
- For a protein boost: Add some cooked chicken or shrimp, or keep it vegetarian with cubed tofu.
- Boost the greens: Fresh spinach, nori, or even a sprinkle of wakame will add some nutrition and texture to your bowl.
- Spice it up: Drizzle a bit of sriracha or top with chili flakes for a kick.
Have made this many times as you have it listed, thanks so much! Always a hit and the ingredients make great / versatile pantry staples.
Great info! Thanks
Cut the calories and fat by cooking the ramen noodles in a separate pot until they are almost cooked through. Throw out used noodle water. Then place cooked noodles into the miso soup.
to be clear, I mean the ingredients written on the package of ramen noodles, for the noodles (not just the spice pack, and not the ingredients you listed for the recipe) sounds bad.
Yeah, I bought the two packs of ramen and think it’d be helpful if you put other options for noodles in the indgredients list. The ingredients for the noodles don’t sound good.
Mirin is also labeled rice wine vinegar at most supermarkets, I have also found rice noodles at Trader Joe’s in the fridge section, great option and was GF. I halved this and used half a pack of rice noodles. Other half is for Pad Thai, baby!
Just to piggyback on others’ comments about finding the ingredients–I couldn’t find either Miso or Mirin at any of my local grocery stores. Finally went to the nearest Asian market and found both, although I had to ask. It was also a fun experience–my son was fascinated by the live fish, crabs, and frogs! (and so was I, a little…)
This is the second recipe I have tried from your site, and it is delicious! I love the versatility that this recipe has. I have never cooked with miso but will be making variations of this soup to use it up. The soup was pretty salty, but maybe I can dilute it or use a little less miso next time? I appreciate all the comments about finding healthy noodles, as well as suggestions for what to put in the soup. Beyond the ingredient list, I added a little bit of seaweed and small cubes of firm tofu, plus a few drops of siracha. Next time I will try to add more greens or other veggies. Thanks for a great cooking resource!
This* aghh hate swype on my phone anyways everyone should make this!
Made thus with pho noodles instead and garlic cloves instead it was so yummy!
Love this recipe…I’m going to try your broth with my kids who are nuts for ramen. Conventional brands are a no go, but I find if I buy the organic brands, it’s a guarantee that they are free of MSG and other mystery ingredients, and are usually air-dried instead of deep fried.
I just tried this recipe and it is wonderful! I used 2 T of Minute Miso. I didn’t have mushrooms or scallions, but used a leftover leek, some bits of carrot and daikon radish, and shavings of dried beef. My husband and I both loved the flavor, and felt good knowing how much healthier it was than using the packet that came with the ramen. I’m looking forward to trying different variations. Thank you Catherine!
I am so excited to try this recipe. I’ve been craving Ramen Noodles, but knowing there is MSG in them I’ve had to forgo them. Now I can make my own.
Miso is fermented soybeans so there are trace amounts of alcohol as a result of the fermenting process. Some brands add a little alcohol to enhance the flavor, and there are some brands that do not list alcohol as an ingredient. The alcohol is a very small amount and cooks out when you cook with miso.
I’ve been to four Asian stores in our area and only two of them carried miso. However, all the miso I’ve seen so far have listed alcohol as one of the ingredients. Would love to try this recipe but worried about the alcohol content. It should be minimal since it was listed as the last ingredient. Do all miso have alcohol in them?
i made this today with soba noodles and it was a hit! thanks!