This TikTok Ramen recipe makes my favorite kind of stir fry noodle dish--simple to make, BIG flavors, and versatile so you can always change up the mix-ins and toppings!
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A quick sauce of butter, garlic, soy, spicy chutney, and brown sugar caramelizes with the noodles as they become one in the pan. Every ounce of spicy, salty, sweet flavor gets soaked up. Finishing with soft scrambled egg, crunchy seed topping, fresh scallions, and a swirl of sesame oil takes the humble ramen to 💯 !
This is a super easy recipe with a big payoff in flavor. I already had all of the ingredients (which are very few) and was ready to get cooking minutes after I saw the TikTok videos. Since it is a pantry-based recipe, this dish could be clutch on the nights you don’t know what to make and haven’t been grocery shopping yet.
This week I met up with my friend Karen after more than a year. I think a lot of people can relate to these long separations and it was so good to see her! As we were catching up on everything under the sun, of course, we started talking about food. She mentioned this new TikTok Ramen Trend that went viral and was posted on Food52.
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What is the Tik Tok Ramen Trend?
Toss the spice packet and boil the instant ramen noodles until al dente, then drain. So instead of a soupy noodle dish, you’re making dry stir-fried noodles in a hot pan with flavorful pantry ingredients. Easy, balanced, great texture--delicious.
My boys absolutely love ramen so I was excited to have this dish ready for them when they got home. The aroma of sizzling butter and garlic is enough to make my mouth water. Throw some umami-rich soy on there and you know this is going to be a flavor bomb! Not surprisingly, it was an INSTANT HIT, demolished by my boys as soon as they walked in.
They already want to know when we’re having this ramen again. The best part is that it’s so easy, they can make it themselves. My older son, heading to college this fall, asked me if I could publish this on the blog as part of the delicious and easy student recipes. Happily!
This ramen trend reminded me of how much I’ve enjoyed some of the TikTok recipes over the past year--especially the most recent, the baked oats. I loved trying the new dishes with my family and sharing the recipes here. I especially appreciate how these trends can connect people, giving us opportunities to be creative, have some fun, and enjoy the moment. So here is my recipe inspired by the TikTok trend and thanks to Karen for her awesome tips and visit!
Tips and Substitutions
- Cook the noodles as per the package instructions. Cook the noodles al dente
- Do not burn the garlic, you want to cook it just until fragrant
- I have used the Kolhapuri Thecha chutney which is super spicy and tasty! You can also use red chili flakes instead or use your favorite sauce like chili garlic sauce or sriracha sauce
- Reserve some of the water after cooking the noodles and add it to the noodles to make them creamy and prevent them from drying
- You can also use Maggi noodles instead of the ramen noodles
- Go creative with the garnish! I have kept it to the basics in this recipe and also kept it close to the trending recipe but here are a few ideas -
- top with fresh cilantro,
- dot with extra hot sauce,
- throw on some chopped peanuts,
- add a squeeze of lime.
How to Make TikTok Ramen Noodles
- Cook the ramen noodles according to the package directions. Do not overcook them, al dente noodles work the best. Reserve the starchy water.
- In a medium pan heat butter. Add garlic and saute for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Remember to not brown the garlic. Add the soy sauce, chutney, and brown sugar. Mix well and cook on low heat for 30 seconds. Add the cooked noodles.
- Mix well with a pair of tongs. Add the starchy water from the cooked noodles and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until most of the water has evaporated.
- Move the noodles to one side and add an egg to the empty side of the pan. Cook the egg and then mix it with the noodles. Turn the heat off.
Serving
Serve the noodles hot, garnished with scallions, and sprinkle everything but the bagel seasoning and a swirl of sesame oil.
Mix-in ideas for TikTok Ramen
Want to add some nutrition to these stir-fried noodles? Here are a few ideas:
- Sunny-Side Up or Soft Boiled egg, instead of scrambled
- Chicken, Shrimp, or Tofu
- Sauteed Veggies
- Cashews
My family loves easy stir-fried noodles and fried rice dishes. Some of our go-to weeknight staples include the Spicy Miso Ramen, Hakka Noodles, and Thai Basil Fried Rice.
TikTok Recipes
Did you enjoy this fun TikTok food trend? Here are some of the viral food trends that I have tried and enjoyed:
- Baked Oats with Berries - Breakfast oats that taste like cake with blueberries + raspberries
- Carrot Cake Baked Oats - an easy twist on the carrot cake that can be enjoyed for breakfast
- Breakfast Egg Bhurji Tortilla Wrap with Indian spiced scrambled eggs, chutney, and cheese
- Samosa Tortilla Wrap Hack with samosa fillings, chutneys, and crunchy sev
- Spinach Mushroom Quesadilla Wrap with spinach, mushrooms, salsa, and cheese
- Sweet Nutella Wrap with bananas, berries, Nutella, marshmallows, and more
- Baked Feta Pasta with grape tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, basil, and chili flakes
Recipe
Spicy Ramen Noodles
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 1 pack Instant Ramen Noodles spice packet not needed
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 to 2 teaspoons Thecha Chutney or chili flakes
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ¼ cup starchy water from the cooked noodles
- Garnish
- 1 tablespoon scallions diced
- 1 teaspoon everything but bagel seasoning or toasted sesame seeds
- sesame oil optional
- 1 egg optional
Instructions
- Cook the ramen noodles according to the package directions. Do not overcook them, al dente noodles work the best. Reserve the starchy water.
- In a medium pan heat butter. Add garlic and saute for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Remember to not brown the garlic. Add the chutney and soy sauce. Mix well and cook on low heat for 30 seconds. Mix in brown sugar.
- Add the cooked noodles and mix well with a pair of tongs. Add the starchy water from the cooked noodles and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until most of the water has evaporated.
- Move the noodles on one side and add an egg to the empty side of the pan. Cook the egg and then mix it in the noodles. Turn the heat off.
- Serve the noodles hot, garnished with scallions, and sprinkle everything but bagel seasoning or toasted sesame seeds.
Notes
- Follow the package instructions and cook the noodles al dente
- Do not burn the garlic, you want to cook it just until fragrant
- I have used the Kolhapuri Thecha chutney which is super spicy and tasty! You can also use red chili flakes instead or use your favorite sauce like the chili garlic sauce or sriracha sauce
- Reserve some of the water after cooking the noodles and add it to the noodles to make them creamy and prevent them from drying
- You can also use Maggi noodles instead of the ramen noodles
- Go creative with the garnish! I have kept it to the basics in this recipe and also kept it close to the trending recipe but here a few ideas:
- top with fresh cilantro
- dot with extra hot sauce,
- throw on some chopped peanuts
- add a squeeze of lime.
Gargi says
It was so surprising to read Thecha as a reccomendation in the ingredients list. Quite unexpected, I personally am a hirvi mirchi Thecha fan so I used chilli flakes instead.
shitallakhani says
OMG this was delish!!! I quadrupled the recipe!
Archana says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Anonymous says
Absolutely Delicious. I used a half a teaspoon of red pepper flakes instead of chilli flakes and it tastes sooo good.
Lisa Villamil Gomez says
These noodles are SO flavorful and easy to make. We adding chicken thigh meat for some extra protein. We will be making these again!