12 ramen recipes

Upgraded ramen noodles stir-fried with cabbage, bell pepper, onion, and diced ham or Spam with red pepper flakes. A budget-friendly, filling dinner that turns instant noodle packets into a real meal.

Katie Bradford's recipe from when we lived in Andy's house.

Dorm-room ramen upgraded with a fried egg, crumbled breakfast sausage, scallions, and a hit of hot sauce and soy. A fast, filling 20-minute bowl of comfort.

Crunchy ramen chicken salad with shredded cabbage, toasted almonds, sesame seeds, and a tangy soy-vinegar dressing made from the ramen seasoning packets.

Crunchy ramen cabbage salad with toasted almonds, sesame seeds, and a tangy ramen seasoning vinaigrette. A no-cook potluck favorite with addictive crunch in every bite.

Cold ramen noodle salad with shredded cabbage, cheddar cheese, and a tangy vinegar-mustard dressing. A crunchy, budget-friendly side dish that chills in under an hour.

One-skillet beef and ramen stir-fry with sirloin strips, broccoli, carrots, water chestnuts, and mushrooms. A 30-minute weeknight dinner using instant ramen noodles.

Mushroom cheese ramen noodles made with cream of mushroom soup and melted cheese on top. A three-ingredient comfort meal for college budgets and busy weeknights.

Crunchy ramen noodle salad tossing coleslaw cabbage, toasted almonds, and crushed uncooked ramen in a sweet-and-tangy dressing made from the seasoning packet, oil, sugar, and vinegar. A no-cook potluck favorite.

Quick and easy Asian inspired beef and noodle soup.

Why this recipe works: Simmering chicken broth with lime zest and ginger is a shortcut to Asian flavor.

Turn leftover teriyaki pork into a quick wok dinner with ramen noodles, crisp napa cabbage and shredded carrots in a savory teriyaki broth. A smart 35-minute leftover makeover.