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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.
I had a really Hard time finding the miso paste here in Louisville. Finally went to the Asian market and got it. My kids all love this meal. I looked at the label for the miso paste and found out it has MSG! Yikes. Is there a brand that makes miso paste without MSG?
Oh, and a tblsp of chili sauce (sirracha). Omg! Yum
Sadly, most of your recipes still don’t make it into my toddler but mommy and daddy LOVE them! I doubled the stock and seasoning and made this w a bag of chopped up Asian “slaw” mix and a bag of baby spinach, a little shredded rotisserie chicken and fresh lo mein noodles. Such a versitille idea!! Thank you!
Made this last night and we all loved it-even my super picky boys! We always scramble an egg into our ramen so did the same. Delish! Would love a way to cut the sodium still as I found it too salty for my taste. Thanks for your amazing meal ideas. LOVE your recipes!!
We cooked ours with brown rice spaghetti noodles. Pre-packaged top ramen is definitely not healthy. I was addicted to that stuff from childhood through college. 🙂
Yes, miso is high in sodium, but a little goes a long way and it is a great source of Manganese, Vitamin K, Vitamin B-12, and Protein!
Ok find the stuff and made it and then looked at the miso and it is 720mg of sodium per Tbl! Did I get the wrong stuff? I know this is healthier version and I am not being critical just wondering if I bought wrong stuff? It was like a paste? Boys love it though!
I must confess I love Instant Ramen and this was almost as easy to prepare and so rich and delicious and comforting… Children were asleep, while hub and I devour it. I can’t wait to prepare for them as well. I used vegetable stock that I had at home and real onion and garlic (just browned a little in olive oil) since I did not had the powdered ones. It worked great. Thanks!
Made this for dinner and the whole family loved it. My 10 month old ate it up and my hubby loved it too. My super picky 4 yr old didnt eat it but he’ll eat the soup with rice. Thank you for this healthier version of one of my faves! (Just added a tad more soy sauce and onion powder) I used organic udon noodles and diffferent veggies in it. Love this because I know the soup is so versatile- my son will especially like this w/ tofu and rice.
Mirin is sweet rice wine and can be found in the Asian foods aisle of your local grocery!
I am so glad to find this. And so funny you just posted. We recently began giving my boys Ramen Noodles and they want them now for lunch. I was not happy knowing all the sodium and fat. I will make a batch of this and try.
Question: Where do I find Mirin?
What a great idea! And I’m sure my homemade vegetable broth would work wonderfully in this! Mushrooms sounds like such an interesting flavor combo with this.
Hi all! Def lots of “instant” noodles out there in any Asian market to choose from. Fresh or pre-packaged, just read ingredient list & pick. It’s one of my default quick meals which my kids & I love. I add tofu, greens of any type that is available in fridge, radish, sliced boiled eggs, basically whatever is available. Delicious everytime.
I run a blog (www.ramenrater.com) where I review instant noodles every day. I’m up to 650+ unique varieties. As far as healthy additions, try cheese and broccoli – makes the broth creamy and adds vitamins and protein!
It will be a different flavor, but it will still work!
Hi Catherine. I’m a vegetarian,would it be okay to sub vegetable broth or will I lose the flavor? Thanks for the great recipes!