Spicy Garlic Ramen Noodles

These spicy garlic ramen noodles are always one of the quickest bowls to be emptied on the table. The sauce is garlicky, gingery, and a little bit spicy (or a lot depending on what you like). We top them with sesame seeds and green onion for added texture and flavor. The best part is they are ready in about 5 minutes and can be eaten hot or made ahead and served cold.

We often serve these noodles as a side but the addition of grilled chicken, tofu, or a jammy egg makes this the perfect weeknight dinner. When preparing these you’ll notice they only have about 5 ingredients–they are simple, but delicious. For the sauce, the sesame oil brings a toasty, nuttiness paired with the saltiness from the soy. The garlic, green onion, and ginger bring the punch and are the primary flavors. The mixture gets finished with chili crisp for heat and texture.

Once the noodles are cooked, we immediately strain and add them to the sauce. When the hot noodles get tossed with the sauce, they soak it up and absorb the flavors. These are so good and just about the easiest thing to make. They are sesame-forward with tons of flavor from the garlic and ginger. There is no need to order takeout when you can whip these up in minutes with just a few ingredients! 

Tips for the best Spicy Garlic Ramen Noodles:

1. Don’t Overcook the Noodles: Be sure to follow the package instructions for cooking the ramen noodles. We like to start tasting the a few minutes before to ensure the noodles do not become mushy or lose their texture.
2. Fresh Ginger and Garlic: Grating ginger and garlic with a microplane ensures that they’re finely minced and evenly distributed in the sauce, giving the dish a robust flavor.
3. Adjust Spice Level: If you’re unsure about the level of spiciness, start with a smaller amount of chili crisp and add more gradually to suit your taste.
4. Toast the Sesame Seeds: Toasting sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat for a couple of minutes enhances their nutty flavor. Be sure to watch them closely, as they can quickly burn. You can also buy them pre-toasted.
5. Customize Toppings: Feel free to get creative with toppings. Soft-boiled eggs, blanched vegetables, and protein options like tofu or meat can add variety and texture to your dish.
6. Use Low-Sodium Soy Sauce: We prefer to use low-sodium soy sauce to control the saltiness of the dish.

Spicy Garlic Ramen Noodles Ingredient Notes:

1. Ramen noodles: we use brown rice, millet ramen noodles since we like the texture and flavor they bring, but any ramen noodles will work here.
2. Minced ginger and garlic: we recommend using a microplane for this step but you can finely mince these with a knife as well.
3. Peeling the ginger: to make your life easier, we recommend using a spoon to remove the brown exterior skin of the ginger.
4. Chili crisp: you can find this at many super markets but if you don’t have it on hand, add a few chili flakes or sambal with a little extra sesame oil. Although, we really recommend having chili crisp on hand, it’s one of the best toppings for ramen noodles, soups, or even eggs.

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Spicy Garlic Ramen Noodles

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 4 ramen noodle bricks
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon finely minced ginger grated with microplane
• 1 teaspoon finely minced garlic grated with microplane
• 2 teaspoon minced green onion white/light green parts
• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
• ½ tablespoon chili crisp more depending on your desired spice level
• Garnish: toasted sesame seeds and green onion slices

Instructions

• Boil ramen noodles according to package instructions
• In a medium bowl combine soy sauce, ginger, garlic, green onion, sesame oil and chili oil. Whisk until combined
• Add cooked, strained ramen noodles to the bowl with sauce and stir to combine
• Top with sesame seeds and sliced green onions

Spicy Garlic Ramen Noddles FAQ