Instant ramen is a staple for every college student, but what should you do when you have 10 packs of instant ramen left and you’re tired of eating the same thing over and over again? Well, fear not! The Clog’s got your back with some creative ways you can elevate your ramen game. With these techniques up your sleeve, you might just find yourself excited about instant ramen for dinner.

Cheesy spicy ramen

After cooking your ramen, add a slice or two of cheese on top and you’ve got yourself a fusion between eastern and western flavors. This creamy take on spicy ramen not only adds to the texture but also helps offset the heat. Plus, the cheese pulls you will get makes the eating experience more fun!

Egg ramen

If you’re looking to make your instant meal a little bit healthier, why not add an egg? This may seem simple, but it can make the world of a difference depending on the way you cook it. For fried or poached eggs, ensure that the yolk is runny to coat the noodles, which helps make the ramen more creamy. Scrambled eggs also work extremely well — just prepare them on the side and toss it in. 

Snack ramen (only works with powder seasoning)

If you don’t have hot water nearby or just want to have ramen as a quick snack, try out this version that’s inspired by popular snacks from Asia, such as Korea’s Ottogi Ppushu Ppushu, Taiwan’s Little Prince Noodles and Japan’s Baby Star Snack. Open the ramen pack just enough to get the seasoning packet out. After you crumble up the dry ramen noodles, add the seasoning powder back in and shake the bag until the powder is distributed evenly. Yes, you can directly eat this as is, since instant ramen noodles are already precooked. This rendition of ramen is extremely crispy and savory, making it the perfect snack!

Stir-fry ramen

Switch up your usual soup ramen for some stir-fry ramen. All you have to do is coat your pan with some oil, and throw in some ginger, garlic and veggies such as carrots and broccoli. Prepare the noodles as you usually would, but all you have to do differently is drain the noodles from the cooking water before you add in the sauce packet. Toss everything together in the pan and stir fry for a minute or two. Voila! 

Spicy pear ramen (only works with soupless ramen)

I know, I know, adding pear to spicy ramen sounds crazy but hear me out first. Thinly sliced pear not only adds some sweetness and tartness to your ramen but also adds some crunch to an otherwise bland and homogenous dish. Simply slice the pear into thin strips and mix it in with the ramen right before eating. This fruity take on ramen is sure to leave you wanting more.

Garnish with sauces/herbs

If you’re still out of ideas, try adding different spices, sauces or herbs to give an extra boost of flavor. Butter, Sriracha and green onions are all really simple ingredients that can make a big difference to how ramen can taste!

So there you have it! These ideas are sure to bring a fresh spin on an age-old dish. So the next time you find yourself making ramen for the third time during the week, remember to try these out!