Description
This Easy Creamy Ramen Recipe is a comforting, hearty meal perfect for any day you crave a warm and creamy bowl of noodles. Featuring a luscious broth made by combining cream cheese, milk, and your choice of broth or water, along with browned beef and aromatic garlic and ginger, this versatile dish can be customized with optional toppings like soft-boiled eggs, scallions, chili oil, spinach, and toasted sesame seeds. Ready in just 45 minutes, it’s a delicious go-to comfort food that blends savory depth with creamy texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 packets of instant ramen noodles
- Water or low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth (about 4 cups)
- 1 cup whole milk (or oat milk, soy milk, or almond milk)
- 4 oz cream cheese (full-fat or reduced-fat)
- 2 cloves garlic, freshly minced
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 8 oz ground beef (or thinly sliced beef, cooked shredded chicken, or firm tofu)
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon white (shiro) miso paste (optional)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Optional Toppings
- 2 soft-boiled eggs, halved
- 2 scallions (green onions), thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon chili oil or chili crisp
- 1/2 cup fresh spinach or corn kernels
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare Your Aromatics and Beef: Mince the garlic and grate the ginger. If using ground beef, break it into small pieces; if using thinly sliced beef, have it ready to cook.
- Cook the Beef: Heat half a tablespoon of butter in a medium pot or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks until browned and fully cooked. For thinly sliced beef, quickly sear until just cooked, then remove and set aside.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining butter if needed, then add minced garlic and grated ginger. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Build the Creamy Broth: Pour in your choice of water or broth and bring to a gentle simmer. Whisk in cream cheese until melted and blended. Stir in the milk, ramen seasoning packets, soy sauce, and miso paste if using. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Cook the Noodles: Add the ramen noodles, pushing them gently under the broth to submerge. Cook according to package instructions (typically 2-3 minutes) until noodles are tender.
- Assemble and Serve: Divide the noodle soup evenly into bowls. If you set aside thinly sliced beef earlier, add it back to the bowls now.
- Add Your Favorite Toppings: Top each bowl with optional ingredients like soft-boiled eggs, sliced scallions, chili oil, spinach or corn, and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with cooked shredded chicken, firm tofu, or thinly sliced beef depending on preference.
- For a dairy-free version, use plant-based cream cheese alternatives and plant milks like oat or almond milk.
- Adding miso paste enhances umami but can be omitted if unavailable.
- Adjust the amount of soy sauce and seasoning packets to control the saltiness of the broth.
- Soft-boiled eggs add richness and complement the creamy broth perfectly.
- Feel free to add vegetables like spinach or corn to boost nutrition and texture.
