This spicy ramen noodles recipe is easy to make and so much better than store bought ramen, plus you can make it as spicy as you want! Ready in minutes!
Spicy Ramen Recipe - Homemade!
Who's in the mood for a big satisfying bowl of Spicy Ramen Noodles? Ramen noodles are a pantry staple for households everywhere. It's so easy to whip together with a packet of the store bought stuff, but did you know you can just as easily make homemade ramen noodles?
Yes! And we can make them as spicy as we want!
I love making ramen soup at home. The big question is - is ramen a noodle dish or a soup? It's both! It's a Japanese noodle soup with a seasoned broth and many possible extras. It's extremely easy to customize to your own preferences.
I like to make mine nice and spicy with all sorts of wonderful ingredients. There are many spicy ramen recipes out there, but most call for a few squirts of sriracha and call it a day.
If you're a true spicy food lover like I am, you'll want a bit more.
This is the truly spicy ramen noodles recipe you've been looking for. Throw away those lame chicken flavored packets of ramen seasoning.
Bust out the ramen bowls, my friends! It's time to make spicy ramen the right way!
Let's talk about how to make spicy ramen noodles, shall we?
Spicy Ramen Noodles Ingredients
- Broth. I use chicken broth as my base, but you can use vegetable broth. Beef broth works, too, but will have drastically different flavor.
- Sliced Peppers. I use serrano peppers for a good level of heat, though you can use milder peppers, such as jalapeno peppers. Try habanero peppers, ghost peppers or something superhot like scorpion peppers, 7 pot peppers or the Carolina reaper for some dramatic heat.
- Fresh Garlic and Ginger. I use smashed garlic and minced ginger to season the ramen broth, but you can use dried if you'd prefer.
- Gochujang. 3 tablespoons gochujang, or to taste - I usually use 1/4 cup. If you're concerned about the gochujang, simmer the ramen based with 1 tablespoon first, then adjust from there.
- Chili Crisp. I use 1 tablespoon chili crisp, though you can use hot chili oil as a substitute. The chili crisp is great to get those extra crispy bits and also heat. Try my homemade chili crisp recipe.
- Soy Sauce.
- Sesame Oil. Hot sesame oil is ideal here for the spicy food lover, though you can use a milder sesame oil.
- Sambal Oelek. 1 teaspoon sambal oelek, or use chili-garlic sauce as a good substitute. You can add in more if you'd like.
- Rice Wine Vinegar.
- Sriracha Sauce. Use sriracha sauce to taste, or you can use your favorite hot sauce.
- Ramen Noodles. 4 ounces ramen noodles is perfect for 2 people. You can try this with other noodles, but ramen instant noodles are ideal. Or use thin round wheat noodles.
- Shrimp. You can use other cooked proteins like chicken, pork or beef. Tofu is popular, though we're using shrimp today.
- Eggs. Use 2 soft boiled eggs for extra flavor and garnish, if desired. Or use these homemade ramen eggs!
- For Serving. Fresh chopped parsley, green onion or scallions, spicy chili flakes, sesame seeds
How to Make Spicy Ramen Noodles - the Recipe Method
Heat the Broth. Add the chicken broth to a large pot and heat to medium heat.
Stir in the Spicy Ingredients. Stir in serrano peppers, garlic, ginger, gochujang, chili crisp, soy sauce, sesame oil, sambal oelek, vinegar and sriracha. Stir until everything is completely incorporated.
Simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes to let the flavors develop. It should look like the photo below.
The Noodles and Proteins. Stir in the noodles and shrimp (or other cooked proteins) and cook the ramen noodles until they are softened and the shrimp is cooked through, about 5 minutes.
Serve Your Ramen Noodles! Serve into bowls and garnish with sliced soft boiled eggs, fresh chopped parsley, red pepper flakes, green onion and sesame seeds.
Boom! Done! Spicy ramen noodles are ready to serve! Looks great, doesn't it? I love a good spicy ramen recipe. So delicious! And super easy to make, isn't it? Ready in about 15 minutes or so. I do love easy cooking, especially with such HUGE flavor.
Recipe Tips & Notes
The Proteins
I am using shrimp for this recipe, but you can use other proteins, such as chicken, pork, beef, fish, tofu and more. I love a good chicken ramen or pork ramen. Try this birria ramen recipe, too.
Ramen is perfect for leftover proteins you may have on hand. Just toss them into the broth to warm up.
Other Seasonings and Flavors
Ramen is VERY easy to customize with other spices and ingredients. Some popular additions include miso paste, fish sauce, chili sauce, rice vinegar, hot sauce, brown sugar, and more. Use your favorites!
The Ramen Noodles
Traditional ramen is made with Chinese style wheat noodles. You can often find these in grocery stores near the ramen packages or in the Asian aisle. I buy mine from a local Asian market.
I love using thin round wheat noodles. You can also make it with egg noodles. You can also find gluten free noodles for a gluten free diet.
Store Bought Ramen Noodles
If you have a hard time finding ramen noodles, you can use the noodles that come in the pre-made packages of ramen, like chicken ramen noodles or beef ramen.
Just discard the seasoning packets that you toss into boiling water and build your own. So much better that way!
The Heat Factor
This particular recipe will give you nice and spicy ramen noodles. You can easily dial back on the spicier ingredients for a not-so-spicy experience.
If you're looking for even SPICIER ramen, add in hotter peppers with the minced garlic and ginger, extra chili flakes, and also more of the hot stuff, like gochujang. Try it with these Japanese "Japones Peppers". Nice heat!
That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy my spicy ramen noodles recipe. Let me know if you make it. I'd love to hear how you tweaked it to make it your own, you crazy chiliheads! Keep it spicy!
Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes
- Miso Ramen
- Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao)
- Yakisoba Noodles
- Yaki Udon Noodles
- Dan Dan Noodles
- Lo Mein Noodles
- Chili Oil Noodles
- Spicy Teriyaki Shrimp Stir Fry
- Spicy Shrimp Stir Fry
- Spicy Stir Fry Sauce
- Szechuan Chicken
Try Some of These Spicy Shrimp Recipes
Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.
Spicy Ramen Noodles Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 cups chicken broth or use vegetable broth
- 2 serrano peppers sliced (use jalapeno for milder)
- 4 cloves garlic smashed
- 1 thumb sized knob of fresh ginger peeled and sliced
- 3 tablespoons gochujang or to taste - I usually use 1/4 cup
- 1 tablespoon chili crisp or use hot chili oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or more to taste
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon sambal oelek or use chili-garlic sauce
- 1 tsp rice wine vinegar
- Sriracha to taste or use your favorite hot sauce
- 4 ounces ramen noodles
EXTRAS
- 1/2 pound shrimp peeled and deveined (or use other cooked proteins)
- 2 soft boiled eggs
- Fresh chopped parsley, green onion, spicy chili flakes, sesame seeds for serving
Instructions
- Add the chicken broth to a large pot and heat to medium heat.
- Stir in serrano peppers, garlic, ginger, gochujang, chili crisp, soy sauce, sesame oil, sambal oelek, vinegar and sriracha. Stir until everything is completely incorporated.
- Simmer for 10 minutes to let the flavors develop.
- Stir in the noodles and shrimp (or other cooked proteins) and cook until the noodles are softened and the shrimp is cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Serve into bowls and garnish with sliced soft boiled eggs, fresh chopped parsley, red pepper flakes, green onion and sesame seeds.
Video
Nutrition Information
NOTE: This post was updated on 4/1/22 to include new information and video. It was originally published on 10/14/20.
Alex says
I followed the recipe for 4 servings, but I used hot-chili oil and chili-garlic paste as substitutes. It came out absolutely delicious and was exactly what I was going for. I love eat spicy beef garlic ramen when I'm out but I wasn't able to recreate it at home until now. So happy to have found this recipe
Mike Hultquist says
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it, Alex! Thanks for sharing this!
jimmothy66 says
Hi Mike, awesome recipe! I toned it down a bit and used jalapenos only as my sister does not like overly hot foods, but plan on doing the serrano and habanero version for myself. One question, have you tried freezing the broth? Would you omit the fresh peppers, and add them when reheating, or do you think they will be fine?
Mike Hultquist says
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, you can definitely freeze the broth. It freezes nicely. You can freeze the peppers with the broth, no problem.
Scarlett says
I made this ramen this evening for me & my boyfriend it was delicious! Wish we’d seasoned the chicken beforehand. Thankyou for this recipe, I got some of the spicy broth in my eyes as I put the gochujang paste in, it really was chilli pepper madness ️ worth it though! Hahaha
Mike Hultquist says
Nice! Thanks, Scarlett!
Ed Moder says
This was a great recipe! But again, I overdid the spices. I used the recipe for 4 servings which called for 4 serrano peppers. I did not have serranos so I used 2 jalapenos and 1 habanero thinking that was equivalent. Apparently that is not equivalent since it was 4-alarm plus. But some sour cream fixed the problem.
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I used 4 poached eggs instead of soft boiled and we ate them all with the first 2 servings. I will make 4 more for the leftovers.
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Anyway, it was a great recipe and one I will add to my list for the future, but no habaneros. lol
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Mike Hultquist says
Haha, oh no! Is this why Connie texted Patty and said she got spiced out?? LOL. Glad you enjoyed it, Ed! See you soon!
Ed Moder says
We fixed the spiciness! As I said earlier this ended up being too spicy for us. We had exactly 7 cups leftover, so I added an unmeasured amount of sour cream (a good half cup or more) and today I made 2 instant ramen noodle packets. We used chicken because we had some already cooked and needed to use it. I will use shrimp next time. Anyway, I added some chicken bouillon powder to the new mix and cooked it. Then I added the cold 7 cups of leftovers. Add 4 poached eggs and we have a 2-alarm meal (just right). I say 2-alarm, Connie says 3-alarm. And we have 6 cups left for one more meal.
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I actually think today's meal was better than the original, even after factoring in the spice level.
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Mike Hultquist says
Outstanding, Ed! Glad you got it just where you want it. =)
David says
Absolutely fantastic. I was worried it would be too hot for me, but it was perfect. I used leftover pork belly and added some shitake mushrooms. This recipe is a keeper!!
Mike Hultquist says
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it, David!
Maureen E says
This recipe is a keeper! I love Ramen and seek it out anytime I'm eating out in a big city. This is recipe is even better than what I've had in some restaurants. My husband raved about it. So easy and just YUM!!!
Mike Hultquist says
Awesome to hear, Maureen! Glad you all loved it! This is one of Patty's favorites, too.
James says
wow, very tasty just the right amount of heat. my picture wasn't as pretty as yours...lol. going to a staple. just need to learn how to use chopsticks.
Mike Hultquist says
Nice!! Glad you enjoyed it, James! It's definitely a staple here, one of Patty's favorites in the world. She can't get enough ramen. Thanks for sharing!
Tana Macdonald says
Holy moly. You’re talented. And what a beautiful website/blog. Such a pleasure. And everything I’ve made thus far is beyond delicious. Cheers!
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks so much, Tana!
Graham Leach says
The Spicy Ramen modified with bean shoots, shitaki/oyster mushrooms, Tempura Prawns and beef (Surf & Turf) added to the original recipe were absolutely amazing . The ingredients you suggested were an experience of there own.
Mike Hultquist says
Outstanding! Thanks for sharing, Graham!
Ken says
This one is a keeper, Mike! I was nervous about the raw chilis being too hot, but their heat dissipates into the broth and they mellow when simmered to provide a nice background heat. Combined with the upfront sriracha gives it a great layered effect. I dunked some fresh spinach a few minutes before serving (gotta have my greens!) to make it an excellent one pot meal. Thanks!
PS: I'm gonna try nice, fat udon noodles next time.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Ken! Very happy you enjoyed it!
Elisabeth Marshall says
Very good and well-balanced. Inexpensive, healthy and delicious!
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Elisabeth!
Damien C. says
Wow, this is a great one. Everyone here loved it. Perfect spice levels as always.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Damien! Glad you enjoyed this one!
Stacy Stewart says
Mike
My husband loves hot food and so do. I cook off your site alot. I do have to say we followed the regular recipe, did not make it hotter. We could not even eat it, it was so hot.
Mike Hultquist says
Sorry to hear, Stacy. Wish it could be better than 2 stars for you. I do try to make notes about "adjust to taste" for people, as it's obviously a spicy food site and I DO spice thing up quite a lot. Hopefully you'll be able to adjust more to your preference for the next time. Take care.
Banks says
This recipe was outstanding. Added a little extra ginger, an extra serrano, and a few extra shrimp but otherwise, stayed with Mike's recipe and everything was great.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Perfection, Banks! Super happy you enjoyed it! Cheers!
Tzveeble says
That's what I eat for breakfast, but without the eggs and shrimps.
And I make my own gochujang.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Nice!!!
Kosala says
What is the chili sauce that you used
? Isn't it a bad idea to add some tomato sauce?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Kosala, chili sauce is often found in grocery stores. It's a touch spicy and sweet. Use sriracha as a good replacement, or try this homemade chili-garlic sauce recipe - https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/chili-pepper-recipes/sauces/homemade-chili-garlic-sauce/.
Lewis says
Kosala, "chili sauce" can mean a lot of different things. In this recipe, I think you'll want something like Huy Fong Chili Garlic Sauce and not Heinz Chili Sauce. The former is sort of a Sriracha cousin, and the latter is very much like ketchup.
Geri says
Delicious. I add chopped Brussels sprouts and broccoli.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Outstanding!!
Jasira G. says
This was so good! Might even make this recipe one of my favorites. Thank you so much.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks so much, Jasira! One of our favorites for sure! We LOVE ramen noodles.
Arpita Patel says
Such delicious broth and so many options: I added peas, bean sprouts, bok choy, cilantro, and shrimp (omitted mushrooms and sesame). Perfect for when one is too lazy to get out of the house, and too cheap to order take out.
Amazing!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks so much, Arpita. Super happy you enjoyed it!
Shannon Pickin says
Made this tonight for dinner and it's so delicious! So much flavor and love the spice. Turned out perfect! This will definitely be my go-to ramen recipe now!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Shannon! I love to hear it.
Thomas says
Best Ramen ever! Wife was mentioning that this tasted better than restaurants. So yeah!!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
I love to hear it, Thomas. Thanks!!
Tom M says
This ramen was awesome! I added a little extra extra heat with a scotch bonnet (that I strained) and I also threw in homemade Carolina reaper infused olive oil. The soft boiled eggs are a must, the yolks are a great flavor. Everything from this site is a hit! First of many times I’ll be making this!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Yes! Now that's how you REALLY spice it up, Tom! I love it. We can share a pot of ramen noodles anytime. =)
Jérémie says
Serrano + gochujang + chili crisp + sambal oelek + Sriracha??? are you kidding??
That's a good way to use a lot of homemade products (chicken broth, chili crisp, sambal oelek, sriracha), but, on this one, I was a bit shy and skiped the serrano. But I was wrong: it wasn't too much! Very nice one, Mike! love the optional soft-boiled egg!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Jeremie! Yes, many components, but I finally got it right where I want it!
col says
this could get messy! pass me a bib.
nice one. definitely giving this one a go (minus the shrimp...maybe tofu as you suggested).
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
I know, right! Hard not to make a mess when eating ramen! Enjoy!!