Perfect Instant Ramen Recipe (2024)

I poach the egg first, set it aside and add on top at the very end. I do NOT understand why so many people feel compelled to comment on this recipe when they are never going to make it. No one cares about your inane opinions about why this is not a healthy recipe (seriously, NO ONE) and how you make your own seasonings etc. The fake cheese is a great addition and when I have some, I now always add it. I also add the entire evil death-bringing flavour packet, plus extra salt-ridden soy sauce. YUM

I looked through all the readers' notes, and while many of their suggestions for other ways to prepare ramen sounded amazing, I wanted to know what was so remarkable about Chef Choi's version that the Times would share it. We prepared it without deviation. It was WONDERFUL. The broth soft-cooked the egg and melted the butter and cheese, which lightly coated the noodles. The impression I had was that of enjoying a rich cheese-omelet-flavored dish. We will absolutely make this again.

Okay. I love ramen and saw this a while ago and was: naw. American cheese? Hardly cooked egg? But tonight, I tried it. Oh, my God. Whatever is in "American cheese," -- it's not cheese -- melts instantly and alchemically gives the broth the lovely thickened rich texture of real ramen shop noodle broth. I don't know how it works and I don't care. Never eating instant ramen any other way again.

Decades ago, I taught Red Cross swimming lessons. Early morning sessions at our poor unheated community public pool. A version of this was my breakfast. I soon realized many of my students lacked a warm breakfast. I cooked one ramen packet w/egg and half a slice of cheese per student, each in a recyclable bowl. I transported it all in a cooler. You’d better believe it made a difference in these kids lives! Don’t be so quick to judgment.

Spot on comment, Jen! Comment on the dish that's published not the dish one created. It should be a habit to try the original recipe first, comment, then adjust.
It's also hysterucal when people give a recipe 5* & comment about how great it looks, how they can't wait to try it etc. I want to know how it tastes, I can see it looks good. Comment after you make it.

Good grief. Where does the recipe suggest it's healthy? Food shaming is tiresome. Throw some kale in the bowl to rescue it.

I've been making this since an Army veteran friend who'd been stationed in Korea showed me how. He used the zippy hot Korean Ramen. Tasty! It's hilarious to me that anybody is still disparaging processed cheese. Ask any chef and they'll tell you that their mother's mac and cheese was the best and she always used Velveeta! Relax for Heaven's sake! There's a place for everything at the table! Even American Cheese!

How can anyone resist a NYT-endorsed recipe involving both ramen and American cheese?! It has to be funny or outrageously delicious, either way a win. Result: a nice cozy meal for a solitary evening, when the people who sneer at ramen aren't home. After adding the egg, I covered the pan & let it sit for 3 minutes, not just 1. Egg turned out perfectly poached. And, yes, those slices of cheese-oid substance really do emulsify into the soup: a tiny miracle. Uncomplicated, yummy.

At about $.33 a pack in some stores, ramen is the comfort food of the poor. At many a breakfast, lunch and dinner ramen has filled the bellies of those who have no alternative. As a nurse in a big public hospital I have encouraged my patients for many years to add a beaten egg, any left over chicken or other protein and any vegetable to make a decently nutritious meal. Frankly, cheese never occurred to me but then, why not?

Toss away the flavor packet - it is mainly salt anyway. Use your own home made broth and spices. I like to add minced ginger and thinly sliced garlic. I also like to add green vegetables, whatever I have on hand, like spinach, scallions, napa cabbage, bok choy, bean sprouts, or pea pods. Yummy and turns a snack into a meal.

Oddly, I had all the ingredients for this in the house last night (I don't usually have American cheese, but it was left over from a burger night) and more importantly, no boyfriend at home to judge my dinner choices. I made as directed, and oh man, this was fantastic! So ridiculously, goopy good. I also added some Frank's hot sauce for a bit of sour snap. I gotta say though, it's adorable how hard the "ewww, don't use the flavor packet; add lots of vegetables!" people are missing the point.

Right up to putting the bowls on the table, I thought I probably won't be making this one again! But, 2 bites in and we were both loving the unexpected flavors. All the hullabaloo re the seasoning packet - how often do you really use it? I don't make ramen that often, so I go for it unless I have a packet of something in the freezer to add flavor (which I usually do). Go for it, it's not going to kill you. And this dish is worth it! Thanks.

Shredded chedar works also

Got a cold? You need this. Cold outside? You need this. Hungover? Drunk? Think your life can't possibly get any better? You need this.

I had to throw this away. It’s true that I only added one cheese slice at the end, since I was already very skeptical of the outcome. The egg didn’t cook properly (the white didn’t solidify around the yolk) which was probably my fault, since I’ve never poached an egg before. Otherwise, there seemed to be way too much “broth” which tasted like salt and nothing else. The cheese didn’t melt well either. I used kraft singles but I do live in Canada, so the formula might be different.

This was delicious, great comfort food. I used two packets of Ramen because I like a more substantial bowl of noodles. Doubled the water to 5 cups. Used both seasoning packets, but then left all other measurements the same- so only one egg and two pieces of cheese, maybe a teeny extra butter. The result was delicious. Broth was still nice and creamy but without having a distinct cheese flavor as one of the recent comments pointed out. Would definitely do it this way again.

Are we using American cheese from deli or processed cheese individually wrapped in plastic. Can't wait to try this!

Trader Joe’s American sliced cheese is apparently not fake enough or maybe it is too fake. It doesn’t melt but clumped together. Everything else worked really well, including the poached egg.

I was once served ramen with a poached egg at a Japanese restaurant and ever since I’ve added an egg to my instant ramen. I love the way the runny yolk clings to the noodles and will absolutely have to try this cheesy/buttery version. My mom adds tomato paste to instant ramen and I have no idea why/where she got the idea. Might make an interesting addition to this recipe, though.

Good and so quick and easy. Followed the recipe with 1 1/2 slices of American cheese. I did add a few drops of Sriracha. My adult kid loved it.

My husband and I fixed this for lunch a lot when we were in the Army, 35 years ago.

This was the perfect way to use left over American cheese I had from forth of July on a stormy day when I was in need of comfort food. So delicious— I added Siracha chilli oil

When I saw a 5 star rating for an instant ramen dish, I thought it must be a typo. Seriously, how could Top Ramen ever get over 9K people to love it?So, I got the ingredients and made the recipe.Well, it was delicious. I don’t make it often (high calorie count sodium), but it is a quick, easy and satisfying meal.

Delicious. Worth the hype. Try it.

I do a Ramen “bar” once a quarter for each class for my high school students. They learn a quick, delicious, cheap, easy meal you can make. They love it and some how try was days my classes have more students then in the roster, lol.

Now I know how Ponyo made it - and why he and Sosuke love it so much! (Just add a small slice of ham)

Shin is the best. The kids would gather at our place for doctored ramen. I would leave out one season packet (and use in place of salt for marinades). Add frozen spinach. And recently learned you can boil the egg for a quick sec in the shell for a nicer contained poach.

Followed the recipe, shockingly good. Could add sliced sausages for more army base stew-ness. Next time I plan on pouring boiling water over the noodles in a bowl. If the egg doesn’t poach satisfactorily, I might throw it in the microwave. Had edamame on the side; good pairing.

Can't believe how amazing this turned out! I added everything as per recipe but also added chilli flakes, and some shiritake furikake! Loved it. If anyone wants healthier option, simply add healthier ramen. It's about what's the end product than ramen itself.