The Best Cheesy Ramen Noodles Recipe

Name: Cheesy Ramen Recipe
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 cups water; 1 3 ounce package of ramen noodles; ½ tablespoon butter ((salted)); 2 tablespoons milk; ¼ teaspoon garlic powder; 1 pinch black pepper; ⅓ cup cheddar cheese ((sharp or medium cheddar)); 1 teaspoon chopped green onions ((optional))

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This Cheesy Ramen Noodle Recipe is a new spin on your favorite instant noodle recipe! Creamy cheesy ramen noodles are the perfect quick lunch!

Cheesy ramen in a red bowl with cheese and green onions on top and chopsticks.

If you are a TikTok user, you may have seen the cheesy ramen hack floating around. If you haven't tried it, you are missing out!

This cheese ramen recipe will take your instant noodle game to the next level. If this is your first time veering off the basic ramen instructions, have no fear! Just follow the easy directions below to discover the best cheesy ramen recipe!

With all of the cheese, butter, and milk, this admittedly isn't the healthiest meal, but it sure is delicious! Plus, there are various ways to adapt it the next time to avoid getting into a rut! Check our the variations below!

Try making these Sautéed Frozen Green Beans with your cheese ramen to balance out your meal!

I also have a recipe for Viral TikTok Mac and Cheese that is so cheesy and so good!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This cheesy ramen noodles recipe takes minimal effort!
The ingredients that are required are all simple ingredients that are likely already in your fridge!
This ramen and cheese recipe has a short cooking time and will be ready in no time!

Recipe Ingredients

You'll need the following ingredients to make these cheesy instant ramen noodles.

The ingredients to make cheesy ramen noodles.

Water is necessary to cook the noodles.

Ramen Noodles or Top Ramen are used for this, but we'll be making our own seasoning packet!

Butter adds to the creaminess of this bowl of instant noodles.

Milk is another ingredient that brings this from your classic ramen noodles to this indulgent cheese ramen.

Garlic Powder is a super simple way to bring an umami flavor to this dish.

Black Pepper will give this easy meal a little bit of spice.

Cheddar cheese is the main ingredient to give your noodles that delicious cheesy flavor.

Green onions are optional, but give a nice addition to these creamy cheesy ramen noodles.

How to Make Cheesy Instant Noodles

Here are some quick visual instructions. The full delicious cheesy ramen recipe with ingredient measurements is below!

Add 2 cups of cold water in a small saucepan. Bring the water to a boil. Add the pack of instant noodles to the pot of water.

Ramen noodles in a small pot of boiling water.

Cook the noodles for two minutes. They will be slightly undercooked but will cook more later. This will produce perfect chewy ramen noodles.

Add the butter, milk, garlic powder, and pepper. Mix until the butter is melted.

A pot of ramen noodles with seasoning and butter added to it.

Mix in the cheddar cheese a little bit at a time until everything is completely mixed.

A pot of cooked ramen with cheddar cheese added on top.

Serve the noodles in a bowl with the optional green onions on top.

Cheesy ramen being stirred in a pot to allow the cheese to melt.

Enjoy these creamy and cheesy ramen noodles!

Cheesy ramen in a red bowl with chopsticks lifting some noodles from the bowl.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

The key to this recipe is ensuring not to overcook the ramen noodles. They will become mushy and stick together if they are overdone.
Adding the cheese a little sprinkle at a time makes sure that the cheese doesn't stick together in one big clump.
Sharp cheddar cheese will give you the most flavor, but medium cheddar can be used too.

Storage and Reheating

Storage: Make sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of days.
Reheating: To reheat in the microwave, add a little milk or heavy cream to the bowl and heat 15 seconds, stir and repeat for another 15 seconds or until it is warm. You can also reheat in a saucepan on the stove on medium/low heat with a little extra milk or heavy cream.

Substitutions

Green Onions: Spring onions or chives are very similar and will have a similar taste. You can also have this dish without onions if you'd like.
Dairy Products: You can use cream cheese in place of either milk or butter.

Variations

Adding a few flavors to this cheesy ramen recipe is a creative way to change up this yummy dish!

Non-vegetarian options: Try adding a fried egg on top for a fun flavor option. You can also add your protein of choice. You would want to add the already-cooked meat to the dish before adding the cheese.
Cheese: You could try substituting or adding cheese sauce, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, cheese melt such as Velveeta, or any variety of cheeses.
Toppings: Try adding sesame seeds, fresh parsley, freshly chopped tomatoes or chopped peanuts on top.
Vegetables: You could mix in kernels of sweet corn to the mix.
Spicy Ramen: If you want spicy noodles, you could add sriracha sauce, cayenne pepper, red chili paste, or red pepper flakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What cheese goes well with Ramen.

Many different cheeses go well with ramen. Sharp cheddar cheese will give a big kick in flavor to your ramen noodles. Many other kinds of cheese would also be delicious, depending on what you are going for. You could even try some slices of American cheese on top! Cheesy instant ramen is a delicious twist on classic instant noodles.

Can you put cheese in your ramen noodles?

Absolutely! This is an easy way to level up a classic comfort food. You can choose the cheese based on the flavor palate you are going for. You can either put it in the broth and give it a good stir or lay slices on top of it after serving and let the residual heat melt it down. No matter which way you go, you are sure to love your cheesy top ramen!

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Cheesy Ramen Recipe

This Cheesy Ramen Noodle Recipe is a new spin on your favorite instant noodle recipe! Creamy cheesy ramen noodles are the perfect quick lunch!

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Lunch

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cheesy Ramen, Ramen Recipe

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: serving

Author: Jen Talley

Cost: $1

Equipment

1 small saucepan

Ingredients

2 cups water
1 3 ounce package of ramen noodles
½ tablespoon butter (salted)
2 tablespoons milk
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1 pinch black pepper
⅓ cup cheddar cheese (sharp or medium cheddar)
1 teaspoon chopped green onions (optional)

Instructions

Boil 2 cups of water in a small saucepan. Add the ramen noodles and and cook for 2 minutes (slightly undercooked). Drain the water and put the noodles back in the warm pot.
Add the butter to the pot of noodles and mix it around to melt it on the warm noodles. Next mix in the milk, garlic powder, and black pepper.
Mix in the cheddar cheese a little at a time until it has all been mixed together.
Serve the noodles in a bowl with the chopped green onions on top.

Video

Notes

Tips:

The key to this recipe is ensuring not to overcook the ramen noodles. They will become mushy and stick together if they are overdone.
Adding the cheese a little sprinkle at a time makes sure that the cheese doesn't stick together in one big clump.
Sharp cheddar cheese will give you the most flavor, but medium cheddar can be used too.

Storage:

Storage: Make sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of days.
Reheating: To reheat in the microwave, add a little milk or heavy cream to the bowl and heat 15 seconds, stir and repeat for another 15 seconds or until it is warm. You can also reheat in a saucepan on the stove on medium/low heat with a little extra milk or heavy cream.