Description

This Easy Creamy Ramen recipe blends classic instant ramen noodles with a rich, comforting creamy broth made from cream cheese and milk, enhanced with savory aromatics and tender beef. It’s a quick, satisfying meal perfect for a comforting lunch or dinner, customizable with various proteins and fresh toppings for an extra flavor boost.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

2 packets of instant ramen noodles
Water or low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth (about 4 cups)
Whole milk (or oat milk, soy milk, or almond milk) – 1 cup
Cream cheese (full-fat or reduced-fat) – 4 ounces
Freshly minced garlic – 2 cloves
Grated ginger – 1 tablespoon
Ground beef (or thinly sliced beef, cooked shredded chicken, or firm tofu) – 8 ounces
Low-sodium soy sauce – 2 tablespoons
White (shiro) miso paste – 1 tablespoon (optional)
Unsalted butter – 1 tablespoon

Toppings (Optional)

Soft-boiled eggs – 2
Thinly sliced scallions (green onions) – 2 tablespoons
Chili oil or chili crisp – 1 teaspoon
Fresh spinach or corn – 1/2 cup
Toasted sesame seeds – 1 teaspoon

Instructions

Prepare Your Aromatics and Beef: Mince the garlic and grate the ginger carefully. If you’re using ground beef, break it into small pieces for even cooking; if using thinly sliced beef, have it ready to sear quickly.
Cook the Beef: In a medium pot or deep skillet, melt about half a tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until evenly browned and cooked through. For thinly sliced beef, quickly sear it in the melted butter and then set aside to preserve tenderness.
Sauté the Aromatics: Reduce the heat to medium, add the remaining butter, then toss in the minced garlic and grated ginger. Sauté this fragrant mixture for 1 to 2 minutes until aromatic and slightly softened.
Build the Creamy Broth: Pour in your choice of water or low-sodium broth and bring it to a gentle simmer. Whisk in the cream cheese until it melts smoothly, then stir in the milk along with the ramen seasoning packets and soy sauce. If you opted for miso paste, whisk it in now. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Cook the Noodles: Add the ramen noodles directly into the simmering broth and cook according to the package instructions, usually about 2 to 3 minutes, until tender but still springy.
Assemble and Serve: Divide the cooked noodles and creamy broth into serving bowls. If you used thinly sliced beef, add it back into the bowls at this stage to warm through.
Add Your Favorite Toppings: Arrange your preferred toppings over the ramen such as soft-boiled eggs, thinly sliced scallions, fresh corn or spinach, chili oil or chili crisp, and toasted sesame seeds. Serve hot immediately for the best flavor and texture.

Notes

You can substitute the protein with cooked shredded chicken, tofu, or keep it vegetarian by omitting meat altogether.
Use any milk alternative like oat, soy, or almond milk to keep this recipe dairy-free, though the cream cheese adds richness.
Adjust the amount of soy sauce and miso paste to control the saltiness of your broth.
Soft-boil the eggs in advance to save time; cook for 6-7 minutes for a jammy yolk.
For extra spice, drizzle chili oil or add chili crisp just before serving.
This recipe works well for meal prep, but add fresh toppings right before serving to maintain texture.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Japanese-inspired

Keywords: Creamy ramen, instant ramen recipe, comfort food, quick ramen, beef ramen, easy ramen, creamy noodle soup