How to Make Spicy Ramen with Store-Bought Noodles (2024)

If you’re a noodle lover, chances are you know how to make classic ramen. You probably also find yourself searching for ways to elevate store-bought ramen to suit your flavor preferences. That’s the thing about ramen: You can make it to however you want!

This spicy ramen is for anyone who enjoys food with a kick, from mild to super hot. It will require some experimentation on your part to find the right amount of heat, but you’ll end up with restaurant-worthy ramen.

How Spicy Is This Ramen?

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This recipe is for serious spice lovers. If you’ve ever heard of Samyang Buldak Ramen, which is the spiciest ramen I’ve ever tried, this recipe comes pretty close.

A word of advice to novice explorers of the world of chilis and spice: Start in small increments and taste as you go. Sometimes, a little goes a long way.

How to Make Spicy Ramen

For a robust and spicy flavor throughout the broth, cook chili crisp and other spices in the broth as you make the ramen. Then right before you enjoy your steaming bowl of noodles, add spicy condiments like sriracha, togarashi (a spicy Japanese seasoning blend), chili crisp and chili pepper flakes.

Ingredients

• 1 package (3 ounces) ramen noodles per person
• Gochugaru, to taste
• Gochujang, to taste
• Soy sauce, to taste
• Chili crisp or red pepper flakes, to taste

Toppings:

• Soft-boiled eggs
• Chopped green onions
• Nori
• Spinach
• Roasted corn
• Bacon
• Leftover chicken
• Sesame seeds

Directions

Step 1: Prep toppings and boil broth

Prepare your ramen toppings and set them aside for assembly. Then cook the ramen broth with the flavor packet and bring it to a boil.

Step 2: Mix the spices

Louiie Victa for Taste of Home

Mix together the gochugaru, gochujang, soy sauce and chili crisp in a bowl. Add to the broth in small increments and taste as you go.

Step 3: Cook the noodles

Louiie Victa for Taste of Home

Add the noodles to the broth and cook until done. Transfer the spicy ramen to a serving bowl and add the toppings you set aside in the first step. Serve and enjoy! If you want to try some variations, learn to make chicken ramen and miso ramen.

Tips for Making Spicy Ramen

Louiie Victa for Taste of Home

• To make spicy ramen even better, add minced ginger, shiitake mushrooms and garlic to the broth to liven up the flavors. If you want, add a drizzle of chili oil on top of your ingredients as a finishing touch.
• If you can’t find chili crisp or gochugaru, use cayenne powder and red pepper flakes or grind a variety of dried chilis (arbol, pasilla and Aleppo peppers) until you find a spice profile that suits you.

Originally Published: February 08, 2023