Time to upgrade the ramen in your pantry—this isn’t the instant ramen you remember from college. Skip the seasoning packet and make a simple, flavorful sesame garlic sauce with pantry staples. Garlic Sesame Ramen Noodles for Two is quick, satisfying, and perfect for a fast weeknight meal.
What you’ll need for Garlic Sesame Ramen Noodles
- 2 packages ramen noodles (discard the flavor packets)
- Olive oil (or another neutral oil)
- Fresh garlic and ginger, minced
- Brown sugar
- Soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
- Rice vinegar
- Chili garlic paste (optional, to taste)
- Toasted sesame oil
- Green onions, thinly sliced
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
Serving suggestions
The noodles are tasty on their own, but you can turn this into a more complete meal by adding:
- Fried or soft-boiled eggs
- Proteins such as chicken, shrimp, or tofu
- Steamed or stir-fried vegetables
How to make it
- Cook the ramen: Boil the noodles according to package instructions (usually 2–3 minutes). Drain and set aside.
- Make the sesame garlic sauce: Heat a large skillet over medium-low and add the oil. Sauté the minced garlic and ginger for about a minute until fragrant. Stir in the brown sugar, rice vinegar, chili garlic paste (if using), and soy sauce. Cook for another minute, then remove from heat and whisk in the toasted sesame oil.
- Toss and finish: Add the cooked noodles to the skillet and toss until evenly coated in the sauce. Top with sliced green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Serve immediately, optionally with eggs or additional protein.
Scaling and storage
This recipe doubles easily—just cook more noodles and increase the sauce ingredients proportionally. Leftovers keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days; reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Pan recommendation
Use a medium-large skillet so there’s room to toss the noodles with the sauce. If making a larger batch, choose a bigger pan to avoid overcrowding.
Recipe
Garlic Sesame Ramen for Two
Garlic Sesame Ramen for Two transforms instant noodles with a quick sesame-garlic sauce. Skip the seasoning packet and use simple pantry ingredients for a flavorful two-serving meal—top with an egg or add a protein if you like.
- Author: Kathleen
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
- Category: Meatless Monday, Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
- 2 (3 oz) packages ramen noodles, flavor packets discarded
- 2 tablespoons oil (olive, canola, or coconut)
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 3–4 green onions, thinly sliced
- Sesame seeds, to garnish
Instructions
- Cook the ramen. Prepare noodles according to package directions (about 2–3 minutes). Drain and set aside.
- Make the garlic sesame sauce. In a large skillet over medium-low heat, warm the oil. Add garlic and ginger and cook about 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in brown sugar, rice vinegar, chili garlic sauce, and soy sauce. Cook 1 minute more, remove from heat, and stir in toasted sesame oil.
- Toss the noodles with the sauce. Add the cooked noodles to the skillet and toss to coat. Top with green onions and sesame seeds. Add a fried egg or protein if desired.
- Enjoy.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat gently before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 of recipe
- Calories: 544
- Sugar: 12.5 g
- Sodium: 1973.6 mg
- Fat: 23.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 74.6 g
- Fiber: 2.6 g
- Protein: 11.9 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg