Homemade Cup Noodles
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Make homemade cup noodles in 5 minutes flat. Refrigerate DIY instant ramen for up to 4 days. When ready to eat, add hot water and stir. Slurping healthy soup from a mason jar, you’ll be the envy of the office at lunch.
PIN HOMEMADE CUP NOODLES RECIPE
Customize DIY instant noodles to suit your taste buds. Build each on-the-go meal with the exact type of veggies, noodles, and broth you and your family like most. If desired, add in some protein just before serving. It’s a satisfying feeling to prep nourishing meals that require very little time in the kitchen.
Once you’ve slurped this rich flavorful soup it’s hard to go back to store-bought. The taste and texture of DIY instant ramen is so much better than those dehydrated cuppa noodles from the market.
Assembling homemade cup noodles is an easy way to make tasty meals that are super convenient during the busy work week. Friends and family agree, this clever kitchen hack makes weekday life so much easier.
DIY noodle cups will satisfy any size appetite. For portions similar to the size of Cuppa Noodles containers, meal prep with (wide-mouth) 16-ounce Ball mason jars. For active teens and adults who require larger meals, double the recipe in (wide-mouth) 32-ounce Ball mason jars.Reusable containers are better for the environment. Less styrofoam and paper cups in the landfills.
Kids home for summer or winter break will love this cup noodles recipe. Prep it on the weekend and stick the mason jars in the fridge to keep quick meals on hand. College kids can assemble these ramen noodle cups in their dorm room and pop them into the mini fridge. It’s so convenient.
WARM PORTABLE MEALS: After prepping the soup with hot water, seal the jars with leak-proof lids. Arrange jars upright inside an insulated tote, with kitchen cloths for cushioning. Take homemade cup noodles to picnics, outdoor sporting events, or tailgating.
Is there a family member or friend who’s sick and stuck at home? Is there an elderly neighbor who no longer cooks and could use a ready-to-go meal? Drop off (mason jar) ramen noodle cups. There’s something very comforting about a warm bowl of soup. It lifts the spirits.
INGREDIENTS
DIY cup noodles are very versatile. Use the ingredients that appeal to you most. Leave out the ones you don’t prefer.
- Better Than Bouillon: This chicken bouillon paste is the “secret ingredient” for adding fantastic flavor to the ramen soup. Like the name implies, this product is 100% better than standard bouillon. I prefer the chicken flavor, but you can also use mushroom, vegetarian or beef.
- Soy Sauce: This salty condiment adds a rich umami flavor to this homemade cup noodles recipe. I use regular soy sauce, but feel free to use low-sodium type soy sauce if desired. You can also use tamari.
- Dried Parsley: Adds a touch of color and freshness to the noodle cup.
- Ground Ginger: Adds rustic earthiness to this savory soup while delivering a bit of warm spice. But you can use ground turmeric instead, or add a small pinch of both to the seasoning mix.
- Garlic Powder: Although the bouillon contains garlic, adding a little bit extra ensures this cuppa noodles recipe has a deeply-flavorful taste.
- Frozen Mixed Vegetables: This healthy shortcut delivers excellent texture and freshness. I prefer a veggie mixture that includes corn, carrots, peas and green beans. But feel free to use your favorite mix. And if you’d like, you can use fresh vegetables like finely-minced carrots, sliced cremini mushrooms and fresh kernels of corn.
- Dried Ramen Noodles: I prefer organic Ocean’s Halo ramen noodles, but you can switch things up with Mama instant rice vermicelli noodles. They’ll cook in the mason jar when you add boiling water.
- Green Onion: This is the perfect garnish for cup noodles! It adds a light, fresh onion flavor to the soup while also adding a bit of color.
HOMEMADE CUP NOODLES RECIPE
NOTE: The ingredients for this recipe are scaled to fit 1 wide-mouth (16-ounce) mason jar, for 1 individual serving. To make multiple instant noodle cups, or for larger portions, please plan accordingly.
- STEP 1: Add “Better Than Bouillon” paste to the mason jar. Add soy sauce, dried parsley, garlic powder, and ground ginger.
- STEP 2: With a spoon, mix to combine. This is the DIY seasoning mix for the instant noodle soup.
- STEP 3: Pour frozen veggies directly on top of the seasoning mix. But do not mix. Leave the ingredients in layers.
- STEP 4: Break dry ramen into small pieces (so it will cook faster). Place it on top of the veggies. Sprinkle green onions over the ramen, but do not mix. Attach lid to the jar and store in the fridge up to 4 days.
MEAL PREPPING TIP: Wrap the sliced onions in a small square of plastic wrap to create an airtight packet. This will keep them crisp and fresh for later. Place the packet on top of other ingredients.
HOW TO SERVE DIY CUP NOODLES
- STEP 1: Remove the lid of the mason jar. (If meal was prepped in advance, unwrap sliced green onions and sprinkle on top.)
- STEP 2: Pour 1 1/4 cups boiling water over the noodles.
- STEP 3: Attach the lid to the jar. Let cuppa noodles sit on a heat-safe surface for 5 minutes or until the ramen noodles are soft.
- STEP 4: Remove the lid. With chopsticks or a spoon, stir until the seasonings are fully dissolved and enjoy.
MICROWAVE INSTRUCTIONS: If applicable, unwrap packet of green onions and sprinkle on top. Add just enough water to cover the noodles. Microwave for 2 minutes (without metal lid or metal ring). Cover for 2 minutes. Then stir until seasonings are dissolved.
RECIPE FAQ
These are the most commonly asked questions when prepping homemade noodle cups and the most helpful answers for recipe success.
Frozen vegetables work well for DIY cup noodles, but you can use fresh (unfrozen) veggies instead. Try finely-diced carrots, fresh kernels of corn, hand-torn spinach leaves, sliced cremini mushrooms, etc.
For food safety, and the best taste and texture, add protein after the soup has been prepared with hot water. Try shredded chicken, bits of cooked crispy bacon, diced pan-fried ham, a soft-boiled egg, scrambled egg, or tiny cubes of baked (ready-to-eat) tofu.
Reduce the amount of ground ginger to 1/8 teaspoon. Add 1/8 teaspoon turmeric plus a pinch of red pepper flakes.
After preparing instant ramen cup with boiling water, add some butter, American cheese, and a scrambled egg. Another option: stir 1/8 teaspoon toasted sesame oil into the hot broth.
When meal prepping noodle cups, add dried red pepper flakes to the seasoning mix at the bottom of the mason jar. Or after adding boiling water to the instant ramen, add chili oil or Sriracha for a kick of heat.
Make this quick, easy, mushroom ramen bowl! This restaurant-style recipe comes together in just 30 minutes.
MORE EASY SOUP RECIPES
Soup fills the tummy and warms the soul. If you loved this DIY cup noodle recipe, you’ll also enjoy these flavorful soups. Each is kid tested and family approved. Add them to your recipe collection. Pin them to Pinterest.
- Alphabet Soup
- Creamy Cauliflower Leek Soup
- Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup
- French Lentil Soup
- Creamy Asparagus Soup
- Creamy Butternut Squash Soup
- Italian Wedding Soup
- Minestrone Soup
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Recipe testers voted these the BEST homemade noodle cups! They love the flavorful broth and the delicious texture of the ramen noodles and veggies.
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Homemade Cup Noodles
- Total Time: 10 Minutes
- Yield: 1 Serving 1x
Description
Homemade cup noodles are packed with umami flavor! It’s the perfect meal-prep recipe. Assemble in mason jars in just 5 minutes. Refrigerate up to 4 days. When ready to enjoy, add hot water and stir.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Better Than Bouillon (bouillon paste), chicken or mushroom flavored*
- 1 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce (or low-sodium soy sauce)*
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger or ground turmeric
- 1/2 cup frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, corn, peas, green beans)
- 2 ounces dried ramen noodles (like Ocean’s Halo ramen noodles)
- 1 green onion, sliced
*FOR A RICHER BROTH: Use an additional 1/4 teaspoon bouillon paste and 1/4 teaspoon soy sauce. However, to keep the saltiness in check, I recommend low-sodium soy sauce. Be sure to carefully measure the bouillon paste as even a touch more can really ramp up the salt content.
Instructions
HOW TO PREP CUP NOODLES
RECIPE NOTE: The ingredients for this recipe are scaled to fit 1 wide-mouth (16-ounce) mason jar, for 1 individual serving.
- Add “Better Than Bouillon” paste to the mason jar. Add soy sauce, dried parsley, garlic powder, and ground ginger. With a spoon, mix to combine.
- Pour frozen veggies directly on top of the seasoning mix. But do not mix. Leave the ingredients in layers.
- Break dry ramen into pieces (so it will cook faster). Place it on top of the veggies. Sprinkle green onions over the ramen, but do not mix. Attach the lid to the jar. Store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.
MEAL PREPPING TIP: Wrap sliced onions in a small square of plastic wrap to create an airtight packet. This will keep them crisp and fresh for later. Place packet on top of other ingredients.
HOW TO SERVE CUP NOODLES
- Remove the lid of the mason jar. (If this meal was prepped in advance, unwrap sliced green onions and sprinkle on top.)
- Pour 1 1/4 cups boiling water over the noodles. Attach the lid to the jar. Let cuppa noodles sit on a heat-safe surface for 5 minutes or until the ramen noodles are soft.
- Remove the lid. With chopsticks or a spoon, stir until the seasonings are fully dissolved and enjoy.
MICROWAVE INSTRUCTIONS: If applicable, unwrap packet of green onions and sprinkle on top. Add just enough water to cover the noodles. Microwave for 2 minutes (without metal lid or metal ring). Cover for 2 minutes. Then stir until seasonings are dissolved.
Notes
EXACT QUANTITY OF NOODLES AND VEGGIES: To make 4 servings mason jar cup noodles, buy 1 box Ocean’s Halo Organic Ramen Noodles (4 packages per box), and 1 10-ounce bag frozen mixed veggies (2 cups veggies per bag). It’s the exact quantity of noodles and veggies needed for this recipe with nothing left over.
FOR MORE UMAMI FLAVOR: After prepping the soup with hot water, drizzle 1/8 teaspoon toasted sesame oil into the broth and stir well.
HOW TO ADD A KICK OF SPICE: When meal prepping noodle cups, add dried red pepper flakes to the seasoning mix at the bottom of the mason jar. Or after adding boiling water to the instant ramen, add chili oil or Sriracha.
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes
- Cook Time: 5 Minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Mason Jar
- Cuisine: American
HOMEMADE CUP NOODLES > JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Did you grow up with instant ramen cup noodles in the pantry? Is this college staple for starving students something you still crave today? Let me know what you think of DIY instant noodle cups in the comments.
I found this upgraded cup noodles recipe through Reddit. They’re easy to make, very savory and healthier than store-bought. The teens just can’t get enough of them. They’re now staples in our fridge.