Spicy peanut butter ramen is a delicious change of pace for your instant ramen packets. Made in minutes, this dish is savory and has just the right kick of heat to keep you going back for more.
Save This Recipe to Your Inbox
Enter your email and we’ll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you’ll join our email list and can unsubscribe anytime.
Instant ramen is already delicious, but with so many limited flavors, why not change things up a bit? This Thai ramen noodles recipe is exactly the change of pace you need. Unless you want to try Ramen with Egg and Cheese or our Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles.
By adding in some peanut butter and spice, we get a wonderful savory dish perfect for any time of day. What we love most about this recipe is that the spice isn't overpowering, instead, you get the taste of heat without breathing fire.
Spicy foods are always great, but what makes this Spicy Peanut Butter Ramen even better is that they're affordable and easy to make, (just like our Spicy Tuna Sandwich and Spicy Deviled Eggs).
Jump to:
💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's easy to make! Made with a few ingredients and totally customizable, you can adjust the recipe as needed.
- It's fast. You can have the flavorful peanut butter sauce ready in less time than it would take to cook your noodles, so by the time the ramen is done, so is your meal.
- It's cheap. One of the best reasons to reach for a packet of ramen is the price tag, so it makes sense that this is one of the most affordable recipes on our site.
🛒 Ingredients
Instant ramen- Any flavor of instant ramen will work fine for this recipe because we are discarding the flavor packet and only using the noodles.
Peanut butter- You'll need some creamy peanut butter. You can use natural peanut butter or stick to basic brands like Skippy or Jif.
Soy sauce- Using soy sauce will give us a lot more flavor and some salt to enhance the flavors in this dish.
Brown sugar- Use brown sugar to help cut back on some of the acidic taste and make the sauce feel more balanced.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Ramen: If you don't have instant ramen, use thin spaghetti or another quick-cooking noodle. Since the seasoning packet is discarded, any similar pasta works.
Chili Sauce: Swap chili sauce for sriracha if needed-just remember sriracha is spicier, so add slowly until you reach your desired heat. We usually use sriracha here and in our Soy Garlic Chicken Wings too.
Sweetener: Replace brown sugar with honey, maple syrup, or agave if you prefer a more natural sweetener.
🥣 Recipe Add-Ins
Protein Options: Add cooked shredded chicken, diced pork, tofu, or cooked shrimp for a more filling meal.
Flavor Boosters: Mix in sautéed mushrooms or salted peanuts for added texture and depth.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Use budget-friendly proteins (or none at all). This recipe is filling enough to enjoy without meat, but if you'd like to add some in, stick to low-cost options like leftover rotisserie chicken, canned chicken, or ground turkey instead of pricier cuts.
Swap veggies based on season. Add inexpensive, in-season produce like carrots, cabbage, spinach, or green onions to bulk up the meal without raising the cost. Frozen veggies work great too.
Buy ramen in bulk. Bulk packs of ramen are much cheaper per serving and perfect for stretching your grocery budget.
🥄 Instructions for Spicy Peanut Butter Ramen
Step 1: Add your ramen to a pot of boiling water.
Step 2: Cook according to package directions or until your desired doneness.
Step 3: Add the peanut butter, sesame oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, chili flakes, and chili sauce to a bowl.
Step 4: Whisk together until smooth.
Step 5: Add ¼ cup of reserved pasta water to your bowl of peanut sauce.
Step 6: Whisk until smooth.
Step 7: Add your cooked and drained noodles to the bowl with peanut sauce.
Step 8: Stir and toss well to evenly coat the noodles.
Step 9: Top it off with some sliced green onions, and then serve immediately.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Adjust peanut sauce thickness. To thicken your peanut sauce, reduce the amount of water added. It's meant to be thin enough to coat all the noodles evenly.
- Pasta Water Tip. Using reserved pasta water instead of regular water adds starches from the noodles, helping to thicken the sauce. This ensures it sticks to the noodles, a trick we also use in our Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta recipe.
- Serving Sizes. Each instant ramen packet serves 2 (as per package). This recipe yields one large serving or two smaller ones due to the generous size of ramen servings. Double the recipe for multiple adults.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Storage: Store leftover ramen in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Reheating:
- Microwave: Heat noodles in a microwave-safe bowl for 1-2 minutes.
- Stovetop: Warm in a small pot, adding a splash of water if the noodles seem dry or stuck together.
- Bonus: These noodles also taste great served cold!
Make Ahead: If prepping in advance, keep the noodles and peanut sauce separate until serving. Mixing too early will cause the noodles to absorb the sauce and lose texture and flavor.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Peanut butter ramen pairs well with crisp, refreshing sides like sliced cucumbers, steamed broccoli, or a simple Asian-style side salad. You can also serve it with egg rolls, potstickers, or a soft-boiled egg on top for a more filling meal.
- Roasted Baby Bok ChoyRecipe $4.02 / Serving $1.01
- Egg Drop SoupRecipe: $1.54 | Per Serving: $0.77
- Tuna Cabbage SaladRecipe $5.08 / Serving $2.54
- Ramen with Egg and CheeseRecipe $1.76 / Serving $0.44
❓ Recipe FAQs
Yes, just like many other pasta varieties out there, ramen noodles are simply made using a base of flour, water, and salt. This makes the noodles vegan-friendly, and our recipe can be made vegan-friendly as well by simply swapping the soy sauce for some coconut aminos or vegan soy sauce.
I always keep my house stocked with the cheaper instant ramen varieties, but Nissin and Maruchan are some of the more popular ramen noodle companies.
When we want a quick and mess-free option, we turn to microwaving ramen. Just put a ramen block in a microwave-safe cereal bowl, cover the noodles with water (break them if required), and microwave for 5 minutes. Then, drain and season as usual.
Absolutely! It's a wonderful addition to the noodle broth, lending it a silky, creamy texture. Just a tablespoon is enough to impart fantastic taste and creaminess without overshadowing other flavors.
Incorporating peanut butter into your instant ramen is a simple technique to elevate this budget-friendly comfort meal, infusing it with added flavor and protein.
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
- Alfredo Sauce With Cream CheeseRecipe $3.41 / Serving $0.28
- One Pot Cheeseburger PastaRecipe $10.25 / Serving $1.28
- 5 Ingredient Mac and CheeseRecipe $3.64 / Serving $0.36
- Ragu Spaghetti Sauce RecipeRecipe $9.14 / Serving $1.14
🐝 If you tried this Spicy Peanut Butter Ramen, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Spicy Peanut Butter Ramen
Ingredients
- 1 package (3 ounces) instant ramen noodles, seasoning discarded - ($0.31)
- ¼ cup reserved pasta water - ($0.00)
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter - ($0.10)
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil - ($0.10)
- 2 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce - ($0.10)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar - ($0.03)
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes - ($0.04)
- 1 tablespoon chili sauce or sriracha - ($0.12)
- 1 green onion, sliced thinly - ($0.04)
Instructions
- Cook the Noodles. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the ramen noodles and cook according to package directions, or until your desired doneness. Reserve ¼ cup of the pasta water, then drain the noodles.
- Make the Peanut Sauce. In a medium bowl, add the peanut butter, sesame oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, chili flakes, and chili sauce. Whisk until smooth. Add the reserved pasta water and whisk again until fully combined.
- Combine and Serve. Add the cooked noodles to the bowl with the peanut sauce. Toss well until the noodles are evenly coated. Garnish with sliced green onion before serving.
Notes
- Instant Ramen Substitution. Replace instant ramen with thin spaghetti noodles if needed; seasoning packet is not required.
- Peanut Sauce Texture. For a thicker sauce, reduce the amount of pasta water added. Reserved pasta water helps the sauce cling to the noodles.
- Serving Size. One ramen packet serves 2; this recipe makes 1 large or 2 smaller portions. Double as needed.
- Make Ahead. Store cooked noodles and peanut sauce separately until ready to serve for best texture.
- Storage and Reheating. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or on the stove with a splash of water. Noodles can also be enjoyed cold.
Nutritional Information
Save This Recipe to Your Inbox
Enter your email and we'll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you'll join our email list and can unsubscribe anytime.
Comments
No Comments