Nourishing Homemade Chicken Ramen
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Nourishing Homemade Chicken Ramen
Get ready to slurp up some Nourishing Homemade Chicken Ramen that's as cozy as it is nutritious! Packed with flavorful chicken bone broth, zesty ginger, and garlic, this easily upgraded ramen is a game-changer. Topped with corn, sesame seeds, jalapeños, and a drizzle of chili oil for that extra kick, it's the ultimate comfort food recipe with a healthy twist. Vegan + Gluten-free Option.
Do y'all ever get that craving for a big, warm bowl of comfort food? It's like a hug in a bowl, right? Well, this Nourishing Homemade Chicken Ramen recipe is exactly that—packed with flavor and totally customizable to your liking. After trying my hand at recipes like Nourishing Chicken Noodle Soup and Nourishing Jamaican Chicken Soup, I figured it was about time to give ramen a shot!
Just a heads up, it's not your typical "traditional" ramen. It's more of my take on a flavorful, umami chicken broth using ingredients you can easily find at your local grocery store. If you LOVE all things chicken + soup definetely try my Creamy Garlic Chicken Gnocchi Soup, Creamy White Chicken Lasagna Soup and Spicy One-Pot Jerk Chicken and Dumplings recipes next!
But let's talk about this ramen—it's just made for slurping, loaded with nutritious ingredients like bone broth + turmeric. The noodles are incredibly satisfying, giving that perfect texture, and the toppings? Absolutely delicious. It's warm, hearty, full of flavor, and hands down the ultimate comfort food. Plus, it's meal prep-friendly and offers gluten-free and vegan options to suit everyone!
Jump to:
- What Is Ramen?
- Main Components Of Ramen
- How To Make Nourishing Homemade Chicken Ramen
- Ingredients
- Is Homemade Chicken Ramen Soup Healthy?
- Why Should I Add Chicken Bone Broth?
- What You’ll Love About This Nourishing Homemade Chicken Ramen
- More Ramen Topping Ideas
- How To Make Vegan Ramen?
- Nourishing Homemade Chicken Ramen Q + A's
- More Home-Style Comforting Meals
- Nourishing Homemade Chicken Ramen
What Is Ramen?
Ramen is a beloved Japanese noodle soup known for its comforting blend of wheat noodles immersed in a flavorful broth. This iconic dish boasts a rich history and has evolved into various regional styles across Japan. Typically, ramen features a variety of toppings such as tender slices of meat, topped with vegetables, chili, herbs + more adding layers of texture and taste to each bowl.
Main Components Of Ramen
Broth + flavorings --- The heart of a satisfying ramen bowl lies in its flavorful broth or soup base. Typically crafted from chicken or pork stock, or for a vegan option, vegetable stock.
Noodles --- Ramen noodles are typically made with wheat flour, salt, water, and a mineral called kansui, which gives them their chewy texture and color. They come in different shapes and thicknesses. For a gluten-free option, you can use rice noodles instead.
Toppings --- Traditional Japanese ramen toppings offer a world of variety, featuring sliced meats like chicken or pork belly, along with bean sprouts, nori (dried seaweed), scallions, bamboo shoots, and ramen eggs. However, feel free to let your creativity flow; I've tailored this ramen recipe to suit my personal taste, and you can do the same!
How To Make Nourishing Homemade Chicken Ramen
Alright, let's break down how we make this ramen, don't worry its easy! First up, we've got to prep and marinate the chicken, then we'll give it a nice sear. After that, it's time to whip up the delicious ramen broth + noodles, and finally, we get to add all the tasty toppings!
Ingredients
CHICKEN:
- Chicken thighs. Organic, skin removed. You could also use chicken breasts.
- Sea salt + black pepper. To taste.
- Herbs + seasonings. Smoked paprika, parsley, dried oregano, dried basil, dried thyme + cayenne pepper.
RAMEN:
- Organic ramen noodles. I like to use the brand Mike's Mighty Noodles. But feel free to use what's available to you. For a gluten-free option, Lotus Foods does an AMAZING brown rice version.
- Extra virgin olive oil. Feel free to use your favorite high-quality EVOO. My fave tried and trusted brand is California Olive Ranch.
- Butter. Provides richness + flavor. I love using organic from Organic Valley.
- Onion. Adds a nice savory flavor.
- Celery stalks. Chopped, celery is great at enchaning the flavors in broth/soup.
- Sweet corn kernels. This adds color and a nice pop of sweetness.
- Garlic cloves. Minced.
- Ginger. Minced works best here too.
- Tamari sauce. You can sub with soy sauce if desired.
- Chicken stock. Whole Foods has a great organic option! organic (You can also sub with veggie stock if desired)
- Chicken bone broth. Optional. It has incredible health benefits but you can sub with chicken stock instead if you prefer.
- Turmeric powder. Adds a beautiful yellow color and has powerful medicinal properties.
- Black pepper. This adds a nice pungent flavor while also activating the health properties of turmeric.
- Sea salt. To taste.
TOPPINGS:
- Jalapeños. Sliced thinly.
- Carrot. Peeled + julienne cut
- Green onions. Aka scallions, chopped.
- Chili oil. If you like a bit of heat then definitely don't skip this!
- Sesame seeds. Adds a nice flavor + crunch but they are optional.
SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR COOKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS RAMEN!
Here, I’ve curated a list of cooking + baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods or cooked meals, especially with this Nourishing Homemade Chicken Ramen. Everything from my fave baking sheet, skillet, mixing bowls, cooking thongs, cooking utensils, and more. SEE THEM HERE!
Is Homemade Chicken Ramen Soup Healthy?
Absolutely! Homemade chicken ramen soup is much more healthy than store-bought 'packet ramen', which often includes high levels of sodium, preservatives, artificial flavors, etc. Plus, you have a lot more control over the ingredients used in this recipe and you're able to purchase organic, healthyy ingredients to make up your nourishing soup and provide you with loads of vitamins and nutrients.
Why Should I Add Chicken Bone Broth?
I truly love adding bone broth to many of my soups for that extra nourishment and it really does do the trick! In case you aren't familiar, bone broth is the clear, protein-rich liquid obtained by simmering meaty joints (in this case chicken) and bones in water to pull the nutrients out. Much like regular stock, bone broth can be used as a great base for soups, stews, and risottos---although, I love drinking it warm in a mug whenever I'm sick or need some aid in my recovery. My fave brands are Bare & Bones as well as Kettle & Fire.
Breakdown of health benefits:
- Good for digestion and gut health
- May support immune function
- May support joint health
- May help promote sleep
What You’ll Love About This Nourishing Homemade Chicken Ramen
Once you make and eat this healthy Nourishing Homemade Chicken Ramen – you’ll fall in absolute love. Haha. More importantly, here are also the reasons why you’ll love it the most:
- Wholesome + oh-so-nourishing ingredients
- Customizable with your favorite toppings
- Bursting with rich flavor in every slurp
- A healthier alternative to store-bought ramen
- Provides warmth + comfort on any occasion
More Ramen Topping Ideas
I'm always up for more ramen toppings, but sometimes there's only so much room in the bowl… Here are some extra topping ideas to consider!
- Soft-boiled or marinated ramen eggs aka Ajitsuke Tamago are a very traditional topping.
- Seaweed sheets (nori) torn into strips for a savory taste!
- Bean sprouts for a refreshing crunch
- Sliced mushrooms. Shiitake, enoki, or shimeji for umami richness.
- Spinach or other leafy greens for added nutrition
- Garlic chips or fried shallots for extra crunch and flavor
- Pickled ginger or radish for tanginess and brightness
- Fresh cilantro leaves
- Furikake (Japanese seasoning) for an extra umami boost!
How To Make Vegan Ramen?
Even though this ramen recipe is called 'Nourishing Homemade Chicken Ramen', you can easily make it vegan or vegetarian. Just switch out the chicken broth for veggie broth, and instead of chicken, go for your favorite vegan protein like tofu, tempeh, or a vegan chicken substitute. Use vegan butter or oil instead of regular butter for cooking. Feel free to add any other vegan-friendly ingredients you like to make it your own!
Nourishing Homemade Chicken Ramen Q + A's
Leftovers can be stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, for optimal freshness. Can also be frozen for 4-6 months. To defrost, simply place soup in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature before reheating on the stovetop to serve.
While adding turmeric is optional, it definitely has healthy benefits: powerful medicinal properties, natural anti-inflammatory ingredient, increases antioxidant activity in the body, and more.
You can simply opt for a gluten-free ramen noodle or rice noodles. Lotus Foods does an AMAZING brown rice version. Be sure to check the labels on the broths + soy sauce/tamari to ensure it is all GF.
Absolutely! Homemade chicken ramen can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator for several days. Simply reheat the broth and toppings separately before assembling to enjoy a quick and satisfying meal throughout the week.
Yes this ramen recipe is sightly--- If desired, you can reduce the amounts slightly. Please know that this recipe is bold in spice/herb flavor, so feel free to adjust based on your tastebuds.
More Home-Style Comforting Meals
If you enjoyed this healthy + easy Nourishing Homemade Chicken Ramen recipe, make sure to add these irresistible dishes to your "must-make next" list!
- Lemon Herb Roasted Chickpeas + Bucatini
- Creamy Garlic Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- Sweet Potato Pasta Skillet
- Weeknight Tomato Kale Ravioli Bake
- Meatless Pumpkin Skillet Lasagna
- Baked Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings
- Baked Tuscan Chicken and Gnocchi
- Creamy Lemon Parmesan Chicken
Nourishing Homemade Chicken Ramen
Ingredients
CHICKEN:
- 4 organic chicken thighs, skin removed
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
RAMEN:
- 2 (2.5 oz) packages organic ramen noodles
- 3 Tbsps Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ onion, chopped
- 3 organic celery stalks, chopped
- 1 ½ cups sweet corn kernels
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsps minced ginger
- 2 Tbsps Tamari sauce (You can sub with soy sauce, if desired)
- 4 cups chicken stock, organic (You can also sub with veggie stock, if desired)
- 2 cups chicken bone broth, optional (You can sub with chicken stock instead)
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- sea salt, to taste
TOPPINGS:
- 1 jalapeño, sliced
- 1 carrot, peeled + julienne cut
- 2 green onions (aka scallions), chopped
- 2 tsps chili oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, optional
Instructions
TO PREP + MARINATE THE CHICKEN:
- In a bowl, add your freshly cleaned + rinsed chicken along with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, parsley, oregano, basil, cayenne, and thyme, mixing everything together until chicken is fully coated.
SEAR THE CHICKEN:
- In a dutch oven pot over medium-high heat, add 2 Tbsps olive oil until heated. Once hot, add your chicken and sear on each side, about 2-3 minutes per side. When done, remove from pot and let chicken be set aside until ready to use again.
TO MAKE THE RAMEN:
- In the same dutch oven, add the butter and let it melt. Once melted, add the onions and garlic, sautéing until fragrant and translucent, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add the chopped celery followed by: the salt, black pepper, turmeric, and stir together until combined and veggies are coated.
- Add in the seared chicken, chicken stock, bone broth (if using), Tamari sauce, and corn, stirring everything together until combined. Bring everything to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked through. Add the ramen noddles and stir to combine and continue to simmer for another 5-6 minutes. Add additional salt, to taste if necessary.
ASSEMBLE:
- Remove from heat and serve immediately into prepared bowl(s) and top with carrots, jalapeños, chopped scallion, sesame seeds, chili oil (if using), and enjoy with a side of crackers, if desired.
- Bon Appetit!
Tips & Tricks
- STORAGE: Leftovers can be stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, for optimal freshness. Can also be frozen for 4-6 months. To defrost, simply place soup in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature before re-heating on the stove top to serve.
- BONE BROTH: Bone broth has incredible health benefits which include: immune boosting properties, good for digestion + gut health, joint health, etc.; However, if you'd like to make this soup vegan----be sure to omit the bone broth and sub with additional veggie stock.
- SPICES/HERBS: If desired, you can reduce the amounts slightly. Please know that this recipe is bold in spice/herb flavor, so feel free to adjust based on your tastebuds.
- TURMERIC: While adding turmeric is optional, it definitely has benefits: powerful medicinal properties, natural anti-inflammatory ingredient, increases antioxidant activity in the body, and more.
Nutrition
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