Another one to add to your arsenal of ramen noodle recipes! Loaded with hidden vegetables, Chicken Vegetable Ramen Noodles is a super quick dinner idea that’s economical, versatile and healthy.
You’ll love the 4 ingredient Asian sauce, the juicy pieces of caramelised chicken, and how you can toss in virtually any vegetables you want into these stir fried noodles!
Another Ramen Noodle Recipe!
The popularity of the Asian Beef Ramen Noodles from last month caught me by surprise! Though of course, being of Japanese background, it makes me very happy that a ramen noodle recipe was so popular…… 😇
Given how much you liked the ground beef / mince one, it was inevitable that a chicken version would come out soon….. And here it is!
Ramen Noodles – or any Instant Noodles
I’ve been making variations of this Chicken Vegetable Ramen Noodles and the Beef version for more years than I care to admit (because a woman’s age should remain a mystery. Always.)
While I’m partial to making this with ramen noodles, it also works with other instant noodles, such as as Maggi 2 Minute Noodles. I’ve made this with pretty much every type of ramen noodles and instant noodles sold at everyday grocery stores here in Australia. Mainly because I’d usually get whatever was on sale at the time!
It doesn’t matter what flavour the packet says it is because we toss the soup seasoning packet and any other mysterious foil pouches that you find (dried “meat” anyone?😳).
Are ramen noodles bad for you?
If consumed in the intended manner of plonk-and-simmer using the provided seasoning mix, then no it’s not a well rounded meal by any stretch of the imagination. High in sodium with little to no nutritional value.
However! When we toss the seasoning mix, make our own sauce and jam pack it with vegetables, you CAN transform ramen noodles into a nutritious, well rounded meal!
Hidden Veg to the Max!
When you look at the photos and video, all you’ll notice are the masses and masses of noodles….
And yet, look at all the vegetables in this ramen noodle recipe. There’s just a measly little cup of chicken, and mounds and mounds of vegetables!
OK, so “mounds and mounds” is a slight exaggeration. But there’s alot! Probably 6 times more vegetables than there is chicken.
But they seem to mostly disappear once cooked because they’re “noodle shaped” vegetables so they kind of blend in. It’s a really good way to get tons of greens into veggie-adverse people (little or big). 😉
After actual real Japanese Ramen Noodle Soup?
That’s my mother’s domain on RecipeTin Japan, the home of authentic Japanese recipes. Here is her Easy Ramen Noodle Soup or go all out and make your own homemade Ramen Broth!
A quick, one pot dinner idea
This Chicken Vegetable Ramen Noodle recipe is made the same way as the Asian Beef Ramen Noodles – in one pot!
I don’t do this to save on washing up. That’s a side benefit.
The reason I like to cook the noodles in the same skillet as the vegetables and chicken is because the gluten in the noodles helps thicken the sauce so it coats the noodles nicely. Unlike pretty much every other stir fried noodle recipe I’ve shared, the sauce for this recipe does not have cornflour / cornstarch or any other thickener. So I use the gluten in the noodles that releases when it cooks to help thicken the sauce. 🙂
Virtually foolproof!
Another nice thing about this recipe is that it’s virtually foolproof.
Instant noodles in all forms are basically designed to be dummy proof (think college students!). The noodles stand up fine even if cooked for way longer than they should be. If it’s undercooked, just add more water.
My only tip is to use a big skillet. Enthusiastic tossing of noodles comes with the territory (it’s impossible to resist) and if you use a small skillet like I did in the video, you’ll end up with more noodles around rather than in the skillet! – Nagi x
More really quick Asian recipes
- Pork Stir Fry with Green Beans
- Asian Beef Bowls
- Egg Foo Young (Chinese Omelette with Pork)
- Chop Suey (Chicken Stir Fry)
- All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce – Charlie! Yes I named it/him
- See all Asian recipes and 15 Minute Meals collection
And the Ramen Noodle recipe collection
- Caramelised Asian Mushroom Ramen Noodles – caramelised mushrooms tossed through ramen noodles in a sweet savoury Asian sauce
- One Pot Chicken and Vegetable Ramen Noodles – this recipe
- Quick Asian Beef Ramen Noodles – with caramelised ground beef
- Ramen Noodle Salad with Creamy Sesame Peanut Dressing – terrific for work lunchboxes
- Chow Mein Ramen Noodles – the faster way to make Chow Mein
Chicken Vegetable Ramen Noodles Recipe
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Chicken Vegetable Ramen Noodles
Ingredients
- 2 packets ramen or other instant noodles , discard seasoning (Note 1)
- 1 tbsp oil
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1/2 onion , sliced
- 200g / 7oz chicken thighs, cut into bite size pieces (Note 2)
- 1 1/4 cups (315 ml) water, plus more as needed
- 1 carrot , cut into matchsticks
- 1 small red capsicum / bell pepper , sliced
- 2 cups cabbage , finely sliced (any type)
Sauce:
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce (Note 3)
- 1 tbsp Oyster sauce (or Hoisin, Note 4)
- 2 tsp Hoisin sauce (or more Oyster sauce)
- 1 tbsp Mirin (Note 5)
Garnishes (optional):
- Finely sliced green onion / shallots
Instructions
- Mix Sauce.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add onion and garlic, cook for 1 1/2 minutes until starting to go golden.
- Add chicken and cook just until the outside mostly changes from pink to white.
- Add Sauce and cook for 1 minute until chicken is quite caramelised.
- Add carrot and capsicum, cook for 1 minute (chicken should now be nicely caramelised, see video).
- Push chicken and veg to the side to make enough space for the noodles. Add water, place noodles in water.
- When the water starts simmering on the edges, leave noodles for 45 seconds then turn.
- Leave for 30 seconds, then untangle the noodles, then toss through the chicken and veg.
- Add cabbage, toss for 1 minute until sauce reduces to coat the noodles and the noodles are cooked. (Note 6)
- Serve immediately, garnished with green onions.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
Taken not even an hour ago on today’s surplus food delivery run. 🙂 He loves the attention – and always gets treats!
What’s not to love: so easy, so quick & finger-licking delicious!
I just had to try this one and it was amazing. I had just bought some chicken hearts and thought I’d use those for a quick, healthy, super-cheap meal. It’s all chicken after all! Turned out really nice and moreish. Nice browning and well glazed, works perfectly with the vegetables and ramen. Will definitely do it again. 5 stars from me!
Tried this tonight, oh yum, I didn’t have any hosin sauce so used your note about more Oyster sauce. I love the notes with tips for substitutes. We will definitely be having this again, thanks Nagi.
We have a fish allergy. Any substitutes for the oyster sauce?
Hi DeeAnne, you can buy vegetarian oyster sauce which is mushroom based – it’s the best substitute! N x
I used to cook the noodles separately but the texture is just not right. Thank you for sharing this. Now my chow mian is perfect in one pot. Brilliant!
This was delicious and so easy! I doubled the sauce. We like a little spice so I added some sriracha. I added one radish lol, because I wasn’t sure about it, and shaved Brussels because I didn’t have cabbage. I finished it off with fresh basil and cashews. It was really good!! Thank you!!
You never disappoint me with delicious recipes. This one is also a big hit. Can’t quite get the same dark rich coloring but the flavor was AMAZING.
So delicious and easy to make. My kids (11 & 7 year olds) loved it! I did triple the sauce to make it extra saucy because I used more asian style noodles.
This recipe is so good. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so very much for this recipe. It has become a regular in the dinner rotation! I tweak according to available veggies. Two additions that I have found really suit me are adding a little grated fresh ginger when sauteing the onion and garlic and adding reconstituted dried shitake mushrooms at the same time as the chicken.
So yummy!
Made this twice in a week, love it 😊 so easy and delicious I will be making the other noodle dishes too!!! 👍🏻
Great to hear Paula! Enjoy! N x
This was so delicious! I followed the secret on tenderizing the chicken. Awesome!
Perfect Gail! N x
I used to make something like this in college 20 years ago and was craving some yesterday and found this recipe. Your method of cooking the ramen in the same pot is wonderful. A lot more flavor. Didn’t have Oyster sauce or Hoisin, so made my version with soy, sriracha, ginger and sambal oelek and a bit of teriyaki for sweetness. Now I have to tell everyone this one pot trick, specially my kids who are college bound in a few years.
Sounds like you nailed it Thara!! N x
This recipe was easy and delicious! Can I use the same recipe with shrimp?
Sure can Ebony! N x
I just had to try this recipe tonight. And it is amazing! I didn’t let it caramelize long enough, my sauce was too light, but still tasted so good. I left off the onion garnish because I can’t eat raw onions. I am so making this again. I ate the entire pan!
Yummy!
Thanks Hilary! N x
So so good!!! Quick, easy, healthy (because of the veggies)! A complete meal! I should have added a runny sunny side on top of my serving before digging in. I added in sambal matah (indonesian chilli) and it was Awesome!!!
Loved it and so did the family. Quick and easy ❤️
Wahoo! Thanks Deb! N x
Nagi, you hit a home run with this one! I didn’t have all the sauce ingredients so added some Veri Teriyaki sauce and it was sssooo good. One of those recipes where you have most of everything you need; I even had the cabbage. Thank you so much for sharing this. Husband loved it.
Yes it’s so versatile Reenie!! N x
So tasty! The children think that pandemic equals takeaway more often – no way! Juicy saucy noodles made at home for the win.
Wahoo, I’m so glad you enjoyed it Lee! N x
I didn’t have cabbage today, but used sugar snap peas instead. Everyone loved it! Huge success!
Yes it’s so versatile, I usually use what I have in the bottom of the vegetable crisper! N x