Make lunch or dinner quick and easy with this Shrimp Ramen recipe. It features succulent shrimp, tender ramen noodles, a rich broth, and fresh veggies. This is the perfect bowl of comfort!
Ready for more delicious ramen recipes? Try my Mongolian Beef Ramen and Birria Ramen next!
Shrimp Ramen Noodles
This homemade ramen noodles with shrimp is a game changer, especially if you’re used to grabbing a Maruchan seasoning packet. A budget meal doesn't have to be bland or boring! This dish is ready in just 20 minutes, but the flavors are way more complex and satisfying.
You can easily customize it by adding your favorite veggies or adjusting the spice level. The broth has that deep umami flavor that makes it hard to resist. It’s simple enough to become a weeknight staple, but still feels special. Once you try this, you’ll never go back to store-bought ramen again!
Ingredients
Garlic Butter Ramen Broth
- Butter: Unsalted butter lets me control the saltiness while adding richness to the broth.
- Aromatics: Onions add sweetness, and garlic gives the broth its bold flavor—just be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Lemon juice: A splash of lemon juice brightens up the broth and balances the richness.
- Seafood stock: Seafood stock adds depth, but chicken broth works if that's what you have.
- Soy sauce: This adds a salty, umami flavor and deepens the broth’s color.
- Seasoning: Chili powder paprika, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, and garlic powder bring layers of spice and warmth. Old Bay and Cajun give it a subtle kick.
- Sweet chili sauce: It adds a touch of sweetness and extra umami, balancing out the heat.
Ramen Bowl Ingredients
- Jumbo shrimp: Large shrimp are meaty and cook quickly, making them perfect for ramen.
- Seasoning for Shrimp: I use cajun seasoning, black pepper, and garlic powder for a simple yet delicious flavor. These seasonings complement the shrimp without overpowering the dish.
- Olive oil: I sear the shrimp in olive oil to get a nice, crispy exterior.
- Ramen noodles: Classic ramen noodles soak up the broth and cook quickly, perfect for busy nights.
- Vegetables of choice: Add your favorite veggies for extra crunch and color. I like to include cooked carrots, peas, green beans, broccoli, and sugar snap peas.
- Hard-boiled eggs: They make the dish heartier and add protein. I prefer mine soft-boiled.
- Green onions and sesame seeds: These add a fresh bite and a bit of crunch to finish off the dish.
How to Make Shrimp Ramen
See recipe card for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
First, I melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Once melted, I add the diced onions and sauté them, stirring often.
They soften within 5 minutes. Then, I toss in the garlic and let it cook with the onions for another 1-2 minutes. Constantly stir so the garlic doesn’t burn.
After that, I pour in the lemon juice and seafood stock, stirring everything together until it’s well combined. Then I add all the seasonings, and sweet chili sauce for extra flavor.
Give it a good stir to make sure everything is incorporated, then let the broth simmer for about 5-7 minutes to develop those rich flavors.
While the broth is simmering, I start on the shrimp. I season them with Cajun seasoning, black pepper, and garlic powder, then heat some olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
Once the oil is hot, sear the shrimp for about 2-3 minutes on each side, just until they turn pink. Shrimp cooks super fast, so pull them off the heat right when they’re done to avoid overcooking.
Now, I add the ramen noodles directly into the garlic butter broth.
Let them cook for about 3-5 minutes, just until they’re tender but still have a little bite to them.
I’m careful not to overcook them, since they’ll keep cooking when I serve them.
When it’s time to serve, place the noodles into a bowl, ladle the broth over them, and top everything with the shrimp.
I like to add some cooked veggies—carrots, peas, or whatever I have on hand—plus a hard-boiled egg for extra protein.
I sprinkle sesame seeds, chopped green onions, and a drizzle of chili oil if I’m feeling fancy. And then it's time to dig in!
Pro Tips for the Best Shrimp Ramen
- Sauté garlic carefully. Garlic can burn easily, which makes it taste bitter. Keep stirring and add it toward the end of the sautéing process to avoid this.
- Adjust the spice to your taste. Feel free to modify the cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes depending on how spicy you like your ramen.
- Sear shrimp quickly to avoid overcooking. Shrimp cook fast, so just 2-3 minutes per side is enough to get them perfectly pink without making them rubbery.
- Don’t overcook the ramen noodles. They’ll continue cooking in the broth, so pull them off the heat just as they start to soften for the best texture.
- Top with a soft-boiled egg for added richness. A soft yolk adds a creamy texture that tastes great with the broth.
Storage
It's best to serve shrimp ramen immediately. When storing leftovers, place the broth and shrimp in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Cook fresh noodles when reheating to avoid sogginess. Warm the broth on the stove, add shrimp briefly, then serve everything together.
Tools for This Recipe
- Large pot – Used to cook the garlic butter broth.
- Skillet – For searing the shrimp until perfectly cooked.
- Tongs – Handy for flipping the shrimp in the skillet.
- Ladle – To pour the broth over the ramen when serving.
- Knife – For dicing the onion and mincing the garlic.
- Cutting board – Provides a surface for prepping the veggies and aromatics.
- Whisk or wooden spoon – Used to stir the broth and seasonings until fully combined.
FAQ
Can I add frozen shrimp to my ramen?
You can use frozen shrimp. Just make sure to fully thaw them before cooking. Do this quickly by placing them in a bowl of cold water for about 20 minutes.
How can I make shrimp ramen noodles taste better?
To make shrimp ramen taste better, ditch the seasoning packet and whip up a garlic butter broth with soy sauce, seafood stock, and some bold spices. It gives the ramen a much richer, more flavorful base that makes all the difference.
What are some good protein alternatives if I don’t want to use shrimp?
If you’re not in the mood for shrimp, you can substitute it with shredded chicken, pork, or even tofu for a vegetarian option. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly so the proteins are fully cooked but not overdone.
More Easy Shrimp Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
After you try this Shrimp Ramen recipe, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Comment below and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for more delicious recipes!
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
Garlic Butter Ramen Broth
- 1 Stick Butter unsalted
- 1 medium Onion diced
- 3 tablespoons Garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 4 cups Seafood stock substitute chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons Soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Chili powder
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning or all purpose seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Old bay seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Paprika
- 1 tablespoon Cayenne pepper more or less to taste for spice
- ½ tablespoon Red pepper flakes more or less to taste for spice
- ½ tablespoon Garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Sweet chili sauce optional but recommended
Ramen Bowl Ingredients
- 1 pound Jumbo shrimp cleaned and deveined
- Season shrimp: 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 4 packages Ramen noodles
- Vegetables of choice: cooked carrots peas, green beans, broccoli, sugar snap peas
- Hard boiled eggs
- Green onions and sesame seeds to garnish
Instructions
Make the broth
- Melt your butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add in the diced onions and saute them, stirring frequently, until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
- Now stir in the garlic and saute it with the onions for 1-2 minutes, continuously stirring so that it does not burn. Next, pour in the lemon juice and seafood stock into the pot and stir it together with the garlic and onions until it is fully combined.
- Now add in all of your seasonings including the soy sauce, chili powder, cajun seasoning, old bay seasoning, paprika, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, and sweet chili sauce.
- Stir in all of the seasonings until they are fully incorporated. Bring the sauce to a simmer and allow it to simmer for 5-7 minutes.
Prepare Shrimp
- While the sauce is simmering, season your shrimp with the cajun seasoning, black pepper, and garlic powder. Add your olive oil to a skillet over medium high heat.
- Place your seasoned shrimp in the skillet and sear on each side for 2-3 minutes, just long enough for them to turn pink. Shrimp cooks very fast, so be careful not to overcook! Remove them from the heat immediately after cooking.
- Now add your ramen noodles directly into the garlic butter broth and allow them to cook for 3-5 minutes, just until they are softened. Do not overcook them because they will continue to cook when you serve the noodles.
To serve
- Place your ramen noodles in a bowl, spoon the broth over the ramen noodles, place the shrimp over the top, add your desired vegetables, hard boiled eggs, sprinkle with sesame seeds and garnish with chopped green onions and drizzle with chili oil.
- And enjoy!
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