Cup Ramen Noodles Fried Rice Recipe

If you love instant ramen and fried rice, this Cup Ramen Noodles Fried Rice recipe is for you! It’s a combination of my favorite meals made of crispy toasted instant noodles and fluffy fried rice served with scallions, eggs, corn, and shallots. It’s the ultimate comfort food and it is very easy to make! 

You get contrasting textures of crispy and fluffy at the same time in every spoonful, complete with the umami-filled seasoning packet to complete the dish! As an ode to Korea, I even placed my ramen fried rice in its own cup, to form its shape. Enjoy with a glass of ice-cold soda or beer and it’s the perfect meal.  

Why you’ll love this recipe

Cup noodles are an easy and fail-proof fix for midnight hunger pangs or for students and adults who crave quick and delicious meals. This ramen fried rice version is another way to enjoy instant noodles in an inventive and unique way, without hurting your wallet! And it also makes for a delicious quick lunch as it takes less than 30 minutes to prepare.

Now some recipes call for adding water to the ramen to rehydrate them, which makes them soft and chewy. But I wanted a contrasting texture against the rice so I skipped that and toasted the noodles instead. I’m glad I did because the combination of crispy noodles and fluffy rice is absolutely divine!

This dish is also a great way to use up leftover rice. With the addition of rice and eggs coupled with aromatics and soy sauce, it turned this simple instant noodle into a hearty and satisfying meal. You can even add additional ingredients like sausage, chicken, pork, or beef, or the leftovers you have in the fridge.

I almost always need a side dish with noodles and rice, so this cup of ramen noodles fried rice obviously wasn’t an exception. Here are some of delicious side dishes to serve with this meal:

• Korean radish salad
• Geotjeori (fresh cabbage kimchi)
• Korean silken tofu
• Easy Asian Cucumber Salad
• Korean braised radish
• Chinese tea eggs

Cup Ramen Noodles Fried Rice Ingredients & Substitutions

Instant ramen: I used cup ramen because I wanted to shape the ramen fried rice but you can use any type of instant ramen you want. 

Scallion: Adds freshness to the fried rice. This can be substituted with chopped onion, shallots, or chives. 

Garlic cloves: Deepens the flavor and adds a delicious garlicky flavor. Feel free to add more but not less! Can be substituted with garlic powder, but use only one-eighth the amount needed for fresh, as garlic powder is more condensed in flavor.

Cooked rice: Ideally, you’d want to use leftover rice, preferably cold and day-old. Chilled rice is drier than freshly cooked rice, which ensures that the rice doesn’t clump up when cooking. If you don’t have cold-day-old rice prepared, you can still use freshly cooked rice! After the rice is cooked, transfer to a bowl or spread it out into a tray and store it uncovered in the fridge for a couple of hours. 

Soy sauce: Adds color, saltiness, and umami. My favorite brand of soy sauce is Pearl River Bridge. 

Canned corn: The sweetness of corn balances out the rich umami taste of the fried rice. I also liked the bright pop of yellow color it adds. This is optional, but highly recommended!

Eggs: Added as the main protein source to make it heartier. In my opinion, eggs are essential for fried rice. I scrambled the eggs and then mixed them into the fried rice, but you can serve the eggs sunny side up or however, you desire!

Neutral oil: For sauteing. Any neutral-flavored oil will do like corn, grapeseed, avocado, vegetable, or canola. I usually use avocado oil. 

Fried shallots: I love the crispy, umami, and slightly sweet flavor that it adds. While you can make them fresh at home, I usually buy them in the jar at my local Asian market or on Amazon to save time. This can be substituted with garlic chips.

Sesame seeds: For added crispy texture and nuttiness! I usually use toasted white sesame seeds but black sesame seeds would work too. Just make sure they’re toasted for a more intense nutty flavor!

How to Prepare Cup Ramen Noodles Fried Rice

Step 1: Crush the ramen

Open the cup ramen lid then transfer the noodles and seasoning powder into a large plastic bag, like Ziploc. Using a rolling pin, mallet, or wooden spatula, crush the instant noodles into small pieces.

Step 2: Toast the ramen

Heat a pan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of neutral oil and crushed instant noodles. Toast the noodles until light brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside for later.

Step 3: Saute the aromatics

In the same pan, heat 2 tablespoons of neutral oil over medium heat. Add the white part of the scallions and garlic then saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Step 4: Add rice

Add rice and break the rice apart using a spatula. Add corn and soy sauce then toss to mix well.

Step 5: Mix in toasted ramen

Reserve 2 tablespoons of the toasted instant noodles for garnish then add the remaining noodles into the pan. Mix until well combined.

Step 6: Make scrambled eggs

Push the rice to one side of the pan then add 1 tablespoon of neutral oil to the other side. Add the whisked eggs and scramble until cooked through. Then mix the eggs into the fried rice.

Step 7: Add toppings first

To the empty ramen cup, add the reserved toasted instant noodles, fried shallots, and sesame seeds.

Step 8: Assemble

Pack the fried rice into the cup making sure to press the rice down.

Step 9: Serve

To serve, flip the cup of ramen into a serving plate or bowl. Enjoy!

Preparation Tips for Cup Ramen Noodles Fried Rice

Here are some helpful tips for making the most delicious ramen fried rice:

• Take time to toast the ramen. This will ensure its crispiness, which will be a delicious contrast to the soft and tender rice. Be careful not to burn them though! They will turn bitter and be unpleasant to eat. 
• Like with most fried rice dishes, using leftover cold day-old rice is ideal because it has had the time to dry out. It also ensures that the fried rice doesn’t clump up when cooking. However, as mentioned above, if you don’t have leftover rice prepared, you can still use freshly cooked rice. Transfer the cooked rice to a bowl or spread it out onto a tray. Then place it in the fridge uncovered for a couple of hours and it should be ready to use. 
• Depending on the instant ramen brand you use, this will also determine how salty the fried rice will turn out. Before adding the soy sauce, be sure to taste for seasoning and adjust as needed. 
• Feel free to add or substitute the ingredients in the fried rice! For a heartier meal, you can add protein like chicken, ham, bacon, sausage, or beef and vegetables like mushrooms, zucchini, onions, or peas. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are rice and ramen good together?

Yes! Flavor-packed ramen is balanced out by rice. In turn, the rice lends its soft, fluffy texture for a tasty contrast with the crispy ramen. Together, these two delicious components make a very delicious meal. 

What kind of ramen can I use to make ramen fried rice?

It’s all up to preference. You can use any ramen that you like. I personally like Shin ramen or Chef Woo Ramen (braised beef flavor) for a healthier option.

What ingredients can I add to ramen fried rice?

For a spicier kick, you can add Sriracha, chili oil, chili garlic paste, or even gochugaru. Just remember to taste and season as you go—you don’t want to add too much that it becomes too spicy. To make it heartier, you can add other types of protein like chicken, pork belly, thinly sliced beef, and even tofu. Any leftovers that need some love would also be great! And lastly, for added nutrients and fiber, feel free to add vegetables like chopped bell peppers, carrots, peas, or zucchini.

How do I make the ramen noodles crispy?

I toasted my ramen noodles for about 2 minutes, and that was enough to make them crispy! Some recipes call for rehydrating the ramen, but I personally like mine crispy, so I didn’t add any water and toasted my ramen instead.

Can I make ramen fried rice ahead of time?

This fried rice is best enjoyed fresh. I do not recommend making this ahead of time because the ramen will absorb moisture and lose its crispiness over time. However, if you want to, you can reserve some of the toasted ramen and fried shallots and garnish it once the fried rice is reheated so it retains its crispness. Either way, it will still be delicious!

How can I reheat ramen fried rice?

To reheat the fried rice, I recommend using the stovetop so you can revive some of the crispiness. But you can also pop it in the microwave and heat for a few minutes until warmed through. 

Looking for more easy and delicious fried rice recipes?

Spam Fried Rice — If a dish has Spam, it’s almost guaranteed to be delicious and this recipe is no exception. Spam is toasted for added texture and flavor, and then combined with potatoes, scallions, eggs, and rice. This is filling and hearty and will satisfy your hunger at any time. 

Pineapple Fried Rice — This Thai-inspired fried rice tastes just as festive as it looks! It features succulent shrimp, juicy pineapples, cashews, scallions, eggs, and a touch of curry powder for an extra depth of flavor. It’s the perfect balance of savory and sweet!

Chinese Shrimp Fried Rice — A simple shrimp fried rice that features juicy shrimp, onion, carrots, and eggs, and is seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil, and Shaoxing wine. Best of all, everything comes together in just 30 minutes!

Lap Cheong Fried Rice — Treat yourself to a quick and delicious Cantonese-style fried rice with a classic ingredient – Chinese sausage or ‘lap cheong’. The rice is seasoned with the umami and savory flavors of soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and oyster sauce for the ultimate flavor bomb. 

Chinese Garlic Fried Rice — Simple and straightforward, this fried rice is loaded with lots of garlic. It’s the perfect breakfast, lunch or dinner!