This cheesy ramen is made with a super flavorful, yet super simple and easy homemade cheese sauce. The best part is that it’s on the table in about 10 minutes!

Cheesy Ramen

These cheesy ramen noodles are so easy to make, and are absolutely delicious. The simple homemade cheese sauce is so flavorful from the garlic and onion powder that there’s no need to use the included seasoning packet. This ramen with cheese is truly just so creamy, cheesy, and mouthwateringly good.

This is one of those easy recipes that’s great for teaching teenagers how to cook for themselves. It’s easy, but it feels special, different, and totally worth the bit of extra effort. It really is the ultimate quick meal for busy weeknights, lazy lunches, or late-night cravings.

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Ingredients

Butter: Butter is the fat we’re using in our roux, which is what thickens the sauce to a rich, creamy consistency.

Flour: Flour is the thickening agent we’re using in our roux. It’s always important to cook roux for a minute or two before adding any liquid to cook off the raw flour taste.

Milk: This is the liquid we’re using to thin the sauce to a pourable consistency. Since we’re making a creamy cheese sauce, using milk as the liquid is the perfect base. Whole milk will have the creamiest flavor, but you can also use 2% with good results if that’s what you keep on hand.

Garlic and Onion Powder: I love adding these two seasonings to my mac and cheese recipes because they add savory, aromatic, and slightly sweet flavors. Adding some seasonings to cheese sauce is one of the main differences in whether or not it tastes homemade with depth of flavor or one-dimensional. You could also add a pinch of smoked paprika for a smoky flavor, Italian seasoning for an herby flavor, or cayenne for a little bit of a spicy kick.

Cheddar Cheese: This is the cheese we’re using in the cheese sauce. It has a good cheese flavor, melts really well, and isn’t stringy when it melts (which is ideal in sauces). Feel free to use regular cheddar instead of sharp cheddar if you’d like a milder flavor. Gruyere, Colby Jack, and Monterey Jack are all also great melting cheeses that you could use instead.

Ramen Noodles: These are the noodles we’re using in this dish. They’re quick to cook, affordable, and super delicious.

Chives: This is an optional topping, but I definitely think it takes this dish to the next level. It adds a mild onion flavor and a bright freshness.

How To Make Cheesy Ramen

Boil the Water: Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)

Make the Cheese Sauce: While the water heats, melt the butter in a small saucepan. Whisk in the flour to form a roux and cook briefly, then slowly whisk in the milk until smooth. Add the garlic powder, onion powder, and cheddar cheese, whisking until the sauce is melted and smooth. Reduce the heat.

Cook the Noodles: Add the ramen noodles to the boiling water and cook until al dente. Hold a lid over the pot and carefully drain the water directly from the pot instead of using a colander. This is important because it keeps the noodles hot and slightly wet so they don’t dry out or clump before the sauce is added.

Combine: Pour the cheese sauce into the pot with the drained noodles and use tongs to toss.

Serve: Transfer to a bowl, garnish with fresh chives if desired, and enjoy! See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, cooking times, and helpful tips, etc.

Pro Tips

• Grate Your Own Cheese: Freshly grated cheese melts better and more smoothly than pre-grated cheeses. Bagged grated cheese you can buy at the store is coated in an anti-caking agent, which makes it gritty once it’s melted.
• Don’t Drain in a Colander: If you drain the noodles in a colander instead of in a pot using the pot lid, the noodles will cool too quickly. You need the noodles to still be hot when you add the sauce.

What Cheese Is Best For Ramen?

Sharp cheddar is my favorite cheese to use for cheesy ramen because it has a great, bold, cheesy flavor and it melts incredibly smoothly into sauces.

What Do You Put In Cheesy Ramen?

Cheesy ramen is basically cooked ramen noodles coated in a homemade mac and cheese sauce. The homemade sauce starts with a roux made with butter and flour, then we add milk, and mix in seasonings and grated cheese.

Should I Put Shredded Cheese In My Ramen?

I wouldn’t recommend putting shredded cheese directly into your ramen. You’ll probably end up with cheesy clumps. If you’re going for a smooth, cheesy coating then your best bet is to make a simple cheese sauce like in this recipe.

What Is Traditionally Put In Ramen?

This is very much a Western take on ramen and not at all traditional. Traditional ramen is served in an incredibly flavorful broth and topped with things like pork, a soft-boiled and marinated egg, nori, bamboo shoots, and green onions.

How To Melt Cheese For Noodles?

There are basically two options when it comes to melting cheese for noodles. You can either melt the cheese into a bechamel sauce to create a cheese sauce, or you spread shredded cheese across the top of cooked noodles and bake it to create a melted cheese layer.

Would Mozzarella Cheese Be Good In Ramen?

I wouldn’t recommend it in this recipe. It is stringy once it melts, so you won’t get the creamy, velvety, smooth cheese sauce shown in the photos.

How To Make Cheesy Ramen Noodles In The Microwave?

To make cheesy ramen in the microwave, cook the ramen noodles in a microwave-safe bowl with water according to the package directions, then carefully drain most of the water. For the cheese sauce, melt the butter in a separate microwave-safe bowl, whisk in the flour, then whisk in the milk and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until it has thickened. Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, and shredded cheddar cheese until it’s melted and smooth. Pour it over the drained noodles and toss to coat. It won’t be quite as silky as the stovetop version, but it will absolutely work in a pinch.

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Dinner Recipes

If you like this recipe, be sure to check out all of our other dinner recipes. Some reader favorites are:

• Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry
• Chicken Spaghetti with RO-TEL
• Spicy Chicken Pasta
• Teriyaki Noodles
• Beef Tips and Noodles
• Teriyaki Chicken Bites
• Hot Dog Chili
• Sausage Balls

Cheesy ramen is the ultimate comfort meal that’s easy and made with simple ingredients.