Ramen is a classic college dish you can make keto-friendly by using simple substitutions. This article provides you with easy ramen recipes that are both delicious and keto-approved.
If pizza and hamburgers are considered the guilty culinary pleasures of Western society, it goes the same for ramen in Japanese cuisine.
This dish is often associated with students and busy office workers who need a quick, cheap, filling meal. However, ramen can be so much more than that.
There are endless possibilities for customizing your ramen bowl. And with a little creativity, you can easily make a delicious and satisfying meal that is also low carb and keto-friendly.
So if you’re looking for some easy and delicious keto ramen recipes, we’ve got you covered.
Is Ramen Keto?
No, keto is not ramen by default. However, you make a few tweaks to your recipe so that you won’t ruin your keto diet.
Best Keto Alternatives for Ramen
Just because you can’t enjoy food made traditionally doesn’t mean you can’t improvise. You can use workarounds, especially since you won’t notice any differences in taste.
Here are some excellent keto alternatives to noodles, which you can also use in keto pasta recipes:
- Zucchini noodles are low in carbs and calories and have a neutral taste that pairs well with any sauce or flavoring. Make them using zucchini and a spiralizer or julienne peeler.
- Kelp noodles are made from kelp, which is a type of seaweed. They’re becoming increasingly popular as a low-carb noodle alternative because they’re low in carbs and calories and have a similar texture to traditional noodles.
- Shirataki noodles are a type of gelatinous traditional Japanese noodles made from the konjac yam (devil’s tongue yam or elephant yam). They have a unique texture thanks to their composition – 97% water and 3% konjac (a water-soluble dietary fiber).
- Spaghetti squash noodles can be easily prepared in the oven by baking the squash until squishy and using a fork to break it down into spaghetti-like strands.
- Immi ramen noodles are low-carb and keto. They’re made from pumpkin seed protein, which is an excellent source of plant-based protein, fiber, and micronutrients like vitamin K, manganese, and magnesium.
Easy Ramen Recipes for Keto
We’ve rounded up some of the best recipes from around the web that are perfect for anyone following a ketogenic diet. There’s something here for everyone, from traditional tonkatsu ramen to veggie-packed bowls:
1. Ramen Broth Recipe
Those who only know ramen noodles as tiny little bags filled with dried ramen and seasoning have never heard of any ramen broth recipes – and this is a perfect example.
This recipe on Lemons for Lulu is not keto-friendly at all. But you can make it work with a bit of imagination and keto-friendly noodle substitutes.
Instructions:
- Ramen noodles (to be replaced)
- Eggs
- Ginger
- Bok choy
- Sesame oil
- Minced garlic
- Vegetable broth
- Sliced mushrooms
2. Ramen Noodle Salad Recipe
Whenever you think of ramen, you probably visualize a big bowl of ramen soup and a pair of chopsticks. But ramen noodles can also make a delicious salad.
This recipe from Lemons for Lulu is the perfect example of turning a bowl of ramen into a tasty and healthy salad.
Ingredients:
- Ramen noodles (to be replaced)
- Butter
- Dried cherries
- Fresh broccoli
- Curly leaf kale
- Chopped almonds
- Crumbled blue cheese
- Zero-calorie sweetener
- Red wine vinegar
- Olive oil
- Soy sauce
If you love kale, check out these easy kale recipes.
3. Beef Ramen Noodle Recipes
Ramen noodles go well with pork and beef. And this spicy beef ramen noodle recipe from Jam Hands is the perfect example of making a delicious and healthy beef ramen dish.
Unlike the previous two entries, you won’t have to substitute anything.
Ingredients:
- Miracle angel hair noodles
- Ground beef browned and crumbled
- Chopped green onions
- Diced onions
- Minced garlic
- Ground ginger
- Vegetable oil
- Sesame oil
- Beef broth
- Soy sauce
- Red pepper flakes
- Sriracha sauce (optional)
4. Easy Ramen Noodle Recipes
Ramen noodles recipes are popular because they’re cheap and easy to prepare.
And this flavorful sesame garlic ramen noodle recipe from The Modern Proper is no exception.
Ingredients:
- Instant ramen noodles (to be replaced)
- Chili sauce like sambal or sriracha
- Low-sodium soy sauce
- Brown sugar (optional)
- Freshly grated ginger
- Toasted sesame oil
- Sesame seeds
- Oyster sauce
- Minced garlic
- Green onions
- Rice vinegar
- Water
Be sure to replace the brown sugar if you decide to include it in your recipe. Also, you can make the dish 100% vegan if you swap out the oyster sauce with hoisin sauce.
5. Chicken Ramen Noodle Recipes
If you prefer a ramen recipe that uses poultry, you’ll fall in love with this one from Broke Foodies.
It’s perfect for those cold winter nights when all you want is a hot bowl of soup. Besides, it’s relatively low in calories – under 500 per serving.
Ingredients:
- Shirataki noodles
- An entire organic chicken
- Chopped green onions
- Organic chicken broth
- Gluten-free soy sauce
- Water
- Eggs
- Salt
This chicken ramen recipe is already keto, so you don’t have to replace anything. And if you can use low-sodium soy sauce, you’ll have a perfectly healthy meal.
6. Homemade Ramen Noodle Recipes
We love this recipe for spicy peanut spaghetti squash ramen from Paleo Gluten Free, despite its long list of ingredients.
Ingredients:
- Cooked spaghetti squash
- Vegetable broth or chicken broth
- Chopped peanuts or cashews
- Full-fat canned coconut milk
- Sliced crimini mushrooms
- Black sesame seeds
- Red pepper flakes
- Green curry paste
- Coconut aminos
- Ground ginger
- Peanut butter
- Garlic cloves
- Sliced limes
- Pitted dates
- Cilantro
- Olive oil
Thanks to the spaghetti squash, this is a hearty and filling dish, packed with flavor.
The best part about it is that it only takes 30 minutes to make, so you won’t have to spend hours in the kitchen to enjoy a hot bowl of keto ramen.
7. Ramen Noodle Recipes with Egg
A good ramen recipe for a keto diet needs to have next to no carbs. And this low-carb ramen with poached eggs from All the Nourishing Things fits that criteria.
Ingredients:
- Konjac or shirataki noodles
- Garlic powder or minced garlic
- Traditional soy sauce
- Chicken bone broth
- Fresh eggs
- Turmeric
- Pepper
- Water
- Salt
If you’re not a fan of cilantro, you can always swap it out for some green onions. But we think cilantro helps to brighten up the dish and give it a bit of zing.
This ramen is also pretty quick and easy to make, so it’s perfect for those busy weeknights when you don’t have much time to spend in the kitchen.
Pro tip: Always make sure that the eggs are a bit runny when you poach them, as they’ll continue to cook in the broth, and you don’t want them to be overcooked.
8. Instant Ramen Noodle Recipes
Instant ramen is popular because you can have it prepared in less than 5 minutes.
If speed is what you want, this vegan keto almost instant pantry ramen from Meat Free Keto is ideal – you just need hot water and a microwave.
Ingredients:
- Shirataki noodles
- Low-sodium tamari
- Shelf-stable tofu
- Vegetable broth
- Garlic powder
- Ground ginger
- Sesame seeds
9. Instant Ramen Recipes
Korean ramen is a bit different from the traditional Japanese dish. It’s usually made with beef or pork broth and often served with kimchi.
This recipe from Jamil Ghar gives you all the flavors of Korea in a bowl of delicious keto ramen.
Ingredients:
- Shirataki noodles
- Eggs
- Water
- Soy sauce
- Silken Tofu
- Sesame oil
- Gochujang
- Gochugaru
- Ginger paste
- Minced garlic
- Scallions greens
- Distilled white vinegar
- Dried Shiitake mushrooms
- Kimchi, cabbage, and juice
- Better Than Bouillon Organic Roasted Beef Base
The secret ingredient in this dish is the Better Than Bouillon Organic Roasted Beef Base, which gives the ramen its signature beefy flavor without adding any actual beef to the mix.
10. Chicken Ramen Recipes
Those who love going to the gym know that protein is the key to building muscle. And this keto chicken ramen from Low Carbing Asian is packed with it.
Ingredients:
- Immi Ramen Black Garlic Chicken
- Japanese ramen eggs or regular soft-boiled eggs
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Green onion stalks
- Garlic cloves
- Cooking Oil
- Sesame oil
- Chili Oil
- Chashu (optional)
The Immi ramen noodles are the star of the show here, as they have 22 grams of protein and only 6 grams of carbs per serving.
So, depending on what macronutrient intake you’re aiming for, you can easily work around the rest of the ingredients.
11. Low-Carb Chicken Palmini Ramen – Homemade Ramen Recipe
This homemade ramen recipe from Step Away from the Carbs is the perfect way to get your ramen fix without worrying about all those pesky carbs.
Ingredients:
- Angel Hair Palmini
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Sliced Shiitake mushrooms
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Green onion tops
- Baby bok choy
- Chicken broth
- Rice vinegar
- Soy sauce
- Eggs
- Water
- Olive oil
- Garlic paste
- Ginger paste
- Fish sauce
The Angel Hair Palmini noodles are the star of the show and why this recipe is considered 100% keto.
A single serving of these noodles only has about 20 calories and 4 grams of carbs. Plus, they’re gluten-free and have no added sugar.
Mix these amazing noodles with the abundance of sauces and spices listed above, and you have yourself a ramen dish worth telling stories about.
12. Ramen Egg Recipe
Ramen with eggs is quite popular because the traditional recipe for noodles requires eggs. So the two ingredients are compatible.
Check out this recipe from Low Carb Yum to cut down on carbs even further.
Ingredients:
- Shirataki noodles
- Salt
- Eggs
- Paper
- Baby spinach
- Chicken bone broth
- Tamari or soy aminos
We love the unique take on eggs. While most ramen noodle recipes require boiled egg halves, this one asks you to beat the eggs and whisk them in the boiling broth.
This changes the ramen soup’s texture and makes all the juices taste heavenly.
13. Ramen Noodle Recipe
Immi ramen noodles are a godsend for anyone on a keto diet and hooked to the taste and convenience of ramen noodles.
This recipe from Immi Eats is different since it uses bacon and carbonara. But trust us, this isn’t some kind of Italian pasta.
Ingredients:
- Immi ramen noodles
- Uncured thick-cut bacon
- Red pepper chili flakes
- Brown erythritol (or any keto sweetener)
- Cayenne pepper
- Pecorino cheese
- Pepper
- Eggs
- Salt
If you’re unsure about the Immi noodle flavor, we recommend using the Spicy “Beef” variety since it goes well with bacon and cheese.
The best thing about this recipe is that it doesn’t skimp on the flavor, even though it’s light on carbs. The Parmesan cheese and black pepper give it a nice sharp taste, while the garlic adds a subtle pungency.
14. Tonkotsu Ramen Recipe
If you’re not familiar with Asian cuisine, “Tonkotsu ramen” is just a generic term used to describe ramen that was made using pork broth.
This recipe from Seonk Young Longest is probably the most involved one on our list, as it requires that you make your pork broth from scratch.
But if you have the time and patience (and love pork), this dish will be worth your while.
Ingredients:
- Ramen noodles (to be replaced)
- Pork fat
- Dashi stock (optional)
- Ramen egg
- Garlic cloves
- Beansprouts
- Black fungus
- Sliced chashu
- Chicken stock
- Tsuyu or chashu tare
- Chopped green onion
- Unsweetened soy, cashew, or oat milk
Like with many of our other entries, feel free to replace the regular ramen noodles with a low-carb alternative, such as Miracle Noodles or Immi noodles.
As for how you make the broth, we recommend that you read the full guide from Serious Eats, as it goes into great detail about the process.
The best thing about making your pork broth is that you can control the level of saltiness, so feel free to experiment until you find a flavor that suits your taste.
Sure enough, it may not be the quickest recipe on our list, but it’s the one with the potential to be the most rewarding.
15. Beef Ramen Recipe
Besides the keto diet, another popular diet is the paleo diet. However, unlike the keto diet, which is primarily used to lose weight, the paleo diet is seen as more of a lifestyle change.
Fortunately enough, ramen recipes are so versatile that they can sometimes fit any type of diet, one perfect example being this paleo and keto ramen from Gnom Gnom.
Ingredients:
- Shirataki noodles
- Boneless sirloin steak sliced into thin strips
- Shitake mushrooms or bean sprouts
- Rice vinegar or white wine vinegar
- Tamari or coconut aminos
- Grated fresh ginger
- Toasted sesame oil
- Beef bone broth
- Minced garlic
- Fish sauce
The heavily Americanized ramen noodle recipe is not something that would be traditionally found in Japan. This dish is still delicious and can be a healthier alternative to the more carb-heavy options out there.
While the recipe does call for shirataki noodles, which are made from konjac yam and have very little flavor on their own, they do an excellent job of soaking up the flavors of the broth.
The rest of the ingredients are paleo and keto-friendly, making this dish a great option if you’re looking for a healthy and delicious meal.
16. Keto Chicken Breast Ramen – Best Ramen Recipe
If you do a bit of googling, you’ll notice that the top ramen recipes that are keto-approved are the ones that are made with shirataki noodles since these are the closest thing to real noodles in terms of texture and taste.
So it should be no surprise that our next entry is another keto ramen recipe that uses these kinds of noodles, this time from Keto Mojo.
This dish is pretty similar to the previous one on our list, as it also uses shirataki noodles and calls for thinly sliced pieces of meat.
Ingredients:
- Shirataki noodles
- Sea salt
- Radishes
- Large eggs
- Coconut oil
- Minced garlic
- Chicken broth
- Baby bok choy
- Minced fresh ginger
- Gluten-free soy sauce
- Freshly ground pepper
- Toasted white or black sesame seeds
- Gluten-free chili garlic sauce (optional)
While most dishes are praised for the way they taste, we have to admit that this particular recipe scores high marks in terms of visuals.
The use of radishes, bok choy, and sesame seeds give the dish a nice pop of color, making it delicious and pleasing to the eye.
So if you’re looking for a keto-friendly ramen recipe that’s sure to impress any guests coming over for dinner, this is the one you should go for.
17. Miso Ramen Recipe
Just like how Tonkotsu is made exclusively using pork broth, Miso broth is made from miso (fermented Japanese soy paste) and chicken stock, vegetables, and ground pork.
This gives most Miso ramen recipes a signature umami flavor that’s rich and hearty, making it perfect for a cold winter’s day.
While there are many different ways to Miso ramen, we will focus on Hetty McKinnon’s recipe from Epicurious, as it’s both delicious and easy to follow.
Ingredients:
- Wavy ramen noodles (to be replaced)
- Olive oil
- Pepper
- Broccolini
- White miso
- Kosher salt
- Cilantro leaves
- Kabocha squash
- Chopped ginger
- Soy sauce or tamari
- Chopped garlic cloves
- Low-sodium vegetable broth
- Pure maple syrup or brown sugar (to be replaced)
Since the recipe already includes squash, we suggest you make your squash noodles to replace the ones called for in the recipe.
As for the brown sugar, we recommend using a keto-friendly alternative like monk fruit sweetener or erythritol.
Other than that, simply follow the recipe as written, and you’ll end up with a delicious and hearty bowl of miso ramen that’s perfect in every way.
18. Keto Chicken Ramen Soup Recipe
You may have realized that ramen can be used in pretty much any type of dish, from salads to creamy soups.
However, if you believe that nothing can beat a classic and that ramen noodles need to be slurped together with a lot of broth, we’ve got just the recipe for you.
This dish from Keto Summit is a delicious and easy-to-follow chicken ramen soup, perfect for keto dieters.
Ingredients:
- Zucchini noodles
- Eggs
- Avocado oil
- Minced garlic
- Minced ginger
- Chicken breast
- Chicken broth or chicken bone broth
- Gluten-free tamari sauce or coconut aminos
The zucchini noodles that you’ll have to make yourself allow this recipe to be considered keto-friendly, and since we’re using chicken breast, the only source of fats in our dish is the avocado cooking oil.
It may not be the fattiest recipe on our list, but it’s the one with the highest concentration of protein.
Besides, the more chicken broth you use, the more this ramen will feel like good old-fashion chicken soup than some fancy Asian dish, so feel free to add more broth if that’s your thing.
19. Keto Spicy Ramen Recipe with Beef
There’s a certain point in history when Asian food became pretty much synonymous with the idea of spiciness, and this includes classic ramen recipes as well.
Look at Ruled‘s take on keto spicy beef ramen, and you’ll see what we’re talking about.
This dish is packed with flavor, thanks to chili paste, and it’s also pretty darn spicy, so be warned.
Ingredients:
- Shirataki noodles
- Roast beef slices
- Rice wine vinegar
- Sliced mushrooms
- Grated ginger
- Minced garlic
- Beef broth
- Chili paste
- Fish sauce
- Soy sauce
- Olive oil
- Onions
- Salt
- Pepper
If you can’t handle the heat, we suggest that you dial back on the chili paste or add some sour cream to help cool things down a bit.
Other than that, this recipe is relatively easy to follow and only requires a handful of ingredients that you should be able to find at any local supermarket.
20. Easy Vegan Ramen Recipe with Butternut Squash
When you’re both a vegan and on a keto diet, you’re not left with many food options.
But that doesn’t mean that you can’t find keto-friendly vegan recipes out there, and our keto twist on this butternut squash ramen from Tried and True Recipe is proof of it.
Ingredients:
- Ramen noodles (to be replaced)
- Maple syrup (to be replaced)
- Water or low-sodium broth
- Low-sodium soy sauce
- Shichimi togarashi
- Sliced mushrooms
- Shichimi togarashi
- Brussels sprouts
- Butternut squash
- Coconut milk
- Sliced leeks
- Sesame oil
- Neutral oil
- Pepper
- Chili oil
- Mirin
- Salt
All keto-friendly ramen alternatives currently on the market are vegan, so you’re free to replace the ramen noodles in the original recipe with any of those.
As for the sweetener, while no substitute can mimic the caramel-like flavor of brown sugar, we suggest using stevia or erythritol, which you can find at most supermarkets.
21. Japanese Ramen Recipe
Since ramen noodles are the unofficial food of Japan, it only makes sense that we’ve included a Japanese ramen recipe on our list.
This take from BBC Good Food is about as authentic as it gets, and while it does require quite a few ingredients, most of them are common kitchen staples.
Ingredients:
- Ramen noodles (to be replaced)
- Soy sauce
- Sweetcorn
- Boiled eggs
- Sesame oil
- Chilli powder
- Garlic cloves
- Sliced ginger
- Baby spinach
- Chicken stock
- Sesame seeds
- Chinese five-spice
- Shredded dried nori
- Worcestershire sauce
- Sliced cooked pork or chicken breast
- Sliced green spring onions or shallots
We need to make this recipe keto, but we also want to keep the dish’s authentic Japanese taste, so we suggest switching the regular ramen noodles with Shirataki noodles or kelp noodles.
Also, you could replace the corn with soybeans or skip it altogether.
22. Pork Ramen Recipe
Whoever invented zucchini noodles deserves a prize since this dish would be a no-go for keto dieters without them.
But with zoodles, this pork ramen recipe from Carb Manager is not only keto-friendly but also pretty darn delicious.
Ingredients:
- Zucchini
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Olive oil
- Pork roast
- Green onions
- Dried Shiitake mushrooms
- Soy sauce
- Water
You’ll need a spiralizer to make the zucchini noodles, but other than that, this dish is pretty straightforward.
You’ll be able to enjoy a well-rounded meal, but with less sodium and fewer carbs than you would have if you used regular ramen noodles.
23. Spicy Tahini Kelp Noodles – Vegetarian Ramen Recipe
If you did some research online, you might have noticed that it’s hard to find 100% vegetarian ramen recipes since even the ones that don’t require any meat will still usually ask for eggs.
However, this recipe from The Spruce Eats is different, as it’s not only vegetarian but also vegan, making it the perfect dish for those on a plant-based keto diet.
Ingredients:
- Kelp noodles
- Mushrooms, sliced
- Broccoli florets
- Sliced scallions
- Sesame seeds
- Peanut butter
- Minced garlic
- Olive oil
- Carrots
- Tahini
- Salt
- Shelled edamame
- Rice wine vinegar
- Chili garlic paste
- Grated ginger
- Sesame oil
- Soy sauce
- Lime juice
- Honey (to be replaced)
Normally we wouldn’t recommend adding honey to a keto dish, but in this case, we think it’s necessary to help offset the strong flavors of the chili garlic paste and sesame oil.
Make sure that you don’t overdo it with the peanut butter since it can also be packed with carbs, especially if you start adding several spoonfuls.
24. Classic Zoodle Ramen – Ramen Bowl Recipe
Another amazing zoodle recipe where the zucchini is the star of the show is this classic zoodle ramen from Delish.
This recipe uses almost nothing but vegetables, with eggs being the only protein source, but don’t let the lack of meat fool you; this dish is as flavorful as it gets.
Ingredients:
- Zoodles
- Eggs
- Olive oil
- Sesame oil
- Minced garlic
- Minced fresh ginger
- Low-sodium bone broth
- Low-sodium soy sauce
- Chopped red cabbage
- Shredded carrots
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Green onions, thinly sliced
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Sliced cremini mushrooms
Looking down at the bowl, you may wonder whether that’s a bowl of ramen soup or if it’s a salad with a lot of juices.
However, you can be sure that it’s tasty and healthy, and it’s very unlikely that you won’t be asking for seconds.
FAQ
Discover more useful information about easy ramen recipes for keto diets.
Are ramen noodles keto-friendly?
Typical ramen noodles made of wheat flour are not keto-friendly, as they are high in carbs and low in fat.
Because of that, most keto-friendly noodle substitutes are made from vegetables that aren’t rich in starchy carbohydrates.
What ramen is keto-friendly?
Some popular keto-friendly noodle alternatives for ramen are those made from zucchini (zoodles), kelp, Asian yam (Shirataki), baked squash, and pumpkin seed protein (Immi).
What are the best things to put in ramen?
You can put meat such as shrimp, chicken, pork, or beef, together with eggs and vegetables like mushrooms or scallions.
As for the seasoning, go for soy sauce, fish sauce, chili oil, or sesame oil.
Are raw eggs good with ramen?
Adding eggs to your bowl of ramen is the perfect way to have some extra protein and fat, regardless of how you add them.
You could either soft-boil them and add them whole, or fry them sunny side up and place them on top. If you want to get a bit adventurous, you could even add raw eggs right into the broth, which will cook them as you slurp the noodles.
Can you fry ramen noodles?
Yes, there are plenty of recipes out there where ramen noodles are fried.
However, don’t forget that you’ll still have to boil them first, and only then can you throw them in a pan together with cooking oil and sauces.
Closing Thoughts
If this list of ramen recipes hasn’t triggered your appetite, we don’t know what will.
All of the recipes are fairly easy to follow, and they should all be keto-friendly, as long as you remember to swap out the non-keto ingredients (usually the noodles).
As always, make sure to cook everything properly, and if you have any doubts, feel free to ask us in the comments section below.
We hope you found this article helpful, and we’ll see you next time!
