Just add water! Homemade instant noodles are healthified with whole wheat pasta, rotisserie chicken and real vegetables!
I’ve read that as an adult, you should seek out the things you loved as a kid.
Maybe that’s why adult coloring books are a thing (I’m totally going to get one!), and Ninja Turtles are back on TV. I have to admit I can’t pass up the opportunity to sing along to the Disney songs when they come up on Kai’s favorite Spotify playlist, and I have definitely read the Paperbag Princess to Kai many many times.
And when it comes to food, for some reason I always think of instant noodles. I was never allowed instant noodles in my lunch box, and I always had instant-noodle-envy of my friends. I totally get why my parents never bought them for me: full of chemicals, in a styrofoam bowl wrapped in plastic. Bad for your body, bad for the planet, but just so tasty!
So maybe I was feeling nostalgic? I decided to jazz up my lunch routine with my own healthy homemade instant noodles…free from nasty chemicals, and in a re-usable container.
I posted a photo of DIY Instant Noodle Cups from The Londoner on my Facebook page, and the response was pretty clear: you guys like instant noodles as much as me!
So I’ve been obsessed with the concept ever since.
Really, these homemade instant noodles are a perfect work lunch for the colder months: soup that you don’t have to worry about spilling in your bag, and you don’t need a fancy thermos (they never seem to hold the heat for me anyways). At lunch, just boil up some water, add it to your soup, let it steep for 2-3 minutes, then give it all a good stir and enjoy your healthy homemade instant noodles!
Here’s how it goes:
- On the bottom layer: your flavorings. In this case: sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger and chicken stock concentrate (I recommend Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base
because the ingredients are natural).
- Next: your noodles. I used whole wheat spaghetti that I cooked al dente.
- Next: veggies. You can use cooked vegetables, maybe some fresh spinach, or frozen vegetables. I used a blend of frozen vegetables meant for a stir fry. (Make sure to thaw your frozen veggies before adding the water!)
- Next: some rotisserie chicken. You can poach and shred your own if you wish.
- Finally: a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds…for a little extra sesame flavor.
**One important note: I used mason jars for these photos because I wanted you to be able to see the contents, however heating the jars too quickly can result in explosion, and we don’t want any exploding instant noodles, do we? Instead of mason jars I recommend these stoneware mugs
Recipe Variations:
- swap the whole wheat spaghetti for zucchini and carrot noodles
- swap the chicken for chickpeas
- or try this Thai Coconut Healthy Homemade Instant Noodles recipe
Healthy Homemade Instant Noodles (Sesame Ginger)
An easy, healthy, portable work lunch. Just add water when you are ready to enjoy!
Ingredients
Per cup
- 2 teaspoons chicken stock concentrate (*see note)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger, finely grated
- 1 cup whole wheat spaghetti, cooked al dente and cooled (2 oz of dry pasta)
- 1/2 cup veggies either cooked & cooled or from frozen
- 1/4 cup shredded chicken
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Add ingredients to a portable stoneware mug with lid in the order listed above.
- When you are ready to enjoy, fill with boiling water up to an inch below the top of the mug.
- Put the lid back on and steep for 2-3 minutes.
- Stir for a few minutes to ensure that all stock concentrate has dissolved.
Recipe Notes
Calories 444 // Fat 13 g // Saturated Fat 2 g // Cholesterol 25 mg // Carbohydrate 63 g // Fiber 5 g // Sugars 14 g // Protein 21 g
* I recommend Better than Bouillion Chicken Stock Base because they contain natural ingredients. However it can be challenging to find, and this recipe was also successfully tested using Knorr chicken stock concentrate.
I did not test the recipe using powdered chicken stock and do not think equivalent amounts can be used.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | 1 jar |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 444 Calories from fat | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 13 g | 20% |
| Saturated Fat 2 g | 10% |
| Cholesterol 25 mg | 8% |
| Carbohydrate 63 g | 21% |
| Dietary Fiber 5 g | 20% |
| Sugars 14 g | |
| Protein 21 g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
These “instant” Noodles are fabulous! Love the asian flavors and how super quick and convenient this is! Plus I adore that it’s well balanced, healthy, light, yet substantial and filling! Perfect anytime! Pinned! Cheers to a beautiful weekend!! 😉
Oh thank you, Cheyanne! I am an instant noodle junkie 😀
This is seriously BRILLIANT Denise!! I need to whip a few of these to keep in the fridge for those days when my kitchen is filled with baked goods and I can’t be bothered to make a real meal. Instant perfection 🙂 pinned!
Thank-you, Rachel! I hear you…there have been so many nights after I’ve cooked all day when I’m like….Ben, you’re up! Nice to have a back-up plan 🙂
Oh my gosh, I love these healthier instant noodles cups! They look incredible and such a great idea for a perfectly portable and comforting lunch at work! 🙂
Thanks so much, Kelly! They are so portable, and make me feel like I’m a cool kid with cool instant noodle cups 😉 🙂
Dear Denise, I absolutely love, love, LOVE this idea. How creative. This is a must try…it would be great to have these on hand throughout the winter. I have to pick up some of those stoneware mugs and give this go. Thank you for the wonderful idea! xo, Catherine
Thank-you so much, Catherine 🙂 They are definitely nice in the cold weather!
Holy cow! These cups are absolutely nothing short of GENIUS, Denise! Often times I come home from school starving and craving exactly this kind of comfort food, so you can bet that these cups are gonna happen this week! 🙂
Oh thanks, Sarah! Sometimes you just need to EAT! I hope you like them!
When my boys were little I loved coloring with them — they were such a great excuse to color without people looking at me funny. lol And the Paperbag Princess is such a great book!
Denise, this is the absolute best idea ever! I loved cup ‘o noodles but never eat them anymore because yes — they’re so bad! These are so good and I can’t wait to try them!
I love the Paperbag Princess! We do all the huffing and puffing and knocking sounds and Kai loves it 🙂 Thanks, Marcie!
This is a brilliant idea, Denise. I’m going to have to swap a few things to veggie-fy it but that should be easy. What a great, healthy twist on instant noodles!
Oh you can totally use veggie stock, I tested it with some veggie stock concentrate and it was good! And I guess ditch the chicken 😉 Thanks, Geraldine!
What an AWESOME idea. My “treat” to myself after I finished midterms in college was always some bad tv show, in bed, with instant ramen. Love this more adult and a bajillion times more healthy take!
Your treat sounds like my perfect day! I will admit that I still have a huge soft spot for ramen…but this is definitely a much healthier alternative 🙂 Thanks, Dani!
Get out! I have never seen such a thing before. What a neat idea! I love noodles so much, I can’t wait to try!
Ha ha! Thanks so much, Jessica!
This is such a great idea, Denise! And I totally want to guy and buy an adult coloring book. I hear they are all the rage now!
Yes! I am going to get one soon, I’ve heard that they are just as good as meditation! And my brain needs a break these days 😉
I absolutely love this idea, Denise! I’m always looking for easy and healthy lunch ideas, so this sounds perfect!
Thanks, Danielle! This is definitely easy 🙂 🙂
Hi Denise,
When making individual pasta salads in mason jars in the summer, I always have a jar of glop if I layer the noodles directly on the dressing. It works a lot better if you follow the dressing layer with the veggies and then the noodles. Do you have that problem with these?
Hi Terry! Well I made these the day before and they were fine. I guess if you are storing them for longer you may wish to put the veggies directly on top of the sauces?
This sounds incredibly awesome! I’m totally doing this, but substituting spiralized zucchini “noodles”.
Andrew, I LOVE that idea! Then you don’t have to cook the pasta…even easier! Let me know how you like it!
Hi,
I just stumbled upon your blog the other day while looking for some healthy lunch ideas. I had weight loss surgery a couple years ago and really need to jump back on my cleaner eating. I took this to work with me and oh my gosh was it delicious! I added some hot water from our water bubbler at work and let it steep about 5 mins and it was perfect 🙂 and not to mention delicious! No more spilling soups in my bag! Thank you so much for sharing this 🙂
Hi Mary! I’m so glad you liked these! Isn’t it nice having an easy hot lunch?
Can you freeze this for later use?
Hi Ashley! I’m not sure if you can freeze the stock base…maybe? But I definitely wouldn’t freeze the pasta, you would probably end up with some really mushy noodles.
Ashley & Denise: Freeze your noodles separate in a zip bag by individual serving. Then you can add them in when your broth / soup is hot. You should be able to add the noodles when reheating without a problem. They’ll soak up the liquid in your container if you freeze them with the soup.