Instant Ramen Grilled Cheese (Printer-friendly)

Crispy noodle buns with melted cheese and hot sauce create a quick, flavorful snack or lunch.

# Required Ingredients:

→ Ramen

01 - 1 package (~3 oz) instant ramen noodles, flavor packet reserved or discarded
02 - 1 large egg

→ Cheese Filling

03 - 4 slices (~2.8 oz) cheddar cheese or cheese of choice
04 - 2 teaspoons hot sauce, adjust to taste

→ For Cooking

05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
06 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add ramen noodles and cook for 2 minutes until just tender. Drain thoroughly and let cool slightly.
02 - In a bowl, beat the egg. Add drained noodles, season lightly with salt and pepper, and mix until noodles are fully coated.
03 - Divide noodle mixture into four equal portions. Using a ring mold or small bowl lined with parchment paper, press each portion into compact patties about the size of sandwich bread slices.
04 - Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Fry noodle patties in batches for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. Remove and repeat with remaining patties as needed.
05 - Place two noodle patties on a clean surface. Top each with two slices of cheese and drizzle with hot sauce. Cover with remaining patties to form sandwiches.
06 - Wipe skillet clean, add remaining butter, and return sandwiches to pan. Cook over low heat, pressing gently, about 2 to 3 minutes per side until cheese melts completely and exteriors are crispy.
07 - Slice sandwiches in half and serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like comfort food trying to be fancy, but staying fun and unpretentious.
  • Ready faster than delivery, and way more satisfying because your hands made it crispy.
  • You probably have everything at home already, hiding in your pantry right now.
02 -
  • Don't skip the draining step—excess water is the enemy of crispiness, and you'll end up with a soggy, disappointing result if the noodles are wet.
  • Cooking on low heat for the final assembly matters more than you'd think; high heat will burn the outside before the cheese melts through, leaving you with a crunchy shell and cold cheese inside.
03 -
  • Press the noodles down firmly when shaping so they hold together during cooking—loose patties will fall apart and you'll end up with noodle fragments instead of intact buns.
  • If you don't have a ring mold, a small cereal bowl or even a biscuit cutter works beautifully for creating uniform, sandwich-sized patties that cook evenly.
Go back