Description
This Creamy Garlic Chicken Ramen is a comforting and flavorful dish that combines tender pan-seared chicken breasts with rich, garlicky cream sauce and tender ramen noodles. Enhanced with fresh spinach, Parmesan cheese, and optional chili flakes for a hint of spice, this easy stovetop recipe is perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Sauce and Noodles
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 packs instant ramen noodles (discard seasoning)
Vegetables and Garnishes
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly on both sides with salt and pepper to enhance flavor before cooking.
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 5-7 minutes per side until golden brown and fully cooked through. Transfer cooked chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Sauté garlic: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds or until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Add broth and simmer: Pour in chicken broth and bring it to a simmer, scraping the bottom of the skillet to loosen any browned bits for added flavor.
- Create creamy sauce: Stir in heavy cream and soy sauce, allowing the mixture to bubble gently for 2-3 minutes to blend and thicken slightly.
- Cook ramen noodles: Add the instant ramen noodles to the skillet, gently pushing them into the liquid so they are mostly submerged. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally until noodles are tender.
- Combine chicken and spinach: Return the cooked chicken breasts along with any resting juices into the skillet. Add baby spinach and cook for about 1 minute until spinach is wilted.
- Add cheese: Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the mixture and let it melt into the creamy sauce for extra richness.
- Slice and serve: Slice the chicken breasts and arrange them on top of the ramen noodles in each serving.
- Garnish and enjoy: Garnish with sliced green onions and chili flakes if desired. Serve with lemon wedges on the side for a fresh, tangy kick.
Notes
- Discard the seasoning packets from the ramen noodles to control sodium and flavor balance.
- Use fresh garlic for the best aromatic flavor in the sauce.
- Adjust chili flakes according to your spice preference or omit entirely.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or coconut milk.
- Leftover chicken can be shredded and added back to the ramen for more texture variety.
