Instant Healthy Homemade Noodle Cups To Go
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Make your own delicious noodle cups at home. Skip the store-bought options and enjoy a healthier and more flavorful alternative.
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Why I Love Homemade Noodle Cups
I have a confession. I love noodle cups. You know, those store-bought cups with little pellets of dehydrated vegetables, artificial ingredients, food coloring, and powder—and then you add water and microwave? Yes, those cups.
It’s an embarrassing love-hate relationship. And the truth? I don’t allow myself to have them, even though I secretly kind of want to.
They’re a college carryover. They were good, fast, and cheap back then.
Every time I travel down that grocery store aisle, my eye wanders to those little cups and I remember that weirdly delicious, salty flavor.
One day, you can imagine my delight when I tried my own version of noodle cups! No more unknown ingredients — no more plastic cups.
Homemade Noodle Cups are easy — and fast — and perfectly tailored with all the ingredients I love.
Can You Make Homemade Noodle Cups Ahead?
Absolutely! They are make-ahead friendly and perfect for lunches at home or on the go.
Homemade Noodle Cups on the Go
To take noodle cups on the go, add a freezer pack to keep them chilled.
To reheat, let the noodles stand at room temperature for 10 minutes or run warm water over the jar for a minute or so to warm slightly. Then, fill the jar with water (about 1 and 1/4 cups) and microwave, uncovered, for 2 minutes, or until warmed through. Cool slightly and stir to combine.
6 Nearly Instant Noddle Cup Ideas
Before we get to my recipe for Homemade Noodle Cups, here are 6 more ideas you may also want to try!
1. Traveling Noodles
Pack up your noodle soup for a work lunch that’ll make your day a billion times better.
2. DIY Instant Noodle Cups
Rather than give up our torrid noodle-cup affair (as if!), the obvious solution is to make our own DIY cups — and you’ll be surprised at how easy that really is.
3. Gluten-Free Instant Noodle Cups
“This recipe for gluten free ramen is quick, easy and delicious, and you can even make it into “instant” ramen at school or work!”
4. Homemade Chicken and Vegetable Pot Instant Noodles
Have you ever tried a Pot Noodle? They’re something of a student food icon in the UK. This homemade pot noodle however, is different. Fresh ingredients, lots of taste, and a shelf life that wouldn’t take us to the next millennium.
5. Almost Instant Noodle Jar
With this recipe, you can make your own tasty (almost) instant noodle soup with very little effort. You can prepare this recipe the previous day, and you have the perfect, quick office lunch – just add boiling water! And you can customize and make this recipe your own by adding different vegetables.
6. DIY Healthy Ramen Lunch Kits: Miso Ramen & Chicken
Love Ramen Soup? Make yourself Healthy DIY Ramen Bowls in a glass jar. I’ll show you both Japanese Miso and Chicken Ramen flavors that you can take to work or school. Just add hot water when you’re ready to eat. Enjoy this fun lunch recipe!
More Lunch Recipes
Instant Healthy Homemade Noodle Cups To Go
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 teaspoons stock base see below
- flavor boost see below
- 9 ounces protein
- 1 1/2 cups cooked noodles about 4 ounces dry
- 1 1/2 cups vegetables
Instructions
- Divide stock base and flavor boost between three microwaveable pint-size jars with lids. Layer with protein, noodles, and vegetables in that order. Place lids on jars. Store in the refrigerator 3 to 5 days. See the "Notes" section below for LOTS of ingredient ideas for protein, vegetables, and flavor boosts.
- Tote in a lunch bag with a freezer pack. Before heating, let stand at room temperature 10 minutes or run warm water over the jar for a minute or so to warm slightly. Nearly fill the jar with water (about 1 1/4 cups water) and microwave, uncovered, about 2 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir to combine.
Cooking the Noodles
- Cook noodles 1 minute less than package directions. Drain. Immediately rinse in cold running water to stop cooking. Drain and toss noodles in vegetable oil to coat. Cut long noodles into shorter lengths. Choose from: spaghetti, angel hair pasta, shell pasta, linguini, elbow pasta, rice noodles, ramen noodles, or mini farfalle
Notes
- Stock Base: Choose from 1 tablespoon beef stock base, chicken stock base, or vegetable stock base (such as Better Than Bouillon).
- Flavor Boost: Choose one or two:
1 1/2 teaspoons lime, lemon, or orange zest;
3/4 teaspoons of one of these seasonings: chili powder, Cajun seasoning, lemon-pepper seasoning, Old Bay®, or
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3 tablespoons teriyaki sauce
2 tablespoons white miso paste
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tablespoon snipped fresh herbs (dill weed, cilantro, chives, sage, parsley) - Protein Ideas: 7 ounces cooked smoked sausage, cooked shredded chicken, cooked shredded beef roast, cooked peeled shrimp, cooked chopped pork, cooked meatballs (quartered), 1 cup canned beans or frozen edamame, 2 ounces smoked salmon, or 3 sliced hard-cooked eggs.
- Vegetables: Use 2 to 3 veggies like julienned carrots, frozen peas, frozen corn, frozen peas and carrots, sliced green onions, broccoli slaw, fresh baby spinach, sliced button or shiitake mushrooms, finely chopped zucchini, sliced snow pea pods, or chopped bok choy
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.