Hearty Crock Pot Ramen: Simple 5-Ingredient Bowl (Print Version)
Hearty Crock Pot Ramen recipe for busy weeknights. Just 5 ingredients bring savory depth and warmth to your table with minimal fuss. A comforting bowl.
# Recipe Info:
Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 360 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 375 minutes
Servings: 5 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: Asian
Dietary: Gluten-Free
# Ingredients:
→ Base Ingredients
01 -
6 cups Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
02 -
2 lbs Pork Shoulder (Boneless)
03 -
5 packs Instant Ramen Noodle Packs (flavor packets discarded)
→ Flavor Boosters
04 -
1/4 cup Soy Sauce
05 -
4 cloves Fresh Garlic, minced
→ Garnish & Toppings
06 -
Green Onions (for garnish)
07 -
Soft-boiled eggs (optional)
08 -
Toasted sesame seeds (optional)
09 -
Chili oil (optional)
→ Optional Extras
10 -
2 tbsp Mirin
11 -
1 cup Sliced carrots
12 -
1 cup Sliced mushrooms
13 -
5 cups Spinach or Bok Choy
# Instructions:
01 -
Start by cubing your boneless pork shoulder into roughly 1-inch pieces. Don't worry too much about perfect uniformity; this is a crock pot ramen recipe, not a culinary competition! Toss them right into your slow cooker. I usually give the pot a little shake just to settle them in. This is where the magic begins, honestly.
02 -
Pour the low-sodium chicken broth over the pork. Make sure the pork is mostly submerged. Then, add your soy sauce and minced fresh garlic. Give it a gentle stir. The smell of the garlic hitting the broth already starts to make my kitchen feel warm and inviting, even before it starts cooking.
03 -
Cover your crock pot and set it to low for 6-8 hours, or high for 3-4 hours. You're looking for that pork to be fall-apart tender. I've definitely made the mistake of rushing it once, and the pork was a bit chewy. Learn from my oops, let it do its thing! The longer it simmers, the more flavorful your Crock Pot Ramen will be.
04 -
Once the pork is super tender, remove it from the pot and shred it using two forks. It should practically fall apart! Return the shredded pork to the broth. This step infuses all that delicious pork flavor back into the liquid, making your Crock Pot Ramen broth extra rich.
05 -
About 10-15 minutes before you're ready to serve, add the instant ramen noodles (without their flavor packets!) directly into the crock pot. Stir gently to submerge them. They'll cook quickly in the hot broth. I always peek in, watching them soften, knowing dinner is almost ready.
06 -
Ladle generous portions of your hearty Crock Pot Ramen into bowls. This is where you can get creative! I love topping mine with thinly sliced green onions and a perfectly soft-boiled egg. A drizzle of chili oil if you like a little kick, or some sesame seeds for texture. Enjoy that satisfying, warm bowl!
# Notes:
01 -
Don't add the ramen noodles too early, or they'll turn to mush! Wait until the very end.
02 -
Taste the broth before adding the noodles and adjust soy sauce or a pinch of salt if needed.
03 -
Pork shoulder is key; other cuts might dry out or not shred as nicely in this recipe.
04 -
For an even richer broth, quickly sear the pork cubes before adding them to the crock pot.
# Tools You'll Need:
01 -
Slow cooker (Crock Pot)
02 -
cutting board
03 -
sharp knife
04 -
forks for shredding
# Nutrition Facts (Per Serving):
Calories: 450 kcal
Total Fat: 20 g
Total Carbohydrate: 35 g
Protein: 30 g