Garlic Butter Steak Cheesy Ramen Bowls
In just 15 minutes, you can have this slurpable, creamy, dreamy comfort food in your hands. Have you tried Cheesy Ramen? It is what happens when mac and cheese meets ramen and gets a gourmet upgrade! These Garlic Butter Steak Cheesy Ramen Bowls are quick, indulgent, and super easy to make.
We’re taking Otoki Cheesy Ramen and turning it into a bowl of cheesy, slurpable noodle magic with rich cheddar, creamy mascarpone, and a silky sauce that deserves its own standing ovation. Then we pile on thinly sliced garlic butter steak, a jammy egg, fresh green onions and shallots, and a generous drizzle of spicy chili crisp.
It’s rich, savory, a little spicy, and ridiculously satisfying.
The best part? You can make a simple bowl of cheesy ramen in about 5 minutes, or spend a few extra minutes adding your favorite toppings for a gourmet-style meal in about 15 minutes. Perfect for a quick lunch, an easy dinner, or whenever your ramen craving needs a serious upgrade.
Why You’ll Love These Garlic Butter Steak Cheesy Ramen Bowls
- Big, bold flavor: Garlic butter steak, rich cheddar and marscapone, and spicy chili crisp make every bite count.
- Creamy, cheesy noodles: The cheesy ramen gets transformed into a luscious sauce that coats every noodle.
- Easy to customize: Add your favorite protein, vegetables, or toppings to make it your own.
- Ready in about 15 minutes: A restaurant-inspired ramen bowl without the restaurant price or effort.
- Comfort food with a twist: It’s everything you love about mac and cheese, with the slurpable fun of ramen.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Otoki Cheesy Ramen: You can get it on Amazon. The star of the show! The cheddar and mascarpone-style creaminess creates a rich, cheesy noodle base.
- Thinly sliced strip steak: Cooks quickly and gives the bowl a hearty, savory protein.
- Butter: Creates the base for the garlic butter sauce.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic adds delicious flavor to the steak.
- Fresh sage: Just one leaf adds an earthy, fragrant note to the butter.
- Mayonnaise: The secret to an extra-creamy, silky ramen sauce.
- Jammy egg: Adds richness and that irresistible soft yolk.
- Green onions and scallions: Bring freshness, color, and a little bite. Use whichever you have on hand.
- Chili crisp: Adds crunch, heat, and a punch of savory flavor.
- Salt and pepper: Season the steak to taste.
- Reserved ramen water: Helps loosen the cheese sauce and makes it cling beautifully to the noodles.
How to Make Garlic Butter Steak Cheesy Ramen
1. Cook the ramen
Prepare the Otoki Cheesy Ramen according to the package directions, by boiling it in hot water for 5 minutes before draining. Reserving about 1/2 cup of the cooking water before draining to use in the sauce.
2. Make the garlic butter steak
Season the thinly sliced strip steak with salt and pepper. Add the steak into a hot cast iron pan, and sear on both sides, then finish by melting the butter in the hot skillet, and add the minced garlic and sage. Toss the steak in the fragrant garlic butter, then remove the steak from the pan to let rest. Leave everything else in the pan. Once it has rested for 5-10 minutes, thinly slice.
3. Make the creamy cheesy sauce
In the hot pan, add the 1/2 cup of ramen water, a tablespoon of mayo, and the cheese packet that came in the Cheesy Ramen. Add noodles back in, and over medium low heat, toss until the noodles are glossy, creamy, and coated in cheesy goodness. Remove from heat.
Add more ramen water a little at a time if necessary, until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. You want it silky and saucy, not watery.
4. Build your ramen bowl
Pile the cheesy noodles into a serving bowl. Top with the garlic butter steak and a jammy egg cut in half.
Finish with sliced green onions or scallions and a generous spoonful of chili crisp.
Grab your chopsticks, twirl those cheesy noodles, and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Cheesy Ramen
- Don’t skip the reserved noodle water. Its starch helps create a smooth sauce that coats the noodles. Reserve a little more than 1/2 a cup if you do not plan to eat immediately.
- Cook the steak quickly. Preheat the pan. And use a thinly sliced steak. Thin steaks cook fast, so avoid overcrowding the pan to get a nice sear instead of steaming the meat.
- Add the mayonnaise gradually. You can cut it down to half a tablespoon if desired, it adds creaminess, but a little goes a long way.
- Adjust the heat. Start with a small spoonful of chili crisp and add more to taste.
- Serve immediately. Cheesy ramen is at its creamiest when freshly made. The sauce will thicken as it cools, so keep a little extra noodle water handy.
What Else Can You Put on Cheesy Ramen?
The fun of this bowl is that you can make it your own! The creamy cheddar base from the Otoki Cheesy Ramen works with so many savory toppings.
Try these delicious variations:
- Pulled pork: Smoky, tender pork with chili crisp and sliced scallions.
- Crispy chicken: Crunchy chicken bites with a drizzle of hot honey.
- Bacon and mushrooms: Savory, salty, and extra satisfying.
- Jammy eggs and sesame seeds: Simple, classic ramen toppings.
- Crispy fried onions: For a little crunch in every bite.
- Roasted broccoli: A fresh, savory addition to balance the rich cheese sauce.
- Kimchi and chili oil: For a spicy, tangy twist.
Honestly, the topping possibilities are endless!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make cheesy ramen without the steak?
Absolutely! The cheesy ramen is delicious on its own, or you can swap the steak for chicken, shrimp, pulled pork, mushrooms, or crispy tofu.
How do I keep the cheese sauce creamy?
Reserve some noodle water and add it gradually as you toss the noodles. This helps loosen the sauce without making it thin. Serve immediately for the best texture.
Can I make the steak ahead of time?
You can cook the steak ahead, but it’s best freshly seared. If you do prepare it in advance, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat gently to avoid overcooking.
How do I make a jammy egg?
Lower a cold egg into gently boiling water and cook for about 6 1/2 to 7 minutes, depending on its size and starting temperature. Transfer it to an ice bath, cool, and peel carefully. The white should be set while the yolk stays soft and creamy.
Garlic Butter Steak Cheesy Ramen Bowls Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 package Otoki Cheesy Ramen
- 6 ounce strip steak thinly sliced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 fresh sage leaf
- 1/2 cup reserved ramen cooking water
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 jammy egg halved
- 1 tablespoon Sliced green onion or scallions for garnish
- 1 tablespoon Chili crisp for garnish
Instructions
Cook the ramen
- Prepare the Otoki Cheesy Ramen according to the package directions, by boiling it in hot water for 5 minutes before draining. Reserve 1/2 cup + of the cooking water before draining to use in the sauce.
Make the garlic butter steak
- Season the thinly sliced strip steak with salt and pepper. Add the steak into a hot cast iron pan, and sear on both sides, then finish cooking to your desired temperature (135 degrees F for medium rare) by melting the butter in the hot skillet, and add the minced garlic and sage. Toss the steak in the fragrant garlic butter, then remove the steak from the pan to let rest. Leave everything else in the pan. Once it has rested for 5-10 minutes, thinly slice.
Make the creamy cheesy sauce
- In the hot pan, add the 1/2 cup of ramen water, a tablespoon of mayo, and the cheese packet that came in the Cheesy Ramen. Add noodles back in, and over medium low heat, toss until the noodles are glossy, creamy, and coated in cheesy goodness. Remove from heat.
- Add more ramen water a little at a time if necessary, until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. You want it silky and saucy, not watery.
Build your ramen bowl
- Pile the cheesy noodles into a serving bowl. Top with the garlic butter steak and a jammy egg cut in half.
- Finish with sliced green onions or scallions and a generous spoonful of chili crisp.
- Grab your chopsticks, twirl those cheesy noodles, and enjoy!
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
Want to use this recipe in a meal plan?Try PrePear, my FREE Meal Planning App that allows you to save your recipes, plan meals, shop for groceries, and cook simply in one place. Join Here!What are you going to top your cheesy ramen with? Tell me in the comments! Are you team garlic butter steak, pulled pork, crispy chicken, or something totally unexpected? 🍜
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