The Popular Snack That Proves Ramen Seasoning Is Wasted On Noodles

Ramen is a culinary icon, offering tender noodles in a flavor-packed broth with a plethora of add-ins to suit every palette. But what really brings it home is the seasoning. Whether you season your broth with packs of premade seasoning or follow the more ambitious route of making your own, ramen seasoning is an umami-packed flavor bomb that is completely wasted if all you're doing is putting it on your noodles. Instead, think big and harvest those little spice packets and put them to good use turning one of your favorite snack foods into an addictive little crunch bomb you can't pass up.

There is a reason popcorn is such a popular snack. By itself it's already delicious, bringing everything from flavor to crunch to the table. As an added bonus, it absorbs seasoning like a boss and is great whether you like your kernels sweet, salty, or savory. In fact, there are tons of ways to spruce it up on your own with tangy ranch seasoning, cheddar cheese, or even buffalo sauce for a spicy kick. But ramen-flavored popcorn is oh-so much better than the average DIY seasoned bag. 

The ingredients in ramen seasoning range slightly from brand to brand, but they typically include salt, soy sauce powder, onion powder, and garlic powder, along with additional spices like meat powder or vegetable powder. You can either harvest the packets from instant or fresh ramen noodles, buy a pre-made ramen seasoning mix, or use one of the myriad recipes found online to make your own. Either way you go, you will find your popcorn mouthwateringly yummy once you sprinkle this powerful umami spice mix on your fluffy kernels. It's important to keep in mind the seasoning is going to make your popcorn salty (which isn't bad, since popcorn is delicious when salted), so it's best to go with unseasoned popcorn and let your ramen flavor take center stage. 

Making this snack is easy whether you prefer a store-bought microwave popcorn brand or prefer to do things the old-fashioned way and make it on the stovetop. Simply pop your unseasoned popcorn as usual, then give it a light coat of butter, followed by sprinkling the seasoning on while everything is still hot. Be sure to toss well so you achieve in a nice even coat. You'll want to go light at first until you know how much seasoning suits your palette. Once it's ready, you can either eat it hot and fresh or pack it for a lunch on the go. It will also make a great road trip snack and is great to have on hand for when you get a craving for something crunchy and full of flavor.