This 4-Ingredient Recipe Is My Favorite Easy Dinner

Remember those after-school snacks you used to eat over and over again? For me, it was instant ramen. Easy enough for a 10-year-old to make and salty enough to satisfy my salty tooth. One time, my sister added a spoonful of peanut butter to hers, which created a lusciously rich and nutty broth. From that day on, we never ate our ramen any other way. This recipe is inspired by those noodles, but is extra filling thanks to the addition of ground chicken.

My recipe for quick peanut chicken ramen noodles starts with a pack of instant ramen. While the noodles boil, you brown ground chicken in a pan. Stir in the ramen flavor packet, a big dollop of peanut butter, and some of the water the noodles cooked in to make it saucy. Toss in the cooked noodles, add a squeeze of lime juice for brightness, and you’re done!

If I have them handy, I love topping the noodles with green onions for a little fresh bite. They’re also amazing with a quick cucumber salad or mixed greens with sesame dressing added on top.

Make It Plant-Based

If you’re vegetarian or vegan, don’t fret—you can make these, too! One of my favorite swaps for ground chicken is grated tofu. Just grate half a block of extra-firm tofu on a box grater (the side with the largest holes) and sauté it in oil for 8 to 10 minutes until it starts to crisp up in spots. Then, cook the noodles and make the sauce as directed.

To keep it veggie, just make sure the instant ramen you use is vegetarian/vegan.

How To Make My 4-Ingredient Peanut Chicken Noodles

To make two servings, you’ll need:

• 2 teaspoons neutral oil (such as avocado oil)
• 1/2 pound (8 ounces) ground chicken
• 1 (3 to 4-ounce) package instant ramen noodles, chicken flavor
• 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
• Juice of 1/2 lime
• 1 green onion, thinly sliced, optional

In a nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground chicken and use a wooden spoon to break it up. Cook until the chicken is cooked through and starting to brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Turn off the heat.

While the chicken cooks, in a medium saucepan, boil the ramen noodles according to package directions, reserving the flavor packet to use later. Before draining the noodles, reserve 1 cup of the cooking water.

Add the ramen flavor packet, peanut butter, and 3/4 cup of the cooking water to the chicken. Stir until creamy, adding more water if needed. Add the noodles and toss until they’re coated with the sauce. Finally, stir in the lime juice.

Divide the noodles between two bowls and top with the green onions, if using. Enjoy immediately and store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.