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    Home » Course » Side Dishes

    Sweet and Crunchy Ramen Salad

    Published Mar 28, 2023 | Updated Apr 24, 2023 | By Laura

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    Colorful, crunchy and loaded with delicious flavors, this salad is always a holiday or get-together showstopper! 

    ramen salad on a plate

    If I had a dollar for every time my mom made this salad growing up, I'd retire this very minute! Every holiday, church potluck or gathering had this salad on the table. My dad worked at Toyota for over 30 years and mom sent it with him to potlucks all the time! With his bag of ingredients to toss together at lunch, she'd send several recipe cards with him too for those asking for it!

    This recipe has everything a great salad needs, sweet and savory flavors with crunchy and smooth textures and tossed in a slightly sweet tangy dressing. I love that this salad can be a small side dish or made into a meal too. Top it with some grilled or pan seared shrimp, salmon, chicken, tofu or steak and you have yourself a complete meal! A protein, vegetables, fruits, starch and heart healthy fats all on one plate.

    Another bonus, you can have every element of this recipe done except tossing together well before an event! It is PERFECT for a family reunion, spring picnic, work potluck, church homecoming, holiday celebration, birthday party, etc. You name the function, and this salad needs to be invited! Have this recipe saved and ready to share because you will indeed be asked for it!

    close up view of crunchy ramen salad on a fork

    Table of Contents

    • What You’ll Need
    • Tools You’ll Need
    • Why You’ll Like This Ramen Salad
    • How to Make this Recipe
    • Tips and Substitutions
    • Storage
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Recipes Like This 
    • Sweet and Crunchy Ramen Salad
      • Ingredients 1x2x3x4x5x
        • Dressing
        • Salad
      • Instructions
      • Video
      • Nutrition

    What You’ll Need

    Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below

    • Oil
    • Apple Cider Vinegar
    • Sugar
    • Ramen Noodles
    • Broccoli Slaw or Coleslaw
    • Sugar Snap Peas
    • Green Onions
    • Grapes
    • Orange
    • Sliced Almonds
    • Sunflower Seeds
    • Wonton Strips
    ingredients for crunchy ramen salad laid out on a cutting board

    Tools You’ll Need

    • Large Bowl
    • Small Bowl
    • Cutting Board
    • Chef's Knife
    • Serving Tongs

    Why You’ll Like This Ramen Salad

    • It's the side dish everyone raves about at get-togethers!
    • You can make every component ahead of time and then toss right before serving!
    • It's quick to prepare (less than 20 minutes)!
    • It's loaded with fresh flavors and an amazing crunch!
    • It's versatile as a side dish or as an entree!

    How to Make this Recipe

    1. For the dressing, in a small bowl, add oil, vinegar, sugar and the seasoning packets from both ramen packets. 
    tupperware container of oil
    1. For the salad, in a large bowl, combine ramen noodles, broccoli slaw, sugar snap peas, green onions, grapes and oranges.
    ramen salad ingredients in a bowl
    1. When ready to serve, shake the dressing until well-emulsified and pour over the salad. Add sunflower seeds and almonds. Toss until the ingredients are well combined. Serve garnished with wonton strips on top.
    three small bowls containing nuts and crunchy strips of wonton

    Tips and Substitutions

    • DO NOT mix this salad together until you're ready to serve it. The ideal level of crunch is in the first couple hours it's tossed and served.
    • You can get creative with the ingredients in this salad. Here are some excellent substitutions or additions you can make:
      • Diced Bell Pepper
      • Napa Cabbage
      • Edamame
      • Chow Mein Noodles
      • Fresh Corn Kernels
      • Sesame Seeds
      • Chopped Pineapple
      • Chopped Mango
      • Zucchini
      • Cilantro
      • Mandarine Oranges
      • Shaved Brussels Sprouts
      • Chopped Asparagus
    • For the oil, I typically use vegetable oil, but avocado and canola can work as well. Sesame oil in this quantity would likely be too strong, but substituting a portion of it with sesame oil would add a yummy flavor. Olive oil can work as well but will add a stronger flavor.
    • For the vinegar, I use apple cider but rice vinegar can work as well.
    • This salad is a great side dish when you need to feed a large crowd. Simply double, triple or add however much you need depending on your crowd! I plan on 1 cup of the salad per person and this salad makes about 12 cups.
    This is a picture of a colorful salad. In it there is ramen noodles, coleslaw, grapes, oranges, nuts and tossed in a dressing.

    Storage

    • Stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator, this salad will last 1-3 days. The crunchiness decreases the longer the ingredients have been mixed together.
    • This is not a dish that can be frozen and thawed.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How do you crush the ramen noodles?

    You can do it with your hands or in a ziploc bag using a rolling pin.

    Could I toast the ramen noodles first?

    Yes, and some variations of this recipe calls for this step. If doing so, spread the ramen noodles on a sheet pan and bake at 425°F. for 3-5 minutes. Watch carefully as they can burn quickly.

    Can I toast the sunflower seeds and almonds?

    Absolutely! You can either do this in a pan on medium-high heat, stirring often, or you can toast them in the oven at 425°F for 3-5 minutes.

    Can I substitute the sugar with something else?

    Sugar substitutes, honey, agave nectar, date syrup and maple syrup can work as substitutes for the sugar.

    Do I have to use the ramen seasoning packet in the dressing?

    The seasoning packet holds a lot of savoriness (with the added sodium) and flavors, but you can omit it if you'd like. If you want to substitute it, you can use chicken Better Than Bouillon or Herb-Ox in the dressing to your palates preference.

    What is broccoli slaw?

    Most broccoli slaw blends simply replace the shredded cabbage from regular coleslaw mixes with shredded broccoli stems.

    I thought ramen noodles have to be cooked first?

    They can, but they don't have to be. In their raw form, it's one thing that adds the delicious crunch to this salad. To bake or not to bake, that's up to you.

    Is this gluten free?

    Top Ramen, Maruchan and Lotus Foods are a few brands that carry gluten free ramen noodles. The rest of the ingredients are gluten free.

    How can I cut back on the carbohydrates?

    You can substitute the sugar with an alternative, decrease the fruit ingredients and/or use a low carbohydrate ramen noodle substitute.

    More Recipes Like This 

    • Holiday Broccoli Salad
    • Southern Layered Salad
    • Broccoli Cauliflower Bacon Salad
    • Brussels Sprouts Berry Cherry Salad
    • Crispy Chicken Citrus Salad
    This is a picture of a colorful salad. In it there is ramen noodles, coleslaw, grapes, oranges, nuts and tossed in a dressing.
    Print Recipe Rate this Recipe Pin Recipe
    4.75 from 12 votes

    Sweet and Crunchy Ramen Salad

    Colorful, crunchy and loaded with delicious flavors, this salad is always a holiday or potluck showstopper!
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time0 minutes mins
    Total Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: vegetables
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 305kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    Dressing

    • ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
    • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
    • 2 tablespoon sugar

    Salad

    • 2 3oz packages chicken flavored ramen noodles roughly crushed
    • 10 oz broccoli slaw or coleslaw
    • 1 cup sugar snap peas chopped
    • 6 green onions thinly sliced
    • 1 cup halved grapes
    • 1 orange cut into small segments
    • ½ cup sliced almonds
    • 3 tablespoon roasted and salted sunflower seeds
    • Wonton Strips for garnish

    Instructions

    • For the dressing, in a small bowl, add oil, vinegar, sugar and the seasoning packets from both ramen packets.
    • For the salad, in a large bowl, combine ramen noodles, broccoli slaw, sugar snap peas, green onions, grapes and oranges.
    • When ready to serve, shake the dressing until well-emulsified and pour over the salad. Add sunflower seeds and almonds. Toss until the ingredients are well combined. Serve garnished with wonton strips on top.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 305kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 736mg | Potassium: 233mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 209IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @dinnerin321 or tag #dinnerin321!
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    Filed Under: Appetizer, Salads, Side Dishes

    Laura

    About Laura

    Taught by some of the best, cooking and entertaining has always been my favorite hobby. Food is my love language! The conception of Dinner in 321 came from my family talks that sharing our dinners would help others learn new skills, tasty recipes, and make cooking fun! Read more...

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Kayla Fauscett

      April 22, 2023 at 1:37 am

      5 stars
      What a fun twist on salad! The ramen adds the perfect crunch.

      Reply
      • Laura Ashley

        April 27, 2023 at 1:54 pm

        Thank you so much!!😁

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