--- title: Muscle-Building Ramen description: new recipe image: https://abitofcoriander.com/hubfs/IMG_5315.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://abitofcoriander.com/muscle-building-ramen#main-content) A Bit of Coriander - [Home](https://abitofcoriander.com/home) [Recipes](https://abitofcoriander.com) - [Home](https://abitofcoriander.com/home) [Recipes](https://abitofcoriander.com) ![](https://abitofcoriander.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_5315.jpg?width=4111&height=4176&name=IMG_5315.jpg) # Muscle-Building Ramen ![Corey Wong](https://abitofcoriander.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EMS_Pic-1.jpg?width=48&height=48&name=EMS_Pic-1.jpg) Corey Wong August 6, 2025 **Total Cost: ~$11.50 | Serves: 2 | Time: 20–25 mins** This is my favorite upgrade to Buldak ramen whenever I want something that tastes way more expensive than it actually is. The spicy carbonara sauce gets balanced by juicy chicken thighs and a jammy egg, making it feel like a full meal instead of just instant noodles. Everything came from H-Mart, and the leftovers make it surprisingly affordable. --- ## Ingredients + Where I Got Them | Ingredient | Store | Cost | | --- | --- | --- | | Buldak Carbonara Ramen (2-pack) | H-Mart | ~$4.99 | | Boneless skinless chicken thighs (~1 lb) | H-Mart | ~$4.99 | | Eggs (1 dozen) | H-Mart | ~$3.49 | | Neutral cooking oil | Pantry | ~$0.10 | | Green onions (optional) | H-Mart | ~$0.99 | | Sesame seeds (optional) | Pantry | Minimal | **Note:** You'll only use two eggs and about one pound of chicken, so you'll have extra eggs left for future meals. --- # Instructions ## Cook the Chicken Pat the chicken thighs dry and season lightly with salt and pepper if you have them. Heat about 1 tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for about **5–6 minutes per side**, or until nicely browned and cooked through (165°F internal temperature). Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing into strips. --- ## Cook the Eggs Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Carefully lower in two eggs and cook: - **6½ minutes** for jammy yolks - **8–9 minutes** for firmer yolks Transfer immediately to an ice bath, then peel. --- ## Cook the Ramen Bring about 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook for about **5 minutes**, stirring occasionally. Drain most of the water, leaving about **4–5 tablespoons** in the pot. --- ## Make the Sauce Add the included **liquid sauce packet** and **carbonara powder packet** to the noodles. Stir until everything is evenly coated and creamy. --- ## Assemble Divide the noodles between two bowls. Top with sliced chicken and one egg per bowl. Finish with sliced green onions or sesame seeds if you have them. --- # Price Breakdown (Per Serving) - Buldak Carbonara ramen: **~$2.50** - Chicken thighs: **~$2.50** - Egg: **~$0.30** - Oil & seasonings: **~$0.10** **Total per serving: ~$5.40** --- # Final Thoughts This is one of my favorite dorm meals because it takes instant ramen and turns it into something that actually feels filling. The chicken makes it substantial enough for dinner, and the jammy egg cuts through the heat while making the sauce even creamier. If you're shopping at H-Mart anyway, it's an easy meal that comes together in under 30 minutes without needing a long list of ingredients. If you're feeling extra hungry, I'll sometimes throw in a slice of American cheese or a splash of milk when mixing the sauce—it makes the carbonara even creamier without taking away the signature Buldak kick. ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fabitofcoriander.com%2Fmuscle-building-ramen](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fabitofcoriander.com%2Fmuscle-building-ramen) ## Keep reading ### [![](https://abitofcoriander.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202026-01-08%20at%2010.21.39%20PM.png?width=1066&height=1382&name=Screen%20Shot%202026-01-08%20at%2010.21.39%20PM.png) Crispy Asian Omelete](https://abitofcoriander.com/crispy-asian-omelete) ### [![](https://abitofcoriander.com/hs-fs/hubfs/koreanfish.png?width=894&height=866&name=koreanfish.png) Korean Pan Fried Fish (생선전)](https://abitofcoriander.com/korean-pan-fried-fish-%EC%83%9D%EC%84%A0%EC%A0%84) # A Bit of Coriander - [Home](https://abitofcoriander.com/home) --- Privacy Policy · Legal · © 2025 A Bit of Coriander. All rights reserved. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Corey Wong", "url" : "https://abitofcoriander.com/author/corey-wong" }, "dateModified" : "2026-07-02T23:03:40.493Z", "datePublished" : "2025-08-06T00:10:10.000Z", "headline" : "Muscle-Building Ramen", "image" : [ "https://abitofcoriander.com/hubfs/IMG_5315.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://abitofcoriander.com/muscle-building-ramen", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject" }, "name" : "A Bit of Coriander" } } ```