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This simple, warming Crockpot Crispy Pork Ramen is for those nights when you’re craving your favorite bowl of ramen, but want to stay in and be cozy at home. All cooked in a crock pot, instant pot, or make the stove-top version. Whatever works for you! This dish is flavored with miso, chili paste, and Chinese 5 spice. It’s creamy, spicy, and filled with plenty of ramen noodles. Each bowl is topped with crispy caramelized pork (or chicken). It’s one of the best bowls of homemade ramen, even better than a restaurant!
I’m not sure I could think of a better Monday in December recipe. This has to be one of my favorite bowls of ramen yet. I can’t wait to share it with my family soon! Being here in New York, I am craving this homemade bowl. It’s chilly here this week! And while I am used to cold weather, the damp cold here in New York City is just a different kind of cold. It’s bone-chilling, and when you add the wind, it’s biting.
Regardless, it’s wonderful to be here. And while I can definitely get an incredible bowl of ramen here in the city (I actually think I will), I much prefer homemade.
This recipe is full of so many yummy flavors. You just have to love it!
Just like a couple of other ramen recipes I have on the site, my brothers really inspired this one. They LOVE ramen. They’ve had the privilege of enjoying real-deal ramen straight from Japan on multiple occasions. So they really know how to direct me when it comes to creating a new recipe.
Recently, they’ve been loving a more traditional (but not traditional, tradition), pork ramen. They get theirs with caramelized pork and shiitake mushrooms, then spicy jalapeños on top with lots of green onions.
This sounded like such a wonderful December recipe to feed the family while they’re all in town for the holidays. I knew I needed to make it.
Details
As I mentioned, the boys have been enjoying pork ramen, so I used a pork butt for this recipe. You can use a pork butt or roast, or just use some skinless chicken thighs/breasts. Both options are equally great.
For the crockpot, layer thinly sliced onions on the bottom of your crockpot. Layering the onions on the bottom is important. They’ll cook quicker and become a little caramelized.
Then, everything else goes into the pot. Tamari (or you can use low sodium soy sauce), miso paste, chili paste, and then my favorite, Chinese 5 spice. Chinese 5 spice is a warming blend of Chinese cinnamon, fennel seed, star anise, and cloves. It sounds different to add this to such a savory recipe, but trust me, it really works.
For the chili paste, I use Gochujang, which is actually Korean chili paste. But it’s SO GOOD.
When everything is all together, slow cook this all day long. With a pork butt, the longer the better. If you use chicken, don’t cook longer than five or six hours tops.
When the soup has finished cooking, preheat the broiler to high, then drizzle the pork with honey. The honey helps caramelize the pork making it crispy and delicious. Broil until caramelized on top, about 5-8 minutes – watch carefully!
While the pork broils, mix coconut milk into the soup. This will tame the heat and give a creamier broth. Then add the dry ramen noodles.
For the actual ramen noodles, I love using Brown Rice and Millet Ramen noodles (which you can find at Whole Foods and in many grocery stores). These taste just like real-deal ramen noodles, but they’re much healthier, gluten-free, and vegan.
And of course, no bowl of ramen is complete without the toppings. After all, they’re the best part, right? I do soft-boiled eggs, plenty of green onions, candied jalapeños (my favorite topping right now), and lots of sesame chili oil. some other great toppings: fresh cilantro, sesame seeds, scallions, lime juice, and sriracha.
I’m especially excited to re-create this ramen for my family. My two younger brothers, Malachi and Red, are already looking forward to it. Can’t wait!!
It’s creamy but spicy, and the flavor is spot-on. The crispy pork makes for a rich, decadent bowl.
Looking for more warming winter soups? Here are a few to try:
Better For You Chicken and Spinach Ramen
Healthier Italian Wedding Soup with Lemon and Garlic
Lemony Garlic Chicken and Orzo Soup
Creamy Gnocchi Soup with Rosemary Bacon
Lastly, if you make this Crockpot Crispy Pork Ramen, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Crockpot Crispy Pork Ramen
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 319 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2-3 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 2-3 pounds pork butt or 6 chicken thighs/breast
- 6-8 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 cup tamari or soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons white miso paste
- 2-4 tablespoons chili paste (I use Gochujang)
- 1 tablespoon Chinese 5 spice
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
- 2 cups sliced cremini mushrooms
- 2-3 teaspoons honey or brown sugar
- 1 cup canned coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 4 squares ramen noodles
- soft or hard boiled eggs, for serving
- toasted nori sheets, candied jalapeños, green onions, and chili oil, for serving
Instructions
Crockpot
- 1. Layer the onions on the bottom of your crockpot. Add the pork butt/chicken, broth, tamari, miso paste, chili paste, Chinese 5 spice, ginger, and mushrooms. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours. 2. Preheat the broiler to high. Remove the pork and place it onto a baking sheet. Break into a few chunks. Drizzle each chunk with honey. Broil until caramelized on top, about 5-8 minutes, but watch closely. 3. Meanwhile, crank the heat on the slow cooker to high. Stir in the coconut milk and toasted sesame oil. Add the noodles and let cook, uncovered, for about 5 minutes.4. Ladle the broth, mushrooms, and noodles into bowls. Top with crispy pork. Top as desired with eggs, green onions, jalapeños, and chili oil. Serve immediately.
Instant Pot
- 1. Layer the onions on the bottom of your instant pot. Add the pork butt/chicken, broth, tamari, miso paste, chili paste, Chinese 5 spice, ginger, and mushrooms. Seal the lid and cook on high pressure for 60-70 minutes. Quick release the steam.2. Finish as directed above through step 2.
Stove
- 1. In a large soup pot set over medium heat, combine the onions with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the pork butt/chicken, broth, tamari, miso paste, chili paste, Chinese 5 spice, ginger, and mushrooms. Cover and cook over low heat for 3-5 hours or up to all day, adding water if needed to keep the pork covered. 2. Preheat the broiler to high. Remove the pork and place it onto a baking sheet. Break into a few chunks. Drizzle each with honey. Broil until caramelized on top, about 5-8 minutes, but watch closely. 3. Meanwhile, stir the coconut milk and toasted sesame oil into the soup pot. Add the noodles and let cook, uncovered, for 5 minutes.4. Ladle the broth, mushrooms, and noodles into bowls. Top with crispy pork. Top as desired with eggs, green onions, jalapeños, and chili oil. Serve immediately.
This post was originally published on December 12, 2022
This is currently in the crockpot at my home! How do I broil without a broiler? So excited to try this.
Hi there,
You’ll have to skip that step if your oven does not have a broiler. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
How many oz of ramen noodles?
Hi Hailey,
So sorry, not exactly sure the ounces of noodles, I just used 4 squares. Please let me know if I can help in any other way! xT
So good! Husband loved this. Will definitely keep in my rotation. I substituted chicken thighs for the pork. Cooked in my instant pot and came out so flavorful.
Hey Kelly,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Thanks for your comment! xx
The flavors were so different in this ramen and definitely worth keeping in the rotation!
Hey Carolyn,
Happy Wednesday!!🎇 I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and appreciate you making it! xx
This recipe is a keeper! We love ramen and the flavor was sooo yummy. I subbed the pork for chicken, and was still delish.
Unless you have a large family or making this for more than 4 people. I would suggest not putting the noodles in the crockpot. If you have leftovers the noodles will get soggy.
Hey Erika,
Happy Wednesday!!🎇 I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and appreciate you making it! xx
The link for Ramen goes to the Thrive sign-in/register page not a specific product.
Which Ramen do you recommend?
I found them at our super target
Hi Claudia,
Sorry about that! I really like the Lotus Foods brand. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
My son loves Ramen and he loved this. I made it with Chicken. It was spicy but the spice got knocked down with the coconut milk. Great addition to our winter meal rotation! Super easy!
I even served it in our new and fun East Fork Pottery bowls!
Hey Stephanie,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try! xT
We made this for our day after Christmas lunch. It was delicious! I need to trust the heat level in recipes. We added extra Gochujang at the table. Thank you!
Hey Cindy,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try! xT
Soooo good! We made this for Christmas dinner in the instant pot & will be adding it to our rotation! I’m soy free, so skipped the miso.. I also used coconut aminos instead of tamari. The broth was the BOMB. We used chicken..also the BOMB! The noodles she recommends can also be found in small packs at Target & at Wegmans..they are really the best. Don’t skip the egg! Thank you Tieghan for helping us be excited about cooking dinners!
Hey Sarah,
Happy Holidays!!☃️ I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xT
Can I use pork chops for this dish?
Hi Veronica,
So sorry, I would not recommend using pork chops for this dish. Please let me know if I can help in any other way! xT
Have you made this in an instant pot before and is it just as good as a crockpot I prefer using an Insta pot over a crockpot
Hey LeeAnn,
Yes, I have tested all of the methods and they are all are great! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
Made this for dinner and it was perfect!! Will be putting this on repeat. Love how it comes together in the crockpot, I can forget it and let it do it’s thing. Used whole chicken cut up and dropped eggs in with the noodles to cook at the end.
Hey Jessica,
I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Merry Christmas! 🎁🎄
What a great ramen dish! I made the stovetop version and used chicken thighs and ended up needing the full 8 cups of broth (which in the beginning I thought was too much). I cooked the thighs for four hours, which I thought was crazy at the time, but in the end realized that amount of time was necessary to get the meat “falling off the bone” (except they were boneless ;-)). Topped it off with sliced jalapeno, chile crisp and soft boiled egg, and it was delicious. Time-consuming, but one I’ll be making again.
Hey Helen,
Happy Friday!!☃️ I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks so much for making it and your comment! xT
Amazing flavors. Thought pork was going to be bland, tough, but the honey and crispy made it perfect. Super tender. Excellent on a very cold night.
Hey Carolyn,
Happy Holidays!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and appreciate you giving it a try! 🎄❄️
Fantastic flavors, made this today for Christmas dinner and it’s saying warm in the instant pot for now but I couldn’t help trying a mini bowl and it’s so delicious. We love our ramen spicy so I doubled the sesame chili oil and I truly can’t wait!! Making braised apple cider chicken too and a couple desserts, it’s gonna be bomb!! Merry Christmas 🎄
Hey Naya,
Happy Monday!❄️ I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xx
I didn’t have the miso and my kids don’t love spice so I left out the chili paste but this was a hit!! My husband took a bite and said ‘I don’t love soup a lot but this is amazing! Put this in the regular rotation please!’ Great recipe and so easy! I’m going to get the miso for next time but great job on the recipe!
Hey Rachel,
Happy Holidays!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and appreciate you giving it a try! 🎄❄️