Being able to follow the directions to make instant noodles by just adding water is more than enough cooking for some, but more adventurous chefs will want to try these noodle dishes that use this simple meal as the basis for more complex culinary creations.
Pasta is an inexpensive and tasty college student food, but these noodle recipes help to make this staple much more exciting. Although some of these noodle concoctions are a little bizarre, they make it possible to enjoy multiple comfort foods in a single bite.
Noodles can be dressed up with an endless amount of sauces and flavourings, but they're even more versatile than you'd think. Did you ever think that they could become the crust of a pizza, the bread for a sandwich or even the cake part of a cupcake?
43 Unusual Noodle Dishes
43
Fab Film Genre Cakes
These Spaghetti Western Cupcakes are the Perfect Sweet Treats for Film Buffs
42
Succulent Seasonal Veggie Cakes
Load Up On Produce with the Proud Italian Cook Torte
41
Athletic Edible Emblems
The Foogos NHL Logos are Tasty Takes on Iconic Sports Symbols
40
Gigantic Ramen Noodle Burgers
This Ramen Burger is a Delicious Hybrid of Noodles and Beef
39
Cheeseburger-Flavored Meals
CheeseburgerOs are an Easy and Yummy Treat
38
Fried Macaroni Burger Buns
The Mac Attack Burger Buns are Made Out of Fried Macaroni and Cheese
37
Pasta-Inspired Sweets
The S'mores Spaghetti is Covert and Delicious
36
Nifty Noodle Sandwiches
This Ramen Sandwich is a Concoction Perfect for Cash-Strapped Students
35
Mac & Cheese Burger Buns
The Walking Ched by Zombie Burgers is Made for the Brave
34
Sci-Fi Character Lunches
Disposable Aardvarks Inc. Created This Star Wars Character from Soba Nood
33
Instant Noodle Sandwiches
This Creative Instant Noodle Dish is a Variation of a Grilled Cheese
32
Stringy Pasta Ice Cream
This Spaghetti Ice Cream is a Sugar-Infused Way to Eat Pasta
31
Bizarre Food Hybrids
Spaghetti Tacos are Slowly Taking the Country by Storm
30
Inside-Out Pasta Bites
The Spaghetti in Meatballs Recipe is a Cleverly Designed Creation
29
Deceptive Soup Cakes
Machi No Kumasan is Offering These Realistic Looking Ramen Soup Cakes
28
Teensy Tasty Treats
Pinch Food Design Is A Tiny Touch of Edible Art
27
Savory Macaroni Cupcakes
Cupcakes and Cashmere's 'Mac and Cheese Cups' Update Dessert Treats
26
Hairy Personified Sausages
This Russian Dish Yields Creatures From Boiling Spaghetti and Sausages
25
Beer-Infused Comfort Food
Easy Beer Mac and Cheese is Stuffed with Savory Gooey Goodness
24
Bizarre Holiday Turkey Pies
Experiement This Year With a 2012 American Thanksgiving Lasagna
23
Noodle-Infused Pizzas
This Ramen Crust Pizza is Exactly What it Sounds Like
22
Cunningly Cute Noodle Cakes
These Chinese Takeout Cupcakes Are Delicious and Deceptive
21
Spaghetti-Themed Burgers
This Burger Replaces the Bun with Fried Spaghetti Noodles
20
Remixed Breakfast Cuisine
The Everything Bagel Mac and Cheese is a Tasty Surprise
19
Crunchy Noodle Cupcakes
This Cupcake Recipe Turns Ramen Noodles into a Salty Style Desert
18
Stuffed Pasta-Inspired Desserts
Red Velvet Ravioli is a New Twist on an Italian Staple
17
Reversed Pasta Dishes
Deep Fried Spaghetti and Meatballs by DudeFoods is Bite-Sized
16
Overloaded Pasta Pies
The 'Mac'n'cheese Pie-la Deen' was Inspired by Paula Deen
15
Three-in-One Meals
Get Extreme Mac and Cheese Balls with this Meatloaf Bacon Twist
14
Asian-Inspired Pasta Recipes
This Asian Pasta is a Eastern Take on Traditional Spaghetti
13
Veggie Pizza-Inspired Lasagna
This Recipe for White Pizza Lasagna is Completely Vegetarian
12
Hybrid Noodle Utensils
The Ramen Spoon + Fork Makes Eating a Breeze
11
Fun Finger Food
‘Patadoigt' Thimble-Shaped Dip-Scooping Digit Tips
10
Immitation Pasta Pastries
On Top of Spaghetti Cupcakes Delight Tots With Their Deceptive Camouflag
9
Chunky Carnivorous Carb-Filled Sandwiches
The Lasagna Burger Offers American and Italian Flavors
8
Disguised Asian Food Cakes
This Bowl of Ramen Noodles is Actually a Deceptively Sweet Dessert
7
Cheesy Macaroni Pancakes
This Mac and Cheese Pancakes Recipe Will Win Any Brinner Throwdown
6
Noodle-Infused Tacos
This Ramen Taco Mixes up a Favorite Mexican Dish
5
Instant Noodle Recipe Books
The Ramen Cookbook by Jessica Harlan is College Kid-Friendly
4
Holiday Compound Confections
Pumpkin Filled Cannoli Cones Give an Italian Spin to the Classic Pie
3
Diguising Meat As Spaghetti
Inventions for Picky Kids
2
Cheesy Snack Food Pastas
Pepperidge Farm Now has Goldfish-Themed Macaroni and Cheese
1
Bite-Sized Pasta Pastries
The 'Girl Who Ate Everything' Lasagna Cupcakes Serve Italian Differently
Related Ideas
Nutritious Pasta Side Dishes
ZENB Pasta Sides are Packed with Protein and Fiber
Post-Workout Pastas
Les Mills' Spaghetti Legs Pasta Promotes a New Functional Strength Workout
Vodka-Infused Pasta Sauces
Heinz and Absolut Came Together to Create Pasta alla Vodka
Dedicated Instant Noodle Cookers
The Thanko Instant Ramen for One Cooker Prepares Quick Meals
Ergonomic Instant Noodle Forks
Nendo x Nissin The Fork Supports Easy Eating of Instant Noodles
Instant Noodle Advent Calendars
Koka's Unique Christmas Countdown Shares 12 Comforting Meals
Instant Noodle Model Cars
The Dream Tomica Cup Noodle Collection Includes Seven Models
TikTok-Viral Tortellini Bakes
A New Viral Recipe Features Cheese and Meat Sauces
Better-for-You Shrimp Bowls
Scott & Jon's Launched Convenient Frozen Shrimp Entrees
Beer-Paired Noodle Cups
Nissin Created a Guide to Pairing Cup Noodles and Beer for Oktoberfest
Seasoned Cheesy Macaroni Products
Velveeta Shells & Cheese Now Come in Three New Varieties
Pasta-Inspired Inflatable Pool Noodles
The Standard and Jumbo Launch the Pool Pasta Collection
Savory Soufflé Cups
Arnaboldi's Microwaveable Soufflés are Ready in Minutes
Film-Themed Cookbooks
A24's Scrounging Cookbook Takes Cues from Unusual Movie Meals
Repurposed Pasta Boxes
Barilla & Marie Kondo are Sharing How to Reuse Packaging
Meatless Filled Pastas
Meatless Farm is Introducing the UK to Plant-Based Meat-Filled Pastas
Breakfast Noodle Cups
Nissin's Cup Noodles Breakfast Features Favorite Morning Flavors
Noodle-Free Instant Ramens
NOMEN Ramen Provides Flavor in a Decidedly Lighter Manner
Air-Dried Restaurant-Inspired Noodles
These New Momofuku Noodles Come in Two Flavors
Gamer-Targeted Noodle Cups
Nissin's Gaming Cup Noodle Supplies Long-Lasting Energy
Instant Noodle-Inspired PCs
Aftershock Presents a New Range of Food-Themed Computer Designs
Upside-Down Pastries
This Viral TikTok Recipe Layers Honey, Fruits or Veggies and Cheese
Cup-Integrated Plates
Pairingware Solves the Struggle of Eating and Drinking with One Hand
Viral Macaroni Recipes
A TikTok Mac and Cheese Recipe is Sweeping the Platform
Vegan Egg Rolls
NoPokPok is Bean-Based and Ready for Slicing
Couples Recipe Books
Two Hot Asians' Recipe Therapy Book Serves Up Mealtime Inspiration
Snackable Back-to-School Lunches
Little Spoon's Lunchers are Nutritious Meals for Big Kids
Cartoon-Inspired Pasta Pizzas
Pizza Hut Australia is Serving Up New Garfield-Inspired Pasta Pizzas
Athletic Nutrition Frozen Meals
These New The Gym Kitchen Frozen Meals are Balanced
Alternative Carbonara Recipes
Barilla is Celebrating Carbonara Day with a Recipe for Everyone
Microwave-Safe Noodle Cups
Cup Noodles' #PaperCupConfessions Has Fans Fess Up to Cooking Habits
Easeful Asian-Inspired Meal Kits
The Molly Yeh x Blue Apron Box Simplifies At-Home Cooking
Restaurant-Ready Soup Lineups
Campbell’s Foodservice Just Launched Its New Culinary Reserve Soups
Frozen Pasta Cubes
A South Carolina Mom Creates a Simple Mac and Cheese Hack for Kids
Quick-Cook Ramen Noodles
The Barikata 55 Ramen Kenta Negi Tonkotsu is Ready in 55-Seconds
Gamer Instant Noodle Products
These Nissin Cup Meshi Products Were Created with Capcom
Fermented Grain Pastas
Bionaturae Organic Sourdough Pasta Supports Gut Health & Digestion
Gourmet Frozen Cookie Dough
Doughpamine Makes Unconventional Flavors Like Miso Peanut Butter
Warm Winter Power Bowls
Café Zupas is Celebrating Winter with Six New Warm Bowls
Dog-Friendly Instant Noodles
Dr. Pat Pat Philippines' Noodles for Dogs are Quick & Nutritious
Quick-Cooking Fresh Ramen Kits
Sun Noodle Kits Prepare Fresh Ramen in Minutes with 75% Less Water
Cheesy Soup Dumplings
Souplings are a First-of-Their-Kind Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Dumpling
Instant Noodle Measuring Cups
The Nissin Cup Noodle Measuring Cup Perfects Preparations
Snackable Pasta Chips
S'noods Turn Pasta from a Dinner Staple into Mid-Day Bites
Spicy 3D-Printed Bouillons
The Sugar Lab's Kimchi Bouillons Add Savory Flavor to Soups
Low-Carb Ready-to-Enjoy Meals
These SRSLY Low Carb Ready Meals Come in Five Vegan Options
Supersized Gnocchi Cakes
Trader Joe's Gnocchi Alla Romana is a twist on an Italian classic
Chef-Backed Pasta Pizza Kits
Blue Apron Debuts Limited-Edition "Pasta Pizza" Kit
Croissant-Shaped Pastas
Crocchi Boasts a Novel Form & Freshness-Preserving Packaging
Globally Inspired Pasta Bowls
ZENB's Pasta Agile Bowls Share a Taste of Yellow Pea Pasta
Simplistic Pasta Recipes
A Simple Two-Ingredient Mac and Cheese is Viral on Social Media Sites
Student-Friendly Digital Cookbooks
Cookin’ Somethin’ for College Shares User-Friendly Recipes
Sandwich-Soup Combination Cans
Campbell's Launches a New Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
Pasta-Inspired Pool Inflatables
The Standard Hotel and Jumbo Unveils the Pool Pasta Floats
Savory Ice Cream Sandwiches
Nightingale x Pizza Hut Dreamed Up a New Snack for April Fool's Day
Pea-Based Lasagna Noodles
ZENB Lasagna is Made with 100% Yellow Peas
Single-Pan Midweek Meals
Ben's Original One Pan Creations are Ready for the Pan in 10-Minutes
Pasta-Inspired Bath Products
Paper Plane Bath Spaghetti is Made with Skin-Nourishing Ingredients
Versatile No-Boil Noodles
Trader Joe's New No Boil Noodles are Perfect for Quick Dinners
Game Controller-Inspired Pasta Shapes
PlayStation Joins Pasta Garofalo on Play Your Pasta
DIY Dumpling Kits
Thirsty Dumpling Offers an All-in-One Dumpling Party Experience
Ancient Grain Sourdough Noodles
123Dough's Noodles are Fermented for Easier Digestion
Eco-Friendly Instant Noodle Packaging
Nissin Cup Noodles is Launching a New Paper Cup Packaging
Bagel-Inspired Noodle Cups
Fans Inspired Cup Noodles Everything Bagel with Cream Cheese
Protein-Rich Ready-to-Prepare Pastas
Barilla Chickpea Orzo Has 19-Grams of Plant-Based Protein
Traditional-Style Spaghetti Noodles
Trader Joe's Added a New Organic Spaghetti alla Chitarra Pasta
Gluten-Free Tagliatelle Pastas
Trader Joe's New Gluten Free Tagliatelle Pasta is Ready to Cook
Heat-and-Eat Plant Pastas
REBL Eats and La Vie Teamed Up to Create Plant-Based Pasta Carbonara
Microwaveable Indian Cuisine Wraps
Deep Indian Kitchen Kati Street Wraps Feature Handmade Paratha
Paper-Based Instant Noodle Cups
The Pot Noodle Paper Pot Design is Headed to Tesco
Microwaveable Pasta Lines
Pasta-Roni's Ready-to-Eat Line Features Penne Alfredo & Rotini Marinara
Instant Ramen-Inspired Bedding Sets
Nissin Reveals Cup Noodle-Inspired Bedding Set
Savory College Student Packs
Kraft Mac & Cheese College Care Pack is Great for College Students
Pork Broth Seafood Ramens
The Cup Noodle Creamy Tonkotsu Seafood Has Rich Flavor and Texture
Convenient Steam-in-Bag Meals
Birds Eye Steamfresh Meals are Perfect for Midweek Lunch or Dinner
Cold Ramen Drinks
Ito En's Drinkable Ramen Captures the Flavors of a Favorite Dish
Instant Korean Pastas
Tangle Bulgogi Alfredo Tangluccine is Globally Inspired & Quick-Cooking
Limited-Edition Kid Meals
Little Spoon and Banza Partner for a Healthy Mac & Cheese Meal
Drinkable Porridge Soup Refreshments
These DyDo Canned Porridge Soups Come in Two Flavors
Unconventional Handcrafted Pastas
Giadzy Pasta Comes in Eight Unusual Shapes
Small Side Meals
Popeyes Created Its Own Version of the Viral "Girl Dinner"
Plant-Rich Pasta Meals
Once Upon a Farm's Organic Pasta Meals Support Self-Feeding
Nutritious Seaweed Pastas
PhycoHealth Makes SeaSpirals & Phettuccine with 10% Seaweed
Cartoon-Shaped Pastas
Kraft Mac & Cheese Revives SpongeBob SquarePants Shapes Amidst Fan Demand
Student-Focused Taco Kits
Taco Bell Launches the New 'S.O.S' Kit for College Students
Chili-Infused Noodle Packets
Nissin Hot & Spicy Fire Wok Noodles Come in Two Options
Authentic Heat-and-Eat Meals
Nona Lim Instant Noodle Bowls and Heat & Serve Meat Entrees are Tasty
Thick Mac and Cheese Recipes
An Easy Mac and Cheese Recipe from TikTok is Viral for its Simplicity
Authentic At-Home Noodle Meals
Colman's Singapore Noodles Come in Recyclable Paper Packaging
Heat-and-Eat Pizza Bowls
Banquet MEGA Crustless Pizzas are Cheesy, Saucy and Loaded with Toppings
Asian-Themed Burger Debuts
White Castle Introduces the New Asian-Inspired Flavors for its Sliders
Gluten-Free Condensed Soups
Campbell's Condensed Gluten Free Soups Address Different Dietary Needs
Plant-Based Boxed Noodle Dishes
KD NotMacandCheese is Arriving in Canada
Nutrient-Dense Macaroni Dishes
Huel Hot & Savory Mac & Cheese Has 24-Grams of Plant-Based Protein
Better-for-You Boxed Noodles
Goodles' Boxed Noodles are Packed with Protein and Fiber
Saucy Prepackaged Noodle Dishes
Omsom Saucy Noodles Come in Four Flavors at Whole Foods
Plant-Powered Umami Noodles
Immi's High-Protein Instant Ramen Has "More Slurpable" Noodles
Multi-Shape Pasta Packs
Trader Joe's New Organic Pasta Quintet is a Festive New Offering
Microwavable Peanut Noodle Bowls
This Spicy Peanutty Noodle Bowl with Chicken is Microwave-Ready
Extra-Cheesy Noodle Dishes
Noodles & Company is Enhancing Menu Items with 50% More Cheese Sauce
App-Guided Pasta Makers
The Philips 7000 Series Pasta Maker Whips Up Eight Portions in Minutes
Clean Microwavable Meals
Good To-Go's Microwavable Meal Cups Simplify Favorite Recipes
Cottage Cheese Ice Creams
Cottage Cheese Ice Cream Recipes are Going Viral on Social Media
Meat-Focused Noodle Cups
Nissin is Releasing a Cup Noodle Variant with Special Mystery Meat
Cheesy Oversized Pasta Shells
Fazoli’s is Serving Up Three New Stuffed Shells Entrées
Mascarpone-Infused Side Dishes
Urban Plates Has Added Creamy Mascarpone Polenta to Its Winter Menu
Intricate Pasta Tutorial Cookbooks
Mateo Zielonka Unveils the New Pasta Masterclass Book
Rap Song-Inspired Pasta Sauces
The Eminem Mom’s Spaghetti Sauce is for Day-Two Noodles
Multi-Serve Vegan Entrees
Sunday Supper's New Trio of Premium Entrees are Powered by Plants
Chili-Infused Asian Noodles
GEKI's Fiery Hot Chicken Noodles are Infused with Real Chili Flakes
Pizza-Themed Baked Pastas
Fazoli’s is Rolling Out New Supreme Pizza Baked Pasta This Fall
Homemade-Inspired Pasta Sauces
The Ragu Kettle Cooked Sauces Come in Three Varieties
Artisan-Inspired Pasta Sauces
These New Rao’s Homemade Pasta Sauces Come in Two Flavors
Ramen-Infused Chocolates
This Alicja Confections Bar Combines Ramen and Chocolate
Quick-Cooking Pantry Bundles
The Paro Bundle Shares Starters for Making South Asian Comfort Food
Asian-Inspired Sliders
White Castle Concocted Unique Slider Recipes for National Noodle Day
Plant-Based Camping Meals
Michelin-Trained Chefs Launched Poe & Co. Folk Foods
Low-Carb Vegan Spaghetti Dishes
SRSLYLowCarb Spaghetti Bolognese is Flavorful Yet Health-Conscious
Instant Noodle-Inspired Measuring Cups
The Nissin Measuring Cup Resembles its Iconic Noodles
Spicy Canned Spagettis
Spicy Original SpaghettiOs made with Frank's RedHot Just Dropped
Veggie-Filled Meal Kits
Ready Pac Bistro Meal Kits Come in Three Delicious Flavors
Chinese Cuisine Griddle Recipes
Lo Mein on a Flattop Griddle is Quick and Easy
Quick-to-Prepare Seafood Meals
Scott & Jon's 10-Minute Meals Can Be Prepared on the Stovetop
Savory Tex-Mex Cuisine Soups
Old El Paso Tex-Mex-Inspired Canned Soups Come in Five Flavors
Paleo Pasta Meal Kits
Kevin’s Natural Foods Launched Paleo-Certified, Heat-and-Eat Pasta Kits
Herby Chicken Noodle Dishes
honeygrow just added a New Pesto Chicken Stir-Fry to its menu
Fusion Pizza Pastas
Domino's Pizza Pastas are Going Viral in Australia
Cheesy Parmesan Pasta Bakes
Noodles & Company Introduces the 'Chicken Parmesan' Menu Item
Heat-and-Eat Ramen Kits
Crafty Ramen Brings Restaurant-Quality Ramen to the Freezer Aisle
Creamy Dairy-Free Condensed Soups
Dr. Kellyann Condensed Creamy Soups are Allergy-Friendly
Premium Heat-and-Eat Soups
Zoup! is Bringing Its Soups in Jars to the Summer Fancy Food Show
Ready-to-Cook Noodle Products
These New Batchelors Products Answer Demand for Cheap, Easy Meals
Cheesy Baked Macaroni Bowls
Hungry Howie’s is Introducing New Mac ‘N Cheese No-Dough Bowls
Savory Stuffed Pasta Dishes
These Noodles & Company Stuffed Pasta Dishes Come in Four Options
Catchy Basked Pasta Ads
Noodles & Co.’s Chicken Parmesan Gets Ditty by Beloved Matt Farley
Summery BBQ Chicken Salads
Noodles & Company is Serving Up the Backyard BBQ Chicken Salad
Streamlined Meal Planning Apps
Foodpot Helps with Meal Planning and Recipe Discovery
Southeast Asian Sauce Kits
Osmom Launches New Sauce Kits with Four New Offerings
Protein-Packed Quick-Serve Meals
Perfect Servings Meals Just Need Water and Heating Before Eating
Microwavable Shawarma Bowls
Trader Joe's Chicken Shawarma Bowl is Ready in Minutes