Whether you were living in a college dorm or an apartment outside the campus, you probably had a night-or series of nights-eating just instant ramen. It’s cheap, delicious, and easy to cook. It’s a perfect pantry item for a busy college student’s schedule and budget. But is it merely a college dinner staple?

Now that you’re living through a pandemic, stocking non-perishable items like instant ramen can be a huge help. You probably still live in a condo near the campus but are now working remotely for a company. Between Zoom meetings, hanging out with friends online, watching Netflix, and doing yoga or home exercises, you probably don’t have the time to prep and cook an elaborate dinner every night.

Ramen nights might be back, but this doesn’t mean you should eat the same dish every dinner. Boost your cooking skills without spending hours on the kitchen by upgrading your instant ramen with these recipes.

Spicy kimchi noodles

If you like Korean cuisine and always have kimchi in your fridge, making a bowl of spicy ramen is easy. Heat some vegetable stock (or use the flavoring packet), drop a couple of tablespoons of kimchi, and cook the broth for a few minutes. Season it with salt and pepper (or red pepper flakes to up the level of spiciness further) and then drop the noodles. Finish your spicy kimchi ramen with sesame seeds, scallions, leftover tofu, or even more kimchi.

Yakisoba or stir-fry noodles

Boil instant ramen noodles and drain them. In a skillet, sauté garlic and onion with a handful of veggies and then drop the cooked noodles. Fry the noodles for a few minutes to let the bottom crisp up. You can use the flavor packets or season the dish with salt, pepper, and some chile oil. Top off your stir-fry instant noodles with a boiled egg, some leftover pork cutlets, or any protein.

Thai-inspired ramen

Cook the noodles according to the instructions, but don’t use the flavor packet. Instead, in a separate bowl, whisk sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey garlic, ginger, and, most importantly, peanut butter. Then, pour the mixture over the hot noodles. Finish the dish with chopped scallions and sesame seeds.

Miso noodle broth

If you bought miso paste in your last grocery trip, swap the seasoning packet with a scoop of miso paste. Miso is an excellent source of umami and probiotics that can help improve your gut health. Boil four cups of water and then add a few tablespoons of miso until you have a savory broth. Next, drop the noodles. When the noodles are almost cooked, add chopped scallions, some tofu, and leafy greens. You can top off the ramen with egg or other protein, or nori sheets.

Cooking at home amid the pandemic doesn’t always have to be complicated. With a little imagination and a few kitchen tricks, instant ramen can transform from a dorm room dish to a full-bodied, healthy meal. Just ditch the high-sodium packets from time to time to make ramen nights more exciting.