I Love Shaquille O’Neal, But Let's Talk About His Viral Ramen Chicken Alfredo

Shaq Instant Smack Ramen Chicken Alfredo

No matter how “played out” or “basic” they are in the eyes of social media, two meals I still eat to this day are ramen and chicken Alfredo. Ramen shops are popping up on almost every corner in my city, and Alfredo is championed for being a low-effort meal a spouse makes when they’re mad at you but still love you. Regardless of the raps these dishes seem to garner, I keep them both in my frequent rotation of comfort foods.

Individually, they are two notable stand-out dishes, but when put together, could they be an unstoppable duo? The answer to that is to be determined, but the man who drew up the game plan for this dish has been one part of two historically dynamic duos—the one and only Shaquille O’Neal. In his recipe for Instant Smack Ramen Chicken Alfredo, the NBA star and cultural icon shows you how he chefs up an ordinary pack of ramen and turns it into a fusion of flavor. Here's what happened when I made it at home.

Get the recipe: Smack Ramen Chicken Alfredo 

Ingredients for Shaq's Instant Smack Ramen Chicken Alfredo

To make this dish you’ll need evaporated milk, 2% milk, unsalted butter, chicken-flavored ramen noodles, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, ground pepper, hot sauce (preferably Tobasco or Crystal), frozen chopped broccoli, shredded rotisserie chicken, Parmesan cheese, and egg yolks, which are optional.

How to Make Shaq's Instant Smack Ramen Chicken Alfredo

Start by whisking together both milks, butter, hot sauce, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and two packs of ramen seasoning in a large pot over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, while stirring with a wooden spoon or spatula. It's important to continuously stir the mixture because the evaporated milk scorches easily and the mixture can be quick to boil over.

Once the sauce starts to boil, add all the ramen noodles and continue stirring for 2 to 3 minutes. Add in the broccoli, stir for an additional minute, then remove the pot from the heat.

Lastly, mix in the rotisserie chicken and Parmesan cheese, the let the noodles sit for 2 minutes. If you’re looking for a richer sauce, quickly mix in the egg yolks before you let the noodles rest.

Related: Patti LaBelle's Famous Fried Chicken Is Simple & Soulful

What I Thought of Shaq's Instant Smack Ramen Chicken Alfredo

I’m a follower and fan of most things Shaq-driven or Shaq-inspired. As a kid growing up in Orlando, I loved the Shaq and Penny duo when they played together on the Magic; I liked Shaq starring as the genie in the movie Kazaam; and I even enjoyed playing the Shaq-Fu video game on Nintendo. That same fandom stayed with me throughout my adulthood. I loved the duo of Kobe and Shaq playing together on the Lakers; I love Shaq as an analyst on Inside the NBA; heck, I love Shaq’s sets when he moonlights as DJ Diesel. But what I don’t love are these Shaq Instant Smack Chicken Alfredo Ramen noodles.

Maybe these noodles would hit different if I was a starving college student or a stoner short on cash, but even then, I’d take a bowl of unmodified ramen noodles or un-shredded rotisserie chicken before turning them into a “chicken Alfredo.” None of the ingredients deserved this.

On the positive side, the dish does not taste bad. I only feel that the effort is not worth the reward and it only left me longing for an actual plate of Alfredo and a real bowl of ramen.

Tips for Making Shaq's Instant Smack Ramen Chicken Alfredo

Watch the heat when stirring the sauce. The risk of it boiling over is real, so you may want to reduce the heat throughout the process to prevent any spilling.

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