3 New Cup Noodles Flavors Just Dropped, and They’re Perfect for the Big Game

Over the past few years, Cup Noodles has engaged in something of a shock-and-awe campaign. It’s gone something like this: Every few months they release a bizarre flavor, we all scream to the heavens “WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY DOING?” then we try the new Cup Noodles flavor and realize that, huh, this actually kind of works. I mean, did any of us need bagel-and-cream cheese-flavored ramen noodles or pumpkin pie-flavored ramen noodles in our lives? Of course not, but that’s not going to stop us from trying to get our hands on the latest, greatest, and (arguably) weirdest Cup Noodles flavors yet, all of which are inspired by chicken wings.

What kinds of chicken wing noodles are we talking about here?

In honor of the “Big Game” that shall not be named for fear of copyright infringement, Nissin is releasing three new Cup noodles flavors that are homages to the classic tailgate finger food: Spicy Buffalo with Ranch Chicken Wings Cup Noodles, Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings Cup Noodles, and Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings Cup Noodles.

In a pretty hilarious press release, Nissin explains that the new wing-inspired flavors were created in the name of (get this) cleanliness. Their statistical explanation: “The average person grabs 6-8 napkins per dozen wings, yet 90% still end up with sauce on their hands. Wing sauce lands an average of 2–3 feet from the plate, and 75% of wing eaters get it on their face. It takes three to four washes to eliminate wing residue, and 60% of people still find it under their nails even after scrubbing.”

Kind of makes you wonder: How far does chicken wing-flavored broth travel if you slurp with too much abandon? How many soup splatters land on the average consumer’s shirt while they eat Cup Noodles? But I’ll shut up and let Nissin have its fun…

Will the new Cup Noodles actually be good?

As I said, pretty much all the weirdo, limited-edition flavors of Cup Noodles we’ve tried in the past have been pretty good. Breakfast Cup Noodles, which contained maple syrup, dehydrated scrambled eggs, and little bits of sausage (insane, right?), got a solid 8/10 Spork score when we tried them back in 2023. And the Turkey Dinner Cup Noodles got an almost perfect 9.5/10 Spork score. The only flavor we really didn’t like? Campfire S’mores—Nissin flew too close to the sun with that one.

One thing that has people looking askance at these new Cup Noodles: The fact that the Buffalo flavor is paired with ranch rather than blue cheese. As one online commenter said, “Buffalo NY gonna be coming for you Cup Noodles.”

How can I get my sauced-covered fingers on these new Cup Noodles?

All three flavors can be preordered from Walmart.com starting today, but they officially go on sale on January 21. You can also snag them in person at Walmart stores starting in late January—just in time for your “souper” bowl party.

About the Author

Howdy! I’m Gwynedd, Sporked’s managing editor. I live in Los Angeles and have access to the best tacos the U.S. has to offer—but I’m a sucker for a crunchy Old El Paso taco night every now and then. I’ve been at Sporked since 2022 and I’m still searching frozen mozzarella sticks that can hold a candle to restaurant sticks. Why you should trust me: I’ve been a journalist for 20 years (yikes), a consumer of food for 40-plus years, and I’m truly hard pressed to think of foods I don’t like (or that I can’t tolerate at the very least). Oh and one time I cooked my way through Guy Fieri’s cookbook and wrote about the journey through Flavortown. What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s Original Savory Thins. Fat free plain yogurt (usually Fage or Nancy’s). Honeycrisp apples. Sweet cream coffee creamer for my at-home Americanos. A frozen cauliflower crust pizza and some jarred mushrooms to top it with. Old El Paso Stand ‘N Stuff taco shells and Gardein Ground Be’f, even though I think “be’f” is a nightmarish contraction. Favorite ranking: Stouffer’s frozen dinners. I don’t own a microwave (I get my cancers the old fashioned way!), so I love taste testing things that I don’t really buy to eat at home. Least favorite ranking: Soy sauce. Don’t get me wrong, I love soy sauce—but consuming that much sodium in one sitting is probably illegal in some countries. Our frozen enchilada taste test was a close second; the smell of microwaved corn tortillas still haunts me.