Cup Noodles Releases a Dill Pickle-Flavored Instant Ramen

Cup Noodles is going full pickle this summer. The iconic instant ramen brand is releasing a limited-edition Dill Pickle flavor starting June 21 — a tangy twist on its classic cup-style noodles, designed to be prepared with hot water and ready in five minutes.

It’s a bold move — but not entirely surprising. From pickle popsicles to dirty martinis with a splash of brine, the sour-savory flavor has become a staple across snacks, sauces, and sips. According to Pinterest’s 2025 trend forecast, Pickle Fix was identified as pickle-forward foods are having a serious moment. Searches for “pickle salad,” “pickle tacos,” and “pickle martinis” are trending upward, and the platform predicts that the pickle boom will continue to intensify.

But pickles are just the start. The broader rise of fermented and sour flavors is reshaping what people reach for when they crave something bold. As highlighted in multiple 2025 trend reports, tangy, fermented notes are appearing everywhere—from kimchi butter on restaurant menus to koji-marinated meats, shrubs, and sour beers. These ingredients provide complexity, contrast, and just enough weirdness to feel exciting—especially for Gen Z and younger millennials, who often prioritize adventurous textures and flavors over traditional comfort foods.

On TikTok, the hashtag “pickle” has surpassed 321 million posts, featuring everything from brine-based cocktail riffs to ultra-sour taste tests and DIY pickle juice experiments. The current cultural appetite leans toward food that’s not just flavorful but sensory — sharp, strange, and worth filming.

That makes Cup Noodles’ move perfectly timed. The new flavor combines the vinegar-forward snap of dill pickles with the savory base of its classic ramen, packaged in the brand’s recognizable instant-cup format. It’s ready in five minutes and can be eaten as is or, if you’re fully committed, paired with a crunchy pickle spear for an extra tang.

“Incorporating pickles felt like the natural next step,” said Priscila Stanton, senior vice president of marketing at Nissin Foods USA. “We wanted to lean into something bold and unexpected that still felt familiar.” Cup Noodles Dill Pickle will be available online and in stores nationwide, including Walmart, Albertsons, and other major retailers, for a limited time starting June 21.

Whether you’re a die-hard pickle fan or just along for the ride, this sharp, vinegary twist on ramen taps into one of today’s most mouth-puckering flavor fixations — and doesn’t hold back.