Chicken chow mein might just be the dish I make most when I’m craving something that feels like takeout but tastes even better. It comes together in one pan with juicy chicken, crisp vegetables, chewy egg noodles, and a from-scratch sauce that ties everything together beautifully. Oh, and it’s a whole lot lighter than anything showing up at your door in a paper bag.
I’ve been waiting to share this recipe because honestly, it never fails me — and I have a feeling it won’t fail you either.
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Chicken Chow Mein
At its heart, chow mein is a Chinese egg noodle dish stir-fried with vegetables and whatever protein you love. The noodles get pan-fried until they pick up a little golden char at the edges, then everything gets tossed together with a deeply savory, glossy sauce. Chicken is my go-to here, but this dish is wonderfully flexible — swap in whatever you have.
On those nights when you’re hungry but not interested in using every pot in the kitchen, chow mein is the answer. One pan, minimal fuss, and it’s on the table in under thirty minutes.
What gives it that unmistakable restaurant-style flavor is the sauce — dark, sticky, and perfectly balanced between sweet and salty. Once you taste it, you’ll understand why it’s impossible to stop reaching for just one more forkful.
Ingredients for Chow Mein:
Chow Mein Noodles: These egg-and-wheat noodles have a satisfying chew that holds up beautifully to high heat. You’ll usually find dry chow mein noodles in the Asian section of most grocery stores, but if you happen to spot pre-cooked refrigerated ones, grab them — they go straight into the pan, no boiling needed.
Vegetables: Carrots, cabbage, green onions, and bean sprouts are the classic combination for a reason. That said, bok choy, broccoli, celery, spinach, kale, or baby corn all work wonderfully here. Honestly, this is a great recipe for cleaning out the vegetable drawer.
Protein: Boneless chicken breasts sliced into thin strips are ideal for absorbing the sauce and cooking quickly over high heat. Feeling adventurous? Beef, shrimp, and pork are all delicious alternatives. Cooking for vegetarians too? Set some noodles aside and toss them with cubed baked tofu and vegetable broth in place of chicken broth.
The BEST Chow Mein Sauce:
Whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce, a little sugar, cornstarch, and chicken broth. That’s it — six ingredients that come together into something that tastes like it took all day to make. It’s the thing that makes this dish taste genuinely authentic, and it takes about two minutes to throw together.
How to Make It
Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together all the sauce ingredients — oyster sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, chicken broth, and cornstarch. Set it aside.
Step 2: Cook your noodles according to the package directions, then drain and set aside.
Step 3: Heat a large wok or skillet over high heat with a splash of oil. Cook the chicken in a single layer until golden brown on both sides, then remove it from the pan and set it aside.
Step 4: In the same pan, add the carrots, cabbage, and garlic. Sauté for a couple of minutes until the vegetables just begin to soften — you still want a little bite to them.
Step 5: Return the chicken to the pan, add the cooked noodles, and pour the sauce over everything. Toss and cook for about two minutes until the sauce coats every noodle and the whole thing is glossy and fragrant.
Step 6: Scatter the green onions over the top, pull the pan off the heat, and serve immediately.
Noodle dishes hold a special place in Chinese cooking — and for good reason. This chicken chow mein is the kind of recipe that earns a permanent spot in your weeknight rotation. It’s fast, it’s flexible, and every time you make it, it tastes just a little bit better than you remembered.
Chicken Chow Mein with Best Chow Mein Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast boneless, skinless
- 3 Tbsp oil
- 12 oz chow mein noodles (uncooked noodles)
- 2 cups cabbage
- 1 large carrot julienned
- ½ batch green onions
- 2 garlic cloves
Chow Mein Sauce
- 4 Tbsp oyster sauce or added to taste*
- 3 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 3 Tbsp light sesame oil (not toasted)
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 Tbsp corn starch
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the oyster sauce, sugar, sesame oil, soy sauce, chicken broth, and cornstarch until the mixture is smooth. Set the sauce aside while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
- Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Drain them well, rinse with cold water to stop the cooking, and set them aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large wok or skillet over medium heat. Slice the chicken into bite-sized strips, then cook until lightly golden and cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- In the same pan, add the carrots, cabbage, and garlic. Sauté for 3–4 minutes, stirring often, until the vegetables begin to soften and the cabbage turns tender.
- Return the cooked chicken and noodles to the pan, then pour the prepared sauce over everything. Toss well to coat and cook for another 2 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and coat the noodles.
- Finish with a sprinkle of chopped green onions and serve immediately while the chow mein is hot and fresh.
Notes
- Noodles can be cooked ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to a day — just toss with a tiny bit of oil to prevent sticking.
- For a shortcut, look for pre-cooked chow mein noodles in the refrigerated section of the Asian foods aisle. They go straight into the pan.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan when cooking the chicken — cook in batches if needed so it browns rather than steams.
- This recipe is easy to customize: swap the chicken for shrimp, beef, or tofu, and use whatever vegetables you have on hand.
- Leftovers keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet with a small splash of water to loosen the sauce.
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: ~320 kcal
- Total Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
- Sodium: 620mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 38g
- Dietary Fiber: 3g
- Total Sugars: 4g
- Protein: 22g
Shop This Post
| Product | Amazon Search Term |
|---|---|
| Chow Mein Noodles | Buy On Amazon |
| Wok / Stir Fry Pan | Buy On Amazon |
| Sesame Oil | Buy On Amazon |
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