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    Home » All Recipes » Asian Recipes

    Chicken Chow Mein with Vegetables - Better than Takeout!

    Published: Aug 10, 2020 · Modified: Aug 10, 2020 by Jamie · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links · 23 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe
    The best chicken chow mein
    better than takeout chow mein
    The best chicken chow mein
    Easy chicken chow mein

    This chicken chow mein with vegetables is easy, healthy, and better than takeout! Delicious stir fried Chinese egg noodles tossed with chow mein sauce, lean chicken, and beansprouts!

    chicken chow mein noodles with vegetables and bean sprouts with serving utensils in the pan

    This chicken chow mein recipe is made with thin Chineses egg noodles, stir fried with vegetables, and tossed in a delicious chow mein sauce made of soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil.

    It's faster and healthier than takeout and makes a delicious, quick weeknight meal that's ready in under 30 minutes!

    Chinese chow mein noodles with chicken and vegetables being served out of the pan

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients you'll need
    • How to make chicken chow mein
    • Expert tips & tricks
    • Ingredient substitutions & variations
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Recipe

    Ingredients you'll need

    ingredients for chicken chow mein
    • Chow mein noodles - these are thin, Chinese egg noodles that are found in Asian grocery stores. They can come pre-cooked and sold in vacuum sealed packages. You can also use dried egg noodles, ramen noodles, or yakisoba noodles.
    • Vegetables - use any vegetables you have on hand. Cabbage, carrots, mushrooms are great.
    • Chicken - I used boneless, skinless chicken breast but you can use any protein you want.

    Chow Mein Sauce:

    The sauce is a sweet and salty combination of two types of soy sauce mixed with oyster sauce for lots of umami flavor.

    chow mein sauce ingredients
    • Oyster sauce - a sweet and salty sauce with lots of umami flavor; you can substitute with hoisin sauce or teriyaki sauce. The flavors will be slightly different, but still delicious!
    • Dark soy sauce - this adds a deep, dark color that's slightly sweeter and thicker than regular soy sauce. Substitute with regular soy sauce if you don't have any.

    How to make chicken chow mein

    1. Mix all the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl and add a tablespoon of the sauce to marinate the chicken.
    • mixing soy sauce into a bowl of chow mein sauce
    • chicken breast mixed with soy marinade in a white bowl
    1. Prep the vegetables ahead of time. Use any combination you have on hand. You want a total of about 3 to 4 cups.
    sliced shiitake mushrooms, chopped cabbage, julienned carrots and red peppers on white plates
    1. If using fresh chow mein noodles (also called thin Chinese egg noodles), soak them in hot water for 2 minutes to loosen them up. If using other noodles, cook them slightly less than the directions state. Drain it very well. Then pan fry them with oil in a large pan heated over medium high heat.
    • Chinese chow mein noodles in an orange bowl
    • Chinese egg noodles pan fried until crispy

    Make sure to spread the noodles in one layer and then flip them over to the other side. The noodles will crisp up and turn a golden brown which helps them absorb the chow mein sauce later.

    Fresh chow mein noodles are thicker, softer, and lighter in color, compared to fried chow mein noodles, which are thinner, darker in color, and less flexible to the touch.

    pan fried chow mein noodles compared to uncooked chow mein noodles
    1. Cook the chicken and set it aside, then add the vegetables and stir fry until for 2 to 3 minutes.
    • chicken stir fried in a pan
    • cabbage, carrots, and other vegetables stir fried in a pan
    1. Add the noodles, the rest of the sauce, and the chicken back into the pan and stir fry everything together.
    chow mein noodles with sauce added to a pan with vegetables
    1. Lastly, add the bean sprouts and scallions to the pan and toss to combine. If you find the noodles are dry, add a few tablespoons of chicken stock or water.
    chow mein noodles with bean sprouts, chicken, chives, and red peppers in a pan
    1. Garnish with sesame seeds and serve immediately.
    chicken chow mein with vegetables and bean sprouts in a pan

    Expert tips & tricks

    Chinese chow mein noodles with chicken and vegetables in a pan
    • Make sure to drain the noodles well. Too much water in the pan will prevent the noodles from getting crispy in the pan. It can also create a lot of splatter when adding the noodles to the hot pan.
    • Pan frying the noodles adds great texture and helps it absorb the sauce. Don't skip this step we want to remove any excess water so that the vegetables and noodles stay crispy.

    Ingredient substitutions & variations

    chicken chow mein noodles with vegetables served out of the pan
    • Noodles - substitute with ramen noodles, yakisoba noodles, or any thin egg noodles. You can even use thin pasta noodles and it would taste great, but it may not get crispy like chow mein noodles.
    • Protein - substitute with any protein you have on hand. Shrimp, beef, pork, and tofu are great additions to this chow mein.
    • Vegetables - use any vegetables you have available. Good choices are snow peas, bok choy, broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, cabbage, and peppers.

    For spicy chicken chow mein, add any of the following:

    • sriracha
    • chili pepper flakes
    • lao gan ma sauce
    • sambal

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What are chow mein noodles?

    Chow mein noodles are thin, Chinese noodles made of wheat flour and eggs that are stir fried together with sauce and vegetables to make a popular Chinese noodle dish. Translated directly, 'chow' means stir fried while 'mein' means noodles.

    Chow mein can vary by the region you're in. The noodles can be served deep fried or pan fried with more or less sauce depending on where you are. Hong Kong style chow mein uses crispy, deep fried noodles.

    This recipe uses pan fried noodles which create a golden brown layer of crispy noodles.
    pan fried Chinese egg noodles
    Pan fried noodles are thinner, darker, and more stiff compared to the fresh egg noodles, which are softer, a pale yellow color, and more pliable in comparison.pan fried chow mein noodles compared to uncooked chow mein noodles

    Is chow mein different from lo mein?

    Chow mein noodles are thinner and fried instead of boiled. The literal meaning is “stir fried noodles” as they are stir fried until they become crispy on the bottom.
    Chinese chow mein noodles with chicken and vegetables being served out of the pan

    Lo mein noodles, on the other hand, are thicker, softer, and chewier than chow mein noodles. Lo mein noodles are used in dishes that have thicker sauces and are boiled ahead of time. The literal meaning is ‘tossed noodles’ as they are ‘tossed’ with sauce and vegetables.

    See my chicken lo mein recipe for more details and to taste the difference!
    easy chicken lo mein with vegetables held by tongs

    Where do you buy chow mein noodles?

    You can buy them in Asian grocery stores. Fresh, pre-cooked chow mein noodles can be found in the refrigerated section and come vacuum packed. They are coated with a bit of oil to prevent them from sticking together.
    chow mein noodles packaged in plastic
    You can also buy dried chow mein noodles or even use ramen or yakisoba noodles. Any thin, egg noodles can be used, even pasta for this recipe. They may not get as crispy as the chow mein noodles but it would still taste delicious with the sauce and vegetables!

    More Chinese takeout recipes to try:

    • The Best Chicken Lo Mein
    • Chinese Hot and Sour Soup
    • Egg Drop Soup – Easy and Authentic!
    • Panda Express String Bean Chicken Breast Copycat
    • Panda Express Kung Pao Chicken Copycat
    • Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry
    • Panda Express Mushroom Chicken Copycat

    Recipe

    chicken chow mein noodles with vegetables, bean sprouts, peppers in a pan

    Chicken Chow Mein with Vegetables

    Chicken chow mein with vegetables is easy, healthy, and better than takeout! Delicious stir fried Chinese egg noodles tossed with chow mein sauce, lean chicken, and crunchy vegetables!
    5 from 88 votes
    Pin Share Print
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Asian, Chinese
    Servings 6

    ☑ Ingredients
     

    • 16 oz refrigerated fresh chow mein noodles* - - cooked and drained well; *see Note 1 for substitutions
    • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast - - cut into bit size pieces
    • 3 Tablespoons avocado oil
    • 1 ½ cups shiitake mushrooms - - sliced into ½ inch pieces
    • 2 ½ cups cabbage - - sliced into 1 inch pieces; use napa, green cabbage, or bok choy
    • 1 large carrot - - shredded; about 1 cup
    • ½ large red bell pepper - - sliced into ⅓ inch pieces
    • 3 stalks scallions or chives - - chopped in 2 inch long pieces
    • 1 ½ cup mung bean sprouts - - rinsed and drained
    • 1 teaspoon toasted white sesame seeds

    Chow Mein Sauce

    • 3 Tablespoons soy sauce
    • 3 Tablespoons oyster sauce
    • 1 Tablespoon dark soy sauce
    • ½ Tablespoon dark brown sugar
    • 1 Tablespoon toasted sesame oil
    • 3 cloves garlic - - minced
    • 1 teaspoon ginger - - minced

    (Optional) Make it spicy:

    • Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp
    • crushed Szechuan chili peppers
    • Sambal chili paste
    • sriracha
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Add all the ingredients for the chow mein sauce in a medium bowl and stir until the brown sugar dissolves. Add 1 Tablespoon of the marinade to the chicken pieces and set it aside.
      chicken breast mixed with soy marinade in a white bowl
    • If using fresh packaged chow mein noodles, soak it in warm water for 2 minutes and then drain well. If using dried egg noodles, cook slightly less than the directions state and drain well.
      Chinese chow mein noodles in an orange bowl
    • Heat a large pan on medium high heat and add half of the oil. Add the noodles to the pan and spread it to an even layer. Let the bottom of the noodles pan fry for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Then flip it over and let the other side crisp up. Remove the noodles and set it aside. See Note 2 for more details.
      Chinese egg noodles pan fried until crispy
    • Add the remaining oil to the pan and cook the marinated chicken pieces for 3 to 4 minutes or until fully cooked. Remove the chicken and set it aside.
      chicken stir fried in a pan
    • Add the mushrooms, cabbage, red bell pepper, and carrots to the pan and stir fry together for 3 minutes or until the vegetables start to soften.
      cabbage, carrots, and other vegetables stir fried in a pan
    • Add the pan fried noodles, the rest of the sauce, and the chicken back to the pan and stir fry everything together for 1 minute. Turn off the heat, then add the bean sprouts and scallions and toss it together. (Note: If your noodles seem dry and you prefer more sauce, add a few tablespoons of chicken stock or water. This can happen if using fresh chow mein noodles.)
      chow mein noodles with bean sprouts, chicken, chives, and red peppers in a pan
    • Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top and serve immediately.
      chicken chow mein with vegetables and bean sprouts in a pan

    ✎ Recipe Notes

    1. Substitutions: Substitute chow mein noodles with ramen noodles, yakisoba noodles, thin pasta noodles, or any type of thin egg noodles. Cook them slightly less than their directions state and drain them well. Note: some noodles may not get crispy like chow mein noodles but would still taste delicious. Find fresh, refrigerated chow mein noodles in Asian grocery stores. They come sealed and vacuum packed.
    2. Pan frying: Pan frying the chow mein noodles add texture and help them absorb more of the sauce by removing any excess liquid. Pan fried noodles will look thinner and darker. See the photos in the post for comparison. 
    3. Storing leftovers: Store any leftovers in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 317kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 877mg | Potassium: 681mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2505IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was and give it a 5 star rating! Tag @drivemehungry to show off your creations! I love seeing your photos!

    *Nutritional information is an estimate, calculated using online tools.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lizet Bowen

      May 31, 2021 at 10:18 am

      5 stars
      Delicious! I used Yakisoba noodles.
      I've never fried the noodles before. Everybody made comments on how it gave it a great texture.
      The flavors were delicious. Great recipe.

      Reply
      • Jamie

        June 01, 2021 at 5:14 pm

        Thanks for trying it out Lizet! I'm so happy to hear everyone loved it! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Natalie

      February 17, 2021 at 2:06 am

      5 stars
      Made this today and it was so delicious and so simple. I added mushrooms, cabbage, carrots, and tofu. Didn't have sprouts but found the egg noodles which were delicious. So good!

      Reply
    3. Carrie

      November 07, 2020 at 8:23 pm

      5 stars
      Our current family favourite! The kids really love this, and I find it a great way to get some extra veg in. They aren't massive mushroom fans, so I usually just add some extra carrot, or whatever else I have in the fridge. It is easy, full of flavor and anything that means we can sit down and have a meal as a family is a winner to me!

      Reply
    4. Candice

      September 14, 2020 at 8:42 am

      5 stars
      This recipe is actually better than take out! Ever since moving to a new city, we haven't found a place we really like, and now we don't need to. Thank you for this perfect chow mein recipe! It's so good!

      Reply
      • Jamie

        September 15, 2020 at 4:37 pm

        Thanks for giving it a try Candice! So happy you love it!

        Reply
    5. Mikayla

      September 01, 2020 at 3:16 pm

      5 stars
      This was so much better than any takeout chow mein we've ever had. The tips on cooking the noodles were helpful and the freshly cooked chicken was a great addition. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Jamie

        September 15, 2020 at 4:36 pm

        Thank you Mikayla! So glad you found my tips helpful! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Paula

      August 30, 2020 at 3:32 am

      5 stars
      This sauce is to die for! So much flavor. This is the type of recipe I'm always happy to make as it means I get to eat my favorite take-out food but know what goes into it.

      Reply
      • Jamie

        September 15, 2020 at 4:35 pm

        Thanks Paula! So glad you like the sauce, it's really yummy!

        Reply
    7. Jenny

      August 25, 2020 at 7:43 am

      5 stars
      This chow mein is indeed better than takeout! We made it last night and loved every bite. So easy and flavorful. Thanks so much for the great recipe.

      Reply
      • Jamie

        September 15, 2020 at 4:34 pm

        Thanks Jenny! So glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    8. Jacqueline Debono

      August 22, 2020 at 3:01 am

      5 stars
      I haven't had chow mein for ages but this recipe is calling my name and certainly looks better than takeout! Looks easy and delicious too. On the menu for next week!

      Reply
      • Jamie

        November 20, 2020 at 2:44 am

        Thanks Jacqueline! I find it tastes way better than takeout. Hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    9. Debbie

      August 21, 2020 at 6:15 pm

      5 stars
      This Chicken Chow Mein made me a mom rock star! Our favorite take out place is closed and my kids have been whining for their favorite stir fried noodle dish. This totally did the trick and they said they liked it better than take out! A total winner!

      Reply
    10. Samantha

      August 16, 2020 at 10:19 pm

      5 stars
      YUMM! This chow mein is so delicious!! Bookmarking to make this again! I'm always looking for quick and easy meals so this is perfect!

      Reply
    11. Maggie

      August 15, 2020 at 5:05 am

      5 stars
      You're making me hungry... I think I just heard my tummy growl. lol! This Chicken Chow Mein looks super delish and I'm loving all the vegetables in here!

      Reply
      • Jamie

        November 20, 2020 at 2:22 am

        Thanks Maggie! Hope you get to try this chicken chow mein! It's a fast and easy weeknight meal!

        Reply
    12. Tara

      August 14, 2020 at 7:32 pm

      5 stars
      We love Chinese take out, but don't have any great restaurants near by! These noodles solved that problem for sure. The flavor of the sauce was definitely on point for us!

      Reply
      • Jamie

        November 20, 2020 at 2:08 am

        Thanks Tara! So glad you liked the chow mein sauce!

        Reply
    13. Sara

      August 14, 2020 at 12:23 pm

      5 stars
      This looks perfect. I have a ton of peppers ready to pick in my garden, so I think I will have to add them to the recipe when I try it this weekend! Your photos are gorgeous by the way!

      Reply
    14. Annie

      August 10, 2020 at 6:11 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! I made these for dinner -
      So tasty. I added some red chilli flakes as I like the extra heat. I appreciated your tips on getting the best texture from the noodles. I enjoyed this very much, and I will be making it again!

      Reply
      • Jamie

        August 11, 2020 at 4:14 pm

        Thank you Annie! So glad you enjoyed it. Yes, getting that crisp on the noodles makes a big difference doesn't it? 🙂

        Reply

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