Chicken Chow Mein

If golden brown chicken, crispy noodles, juicy vegetables, and a delicious Chinese sauce sound like your ideal of a delicious meal, you must try this easy chicken chow mein recipe which is easily as good as what you get at the restaurant.

You can make this iconic dish in under half an hour and you don’t even need a wok to make it. The sauce for chow mein is a heavenly combination of soy sauce, ginger, sesame, hoisin or oyster sauce, mirin, and Chinese cooking wine, plus a little cornstarch to get it perfectly thick.

You can find all kinds of noodles in the Asian food aisle at the grocery store or even more from Asian food markets. Try making this with yakisoba or ramen if you want, or even thin spaghetti noodles. Oyster sauce is the classic flavor in the sauce but you can sub hoisin if you can’t find it.

Why You’ll Love the Recipe:

This fakeout version of Chinese chow mein is easily as good as the offering from your local takeout, and probably better! 

How to Serve It:

The best way is to enjoy this hot, as soon as it’s ready. 

Storage Instructions:

Leftovers will keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator and can be warmed back up in the pan or in the microwave.

Variations and Substitutions:

You can omit the Chinese cooking wine if you want, or use different vegetables or a different protein such as tofu or beef. If you prefer lo mein to chow mein, avoid frying the noodles.

Ingredients needed:

• Chow mein noodles
• Green onions
• Minced garlic cloves
• Sesame oil
• Carrots
• Green cabbage
• Boneless skinless chicken, in bite-sized pieces
• Cooking oil

FOR THE SAUCE: 

• Cornstarch
• Sesame oil
• Soy sauce
• Mirin or white sugar
• Chinese cooking wine
• Ginger paste or freshly grated ginger
• Oyster sauce or hoisin sauce

How to make Chicken Chow Mein:

Step 1. Cook the noodles, following the directions on the package, then drain and toss with the sesame oil.

Step 2. Whisk together the sauce ingredients.

Step 2. Heat a wok or skillet until a drop of water sizzles in it.

Step 4. Add half the noodles and cook for a minute or 2 until crispy (don’t stir them).

Step 5. Flip them over and crisp the other side.

Step 6. Repeat with the rest of the noodles.

Step 7. Remove the noodles to a bowl and add a tablespoon of oil to the wok and then cook the chicken in batches until cooked through.

Step 8. Remove the chicken to a bowl.

Step 9. Put a tablespoon of oil in the same wok or skillet and heat it up until it’s nearly smoking.

Step 10. Add the carrots and cabbage, and cook for 2 or 3 minutes or until crisp-tender.

Step 11. Turn the heat down and add the green onions and garlic, then cook for 30 to 60 seconds, stirring all the time.

Step 12. Turn up the heat and put the chicken and noodles back in the pan to warm through.

Step 13. Whisk the sauce again and add that to the pan, then cook for 2 minutes or until everything is well combined and the sauce is thick.

Chinese chicken chow mein is one of the most popular Chinese dishes, but most people don’t know how easily they can recreate it at home. You will love the rich authentic Chinese flavors in this.

Can You Make It Ahead?

You can warm it back up later but it’s at its best served immediately.

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