Easy Chicken Chow Mein recipe made with chicken, vegetables, and chow mein noodles, stir-fried in the homemade chow-mein sauce. You can make these Chinese stir-fried noodles in one pan within 30 minutes. Tastes better than Chinese takeouts.
Table of Contents
What is Chicken Chow Mein?
It is the Chinese stir-fried noodles made with vegetables & chicken. Literally, Chow means “stir-fried” and Mein means “noodles”.
Chicken chow-mein is a delicious combination of chicken, vegetables, chow-mein noodles, & homemade chow-mein sauce. This chicken noodle makes an easy dinner recipe and is a complete meal in itself.
Why you need this recipe?
- You can make this easy chow mein recipe within 30 minutes.
- Everything is made in a single pan, so minimal clean-up. You can call it a one-pan recipe.
- You can easily customize the recipe. See the ingredient list below for alternative ingredients. You can add or skip the ingredients as per your taste.
- Homemade chow mein sauce – Make the sauce easily within 5 minutes and adjust as per your family’s taste & preferences.
- Healthy meal -There is protein (chicken), vegetables (fiber), and carbohydrates (noodles) in the recipe. Everything is made at home and you know exactly what ingredients go into it. So, compared to takeouts it is healthy.
Chicken Chow Mein Ingredients
- Noodles – Classic chicken chow-mein is made with chow-mein noodles. They are thin egg noodles. Alternatively, you can use dry thin spaghetti or wheat flour noodles. You can also use egg Hakka noodles.
- Chicken – I have used boneless chicken breast cut into long strips. But you can also use chicken thighs.
- Vegetables – I have used bell peppers (red, yellow & green), carrots, cabbage, spring onion &, garlic. They add exotic flavors & beautiful colors. You can add any veggies of your choice.
- Seasoning – salt & vinegar.
- Sesame seeds – Optional. But roasted sesame seeds add a nutty flavor to the dish.
- Sauces – All sauces and their substitutions are given below.
Homemade Chow-mein sauce
You can make the sauce within 5 minutes. To make this sauce you will need
- Oyster Sauce – Add it for that restaurant like chow-mein flavor. Believe me it gives a great depth of flavor to the dish. Substitute it with soy sauce.
- Soy-sauce – I have used light soy sauce.
- Tomato-sauce – optional.
- Sugar – You can substitute it with honey.
- Black pepper powder
- Sesame oil – gives a beautiful nutty aroma. Skip if you do not have it.
- Chicken broth – alternatively, you can use normal water in the same quantity.
- Red pepper flakes – Optional. If you like spicy then add it.
- Corn flour – helps to thicken the sauce. Do not skip it.
For the detailed list of ingredients & their measurements, please check out the recipe card below.
Cooking Tips
- Keep all the ingredients & sauces ready before you start cooking.
- Cooking should be done on high heat.
- Make sure the pan is hot before you start cooking vegetables or chicken.
- Slice the vegetables thin so that they cook quickly.
- While cooking the vegetables, do not overcook them. They should retain the crunch in them.
- When cooking the chicken spread it in a layer. There should be some space between the chicken pieces. It will ensure that the chicken cook crispy.
- Stir fry the noodles with chicken, vegetables and sauces until it is crispy.
How to make Chicken Chow Mein (step-by-step photos)
- Cooking the noodles – Cook noodles until al dente according to the package directions (image 1). Drain & immediately rinse it with cold water (image 2). Toss it with 2 tsp oil & set it aside (image 3 & 4).
Make the chow mein sauce – In a mixing bowl, combine oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, black pepper powder, sesame oil, chicken broth, red pepper flakes, tomato sauce, and cornflour. Set it aside. (image 5 & 6)
- Heat 2 tsp oil in a pan over high heat. Saute garlic for 30 seconds. (image 7)
- Next, add spring onion whites & sauté for a minute. (image 8)
- Add carrots & cook for 2 minutes. (image 9)
- Then add bell peppers, cabbage & salt. Saute for 2-3 minutes. Remove & transfer the veggies to a plate. (image 10, 11 & 12)
- In the same pan, heat 2 tsp oil and add chicken strips. (image 13)
- Sprinkle some black pepper & salt over it (image 14). Stir & cook until it is golden & completely cooked. (image 15)
- Now add the cooked veggies & noodles back to the pan. (image 16 & 17)
- Pour the prepared chow mein sauce over the noodles. Toss everything together and cook noodles for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. (image 18)
- Sprinkle some spring onion greens & roasted sesame seeds over it & serve. (image 19 & 20)
More Aisan recipes you will love to make
- Black pepper chicken stir fry
- Crunchy Aisan Slaw
- Chinese Chicken Salad with Fried Noodles
- Chicken fried rice
- Chili Chicken
FAQs
Can I skip the addition of Oyster sauce?
Yes, you can. But Oyster sauce definitely adds a great depth of flavor to Chow Mein. However, if not available just skip it and add soy sauce only.
What can I use instead of Chow mein noodles?
You can use any dry thin spaghetti or wheat flour noodles or use ramen noodles.
What is chow mein sauce made of?
Chow Mein sauce is made with oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, black pepper powder, sesame oil, chicken broth, red pepper flakes, and cornflour.
Variations that you can try
- You can add the vegetables of your choice. Add bean sprouts, or mushrooms, or tofu.
- You can add prawns instead of chicken.
Serving Suggestions
This is a complete meal in itself. But you can serve it with Kung Pao Chicken, Chicken Manchurian, or Chinese Chicken Salad.
If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and a starred review below.
And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Chicken chow mein recipe with homemade chow mein sauce
Easy Chicken Chow Mein recipe made with chicken, vegetables, and chow mein noodles, stir-fried in the homemade chow-mein sauce. One-pan recipe can be made within 30 minutes. It tastes better than takeouts.
Servings 4 people
Calories 430kcal
Ingredients
For cooking the noodles
- 250 gram thin egg noodles
- 2 tbsp oil (use regular cooking oil to substitute it.)
For making chow mein
- 1 tbsp chopped garlic
- 2 spring onion whites, sliced
- 1 carrot, shredded
- ½ yellow bell pepper, sliced
- ½ green bell pepper, sliced
- ½ red bell pepper, sliced
- ½ cup shredded cabbage
- salt
- 250 gram chicken breast cut into thin long strips
- ¼ tsp black pepper powder
- 1 tsp vinegar
For Chow Mein sauce
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- ½ tsp sugar
- ½ tsp black pepper powder
- ½ tsp sesame oil
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp tomato sauce
- 1 tsp corn flour
For garnishing
- Spring onion greens (2 stalks of green onions chopped)
- Roasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Cook noodles until al dente according to the package directions. Drain & immediately rinse it with cold water. Toss it with 2 tsp oil & set it aside.
- Make the chow mein sauce – In a mixing bowl, combine oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, black pepper powder, sesame oil, chicken broth, red pepper flakes, tomato sauce and cornflour. Set it aside.
- Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan over high heat. Saute garlic for 30 seconds.
- Next, add spring onion whites & sauté for a minute.
- Add carrots & cook for 2 minutes.
- Then add bell peppers, cabbage & salt. Saute for 2-3 minutes. Remove & transfer the veggies to a plate.
- In the same pan, heat 2 tsp oil and add chicken strips.
- Sprinkle some black pepper & salt over it. Stir & cook until it is golden & completely cooked.
- Now add the cooked veggies & noodles back to the pan.
- Pour the prepared chow mein sauce over the noodles. Toss everything together. Cook noodles for 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Sprinkle some spring onion greens & roasted sesame seeds over it & serve.
Video
Notes
- Keep all the ingredients & sauces ready before you start cooking.
- Slice the vegetables into thin julienne.
- Cooking should be done on high heat.
- You can add some bean sprouts to it.
- While cooking the vegetables, do not overcook them. They should retain the crunch in them.
- When cooking the chicken spread it in a layer. There should be some space between the chicken pieces. It ensures that the chicken will cook crispy.
- Do not overcook the chicken. Once the sides start to turn light golden remove from heat.
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