Chow Mein Noodles Recipe
Bring takeout taste to your kitchen in 20 minutes with this easy and flavorful Chow Mein noodle recipe!
Easy Chow Mein Recipe
Making your own Chow Mein at home is a whole lot easier than you think! Now you can re-create this favorite Chinese takeout dish with our simple and easy recipe you can make right in your own kitchen. All you need are simple pantry staples and 20 minutes!
Chow Mein is a classic Chinese-American dish, featuring stir-fried noodles and crisp vegetables and tossed together in a flavorful sauce with notes of soy, ginger, and garlic.
What really makes Chow Mein special are the noodles, which are cooked until tender, yet slightly crispy. The noodles and veggies are stir-fried with fragrant ginger and garlic and tossed in a simple blend of soy and oyster sauce. The end result is a delightful combination of textures and umami flavors.
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Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon Cooking Oil, or more as needed
- 1 teaspoon Sesame Oil
- 1 Small Onion (sliced)
- 2-3 cups Sliced Cabbage (approximately half a head)
- 300g Dry Chow Mein Noodles (about 2/3 of a pound)
- 8 cups Water (for cooking the noodles)
- 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic
- 1 Tablespoon Minced Ginger
- 4 Tablespoons Oyster Sauce
- 1 1/2 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Large wok or deep skillet
What Are Chow Mein Noodles?
Chow Mein noodles are a type of Chinese egg noodles, made from wheat flour, eggs, and water. They may be labeled “Lo Mein Noodles.” Be sure that you don’t accidentally buy crispy Chow Mein noodles, which are short fried noodle sticks and used as a garnish or as a soup topping.
This specific type of egg noodle creates the ideal texture, but in a pinch, you could use another type of dry noodle such as ramen, or even spaghetti. You’ll want to cook the noodles al dente, then incorporate into the recipe per the instructions below.
Instructions
- Add both cooking oils to a wok over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the onions and cabbage and sauté for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, bring the 8 cups of water to a boil, then add the chow mein noodles and cook for 2 minutes, or according to package directions. Drain noodles and set aside.
- Add the minced garlic and ginger to the wok and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the oyster sauce and soy sauce to the wok, tossing to combine, then add the chow mein noodles. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Prep Tips
- Noodles – We used 300g of chow mein noodles, but they came in a 1lb package. You could use the entire package; the noodles will simply be a little less saucy.
- Veggies – This is a simple base recipe to make Chow Mein, so you can always add your favorite stir-fry vegetables to the dish. Shredded carrots, celery, snap peas, water chestnuts, mushrooms, snow peas, bok choy, and broccoli are all fantastic options.
- Protein – We made our Chow Mein vegetarian and vegan friendly, so it could be a side dish or main course. However you could absolutely incorporate a protein like chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, or tofu. I recommend cooking your protein in a separate pan and tossing together with noodles and sauce in the final step.
- Salt – You can adjust the saltiness of your Chow Mein sauce by adding more soy sauce instead of adding plain salt.
- Garnish Ideas – Add extra flavor to your noodles by topping with chopped green onions, spice it up with red pepper flakes, or add a handful of fresh mung bean sprouts for more crunch.
- Storage – Keep leftover noodles in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. To reheat, start by mixing up a small amount of the Chow Mein sauce in a small bowl. Add the noodles to a large skillet or wok with a bit of cooking oil and start heating. When the noodles come to temperature, toss in the sauce you made. If you don’t have any more of the sauce ingredients, you can use a splash of water to help rehydrate the noodles instead.
More Asian Inspired Recipes To Try
- Instant Pot Firecracker Chicken
- Asian Style Broccoli with Garlic Sauce
- Crispy Orange Chicken (Panda Express Copycat)
- Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
- Vegetable Lo Mein
Easy Chow Mein Recipe (Printable Recipe Card):
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Chow Mein Noodles Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Large Wok or deep skillet
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon Oil or more as needed
- 1 teaspoon Sesame Oil
- 1 Small Onion sliced
- 2-3 cups Sliced Cabbage approximately half a head
- 300 g Dried Chow Mein Noodles about 2/3 of a pound
- 8 cups Water for cooking the noodles
- 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic
- 1 Tablespoon Minced Ginger
- 4 Tablespoons Oyster Sauce
- 1 1/2 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add both cooking oils to a wok over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the onions and cabbage and sauté for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, bring the 8 cups of water to a boil, then add the chow mein noodles and cook for 2 minutes, or according to package directions. Drain noodles and set aside.
- Add the minced garlic and ginger to the wok and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the oyster sauce and soy sauce to the wok, tossing to combine, then add the chow mein noodles. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
- Noodles – We used 300g chow mein noodles, but they came in a 1lb package. You could use the entire package; the noodles will simply be a little less saucy. Be sure to use Chinese egg noodles (which may be called Chow Mein or Lo Mein Noodles) and NOT crispy Chow Mein “noodles” (which are short fried sticks).
- Salt – You can adjust the saltiness by adding more soy sauce instead of adding plain salt.
- Protein – This Chow Mein recipe is designed to be vegetarian and vegan-friendly, making it a versatile option as either a side dish or a satisfying main course. For those who prefer, you can easily incorporate a protein such as chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu; simply cook your chosen protein separately and then toss it with the noodles and sauce in the final step.
- Veggies – Feel free to add your favorite stir-fry vegetables to this dish, cooking them with the onions and cabbage.
Nutrition
Be sure to pin our Easy Chow Mein recipe on Pinterest:
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