Chicken Chow Mein with the Best Chow Mein Sauce
Chicken Chow Mein is a classic Chinese stir-fry dish with tender chicken, crisp vegetables, and savory noodles tossed in a rich homemade chow mein sauce. This quick and easy one-pan meal is better than takeout and ready in under 30 minutes!
- Prep Time: 10min
- Cook Time: 15min
- Total Time: 25min
- Yield: 4servings
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Stir-Fry
- Cuisine: chinese
Ingredients
For the Chow Mein:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
- 8 oz chow mein noodles (or spaghetti as a substitute)
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
- 1 cup shredded cabbage
- ½ cup carrots, julienned
- ½ cup bell pepper, sliced
- ½ cup bean sprouts
- 2 green onions, chopped (for garnish)
For the Chow Mein Sauce:
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp cornstarch (to thicken)
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Cook the Noodles: Boil chow mein noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, brown sugar, cornstarch, and water.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Sauté the Vegetables: In the same pan, add sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Stir-fry for 1 minute, then add cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, and bean sprouts. Cook for 3-4 minutes until tender-crisp.
- Combine Everything: Return chicken to the pan, add the cooked noodles, and pour in the chow mein sauce. Toss everything together until well coated and heated through.
- Serve & Garnish: Garnish with chopped green onions and serve hot.
Notes
- For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes or chili paste.
- Vegetarian option: Swap chicken for tofu or mushrooms.
- Gluten-free version: Use tamari instead of soy sauce and rice noodles instead of chow mein noodles.
- For extra protein, try shrimp, beef.
- To keep noodles from sticking, toss them with a little oil after cooking.
