This wok-fried Chow Mein Recipe is ready in under 30 minutes! It’s perfect for pairing with your favorite Asian dishes.
Savory and delicious, serve Chow Mein Noodles alongside Sweet and Sour Pork, Orange Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken, and Beef and Broccoli.
What is Chow Mein?
Chow Mein is an authentic Chinese dish. With that said, American variations can be found in both sit-down and take-out restaurants.
My kids love eating Chow Mein alongside their favorite Asian dishes like Orange Chicken and Sweet and Sour Chicken.
This Easy Chow Mein Recipe is one that my family loves to make at home and I’m sure you will too!
How to make chow mein
SAUCE. Make Chow Mein Sauce in a small mixing bowl by whisking the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, chicken broth, cornstarch, and sugar together.
NOODLES. Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain, rinse and set aside.
VEGGIES. Add olive oil to a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add cabbage, carrots, sprouts, and minced garlic. Saute for 2-3 minutes or until the cabbage is limp.
COOK. Reduce heat to medium, add noodles to the pan along with the sauce, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-6 minutes.
ENJOY! Top with garlic salt (to taste) and green onions. Serve warm.
What noodles to use
There are many brands of chow mein noodles, just find your favorite.
You can find Chow Mein Noodles made from wheat flour and even some that are gluten-free.
Ramen Noodles. If you can’t find chow mein, use ramen noodles. Just parboil the noodles without the packet seasoning, drain and use in the recipe.
Yaki soba. Refrigerated yaki soba noodles are another great option, and don’t need to be boiled.
Variations
Want to change it up? Here are a few ways to do it:
- Veggies. Use your favorite vegetables such as bell peppers, celery, broccoli florets, snow peas, green onions, or bok choy.
- Sauce. Use oyster sauce in place of the hoisin sauce.
- Add some protein. Slice the beef chicken or pork and saute in a pan with oil until just cooked. Add in the veggies and continue with the recipe. You can also add in shrimp or tofu.
- Season. Add another layer of flavor with ginger, garlic salt, black pepper, or red pepper flakes.
Storing Information
STORE. Divide Chow Mein Noodles into individual serving sizes and store them in an airtight container. The Chow Mein will keep in the fridge for about 4 days.
FREEZE. Store in the freezer for 3-4 months.
REHEAT. Thaw, if applicable, and reheat in the microwave or stovetop.
Recipe FAQ
Chow mein translates to “stir-fried noodles” and is made from freshly made, or dried, thin noodles. Lo mein translates to “tossed noodles” that are freshly made, thick and chewy. Additionally, chow mein usually has a very light sauce, whereas lo mein is a very saucy dish with a rich flavor.
Nope! If you don’t have chow mein noodles on hand or you can’t find them, ramen noodles or yaki soba noodles will work too. Refer to the “What noodles to use” section in this post for the steps on how to use them for this dish!
For more Asian SIDEs, TRY:
Chow Mein Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 (3.6-ounce) packages chow mein noodles or 3 (3-ounce) Ramen noodle packages
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cups cabbage shredded
- 1 large carrot peeled and julienned
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- green onions for garnish
Chow Mein Sauce
- 4 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- ½ tbsp sesame oil
- ⅓ cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- ½ tbsp sugar
- garlic salt with parsley
Instructions
- Make sauce in a small mixing bowl by whisking together the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, chicken broth, cornstarch, and sugar.
- Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain, rinse and set aside.
- Add olive oil to a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add cabbage, carrots, sprouts, and minced garlic. Saute for 2-3 minutes or until the cabbage is limp.
- Reduce heat to medium and add noodles to the pan along with the sauce. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-6 minutes.
- Top with garlic salt to taste. Add green onions and serve warm.
I had some leftover cabbage, so I gave this a try. It was a hit with everyone, but especially my daughter! Some of us added a few red pepper flakes for a bit of spice, and that’s also tasty!
Just delicious! No need for takeout anymore- it’s way better! Thanks so much!
Chow mein is my favorite!! I pick it over rice most times. Loving this homemade version!! I hadn’t really known how to make it taste like the restaurants, but this recipe sure does!
Thank you for sharing this recipe!! This was so delicious, everyone in my house loved it!
Chinese is such a favorite in our home. This chow mein recipe is perfect for a quick meal.
Add grilled chicken to round it out also some red pepper flakes. Always appreciate your variation suggestions.