Chicken Chow Mein

Super easy Chicken Chow Mein Recipe ready in under 30 minutes! Better than take out!

Comforting Chinese made with lean white meat protein, colorful vegetables, and stir-fried noodles tossed in a savory sauce. You can’t go wrong with restaurant quality Chicken Chow Mein! One of the most popular stir fried noodles the family goes crazy for!

chicken chow mein served in a dark bowl

Chow Mein

Put that takeout menu down! A big bowl of homemade Chicken Chow Mein is way more satisfying and can be made with ease! Tender pieces of chicken breast are marinated in a soy, ginger and garlic sauce and then stir-fried until lightly browned. To add some crunch a colorful combination of chopped vegetables like carrots, red and green cabbage, green onions, and bean sprouts are added. An authentic Asian savory sauce coats each chewy egg noodle for an irresistible dish the whole will love.

Hi there! I’m Jessica Gavin, a Certified Culinary Scientist. It’s my pleasure to teach you the science of better cooking over on my website JessicaGavin.com. I’m thrilled to be able to share one of my childhood favorite recipes on Karina’s enticing food lovers website!

stir frying pieces of chicken in a wok

Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I have fond memories of my family gathering each week around a huge lazy-susan at our local Chinese restaurant. When it came to special requests to order, stir-fried chicken chow mein was always a top choice. For this recipe, I’ve taken my classic chow mein dish and added protein to make it a complete meal, I can’t wait for you to try it!

How to make Chinese Chicken Chow Mein

I use the same process and techniques that I would for making a stir-fry. Here are my top tips for success:

Marinate the cut pieces of chicken in a mixture of soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil to infuse flavor onto the surface of the protein for added flavor.
Make sure to cut all the protein and vegetables in a consistent size, I recommend smaller pieces to encourage quick and even cooking.
When cooking with a wok, make sure to have all the ingredients pre-portioned and ready to go. The stir-frying process happens very quickly and you don’t want your meal to overcook.
Add a small amount of cornstarch or other thickening agent like arrowroot powder to help the chow mein sauce gain body and stick to the noodles when stir-frying.
Fresh or dried chow mein noodles, lo mein, or thick spaghetti noodles can be used. Make sure to cook the noodles until al dente as it will continue to cook in the wok, you don’t want them to become mushy.

Once all the ingredients are cut, marinated and ready to go, it’s time to stir-fry!

stir frying sliced carrots and cabbage in a wok

Tips for cooking

I always cook the chicken first in hot oil to create a lightly golden surface. The meat also gets an extra layer of texture from the small amount of cornstarch added in the marinade. The lean poultry cooks in just a few minutes, then gets transferred to a plate so that it doesn’t dry out.

What vegetables go in Chow Mein

Adding in nutritious vegetables brings vibrant colors to the dish and more texture contrast. The cabbage, carrots, and onions are sliced thin so they cook quickly and blend in nicely with everything. The red cabbage, bean sprouts, and green onions are added at the very end of cooking to maintain color and freshness. The ingredients should be crisp-tender to keep their crunch with each serving.

Pouring stir fry sauce onto noodles in a wok

Chow Mein Sauce

The hallmark of a good Chicken Chow Mein is the sauce. I use a combination of:

Oyster sauce
Soy sauce
Chicken stock
Sesame oil
Cornstarch to help it thicken.

Because the wok is smouldering over a high heat, the sauce bubbles and cooks in under a minute. Make sure to continuously keep the noodles and sauce moving in the pan for an even coating.

Just when the noodles are about ready, add back the sautéed chicken to warm up before serving.

Wok spatula mixing chicken chow mein

I bet you never realized how easy it was to make chicken chow mein right at home! It’s such a versatile dish that you can add any type of protein like tofu, shrimp, or beef. If you enjoy Chinese food, I know you’d love my crispy Chinese egg rolls too. Enjoy!