Chicken Chow Mein with Best Chow Mein Sauce!
Chicken chow mein is probably already one of your favorite Chinese takeout dishes. This one-pan dinner is so satisfying with chicken, vegetables, classic chow mein noodles, and the best homemade chow mein sauce. Also, it’s way healthier than ordering takeout.
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Hi there! My name is Natalya and I run the blog Momsdish. If you already follow me, you know I can’t get enough of easy meals that require simple ingredients and minimal clean-up. I can’t wait to share this recipe for chicken chow mein with you because it hits all the marks!
Chicken Chow Mein
Chow mein is a traditional Chinese dish made with egg noodles and stir-fried veggies. We love adding a protein and our favorite is chicken, but you can try different meat or tofu. This dish is pan-fried so the noodles get a nice crisp to them and then tossed in a yummy sauce. Chow mein is perfect for those nights when you don’t want to dirty too many pans or make a big mess of the kitchen.
Chow mein gets its signature flavor from the thick, dark homemade sauce the noodles are tossed with. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and salty and makes putting down your chopsticks absolutely impossible.
Ingredients for Chow Mein:
- Chow Mein Noodles: Chow mein noodles are made with wheat and egg. They are very similar to Italian pasta noodles and have a wonderful bite to them. Most grocery stores carry dry chow mein noodles in the Asian aisle. But, if you are lucky, you will find pre-cooked chow mein noodles in the refrigerated section that can be thrown straight into your pan.
- Vegetables: Carrots, cabbage, green onions, and bean sprouts are the perfect combination of veggies to use for chow mein. However, they can easily be replaced with other veggies like bok choy, celery, broccoli, spinach, kale or baby corn. Feel free to get creative and use what you like or whatever you have hanging around in your fridge!
- Meats: Great quality chicken breasts are your best bet for slicing into chow mein-ready strips. If you like, feel free to swap chicken out for beef, shrimp or pork.
- Hot tip: Hosting vegetarians also? Use vegetable broth and set some of your noodles aside to toss them with cubes of baked tofu.
The BEST Chow Mein Sauce:
The homemade chow mein sauce is amazing in this recipe! Combine soy sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and chicken broth to make the signature sweet and savory sauce that makes chow mein taste authentic.
How to Make Chow Mein:
- In a small mixing bowl, combine ingredients for chow mein sauce: oyster sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, chicken broth, and cornstarch. Set aside.
- Cook noodles according to package instructions, set aside.
- Heat a large wok or pan. Add a bit of oil to the pan and cook chicken until it’s golden brown. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Add carrots, cabbage and pressed garlic and saute for a few minutes until veggies are slightly softened.
- Add chicken back to the pan, followed by cooked noodles and pour the sauce right on top. Cook for about 2 minutes, distributing all that saucy goodness around evenly.
- Add chopped green onions and remove from the heat. Serve hot!
We love recreating popular takeout recipes. Noodles are king in Chinese cooking! This Homemade Chow Mein Recipe is simple to make and oh-so-satisfying, these stir-fried noodles are sure to become a part of your weeknight dinner rotation.
More Quick Asian Recipes
- Chicken Stir Fry with Rice Noodles – Make this amazing dinner in just 30 minutes!
- Chicken Stir Fry– so much better than takeout.
- Beef Stir Fry Recipe with 3 Ingredient Sauce– So Easy- perfect weeknight dinner.
- Korean Stir-Fried Glass Noodles a.k.a Japchae– You will be going for seconds!
- Yakisoba Noodles Recipe– A Classic Yakisoba, made in one pan
Chicken Chow Mein with the Best Chow Mein Sauce
Chicken chow mein is so much better than takeout! It is filled with chicken, veggies, classic chow mein noodles and the best homemade chow mein sauce. You will love this one pan dinner!
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast boneless, skinless
- 3 tbsp oil
- 12 oz chow mein noodles (uncooked noodles)
- 2 cups cabbage
- 1 large carrot julienned
- 1/2 batch green onions
- 2 garlic cloves
Chow Mein Sauce
- 6 tbsp oyster sauce
- 3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 3 tbsp sesame oil
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
Instructions
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In a small mixing bowl, use a whisk to combine oyster sauce, granulated sugar, sesame oil, soy sauce, chicken broth and cornstarch. Set aside.
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Cook your noodles according to package instructions then drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.
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Heat a large wok or pan with olive oil over medium-heat. Cut your chicken breasts into bite-sized strips and cook them in the oil until golden brown. Remove strips and set aside.
-
Add carrots, cabbage and pressed garlic and saute for a few minutes until veggies are slightly softened and the cabbage is a bit translucent.
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Add chicken and noodles back into the pan. Pour sauce over the top and continue cooking all the ingredients together for another 2 minutes.
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Garnish your chow mein with chopped green onions and serve the noodles straight from the pan and piping hot!
Recipe Notes
Note: When using cooked Chow Mein Noodles, it should measure to about 1lb.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Natalya Drozhzhin
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Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
What kind of cabbage did you use? nappa or just plain green cabbage?
Hi Michelle, we used regular green cabbage.
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I made it for my family tonight and we all loved it, especially the kids 🙂 The only change I made was to add some snow peas.
You are so welcome, Estelle. So happy to know that your family enjoyed this recipe!
This looks lovely How do you go from making it from 8 servings to 4. ?
Hi Bella, if you scroll down to the bottom of the recipe post, there you will find the recipe card where you can select the number of servings you would like to make for this recipe. I hope that helps.
This was really good. I only used half the amount of sesame oil because it’s an aggressive flavor, and that was plenty. Added broccoli and mushrooms. Will definitely make again. Super good. Super easy.
Thank you for your good comments, Kittie. We appreciate it!
This chow mien is So delicious.
I will say I “”kicked it up” a notch by adding 1/2 teaspoon of “hot” sesame oil.
Love all you recipes and your presentation.
Wow, I love it spicy too, so I usually add a little more as well. Thanks for your great feedback!
One of the best and so easy to make! I used spaghetti noodles and it worked out great! Thank you!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Rachel!
Help. It calls to cook chow mein noodles. I bought the crunchy ones. Are they correct, or is there other ones?
Hi Susan, did you possibly purchase the dry ones that are intended to be used as is, like the salad topping ones we used in our Asian Salad? See the photo of the ingredients above which should help.
hi Natasha! pls how mny cups of cooked noodles does this recipe use
Hi, I did not measure the cooked noodles, but it calls for 12 oz chow mein noodles (uncooked noodles)
Hi! Love your recipes! We really love your Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies! I want to try this and I wondering could I use spaghetti noodles, as I have plenty of those on hand? Thanks!
Hi Sonya, I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
We have tried this recipe with spaghetti noodles and don’t notice a difference from chow mein noodles! It’s great either way!
Love your recipes and use them a lot.
Wondering what I could use instead of oyster sauce in chow mien, or any other recipe calling for this ingredient? TIA
You can use soy sauce or hoisin sauce too
Hi Natasha! This recipe is super easy and delicious. I replaced the chow mien with chickpeas rotini, and the chicken with tofu. It’s still very tasty.
Thank you!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it Bernadeta!
Luv this recipe. Couldn’t find oyster sauce, added more chicken broth. Was surprised at how much flavor this had. Will make again and again. Will also try with meat or shrimp.
Sounds like you found a new favorite Suzanne! That’s so great!
Delicious! Took a star away bc the recipe says shredded carrots, but the photos very clearly show julienne cut. I did it like the photos, and it definitely took over the few mins the recipe says. I put a cover over my pan to help them soften faster. Also, I would have liked for the recipe to show an estimated cooking time for the chicken for beginner cooks.
You sound like such a good sport. Not. Stop whining
So delicious! 😋 I made it following the recipe to a t, and it turn out perfect and
full of flavor! My hubby loved it! Thanks so much Natasha! 👏🏼😋
Yay success! Thanks for sharing that with us.
Yet again another successful dish made by me – consumed by all the family & ALL thanks to Natasha !!!!!
Thank you so much for introducing me & giving me the ‘courage’ to learn how to cook
Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me! I’m all smiles
Way too much oyster sauce…..ruined the whole meal…
Hi Norma, thank you for your feedback. We didn’t find that to be the case but you can add that to taste. Also, make sure you are using the same proportions for the rest of the recipe. For example, if using less noodles, the sauce can seem overwhelming.
So good! Instead of 6 tbsp of oyster we used 3 tbsp hoisin and 3 tbsp oyster. We also added fresh ginger with garlic
Looking forward to trying new veggies and proteins with this amazing sauce!
Thank you so much for sharing that with us Chrissy! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Hi Natasha, what can I use instead of oyster sauce?
Thank you.
Hi Babra, others shared this “I follow the recipe As it is but instead oyster sauce used Worcestershire and 1 tbsp of vinegar. It turned out well.” I hope this helps.
Love this recipe! Made it twice now, using chicken thighs the second time. I wanted more sauce so I doubled the sauce recipe but found it to be too strong. Maybe from the oyster sauce being doubled? Are the ingredients savory enough that I can just double the broth versus doubling all the sauce ingredients? What would you suggest to get more sauce while still getting the same great flavor? Thank you!
Hi Reem, it is likely due to that being doubled. You might try 1 1/2 times the sauce.
Can I use clam juice ?
Can’t find oyster juice
Really excited and nervous 1st time making this
Your website is incredible
Ty
Hi Maria. I haven’t tested that to advise but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
Hi it wasn’t the same flavor had an after taste found oyster juice bought out shelf lol
My husband says ty
Haven’t had This in a longgggggggg time
My daughter is 5 learning to cook loves your videos we do then together
Thanks for sharing that with us and so nice to know that your daughter is also learning how to cook! Keep up the good work.
Works every time! A big family hit and so easy to do if you have 3 under 5 to run after! Such a tasty dinner, and tastes much healthier than store bought alternatives. Big thumbs up
I’m so happy to hear that Monica! Thank you for that wonderful review!
What a wonderful recipe was most awsome even with the botch I did LMBOOOO still turned out wonderful went with beef,chicken,ground pork and shrimp and a few different veggies will make again and again thanks Natasha for this recipe.
Thank you so much for sharing that with us Linda! I’m glad you enjoyed that.
Hi there
What can I use as a substitute for the cornflour? I don’t have any.
Hi Andrea, maybe potato starch? I haven’t really tested anything besides cornstarch.
You can use flour in place of cornstarch for thickening sauces. I only every use flour for thickening, and I made this with no problems.
I made Chop Suey using this recipe but with crispy noodles on top. My family loved it.
So glad to hear that Margaret. Thank you!
I’m allergic to oyster sauce what can substitute with?
Hello Diane, others shared this “I follow the recipe As it is but instead oyster sauce used Worcestershire and 1 tbsp of vinegar. It turned out well.”
Supper tonight got rave reviews! This is so good. I added bean sprouts and mushrooms to it. Flavour of the sauce is incredible. I use your recipes a lot and always am happy! Thanks so much
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing that with me!
Another winner! I loved it. Doubled the recipie and I added grated ginger and garlic to the sauce and went with 1 and 1/2 brown sugar instead of granulated. The sauce was great. would consider adding a little heat next time too! Had to go with spagetti but will try to find the noodle next time!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
I cut recipe in half for two of us. Next time I’m making all the sauce. It was delicious.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Love it. The only thing I added was a can of bean sprout (rinsed). It was delicious! Thank you so much for another awesome recipe.
I’m so glad you enjoyed that Gigi! Thank you for that awesome review!
Planning on making this tomorrow, can or have you ever tried adding other veggies to the dish? TIA
Hi Michelle, that’s the beauty of chow mein or similar recipes, vegetables go so well with it! I recommend reading through the comments, there are some great suggestions there. Some of our readers have added broccoli and loved it also.
Well just finished dinner and may I start with, my husband is a very picky eater….that said, dinner was a huge hit! Just another amazing Natasha’s kitchen dinner….I don’t know how you keep such a beautiful figure with all the fantastic recipes you share, and may I thank you for all your videos and recipes, every one I’ve made, I’ve made numerous times, that says a lot in my. I’ve never found a blogger or cook of any kind for that matter that I feel so good about sharing recipes with so many friends and family. Thank you again and keep it up, you’re the bomb girl!
You’re welcome! Thank you for this wonderful comment and thoughtful compliments. I’m smiling big reading your review.
Love the chicken chow mein… made this today… and family loved it… my son rarely add a second plate… but with this dish he asked for more.
The recipe is so easy and quick to prepare and the sauce is to die for.
I would definitely be making more of this.
Thanks Natasha
Hello Annette, so happy to know that your son and your whole family enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing and I hope you love every recipe that you try.
I am going to make this tonite but I don’t have any oyster sauce. Could I substitute with something else or will it be ok without the oyster sauce?
Hello Tammy, others shared this “I follow the recipe As it is but instead oyster sauce used Worcestershire and 1 tbsp of vinegar . It turned out well.”
Delicious! Comes together easily and flexible in that can you use different noodles. Since I didn’t have chow mein noodles, just used lo mein.
Thanks for your great feedback, Eva.So good to know that you tried different noodles and it worked well too!
Really enjoyed this, can’t have oyster sauce so substituted 3 tbsp hoisin sauce & increased the broth a little – lovely, thank you!
That’s nice! Thanks for the tip and for sharing that with us.
just finished it for my meal prep can’t wait to eat! yum
where can I send pics also made your chocolate cake and WOW it was great and very easy to make
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Linda! Post your photo on social media – Facebook/ Instagram and tag #natashaskitchen for us to see it.
Want to make this, but the noodles that I found was the wide Lo Main Noodles. Is that ok to use?
Hi Virginia, that may work. If you experiment please let me know how you like that.
I made this last night and it was a big hit for my husband and I. However, I made 8 oz. of the chow mein noodles and it was twice as much as I needed. I only added about 4 oz. What did I do wrong, I wonder?
Hi Janet, I’m not sure I’m understanding your question. Did you add 8oz or 4oz? The noodles will expand as they cook and take on water.
Sorry that was phrased poorly. I made 8 oz. but After boiling them, it was way to much so I I only added about 4 oz to the mixture. I used the dried angel hair chow menu noodles. The recipe called for 12 oz.
I love the “freshness” of this! We all enjoyed it and I cannot wait for leftovers with the sauce soaked in.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Just made this and oh my goodness it is amazing! So much better than any takeout. Super simple yet super delicious. So glad I found your page, Natasha! Thank you
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Way to salty : ( and not enough veggies for me
Thank you for your feedback. If you use less of the stir fry ingredients, it may seem salty, say if you used less noodles, but everyone does have a different love of salt in their foods. I would suggest trying this recipe with low sodium soy sauce.
Delicious recipe! We added some extra veggies. Great sauce!
I’m so glad you enjoyed that!
I’m so glad that you enjoyed this recipe!
Had this tonight Natasha ! Wow !
Loved it and gave it 5 stars BUT we found it too salty. What can I add to counteract all the saltiness ?
Hi Fiona, if you prefer less salt, I would highly recommend using low sodium soy sauce.
Best Asian cooking sauce I’ve found on the web!
It’s hard to imagine a substitute for Sesame oil. That and ginger is what makes Asian food taste Asian. Same for the Worcestershire sauce. IMO
Anyway, this recipe is so close to what I get at our Chinese restaurants in the Pacific NW. I’m cutting back on the sugar this time. I multiply the sauce recipe so I have sauce handy. Then pull out a tablespoon or two for what ever dish I’m making, during my “Asian week” of cooking. Same with ginger and garlic. Saves on the prep time.
Hi Donald!! I’m so glad you found a new favorite on our blog! That’s so awesome!
I made this yesterday with shrimps . I follow the recipe As it is but instead oyster sauce used Worcestershire and 1 tbsp of vinegar . It turned out well . I doubled the sauce because my middle has tumor in his brain stem due to that his left side inside and outside is weak so he can digest it easily . Recipe was great we really loved It I served as a side dish with beef and broccoli .
I haven’t tried using Worcestershire but thanks for sharing that with us. I think should give that a try next time. I’m happy to know that you and your son enjoyed this recipe. Thank you for your wonderful review!
Hi I am going to make this tonight but the ingredients are limited in-store . Can I substitute oyster sauce with Worcestershire sauce .
Hi Rabia, I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
Love your recipes.do you have a
Book.
You’re so nice! I do not have a book at this time but we have one in the works. Stay tuned!
I’m so happy to hear Natasha! We really love your recipes and will definitely be buying your book!
This was amazingly easy to make and so good! Will definitely make this again, and again.
That’s so great! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Hi Natasha, my husband is allergic to sesame. What could I use instead of sesame oil?
Hi Joann, I haven’t personally tried a different oil but the usual substitutes are Olive oil, Perilla oil or avocado oil. Please share with us how it goes if you do an experiment.
Excellent! Followed the recipe, and very easy to make! Delicious.
Thanks for your wonderful review!
EXCELLENT recipe! The teenager in our house ate HALF of it herself in one sitting. And that’s a picky teen who claimed she didn’t like vegetables. Ha! Our toddlers couldn’t get enough of it either. Thank you for sharing!
Sounds like you found a new favorite Lana! Thank you for that awesome feedback.
Amazing dish! My husband and I really enjoyed it. Will definitely make more in the future
That’s so great, Varvara! Thank you for that awesome review!
I’m in love with this dish. I had broccoli that I wanted to use up that I had in the refrigerator and it turned out delicious. Every one in the family loved it so much that they keep asking it again for it.
Thank u very much for sharing. Keep them coming!👌❤
Sounds like they found their favorite dish! Thanks for sharing that with me and for giving a an awesome review!
So good!
Natashas: I love your recipe and following you on Face Book you are so sweet and funny I really enjoy watching you. Thank you so much I love to cook,but sometime I just don’t know what to make I really like your desserts to thanks again Frances.
You’re so nice! Thank you! I’m so glad to hear you’re enjoying our recipes!
Very tasty! Even my son who swears he doesn’t like cabbage enjoyed a huge helping. We definitely be making this recipe again.
Wow that’s lovely to know! Thank you for sharing and for giving this recipe a good feedback.
Hi Natasha and Natalya.
Thank you for another great recipe ! I only had purple cabbage on hand and knowing that its a really bad time to go shopping i used it. The chow mein came out really pretty with the purple cabbage, orange carrots and green onion. Will definitely be making this again. Thanks again and stay safe !
Hello Debbie! I’m happy to hear that even with limited stocks you were able to make this work. Thanks for the great feedback!
I fed a family of 5 adults foodies with this recipes and IT’S A KEEPER! We all have very happy tummies! I added frozen peas and used spaghetti noodles/ pasta because I did not have rec. chow mein noodles. It worked out beautifully!
That is awesome! So glad that your alternative ingredients worked great!
Thanks for your post. I was just going to ask about using spaghetti noodles.
I just made this and it was a hit! Thank you for such an easy and delicious recipe!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Olga!
This looks delish. Can you substitute oyster sauce with anything else? Definitely will be making this!
Hi Yuliya, the oyster sauce will give you the most authentic flavor but most people would substitute oyster sauce with soy sauce, so I would suggest adding soy sauce to taste. It will taste better if you mix equal parts of soy sauce and hoisin sauce to get that sweet and salty flavor you are looking for here.
Looks,delicious! I made this recipe from valentine’s corner, except she doesn’t have cabbage in it, my little family loved it. Sure is easy to make & fast meal prep. Definitely on my meal plane. My kids love helping me chop things or peel things,6 yrs old,4 yrs special now we had a baby boy,they sure help me alot with everything around the house aswell. Thanks ,so much for sharing recipes with us!! God bless,u & your family in this hard struggle times. We have complete peace in our hearts,God will never forget or leave His children. ☺👍💖🙏 by the way,u should try her chicken wings, boy they were good!
Thank you for your touching and nice feedback, Olga. I’m so happy to know that you’re spending quality time with your kids. Everything will be okay soon!
Delicious!! A new family favourite!!
That’s just awesome, Marsha! Isn’t the flavor amazing? We love this recipe also.
My son who is a chef always would add about a Tbsp. of molasses to any stir-dish. Always wonderful.
Good to know that, Doris. Thanks for the tip!
The Chow Mein recipe calls for the garlic in the sauce AND in the veggie mixture. Which is it? And no mention of the sugar being added to sauce ingredients in one of the instructions. When does the sugar go in? Also, no mention of how the veggies should be chopped .
Hi Ida, I apologize we missed that. We have updated the chow mein recipe to clarify your questions. Thank you for bringing that to our attention.
Made it last night. Turned out great, even the kids complimented. One thing in the process that came up was the chicken. Quite a bit of water came out while cooking. I had to strain and return to the pan to brown.
That is the best when kids love what we parents make. That’s so great!
Chow Mein is my FAVE! this is such a perfectly simple recipe with just right flavors and veggies. Thank you so much! I might go hog wild and add a little red sweet pepper for color—or maybe I’ll just keep it perfectly simple and easy. I have read so many Chow Mein recipes, but this one is the bomb!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Carolyn!
Very tasty! I subbed shrimp for the chicken and added sliced onion instead of green onions. I like the cabbage and carrot combination and there is lots of leftovers for lunch tomorrow!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Absolutely delicious! We had this tonight and there were no leftovers.
I’m glad you enjoyed dinner!
Looks super good! Can’t wait to try it.
The flavor is AMAZING! I hope you love it!
This looks sooooo yummy, I’m adding it to my meal plan for later this week!
I hope you love this recipe, Kimberly! We look forward to your feedback.
Okay, this looks seriously incredible! We love chow mein, so I am SO excited to try this recipe!
I can’t wait for you to try this one, Katie! I’m sure you’ll love it.