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.

A dish with Chicken Chow Mein

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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. 

Chow mein with chicken and vegetables close up in pan

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. 

Ingredients for the chicken chow mein.

The BEST Chow Mein Sauce:

The homemade chow mein sauce is amazing in this recipe! Combine soy sauce, light sesame oil, oyster sauce, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and chicken broth to make the signature sweet and savory sauce that makes chow mein taste authentic.

Chow mein sauce process, two bowls next to each other.

How to Make Chow Mein:

  1. In a small mixing bowl, combine ingredients for chow mein sauce: oyster sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, chicken broth, and cornstarch. Set aside. 
  2. Cook noodles according to package instructions, set aside. 
  3. 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.
  4. Add carrots, cabbage and pressed garlic and saute for a few minutes until veggies are slightly softened. 
  5. 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.
  6. Add chopped green onions and remove from the heat. Serve hot!

Step by step photos of making chicken chow mein.

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. 

Chicken chow mein in a pan.

More Quick Asian Recipes

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Chicken Chow Mein with the Best Chow Mein Sauce

4.97 from 1055 votes
Author: Natalya Drozhzhin
Chicken Chow Mein recipe in skillet with noodles, vegetables and homemade 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!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 8 servings
  • 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 light sesame oil, (not toasted)
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar

Instructions

  • In a small mixing bowl, use a whisk to combine oyster sauce, granulated sugar, sesame oil, soy sauce, chicken broth and cornstarch. Set aside.
  • Cook your noodles according to package instructions then drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.
  • 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.
  • Add chicken and noodles back into the pan. Pour sauce over the top and continue cooking all the ingredients together for another 2 minutes.
  • Garnish your chow mein with chopped green onions and serve the noodles straight from the pan and piping hot!

Notes

Note: When using cooked Chow Mein Noodles, it should measure to about 1lb.

Nutrition Per Serving

340kcal Calories36g Carbs19g Protein13g Fat1g Saturated Fat36mg Cholesterol914mg Sodium295mg Potassium3g Fiber3g Sugar1315IU Vitamin A8mg Vitamin C18mg Calcium2mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Chicken Chow Mein with the Best Chow Mein Sauce
Amount per Serving
Calories
340
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
13
g
20
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Cholesterol
 
36
mg
12
%
Sodium
 
914
mg
40
%
Potassium
 
295
mg
8
%
Carbohydrates
 
36
g
12
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
3
g
3
%
Protein
 
19
g
38
%
Vitamin A
 
1315
IU
26
%
Vitamin C
 
8
mg
10
%
Calcium
 
18
mg
2
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
Keyword: chicken chow mein, chow mein
Skill Level: Easy/Medium
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 340

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya is a food blogger who founded Momsdish.com to make cooking easier. Growing up on a farm in Ukraine, Natalya was inspired by the amazing dishes that were prepared using simple ingredients. Natalya is most notably known for making cooking approachable for any person.

Read more posts by Natalya

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Comments

  • Joyce Campbell
    March 26, 2024

    Instead of 1 tbsp. sugar I used Thai sweet chili sauce. great recipe. I didn’t have any cabbage so added some frozen veggies from freezer. the sauce is awesome!!! thanks

    Reply

  • Marta Rupp
    March 25, 2024

    My family loooves this dish!!
    We found this recipe and now I have to make it all the time. I have shared it with family and friends and they love it as well. Thank you for sharing your talent.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 25, 2024

      I’m so glad to hear that, Marta!

      Reply

  • Kathy Mills
    March 24, 2024

    Thank you for your comment. I was apprehensive about making this sauce. The soy sauce/oyster sauce mix we get from our local Chinese Restaurant, that I won’t use it (too many cardiac issues). But I might try this one.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 24, 2024

      I hope you’ll love it!

      Reply

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