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Need to be in the mood for something fancy today? Try this easy chicken chow mein recipe that can go with any soup or gravy. It is an easy fix for lunch boxes too. Prepare the veggies ahead of time and make it in lesser hassle when you need to serve. The recipe is perfect for kids’ summer camp cooking experiments as well as best summer potluck dish.
Ingredients:
- 8 oz (about 225g) chow mein noodles or egg noodles
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts), thinly sliced
- 2 cups mixed vegetables (e.g., bell peppers, carrots, cabbage)
- 2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder.
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce (optional)
- 1 tbsp Chili sauce
- 3 tbsp Chili garlic sauce
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- Salt white pepper and black pepper to taste
- Green onions, chopped, for garnish (optional)
- Sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)
Ingredient Notes and Variations:
- Noodles: The critical ingredient for this recipe is the noodles. If you wish, you can use fresh or dried noodles as per your preference. You can also use store-bought gluten-free noodles (buy from Amazon) to make the recipe gluten-free. You can also use spaghetti as an alternative.
- Chicken: Use a juicy and tender chicken cut such as chicken thigh which does not dry out during cooking. You can also use chicken breast, but avoid overcooking as it becomes hard and chewy.
- Vegetables: The best thing about chow mein is that you can add your favorite vegetables. Add cabbage, capsicum, carrots, corn, and vegetables as you like. Cabbage and carrots have a mildly sweet flavor, so try to balance it with bell peppers.
- Green onions: Chopped green onions on the top of prepared chow mein give it a nice, fresh crunch and aroma.
Tip: You can saute some of it with vegetables too, for a better flavor.
- Ginger Garlic paste: This is critical for any Chinese fried rice or gravy recipe. It makes the flavor of vegetables more bold and pronounced. Saute vegetables in it instead of adding them to the sauce. The chow mein ends up more fragrant.
- Sesame oil: Sesame oil enriches the Asian cuisine with its nutty flavor. Use it in the chow mein sauce. If you do not have sesame oil, you can replace it with one tbsp of avocado oil.
- Soy sauce: I always prefer using light soy sauce because it is less salty and does not make chow mein dark in color. So if you are using dark soy sauce, reduce the quantity because it is more salty.
- Oyster sauce: Unlike the popular opinion, Oyster sauce does not taste like seafood. It has a balance of sweet and salty flavors.
- Chilli sauce/Chilli garlic sauce: These two spice up the chow mein and make the sauce thick and red.
- Salt, white pepper, and Black pepper: Use the salt and seasonings as per taste and preference.
- Garlic powder: Garlic powder makes the flavor of the chicken more garlicky without making it intense.
- Sugar: Sugar creates a balance between sweet, salty, and tangy flavors.
Optional: Use some sesame seeds as garnish to enhance the flavor and aroma of chow mein.
How to make Easy Chicken Chow mein
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Servings: 4
Step one: Boil the noodles:
In a pan, boil water until it starts to simmer. Add salt.
Add noodles or spaghetti as per your choice and cook till al dente. Adding one teaspoon of vinegar while cooking noodles keeps them intact and gives a firm texture.
Drain and set aside. Drizzle a bit of cooking oil so that the noodles do not stick together.
Step two: Marinate Chicken:
In a mixing bowl, add light soy sauce, vinegar, white pepper powder, salt, garlic powder, and baking soda.
Mix well.
Cut chicken thighs into thin strips and add to the sauce. Mix well and marinate it for at least 15 minutes.
Fry chicken for 4 to 5 minutes until it changes color. Set aside.
Step three: Make chow mein sauce:
In another mixing bowl, mix soy sauce, chili sauce, chili garlic sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, sugar, salt, and black pepper.
Mix well until everything blends.
Step four: Saute the vegetables:
In a wok, add oil and heat it on medium-low flame.
Add julienne-cut carrots, bell peppers, cabbage, green onions, and any other vegetables you like.
Stir fry for two to three minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
Step five: Assembling the chow mein
In the same wok, add cooking oil and heat on a low flame. Add ginger garlic paste, and chopped scallions and saute for a while.
Add boiled spaghetti and mix well.
Add fried chicken and chow mein sauce. Mix well and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
Add stir-fried vegetables. Toss and turn well to coat every ingredient in the sauce.
Garnish with fresh chopped green onions. Take them out in a bowl and serve.
Storage and Freezing
Storage: After cooking homemade chicken chow mein, let it cool down to room temperature. Then, place it in an airtight container with a secure lid.
Refrigeration: If you plan to eat it within a day or two, keep the homemade chicken chow mein in the refrigerator. Store it at a temperature of 40°F (4°C) or lower. Make sure the container is sealed tightly.
Freezing: To keep it for a longer time, you can freeze homemade chicken chow mein. Put it in an airtight freezer bag or container. Seal it well to prevent freezer burn.
You can reheat the chow mein in a microwave for a few seconds when required.
Make ahead of time: You can also make the chow mein ahead of time or do the preparation. You can cut the vegetables, stir-fry them, and freeze them in an airtight freezer bag after they have cooled down.
Similarly, you can fry chicken and store it in an air-tight container in the freezer when it is cooled down.
Prepare chow mein sauce and add it to a sauce bottle. Refrigerate until needed.
When you need to make the chow mein, simply boil the noodles and add all the prepared ingredients in a wok. Mix well until everything heats up and becomes as good as fresh. Serve hot.
What to serve with Chicken Chow mein?
Chow mein is a complete meal within itself. However, you can serve it with
- Chinese dumplings
- Hot and sour soup
- Meatballs with Grape Jelly and chili sauce
- Sweet and sour meatballs with pineapple
- Best Creamy Coleslaw
- Easy Chicken Chow Mein
- Starbucks Copycat Egg Bites
- Cheesy Tuna Melt Bites
- Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
- Fish crackers
- Asian Rice Beef Pilaf
- Vegetable stir fry
- Deer Sausage Dishes For Summer
Easy Chicken Chow Mein
Ingredients
- 8 oz (about 225g) chow mein noodles or egg noodles
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts), thinly sliced
- 2 cups mixed vegetables e.g. bell peppers, carrots, cabbage
- 2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce optional
- 1 tbsp Chili sauce
- 3 tbsp Chili garlic sauce
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- Salt white pepper and black pepper to taste
- Green onions, chopped, for garnish (optional)
- Sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the noodles according to the package instructions until they are al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Marinate the chicken with soy sauce, vinegar, white pepper powder, salt, and garlic powder.
- Mix well and set aside for 15 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl, add soy sauce, chili sauce, chili garlic sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce, sugar, salt, black and white pepper. Mix well to make the chow mein sauce.
- In a wok, Cook marinated chicken for 4 to 5 minutes on medium-high flame. Remove from heat and then set aside.In the same wok, fry ginger garlic paste for a minute. add the julienne-cut vegetables and saute for 2 mins.
- Return the cooked chicken to the pan with the vegetables.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables. Stir well.
- Add the cooked noodles to the pan and toss everything together. Continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes to heat the noodles through.
- Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds if desired.
- Serve your homemade chicken chow mein hot, and enjoy your delicious meal!
