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Easy Chow Mein recipe with Chinese egg noodles stir fried with chicken, shrimp and vegetables. This is an authentic chow mein noodles recipe Chinatown style.
Chow Mein Recipe
What is Chow Mein?
Chow Mein (sometimes spelled as chowmin) is one of the best Chinese recipes. It’s made of noodles, vegetables, protein such as chicken, shrimp, beef or pork.
The ingredients are stir-fried with cooking oil, garlic and seasonings of soy sauce and oyster sauce in a wok.
It’s different from Lo Mein, which is a similar Chinese noodles dish but without stir-frying.
Chow Mein Noodles
There are all kinds of fresh and dry noodles available in the market. There are also thin and thick noodles.
For the best and most authentic homemade Chow Mein like Chinese restaurants or takeouts, I recommend thin, fresh egg noodles.
The color of the noodles is slightly different but the texture is similar. There are eggs in both noodles. There is flour that coats every strand of the noodle.
In Asian or Chinese grocery stores, you can find egg noodles in a clear plastic bag, like the picture above. They are available in the noodles section of the stores.
If you use dry egg noodles, follow the package instructions to boil the noodles first before stir frying.
How To Make Chow Mein
To cook the classic Chinese noodles, first you have to decide on the list of fresh ingredients to use:
- Protein – you can use chicken, shrimp, beef or pork. You can also use squid and scallop. Choose your main protein or combine a few ingredients together.
- Vegetables – you can use cabbage, bean sprouts, napa cabbage, carrot or scallion. I like the combinations of cabbage, carrot and scallion.
- Seasoning sauce – you can use oyster sauce, soy sauce or a combination of both sauces for the best flavors.
You can make the noodles on a skillet or traditional Chinese wok. First, cook the noodles on high heat with oil, garlic and stir fry the protein. Next, add the noodles and seasoning sauce, stir fry until all ingredients are cooked through.
Cooking Tips
For the best chow mein recipe, please follow my tips, techniques and secrets below:
- If you use fresh egg noodles, run cold water over the noodles and rise them before using. This will get rid of the flour on the surface.
- Drain the noodles dry using a colander. This will ensure that your noodles are not soggy.
- Make the sauce in advance by mixing all the ingredients together.
- The best utensil for making Chinese noodles is a well-seasoned Chinese wok and a pair of long wooden chopsticks. You can use spatula but a pair of chopsticks will loosen up the noodles while stir-frying. This will avoid the noodles from clumping and sticking together.
- Be generous with the cooking oil.
- Check out my Perfect Stir-Frying Techniques for the best results.
Frequently Asked Questions
These two popular Chinese noodle dishes are completely different.
Chow Mein is stir-fried noodles while Lo Mein is mixed and toss noodles with its ingredients and sauce.
Click here for Chow Mein vs Lo Mein.
This recipe is only 311 calories per serving.
What To Serve With Chow Mein
This meal is best served with a Chinese main dish (such as ginger scallion fish, ginger soy chicken) or side dishes (such as Chinese Tea Eggs). For a wholesome meal and Chinese restaurant style dinner at home, I recommend the following recipes:
I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
Other Chow Mein Recipes You Might Like
Chow Mein
Ingredients
- 8 oz. (230g) steamed chow mein , or fresh chow mein noodles
Chow Mein Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon dark soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons water
Other Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 2 oz. (60g) chicken, cut into thin strips
- 6 medium-sized shrimp, shelled and deveined
- 1/2 cup cabbage, shredded
- 1/4 cup carrot, shredded
- 2 stalks scallions, cut into 2-inch strips (5 cm)
Instructions
- Soak the chow mein noodles in cold water for about 5 minutes. Rinse them a few times until the water runs clear and the noodles soften. Drain the excess water and set aside. (Be careful not to over-soak the noodles, as they may become soggy.)
- In a small mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients for the Chow Mein Sauce. Set aside.
- Heat a skillet or wok with oil. Add the garlic and stir-fry until light brown or aromatic. Then, add the chicken and shrimp, stirring until they are half cooked. Incorporate the shredded cabbage and carrot into the wok, stirring quickly. Add the noodles and soy sauce mixture, continuing to stir-fry until the noodles are well combined with the sauce and fully cooked through.
- Add the chopped scallions, do a few final stirs, dish out, and serve hot.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My small town has two Chinese Restaraunts. One of them has bee open since I was a small child – and I’ll be 60 yrs old in November. I live the Chow Mein (noodles) they serve but they are nothing like teh ones I see in recipes online. The chow mein shown online have vegetablesand meat in them and the noodles are soggy and wet. The dish served here is noodles alone and they are virtually dry but still soft (never wet) There is usually a bit of green onion or slivers of chicken on the top as garnish. Zero vegetable in the chow men. Can you tell me what these restaraunt noodles are and how they are prepared so they stay soft? Most recipes say “chinese noodles” which isn’t very helpful. They should give Brand name and type of noodle being used. No matter how I could the different types of noodlse they all end up wet. They should be essentially dry to the touch. They bring oit out to the chinese buffet in huge bowls! The noodles when cooked are quite skinny and quite yellow. So as I said….help! Identify these noodles.
When not getting buffet I usually order something like (#3 or #6 or #8 etc – a plate with) chicken chow mein noodles,sweet and sour boneless [or almond chicken] and beef and broccoli. Comes with a small bowl of wonton included. Delish!
AWESOME recipe. Great tips! Thanks for posting!!
Good one!! I used the vegetarian oyster sauce. The recipe is so easy to follow. Thank you! So happy that mine came out restaurant standard!
:)
This recipe is the best! I’ve used it with so many different kinds of noodles and veggies/proteins and it comes out great every time. Tonight I was desperate and used the noodles from 5 A-sha noodle packets (discarding the seasoning packet it came with). My teenage boys think it’s the best thing I cook!
Hi Marji, that’s awesome, I am so happy. Please try more recipes on my site!
Are any of the noodles “gluten-free” or is it wheat flour they are coated in or made with?
Not gluten free.
Yes I want it!
I love Chow mein, this is the best recipe!
Absolutely easy recipes to put together an delicious I have tryed quite a few of your recipes and love them all I cook them regularly it’s part of my menu a great thanku so so much I love cooking an baking an like recipes that’s not Goin to keep me in the kitchen all day so simple an tasty an a very happy husband
Chinese noodles are s confusing. MY asian market literally has an entire row!
I agree Richard. It’s confusing to me sometimes! Just look for chow mein noodles or steamed chow mein.
Hi Bee, love your Easy Chinese Recipes cookbook and found out your site. I have been making your chow mein recipe for years and it’s still the best recipe I’ve tried. Made this for a Chinese-themed potluck tonight and the noodles were gone in minutes. Thanks for making me the most popular person tonight. :)
Awww Rachel thanks so much for your sweet comment. I’m so happy that you love my chow mein and it was a hit! :)
Thank you for adding the serving size and calories!! Love your recipes and, as someone watching their weight,, have been hesitant trying out the recipes. This is one I might have to try! I don’t like the flavor of oyster sauce. Could I just leave that out? Thanks again! :)
Yes you can just use more soy sauce and sugar for flavoring.
Whenever I have ordered chow mein in a Chinese restaurant I have never seen it made with noodles. Chow mein noodles (not soft noodles) are served on the side to be added by the individual. In addition to that fact I have never seen Chow mein made without bean sprouts
I have my Own recipe that calls for onions, celery and bean sprouts that is more like the restaurant variet.y.
Paul – Not all chow meins are made with bean sprouts. Yes, it’s common but not necessary. I opted out because many people don’t like the texture of bean sprouts. Onions are not needed in authentic chow mein and all the Chow Mein in the USA had been modified to fit the western palate. The Chow Mein in Asia is very different from the ones served here.
Paul – Not all chow meins are made with bean sprouts. Yes, it’s common but not necessary. I opted out because many people don’t like the texture of bean sprouts. Chow Mein comes with noodles, chow means literally means fried noodles, so it’s not chow mein if noodles are served on the side. Onions are not needed in authentic chow mein but all Chow Mein in the USA had been modified to fit the western palate. The Chow Mein in Asia is very different from the ones served here.