Chow Mein

In this easy chow mein recipe, we combine stir fry noodles with cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, and green onion in a savory oyster-soy sauce for the best homemade Chinese takeout in just 20 minutes!

Why this recipe works

Chow mein is a popular Chinese dish consisting of stir-fried noodles, veggies, and oftentimes, meat. The main flavor component in this dish comes from the savory and sometimes sweet sauce. In our version of homemade chow mein sauce, we use a combination of oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, dark maple syrup, vegetable stock, brown sugar, and Asian chili sauce with a bit of cornstarch to thicken it up. Toss it together with the stir fry noodles, garlic, cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, and green onions for a delicious dish. 

Chow mein is one of my favorite sides to whip up with General Tso’s Chicken or Chinese pepper steak, but it can also be enjoyed as a main course. 

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

NOODLES – You can find chow mein in the international aisle or even the pasta aisle at the grocery store. After cooking and draining the noodles, Chef Antoine suggests tossing the noodles with a small amount of olive oil to keep them from sticking together.

VEGETABLES – Feel free to substitute with your favorite vegetables such as celery, broccoli, baby corn, and bok choy.

How to Make Chow Mein

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Cook chow mein noodles according to package directions. Drain, rinse in cold water, and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk to combine all sauce ingredients.
3. In a wok over medium-high heat, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil until shimmering.
4. Add cabbage and carrots and saute for 2-3 minutes, until carrots begin to get tender and cabbage softens a little.
5. Add garlic, toss until combined and cook another minute.
6. Add cooked noodles and toss to combine.
7. Add sauce and toss to combine.
8. Add bean sprouts and toss to combine, cooking one more minute.
9. Add green onions, toss to combine.
10. Remove from heat and serve.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Serving Suggestions

Serve chow mein as a complete meal or alongside a main course of chicken, pork, beef, or tofu. Chow mein can be enjoyed both cold and warm.

For a vegetarian-friendly main dish to pair with chow mein, try our Sticky Garlic Cauliflower or General Tso’s Cauliflower.

More Chinese Inspired Recipes

• Sesame Chicken
• Beef Low Mein
• Egg Drop Soup
• Szechuan Beef
• Kung Pao Chicken

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Chow Mein

Deliciously easy Chow Mein can be made right at home in only 20 minutes with all the classic stir fry goodies like noodles, cabbage, carrots, and bean sprouts with a flavor-rich sauce!

5 from 3 votes

IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

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Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American, Chinese

Servings: 4 servings

20 minutes mins

Calories: 360

Author: Amanda Davis

Ingredients

• ▢ 6 ounces chow mein stir fry noodles
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
• ▢ 2 cups cabbage chopped, measured after chopping
• ▢ 1 cup carrots julienned, measured after chopping
• ▢ ½ cup bean sprouts canned, drained
• ▢ 1 cup green onions chopped

Sauce

• ▢ ¼ cup oyster sauce
• ▢ ¼ cup soy sauce
• ▢ 1 ½ Tablespoons sesame oil
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons dark maple syrup
• ▢ ½ cup vegetable stock
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
• ▢ ½ Tablespoon Asian chili sauce
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon cornstarch

Things You’ll Need

• ▢
  Wok or large skillet
• ▢
  Wooden spoon

Before You Begin

• After cooking and draining the noodles, Chef Antoine suggests tossing the noodles with a small amount of olive oil to keep them from sticking together.
• Store leftover chow mein in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 
• Reheat in the microwave until warmed through or in a skillet over medium heat with a pinch of olive oil. When reheating in the microwave, I sometimes add a few drops of water to remoisten the noodles and other ingredients, but it’s not completely necessary.
• You can add a protein to this dish whether that be chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, and even tofu. I would recommend slicing the protein of choice into thin strips, stir fry style, and browning it in the skillet or wok, then set it aside until all the other ingredients are cooked through. Add the protein back to the skillet at the end.  

Instructions

• Cook chow mein noodles according to package directions. Drain, rinse in cold water, and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk to combine all sauce ingredients.
• In a wok over medium high heat, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil until shimmering.
• Add cabbage and carrots and saute for 2-3 minutes, until carrots begin to get tender and cabbage softens a little.
• Add garlic, toss until combined and cook another minute.
• Add cooked noodles and toss to combine.
• Add sauce and toss to combine.
• Add bean sprouts and toss to combine, cooking one more minute.
• Add green onions, toss to combine.
• Remove from heat and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving (1/4 recipe) | Calories: 360cal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 1625mg | Potassium: 323mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 5695IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 3mg

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