Quick & Easy Chicken Chow Mein Recipe
A quick and easy recipe for Chicken Chow Mein featuring tender chicken thighs, fresh chow mein noodles, and crunchy vegetables stir-fried in a savory soy-based sauce. Perfect for a flavorful weeknight dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Marinade
- 1 lb skinless boneless chicken thighs (thinly sliced)
- 2 tbsp regular soy sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 3 tbsp oyster sauce (or vegetarian stir fry sauce)
- 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine (or Dry Sherry wine or chicken stock)
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp white granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp white pepper (or black pepper)
- 2 tsp cornstarch (or potato starch)
- 4 cloves garlic (thinly sliced)
Noodle Sauce
- 1/2 cup chicken stock (low-sodium)
- 2 tsp regular soy sauce
- 1 tsp cornstarch (or potato starch)
- 2 tsp water (cold)
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb chow mein noodles (fresh kind)
- 2 cups mung bean sprouts (washed and strained, or soy bean sprouts)
- 2 cups cabbage (thinly sliced)
- 1 cup celery (thinly sliced)
- 1 cup carrot (julienned)
- 2 green onion (chopped into 1-inch pieces)
- 2 tsp vegetable oil (or any neutral tasting oil)
Instructions
- Marinate Chicken: In a bowl, combine the sliced chicken thighs with soy sauces, oyster sauce, Shaoxing wine, sesame oil, sugar, white pepper, cornstarch, and sliced garlic. Mix well and let it marinate for 10 minutes to absorb flavors.
- Prepare Noodle Sauce: In a small bowl, mix together chicken stock, soy sauce, cornstarch, and cold water. Set aside; this will be the sauce to coat the noodles during stir-frying.
- Soften Noodles: Place chow mein noodles in a large bowl or pan and soak them in hot boiling water for 10-15 seconds or just until loosened. Drain the noodles thoroughly and set aside.
- Cook Chicken: Heat 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and stir-fry until it is about 75% cooked through, which takes a few minutes.
- Stir-Fry Vegetables: Add carrots, celery, and cabbage to the pan with the chicken. Stir-fry until the vegetables have softened slightly. Then push the chicken and vegetables to one side of the pan to make space.
- Cook Noodles and Combine: Add the remaining 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil into the empty space of the pan, followed by the drained noodles and the prepared noodle sauce. Stir-fry continually, tossing the noodles to coat them evenly with the sauce for about 30 seconds.
- Add Final Ingredients: Toss in mung bean sprouts and green onions, stir-fry together for an additional 10 seconds to combine all flavors and heat through.
- Serve: Transfer to plates and enjoy your quick and flavorful Chicken Chow Mein immediately.
Notes
- Use fresh chow mein noodles for best texture, but dried noodles can be substituted with longer soaking time.
- Adjust soy sauce quantities according to taste preference for saltiness.
- Shaoxing wine can be replaced with dry sherry or chicken stock for a non-alcoholic option.
- Vegetarian oyster sauce can be used to make this dish vegetarian-friendly if chicken is omitted.
- Be cautious not to over-soak noodles to prevent them from becoming mushy.
Keywords: Chicken Chow Mein, Stir Fry Noodles, Quick Dinner, Easy Chinese Recipe, Chicken Stir Fry
