Chicken Chow Mein

Why This Recipe Works

My simple summary of why this recipe works for us — and will for you, too! 

Flavor — These chow mein noodles are covered in a quick sauce that hits all the right notes: sweet, spicy, salty, savory. 

Customizable — Use the veggie ideas listed here, use whatever you have on hand, or add to the ingredients list with any of your favorite diced vegetables to pack this chicken chow mein full of nutrition. 

Fast — This one-pot recipe takes less than 30 minutes to come together, even faster if you use pre-cooked chow mein noodles. 

Great leftovers — I like to eat any leftover noodles cold, straight from the container, sometimes for breakfast. If cold noodles aren’t your thing, they reheat in a jiffy in the microwave. 

Pantry staples — Even if you don’t consider oyster sauce a pantry staple, you will after making this Asian chicken dish. Buy it once and use it forever, as a little goes a long way and will be so worth the purchase! 

Ingredients for Chicken Chow Mein

• Chicken Breasts or Tenderloins – cut into 1-inch pieces.
• Sesame Oil
• Minced Garlic
• Shredded Cabbage
• Shredded Carrots
• Green Onions
• Stir Fry Noodles
• Stir Fry Sauce (oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, corn starch, red pepper flakes, water)

Here’s How You Make It

Prepping the sauce

1. Get a small bowl out or mix together right in a large, liquid measuring cup the following sauce ingredients: chicken broth, oyster and soy sauces, sesame oil, sugar, corn starch, and red pepper flakes or Sriracha. Whisk until the cornstarch is completely dissolved.

Making the chow mein

1. Drizzle oil into a large skillet set over medium-high heat. (not pictured)
2. Add the chicken pieces and cook for about 3-4 minutes until browned on all sides and cooked through. Remove them from the skillet with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a dish. Cover to keep warm. (photo 1)
3. Add the veggies and garlic to the same pan and sauté for 1-2 minutes or until the veggies start to become tender.  (photo 2)
4. Add the chicken back to the pan with the veggies, then add the noodles, and pour the sauce over. Give it a good stir to combine everything into the sauce. (photo 3)
5. Keep the chicken chow mein cooking for another 1-2 minutes to thicken, then add the sliced green onions. Serve immediately. (photo 4)

Expert Tips and Tricks 

• I like to purchase cooked chow mein noodles whenever possible, but if you can’t find them, then I’ll just buy uncooked noodles. They cook very fast, just follow the instructions on the package and complete the task prior to the beginning of the recipe. 
• Although oyster sauce is commonly found in the Asian section of grocery stores, your store may not have it. In that case, substitute soy or hoisin sauce. 
• I find that using tongs is the easiest way to toss the noodles, veggies, chicken, and sauce together, but you can also use a wooden spoon or another utensil you have on hand. The bonus of using tongs is that it makes one less thing to wash because you can toss and stir in the pan, then serve right away with the same utensil. One pot, one serving tool, so much less to clean up! 
• If you love spicy food (and don’t have picky people in your house) then may I suggest adding even more red pepper flakes (about ½ a teaspoon at a time) or pile on the Sriracha if you like! Another option would be to add sliced jalapenos to the veggies while you cook — depends on how brave you are I suppose. 
• If you are adding a variety of veggies to the chicken chow mein, the best way to cook them is to saute the thickest vegetables first (think broccoli, peppers, sugar snap peas) and let those cook for a minute or two before adding the faster-cooking veggies like cabbage, mushrooms, and zucchini.