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Chicken Chow Mein

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Delicious Chicken Chow Mein that’s easy to make and takes just 20 minutes. A much healthier and tastier version of the takeaways.

If you’re a vegetarian or vegan and want to make a delicious Chow Mein, try this slightly healthier Vegan Chow Mein recipe.

Chicken Chow Mein in a bowl with a pair of chop sticks

What Type of Noodles is Best for Chow Mein?

You should use either a dry wheat noodle or dry egg wheat noodles. They are normally found in your regular supermarket with either Asian ingredients or near the dry pasta.

There are a ton of different types of Asian noodles, the best one for this recipe is normally called ‘Chow Mein Noodles’ or ‘Shanghai Noodles’.

You will find them in a package like the one below. One nest of dry noodles is about one portion.

A open package of Shanghai Noodles with four portions
Two portions of dry wheat noodles

How to Cook Asian Noodles

Noodles are easy to cook, just like pasta. Some noodles just need a soak in boiling water but most of them will need cooking. Make sure to check the packet’s instruction as the cooking time can vary a lot.

  1. Heat a large pot of water until it starts to boil. Add a generous amount of sea salt.
  2. Add the noodles to the pot, wait 30 seconds then mix. Continue to boil the noodles, stirring every few minutes until cooked.
Large pot cooking dry wheat noodles
Mixing a large pot of cooking noodles

Ingredient Substitutes

If you can’t find an ingredient or just fancy mixing it up, try these recommendations.

Peanut oil – it’s sometimes called groundnut oil. This adds a nice flavour but can be substituted for regular cooking oil.

Dark soy sauce – adds a nice dark colour, flavour and sweetness to the dish. The best alternative for this is 2tbsps of Light Soy Sauce & 1/2 tsp of sugar.

Chicken – this recipe is also delicious with different types of meat and proteins. You can try thinly sliced steak beef, pork, shrimp, or tofu for a vegetarian/vegan option.

Chicken chow mein ingredients prepped and measured

Wok Substitute

The best replacement for a wok is either a skillet or a large deep sauté pan. You will be missing out on the ‘wok hay’ flavour the wok gives, but it will still be tasty!

If you cook stir fry’s regularly like I do, it’s definitely a good investment to buy a good quality wok. A good quality wok only gets better with time, adding more flavour after each use. If you are unsure of which type to buy here is a good quality wok I recommend.

Two bowls of Chicken Chow Mein, with chop sticks grabbing a piece of chicken out of one

Easy Step by Step Recipe

1) Portion and prepare all the ingredients and set them to the side. Cook the noodles according to the package instruction, and place them to the side.
2) Heat 1 tablespoon of peanut oil in a large wok. Add chicken and fry for 4 to 5 minutes, until cooked. Take out of the wok and place to the side.

Chicken fillets being cooked in a wok
Cooked chicken in a large wok

3) Add the rest of the peanut oil, then add onions and fry for a few minutes until brown and soften.

Frying onions in a black wok
Onions that have been fried in a wok

4) Push the vegetables to the side of the wok, add the garlic into the middle then add beansprouts, sea salt and white pepper around the sides. Fry the garlic for 20 to 30 seconds until soft but not burnt. Mix and stir fry for another 30 seconds.

Adding bean sprouts and garlic to the wok
Frying the beansprouts and garlic


5) Add noodles, chicken, sugar & half the spring onions then mix thoroughly. Stir fry for 2 minutes, making sure to keep the ingredients moving.

Adding noodles, chicken and bring onions into the wok
Stir fried chicken chow mein in a wok

6) Mix through the dark soy sauce and sesame oil, turn off the heat and taste for seasoning. Add the rest of the spring onions and serve.

Drizzling dark soy sauce into the noodles
Finished Chow Mein in a large black wok, sprinkled with spring onions

More Recipes You May Like…

If you’re looking for more chicken recipes, try this slow cooker bbq chicken or ruth chris stuffed chicken, they’re both delicious! Or if you’re looking for more tasty Asian recipes check these out:

Chicken Chow Mein in a bowl with a pair of chop sticks

Chicken Chow Mein

Jack Slobodian
Delicious Chicken Chow Mein that's easy to make and takes just 20 minutes. A much healthier and tastier version of the takeaways.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 2 people
Calories 645 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
 
 

  • 125 g Dried Noodles
  • 2 tbsp Peanut Oil
  • 200 g Chicken Fillets cut into halves or thirds
  • 1 small Onion finely sliced
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 80 g Bean Sprouts
  • 2 tbsp Dark Soy Sauce
  • 1 tsp Sesame Oil
  • 1 pinch Sugar
  • 1 pinch Sea Salt
  • 1 pinch White Pepper
  • 1 bunch Spring Onions halved and sliced lengthways

Instructions
 

  • Cook noodles in a large pot of generously salted boiling water.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon of peanut oil in a large wok. Add chicken and fry for 4 to 5 minutes, until cooked. Take out of the wok and place to the side.
  • Add the rest of the peanut oil, then add onions and fry for a few minutes until brown and soften.
  • Push the vegetables to the side of the wok, add the garlic into the middle then add beansprouts, sea salt and white pepper around the sides. Fry the garlic for 20 to 30 seconds until soft but not burnt. Mix and stir fry for another 30 seconds.
  • Add noodles, chicken, sugar & half the spring onions then mix thoroughly. Stir fry for 2 minutes, making sure to keep the ingredients moving.
  • Mix through the dark soy sauce and sesame oil, turn off the heat and taste for seasoning. Add the rest of the spring onions and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 645kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 25gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 1101mgPotassium: 328mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 87IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 1mg
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