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Chicken Chow Mein & Chow Mein Sauce Recipe
Put the takeaway menu down! This chicken chow mein is tasty, delicious and very easy to make at home. It’s made with a homemade chow mein sauce that’s packed full of so much flavour…
Every time I make chicken chow mein I have a ‘WOW, did I just make this’ moment. It literally tastes just like the takeaway, and I can’t stop making it! You’re going to be shocked at how good it tastes, and the best part, you can make it in only 20 minutes. It’s a total win-win!
I don’t think I’ve ever ordered Chinese takeaway without ordering a chicken chow mein, but now with this recipe, you can make it whenever you want. The taste is super authentic to a UK takeaway, and you get to make a big batch of it.
It’s honestly so delicious with vegetables, chicken and egg noodles all tossed and coated in a homemade chow mein sauce – I think it’s the sauce that truly makes this dish taste so good.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Great For Leftovers: You can completely customise this recipe by using leftover vegetables in the fridge or leftover chicken.
- Save Money: This recipe is way cheaper than buying chicken chow mein from your local takeaway, plus you’ll get enough for two big plates or 3 smaller plates!
- Simple To Make: It’s uncomplicated and straightforward to make, plus you only need one pan to make it.
I like using a wok (especially when making Chinese takeaway dishes), but you don’t actually need a wok to make this recipe. You can use a pan, just make sure it’s big enough for your ingredients.
Chicken Chow Mein & Chow Mein Sauce Ingredients
The main ingredients in chow mein (other than noodles) are vegetables, chicken and a homemade chow mein sauce. I’ve listed the ingredients below with a bit more detail:
- Noodles: I like using fresh egg noodles which are usually slightly yellow in colour.
- Vegetables: I added beansprouts and shredded cabbage. The addition of spring onions and garlic adds even more flavour.
- Chicken Breast & Marinade: Dice the chicken into long pieces or cubes. I like to marinate the chicken in a mixture containing ginger and garlic paste, white pepper and dark soy sauce.
- Homemade Chow Mein Sauce: The ingredients to make chow mein sauce include dark soy sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, chilli sauce and salt.
Chow Mein Sauce
I’ve tried time and time again to get the perfect ratio of ingredients for the chow mein sauce and I think it’s safe to say that I finally cracked it…
To make the chow mein sauce I mix dark soy sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, chilli sauce and salt together. It’s tasty, full of umami flavour and the best combo of ingredients ever.
TIP: I wouldn’t recommend skipping any ingredient on the sauce list if possible!
What Noodles To Use For Chow Mein?
I like to use fresh egg noodles because they’re commonly used in Chinese takeaways, and they are the preferred choice. I always find them in the chilled section of supermarkets (usually near the stir-fry sauces and veggies).
Fresh egg noodles are pre-cooked and only need to be reheated by frying for a few minutes. I think it’s the easiest and quickest way to make chow mein.
I’ve tried this recipe using no-egg dried noodles (that are white in colour), they need to boil in hot water for around 5 minutes to soften. I didn’t like the overall taste and texture and it took me a little longer to make the overall dish. Plus, the look of the chow mein was not as brown as when using egg noodles (but it was cheaper overall to make). If you want to use dried noodles, I recommend that you use dried egg noodles.
How To Make Chicken Chow Mein
Here’s a summary of how I make Chinese chicken chow mein and chow mein sauce. You can get the full recipe instructions on the recipe card below:
Step One:
I start by adding diced chicken to a mixing bowl followed by the marinade ingredients and mix everything together, then set it aside for later.
I prep the homemade chow mein sauce by mixing all the sauce ingredients together and then slice the vegetables for later use.
Step Two:
Once all the prep is done, I heat a wok on a medium to high heat and fry the chicken breast for 2 to 3 minutes or until it’s cooked.
Then I add the beansprouts and shredded cabbage and stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes. Next, I add the chopped spring onions and diced garlic and fry for an extra minute.
Step Three:
I pour the egg noodles into the wok and stir fry for 1 to 2 minutes and finish by drizzling the homemade chow mein sauce on top. Everything is mixed together until evenly distributed.
My Top Tips
If you’re buying your ingredients in a supermarket, go to the worlds’ food aisle. It’s likely that section will have authentic products which are cheaper in price (like jared ginger and garlic paste).
This recipe is super quick; dinner in 20 minutes sounds crazy right? It’s the perfect quick and tasty meal if you’re using egg noodles, dried noodles will add time as you have to pre-cook it.
You don’t have to use this sauce only when you’re making chow mein, it’s great for lots of other noodle dishes too!
How To Store Leftover Chow Mein
I keep leftovers in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. When reheating it, I place it in a microwavable container with the lid loosely fitted and microwave until it’s piping hot throughout.
More Chinese Recipes
Go all out with a Chinese feast with these Chinese fakeaway recipes below:
- Yaki Udon Noodles
- King Prawn Chow Mein
- Char Siu Chow Mein
- Chinese Crispy Beef
- Honey Chilli Chicken
- Salt And Pepper Chicken