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Chicken Chow Mein Recipe: Easy, Saucy & Better Than Takeaway

You can prepare a restaurant-quality chicken chow mein at home injust 30 minutes using tender chicken, crisp vegetables and springy noodles that aretossed in a rich, savoury sauce. Below is the method which will give you perfect noodleseach time
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 13 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • For the Chicken Marinade:
  • 1 lb 450 g boneless chicken breast, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • For the Noodles and Vegetables:
  • 8 oz 225 g chow mein or egg noodles
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated
  • 1 medium carrot cut into thin strips
  • 1 red bell pepper sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cabbage
  • 1 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 3 spring onions cut into 1-inch pieces
For the Sauce:
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce for colour
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water
Optional Additions:
  • 1 tablespoon chilli sauce for heat
  • 1 teaspoon rice vinegar for brightness
  • A handful of bean sprouts for extra crunch

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions
    Part 1: Prepare the Chicken and Noodles
    1. Put the sliced chicken into the soy sauce, cornstarch and pepper and let it stand for 10
    2. minutes; the cornstarch coating ensures that the meat remains tender and juicy when it
    3. is heated in the pan.
    4. In the meantime, boil some water and cook the noodles according to the instructions in
    5. the packet, for about 3 to 4 minutes, until they are just al dente. After cooking, drain them
    6. and rinse them briefly under cold water to halt the cooking process, then mix them over
    7. with a teaspoon of oil so that they won't stick together. Mix all the sauce ingredients
    8. together in a small bowl.
    Part 2: Stir-Fry the Chicken and Vegetables
    1. Put one tablespoon of oil into a large wok or skillet and heat it over high heat. Add the
    2. chicken, placing it in a single layer, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until it is golden and fully
    3. cooked. Take the chicken off and put it on a plate.
    4. Put in another tablespoon of oil into the pan. Stir-fry the garlic and ginger for 30 seconds,
    5. after which add the carrot, bell pepper and mushrooms and cook them for 2 to 3 minutes.
    6. Then add the cabbage and cook it for one more minute. The vegetables should remain
    7. bright and slightly crunchy.
    Part 3: Toss and Serve
    1. Put the noodles, chicken and sauce into the pan and use the tongs to mix everything
    2. together for 2 to 3 minutes until the noodles are evenly coated and have been heated
    3. through. Then add the spring onions, taste the dish and if necessary adjust the
    4. seasoning with a bit more soy sauce or pepper. Serve it straight away while it's hot.
    Tips for the Perfect Chicken Chow Mein
    1. Do not boil the noodles for too long since they will continue to cook in the pan; therefore,
    2. stop boiling them when they still have a little bite.
    3. Apply a high heat; a pan that is very hot imparts a slightly smoky, restaurant-style flavour
    4. to the noodles and the vegetables.
    5. Prepare the food in stages; if you put too many ingredients in the pan at once they will
    6. steam rather than fry.
    7. Cut everything as thinly and evenly as possible so that it cooks quickly and at the same
    8. speed.
    9. Start by mixing the sauce. After the wok has been heated, there isn't a chance to
    10. measure the bottles.
    11. After draining the noodles, make sure to dry them well because the extra water will thin
    12. the sauce.
    Easy Variations
    1. Instead of using chicken, use thin strips of beef or peeled shrimp.
    2. For vegetable chow mein, instead of using chicken add tofu, broccoli and baby corn.
    3. For spicy chow mein, add chilli sauce or some fresh sliced chillies together with the
    4. garlic.
    5. To make egg chow mein, scramble the eggs in the pan first then add the noodles.
    6. For a gluten-free option, use rice noodles and tamari in place of soy sauce.
    7. For the crispy noodle style, first pan-fry the cooked noodles in a small amount of oil until
    8. they are golden at the edges.
    Storage and Reheating
    1. Leave the chow mein to cool before putting it into a sealed container and storing it in the
    2. refrigerator where it will last for up to three days. When you want to reheat it, stir-fry it in
    3. a hot pan with a little water or a drizzle of oil for 2 to 3 minutes since this method restores
    4. the texture far better than using a microwave. It is not advisable to freeze it as the
    5. noodles and vegetables will lose their texture.
    Frequently Asked Questions
      Which kinds of noodles are most suitable for chow mein?
      1. Egg noodles which are either fresh or dried and marked 'chow mein' are best, and
      2. spaghetti or ramen noodles (without the flavour packet) will also do satisfactorily.
      Why are my noodles sticking together or turning mushy?
      1. They might have been overcooked or hadn't been rinsed; cook them until they are al
      2. dente, rinse them, and then toss them with a little oil.
      How can I keep the chicken soft?
      1. Thinly slice it, marinate it using cornstarch, and cook it rapidly over high heat without
      2. overcrowding.
      Is it possible to prepare chow mein without using oyster sauce?
      1. Alright, add a bit more soy sauce and a little sugar, or use a splash of hoisin sauce.
      How is chow mein different from lo mein?
      1. Chow mein noodles are stir-fried until they are slightly crisp at the edges, whereas lo
      2. mein noodles are boiled and then gently tossed in sauce, which makes them softer.
      May I make it in advance?
      1. The vegetables and chicken can be cut up and the sauce mixed a day in advance, and
      2. the noodles can be cooked and the stir-frying done just before serving.

      Notes

      This recipe for chicken chow mein shows that an excellent noodle dish requires just good technique—such as tender marinated chicken, al dente noodles, high heat, and a well balanced sauce. It's quick, colourful and full of flavour, and it's easy to adjust to your family's preferences. Just heat the wok and treat yourself to a serving of takeaway-style comfort at home tonight.