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Make amazing homemade Chow Mein in 15 minutes! These noodles are highly adaptable and you can make them sweet or spicy, however you like! I originally wrote this recipe way back in 2015 and since then it has become one of my consistently top recipes. It won’t take you long to realize why. I love this recipe along with the rest of my Asian-inspired recipes!
Quick and Easy Chow Mein!
I definitely have my favorite take-out dishes from various places and the chow mein is usually just fine. But when I make them myself, I can add in as much flavor as I want and eat a whole pan of them for maybe $2. I’m a cheap date, ya’ll. Also, I’m all about quick and easy recipes and this one does not disappoint. You can make these Asian-y inspired noodles as salty, sweet, spicy, or gingery as you’d like…and all in 15 minutes!
But First, What is Chow Mein?
Chow Mein is made up of stir-fried noodles with vegetables and/or meat. It’s a popular dish in most American Chinese restaurants and now in your home too!
I made this recipe so it could be a customizable base for your dinner needs; add meat, different vegetables, and even a different type of noodle if you want.
Chow Mein Ingredients
- Chow Mein Noodles: Made with wheat and egg, traditional chow mein noodles have a distinctive bite to them that reminds me of classic Italian pasta noodles. You will get dried chow mein noodles in the Asian aisle in nearly every grocery store. Some markets also have pre-cooked fresh noodles in the refrigerated section that you can simply throw straight into your pan with the veggies.
- Vegetables: Some classic vegetables used for chow mein include green onions, carrots, cabbage, or bean sprouts. However, you can get creative with your selection of veggies and use bok choy, water chestnuts, broccoli, spinach, kale, celery, corn, bamboo shoots or snap peas. If you have any leftover veggies in your fridge, making chow mein will be an excellent way to use them up.
- Meat: Any type of good quality meat will work well as a source of protein for your chow mein. Opt for chicken breast or thighs, beef, pork, or shrimp – they will make your dish not only delicious but also filling.
Are you vegetarian or vegan? You can enjoy your chow mein in its plant-based version by using vegetable stock and replacing meat with tofu or tempeh. Incredible taste guaranteed!
How to Make Chow Mein
When I say this is a super easy Chow Mein recipe, I mean it! For full recipe details, check out the recipe card below! Here is what you can expect when making this recipe:
1. Cook Chow Mein Noodles
Cook ramen noodles in boiling water until chewy and *just* cooked. Drain and set aside.
*Chow Mein Noodles* – AKA ramen noodles. I used the cheap packaged ramen that comes with little seasoning packets. However, you are welcome to buy and use store-bought fresh ramen or yakisoba noodles.
2. Sauté Cabbage, Onions + Ginger
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Sauté onion, shredded green cabbage, salt, pepper, and fresh ginger together until tender.
3. Toss Together with Flavorings
In a small bowl combine sugar, garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil together. Pour over cooked noodles and toss until heated through. Serve hot!
Storing Chow Mein
Any leftover Chow Mein can be stored in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days. After that, things start to get a little too mushy!
Freezing Instructions
Chow Mein actually freezes really well! Let cool then transfer to a freezer-safe airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months!
To reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight then do a quick stir fry to warm things up!
What to Serve with Chow Mein Noodles
If you feel like you need some protein with this meal, I have a few ideas for you below. You could also just add some chicken or shrimp right to your noodles and call it a day! See below for side dish ideas too.
Here are 30+ more ideas for What Serve with Chow Mein.
Chow Mein Recipe FAQ
Chow mein is a Chinese dish made with stir-fried noodles, vegetables, and meat or seafood. The name “chow mein” comes from the Taishanese word for “fried noodles”.
Chow mein noodles are typically made from wheat flour and eggs. They can be found fresh or dried in Asian markets and some grocery stores. If you can’t find chow mein noodles, you can substitute them with ramen noodles or other long noodles, even thin spaghetti noodles.
Yes, frozen vegetables can be used in chow mein. Just make sure to thaw them before cooking and drain any excess water. I typically prefer using fresh ingredients for this recipe, but I know that’s not always an option or convenient.
Be sure to cook the noodles in a large pot of boiling water and stir frequently. After cooking, rinse the noodles with cold water to stop the cooking process and prevent them from sticking together.
Yes, chow mein can be made ahead of time and reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop. Just be sure to store the noodles and vegetables separately from the sauce to prevent them from getting soggy.
Basically any asian inspired, savory sauce you enjoy would be tasty on chow mein! Dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, Hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, etc. are all great options.
More Asian-Inspired Recipes to Try!
- Ramen Stir Fry
- Sesame Noodle Salad
- Kung Pao Chicken (Family Favorite!)
- Chicken Pad Thai
- Bang Bang Chicken
- Easy Fried Rice
More from Lauren’s Latest
I hope you love this homemade chow mein recipe! It’s so easy and and great way to use up some veggies! Give this Chow Mein Recipe a try tonight and see if you like them as much as my family does. Printable recipe card is below! Enjoy, friends.
If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.
Chow Mein Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 packages ramen noodles* or yakisoba noodles
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 small onion diced
- 10 oz shredded cabbage
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger or grate in a little fresh ginger
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
Instructions
- Cook ramen noodles in boiling water until chewy and *just* cooked. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté onion, cabbage, salt, pepper, ginger together until tender.
- Toss together with cooked noodles, sugar, garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil until heated through.
- Serve hot.
I want to make chow mein like the type in BC [Canada] restaraunts . The ChowMein has zero vegetables in it – veggies and meat are a side dish. When done the noodles are totally dry to the touch but soft and tender – NOT WET! They dont even really look like a noodle as they áre not limp and wont hang loosely from the fork. Not crunchy either I think they are more yellowish than white. They noodles are topped with little bit of shaved chicken or ham and gteen onion as a garnish. Cant figure out what noodle to use or if they are cooked using steam?
if you want it to taste like panda express then you need to add some sweet teriyaki sauce because without it your noodles will taste a little beefy
This is Lo Mein, not Chow Mein !!
I just made this again. This time I sautéed some kielbasa in the oil first and then added the onion. I always use the bagged coleslaw. It so much easier and quicker and gives variety in the veggies. I go easy on the soya sauce and salt but add sweet chilli red pepper sauce to it. Always awesome! (I know adding the sausage detracts from it being Asian, but it is so good in there.)
test
Can i add chicken to this to make chicken chow mein, if so how much?
I will be trying this. Sounds great. I think I might add Chinese bamboo sprouts and shrimp. Yum!
We literally used what we had which was left over soy sauce e pa KS from places old coleslaw mix no ginger sugar salt as soy is salty enough and no sesame as I don’t like it. Prefer this over going places. Making it again as we speak.
Haven’t tried it yet…. Gonna cook some with dinner tonight but don’t have cabbage (all out at my local store) so we will see how it will taste without it 🙂
I just found this recipe, made it a few minutes ago & am RAVING about it! SO simple, incredibly delicious, and filling. I added green beans & red & orange bell pepper since my garden is working overtime – the sauce works with ANY veggie!
I was just getting ready to make dinner when this recipe popped up in my email. I had everything in my refrigerator and made this with hakim noodles and added a quarter of a cup of frozen peas and carrots. On my goodness, this was the best side dish to our pork chops. We even added the leftover meat into the leftover noodles for our lunch tomorrow. This was fast, easy and tasted wonderful.
This is awesome! I cut the recipe in half and forgot to add the sugar but did add chicken. Soooooooo good. This is a keeper!
Does the sesame oil make a big difference. I don’t have any and plan on trying this. I have priced it in the past and it is a little pricey and for no more often than I would use it, I didn’t want to buy it.
It adds an intense sesame flavor. You can leave it out, but it won’t be *as* flavorful as if you used it. Still should be good, though 🙂
Super fast, easy and full of flavor. Thank you!
Can this be made without the sugar????
I like the sugar because it adds a nice balance. You are welcome to leave it out, though!
I made this tonight and it is delicious! I only had 3 ramen packages so went with that. I used all the cabbage, onions and added one 1 large shredded carrot. I used fresh grated ginger. I also added thinly sliced pork loin that I soaked for about 5 minutes in the soy and fresh chopped garlic. Added the pork into the veggies in the middle of the pan, pushing the veggies to the sides until the pork got mostly cooked. Then stirred it all together to finish cooking. I finished the recipe as stated.
Make this! I couldn’t stop eating it!
Thank you for the recipe! 😋
I love all of your recipes just the way YOU post them! Do you add the flavoring packet? Never fixed ramen noodles before!
Im curious on the recipe’s carb count, since one ramen packet is about 52 carbs??? Maybe I’m not understanding correctly? It looks delicious, would love to try it, but Im doing lowcarb.
I haven’t tried this yet, but was thinking of making it for dinner tonight. I’m quarantined at the moment and was wondering if i can make this without the sesame oil? I don’t have any in the house and I REALLY want to try this recipe!
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Hi, I made the recipe, it was delicious. Thank you for sharing. I have a question what is the serving size? Cups?? Oz??
Counting calories
They’re in the recipe card. 4 servings, 128 calories per serving.
Do you not mix in the seasoning packet? Just use the noodles for this dish?
I love this! We are always looking for a quick easy way to make an Asian inspired side dish!
This is one our family favorites! I cram it full of veggies and my kids don’t complain.
I absolutely love this!!! I’ll add chicken to this as well. It’s so good & super easy!!!
So easy and so delicious! Have tweaked it to my family’s tastes, and added shrimp or pork. Now I’m passing the recipe along to anyone who mentions ramen in my presence! Thanks, Lauren!
I’ve had this recipe bookmarked for a looooong time! I can’t believe I haven’t tried it yet – I love Chow Mein noodles and can’t wait to make them at home!
So good! Added chicken, snow peas and water chestnuts. Quick and easy meal!
Maybe because I’m part Asian but we do a version of this recipe. But the only thing I would say to try is adding a little corstarch premixed in a glass with a little water to the it at the end. It will make the sauce stick to the noodles and changes the texture of your meat if you cook with it with meat too! I have small portions of cut up beef so I can grab it from my freezer if I want to add meat to this too. Depending on what we feel! Either way! Yummy!!
Used this as my base recipe. Sliced pork very thin, marinated in soy sauce then coated with cornstarch and stir fried. Added diced carrots and celery.
Came out delicious!
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Just ran across this last week and have now been ordered by my HS daughter to make it 4 times!! I cheated even further and used frozen diced onion and bagged coleslaw everything else the same. Great quick meal for after sports plus I’m vegetarian and my family isn’t so this was a SCORE!
How about using angel hair pasta?
Hi Lauren,
I made your recipe last night and everyone loved it. My 13 year old granddaughter told me thank you and she loved it. Thank you for sharing.
I made this the other night and it was absolutely delicious. I have tried a few other versions of this recipe and yours is by far the best I have made. So happy to have this great chow mein recipe as my go-to now! Thanks!!
Made this the other day, and it was great and the kids loved it.
So freaking amazing!
We love this recipe!
Do you think I could double up this sauce and add it to chicken thighs in the crock pot?
Just made this! Was pretty good! A bit dry but i can work on that next time. I used 3 pkgs of ramen. Used only 1 pkg of the seasoning. I didn’t have any soy sauce tho. Oh well. Still good. Easy & cheap!
Yummy
So you do not use the seasoning packet that comes with the Ramen???
no!
you can but for a more chow mein type taste then don’t add it, that’s just my personal opinion when it comes to this recipe
Calorie count anyone?
I foroot to mention,that when my grandson did the running and banging his head…it was thefirst signs of Aspbergers…have your Dr. check him,it’s best to be certain then wait till he injures himself internally…