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This Easy Homemade Chow Mein is packed with tender noodles, chicken, stir-fried veggies, and a savory Asian-inspired sauce. A fast, delicious weeknight dinner that tastes just like your favorite takeout!

A skillet of lo mein noodles with chicken, shredded carrots, and green onions sits on a marble surface, surrounded by a plate, chopsticks, sliced green onions, a gray towel, and fresh vegetables on a wooden tray.
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Why You’ll Love Chow Mein!

A woman with long dark hair, wearing earrings and a burgundy top, smiles at the camera in front of a textured, beige background.

Chow Mein is one of those dishes I crave constantly because of the chewy noodles, crisp veggies, and that irresistible savory sauce make it comfort in a bowl.

Making it at home is shockingly easy, and once you try this recipe, you’ll skip the takeout menu entirely. It’s quick, adaptable, and always hits the spot! Whether you’re feeding the family or whipping up a late-night dinner this popular Asian dish is always on our menu!

If you love this dish, you may like Mongolian Beef and Noodles and Hoisin Chicken.

Ingredients

Various ingredients for chicken lo mein are arranged on a white surface, including sliced chicken, shredded cabbage, carrots, green onions, uncooked noodles, sauces, seasonings, garlic, and ginger in separate bowls.
  • Chow Mein Stir Fry Noodles – For the best authentic flavors, we recommend using Fresh Chow Mein Noodles from an Asian Market. Feel free to substitute with egg noodles or spaghetti noodles
  • Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts – You can also use slice chicken thighs, beef or shrimp
  • Vegetable Oil, divided – Any oil with a high smoke point can be used for this recipe. Canola oil, peanut oil, olive oil and avocado oil are all great options.
  • Finely Shredded Cabbage – To save time buy the already chopped cabbage
  • Carrots – Peeled and shredded. You can also use matchstick carrots
  • Fresh Bean Sprouts – Added for flavor
  • Cloves Garlic, minced – Learn How to Mince Garlic Cloves
  • Fresh Grated Ginger – See The Best Ginger Substitutes if you are out
  • Green Onions – Optional topping

For the Sauce

  • Oyster Sauce – If you are out, you can add in more soy sauce
  • Soy Sauce – Coconut aminos can be used instead of soy sauce in you prefer and it’s a good gluten free option.
  • Sesame Oil – See The Best Sesame Oil Substitute if you are out
  • Rice Vinegar – If you are out, see The Best Substitutes for Rice Vinegar
  • Cornstarch – Added to thicken the sauce
  • Brown Sugar – Added for a hint of sweetness

Scroll to the recipe card for the full recipe details.

How to Make Chow Mein

Step 1 – Cook the chow mein noodles based on the package instructions to al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.

A small white bowl contains dark liquid, white powder, and brown sugar, with a whisk resting inside. The bowl sits on a light surface next to a gray striped cloth.

Step 2 – In a small bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients. Set aside.

Raw, sliced chicken breasts with seasoning in a white skillet, being stirred with a wooden spatula. A gray striped cloth is beside the pan on a white marble surface.

Step 3 – Heat 1 Tablespoon of the oil in a large deep skillet over medium high heat. Add the chicken. Season it with salt and pepper.

A white skillet on a marble surface contains shredded cabbage, julienned carrots, and pieces of chicken being cooked. A wooden spoon rests inside the skillet, and a gray-striped towel lies beside it.

Step 4 – Add another tablespoon of oil to the pan. Heat over medium heat. Add in the chopped cabbage, carrots and beans sprouts (if using). Sauté for 1-2 minutes until slightly soft.

A skillet with cooked shredded chicken, carrots, cabbage, and minced garlic on a wooden spoon, sits on a white marble countertop next to a gray striped towel.

Step 5 – Add in the garlic and fresh ginger. Cook for about a minute until you can start to smell the garlic.

A skillet on a marble surface contains cooked noodles, sliced chicken, and shredded vegetables being mixed with a wooden spoon. A gray striped cloth is placed beside the skillet.

Step 6 – Add the cook noodles and the sauce mixture to the pan. Carefully toss to coat all the ingredients with the sauce.

A skillet filled with chicken lo mein, noodles, shredded carrots, and green onions is on a marble counter. Surrounding it are bowls of shredded cabbage, sliced green onions, whole carrots, ginger, garlic, and empty plates with chopsticks.

Step 7 – Serve immediately garnished with green onions. Enjoy!

A white skillet filled with cooked noodles, sliced chicken, shredded carrots, and chopped green onions. In the background, fresh ginger, garlic, and whole carrots are visible on a wooden board.
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A plate of chicken lo mein noodles with sliced carrots and green onions, served with chopsticks. Nearby are bowls of green onions, shredded cabbage, and whole vegetables on a light-colored table.

Chow Mein

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This Easy Homemade Chow Mein is packed with tender noodles, chicken, stir-fried veggies, and a savory Asian-inspired sauce. A fast, delicious weeknight dinner that tastes just like your favorite takeout!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4
Cuisine Chinese
Course Main Course
Calories 700
Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

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Instructions

  • Cook the chow mein noodles based on the package instructions to al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients. Set aside.
  • Heat 1 Tablespoon of the oil in a large deep skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add the chicken. Season it with salt and pepper. Sauté for 3-4 minutes per side until cooked through and both sides are slightly browned.
  • Add another tablespoon of oil to the pan. Heat over medium heat.
  • Add in the chopped cabbage, carrots and beans sprouts (if using). Sauté for 1-2 minutes until slightly soft.
  • Add in the garlic and fresh ginger. Cook for about a minute until you can start to smell the garlic.
  • Add the noodles and the sauce mixture to the pan. Carefully toss to coat all the ingredients with the sauce.
  • Serve immediately garnished with green onions. Enjoy!

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

For the chow mein noodles, make sure that you do not get dried chow mein noodles but fresh noodles. These are generally labeled as chow mein stir fry noodles or pan fried noodles. Yakisoba has a good option (do not use the seasoning packet that comes with these) or you can generally find a nice fresh option at your location asian foods market. Lo mein noodles are also a good option if needed.
Any oil with a high smoke point can be used for this recipe. Canola oil, peanut oil and avocado oil are all great options.
Coconut aminos can be used instead of soy sauce in you prefer and it’s a good gluten free option.
Make sure that the pan is hot before adding in the chicken so that it browns well. You can use tofu or diced shrimp instead of the chicken in this recipe if you prefer or you can use a mixture of your favorite type of protein.
This is best served immediately but you can refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 700kcal, Carbohydrates 71g, Protein 37g, Fat 30g, Saturated Fat 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat 9g, Monounsaturated Fat 11g, Trans Fat 0.1g, Cholesterol 73mg, Sodium 3395mg, Potassium 890mg, Fiber 5g, Sugar 9g, Vitamin A 5318IU, Vitamin C 29mg, Calcium 89mg, Iron 5mg

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Recipe Tips

  • Use Hot Pan – Make sure that the pan is hot before adding in the chicken so that it browns well. You can use a regular large skillet or a Wok.
  • Prepare Chicken – Make sure to cut the chicken about the same size so it cooks evenly.
  • Coating Ingredients – Gently toss the veggies, noodles and chicken together so that everything is coated with the chow mein sauce.

Variation Ideas

  • Change Protein – You can use tofu or diced shrimp instead of the chicken in this recipe if you prefer or you can use a mixture of your favorite type of protein.
  • Vegetables– Add mushrooms, bell peppers, broccoli, celery, bok choy, or snap peas for a veggie packed chow mein. You can even leave out the protein.
  • Spicy Chow Mein – Add chili paste or sriracha to the sauce

Frequently Asked Questions

What Type of Noodles is Best to Make Chow Mein?

Make sure that you do not get dry chow mein noodles but fresh noodles. These are generally labeled as chow mein stir fry noodles or pan fried noodles. Yakisoba has a good option (do not use the seasoning packet that comes with these) or you can generally find a nice fresh option at your location asian foods market. Lo mein noodles are also a good option if needed.

What is the Difference Between Lo Mein and Chow Mein?

The main difference is the type of noodles that these Chinese dishes are made. Lo Mein noodles are usually boiled and chow mein are stir fried and could be crispy.

How to Store Leftovers

This is best served immediately but you can the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.

A white bowl filled with noodles, shredded carrots, chopped green onions, and pieces of chicken, being mixed with wooden salad tongs.

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie Barnard — a professional food blogger with over 14 years of experience helping busy families make dinner fast, easy, and affordable.

At Eating on a Dime, I share simple, budget-friendly recipes that are tested in my own kitchen and approved by my 8 kids. With millions of readers each month, I’m here to help you cook real food for real families — without the stress.

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