Easy Chicken Chow Mein with the Best Homemade Sauce: The Ultimate 20-Minute Takeout-Style Dinner

There are recipes that taste good, and then there are recipes that taste like they came straight from your favorite takeout spot—without the price tag, excess oil, or mystery ingredients. Easy Chicken Chow Mein with the Best Homemade Sauce falls into the second category. This dish is everything weeknight dinners should be: fast, budget-friendly, flavorful, and impossible not to crave again the next day.

Chicken chow mein has long been a staple of Chinese-American cuisine, beloved for its springy noodles, tender vegetables, and savory umami-packed sauce. What makes this version truly stand out is the sauce—it’s rich, glossy, perfectly balanced, and clings to every noodle like a dream. It’s the kind of sauce you’ll want to bottle and keep in your fridge at all times.

In this recipe, we’re recreating that signature takeout flavor with simple everyday ingredients. No hard-to-find items, no complicated steps, and no wok required (although using one certainly adds charm). You can whip this entire meal together in about 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy families, students, or anyone who wants seriously good noodles without hassle.

Let’s dive into the magic of homemade chow mein—because once you make it at home, you may never order takeout again.

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Chow Mein

✔ Fast and Easy

From prep to plate in under 25 minutes, this is your new emergency dinner that never disappoints.

✔ Made with Real Ingredients

No MSG, no preservatives—just fresh vegetables, lean chicken, and pantry staples.

✔ The Best Homemade Chow Mein Sauce

Balanced with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, oyster sauce, a touch of sweetness, and sesame oil.

✔ Customizable

Use beef, shrimp, tofu, or keep it vegetarian. Swap veggies with what you already have.

✔ Kid and Family Friendly

It’s mild but flavorful, and the glossy noodles are irresistible.

Ingredients

For the Chicken Chow Mein

• 8 oz chow mein noodles (fresh or dry)
• 1 lb chicken breast, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 2 cups shredded cabbage
• 1 cup matchstick carrots or thin slices
• 1 celery stalk, thinly sliced
• 4 green onions, sliced (white for stir-fry, green for garnish)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger

For the Best Homemade Chow Mein Sauce

• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce (optional, for color)
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar (or honey)
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
• ½ cup chicken broth or water
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Instructions

1. Cook the noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. Prepare the sauce by whisking together soy sauces, oyster sauce, hoisin, sugar, sesame oil, vinegar, broth, and cornstarch. Set aside.
3. Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil.
4. Add the sliced chicken and cook until lightly golden and fully cooked, about 4–5 minutes.
5. Stir in the garlic, ginger, and white parts of the green onions. Cook 30 seconds.
6. Add the cabbage, carrots, and celery. Stir-fry for 2–3 minutes until softened but still crisp.
7. Add the cooked noodles to the skillet.
8. Pour the homemade chow mein sauce over the noodles.
9. Toss everything together until the noodles are glossy and fully coated, and the sauce has thickened.
10. Garnish with green onion tops and serve immediately.

Easy Chicken Chow Mein with the Best Homemade Sauce

A fast, flavorful, takeout-style chicken chow mein made with tender noodles, crisp vegetables, and the best homemade savory sauce.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Servings: 4 people

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: Chinese-American

Calories: 420

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Chow Mein

• 8 oz chow mein noodles
• 1 lb chicken breast thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp oil
• 2 cups shredded cabbage
• 1 cup carrots matchstick or thinly sliced
• 1 celery stalk thinly sliced
• 4 green onions sliced
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tsp ginger fresh grated

Chow Mein Sauce

• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp dark soy sauce optional
• 2 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp rice vinegar
• 0.5 cup chicken broth or water
• 1 tsp cornstarch

Equipment

• Large skillet or wok
• Mixing bowl
• Tongs

Method

 

1. Cook noodles according to package instructions; drain and set aside.
2. Whisk together all sauce ingredients and set aside.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
4. Add chicken and cook until fully cooked and lightly golden.
5. Stir in garlic, ginger, and white parts of green onions; cook 30 seconds.
6. Add cabbage, carrots, and celery; stir-fry until crisp-tender.
7. Add cooked noodles to the skillet.
8. Pour sauce over noodles and toss until evenly coated and glossy.
9. Garnish with green onion tops and serve warm.

Notes

For a richer flavor, add a splash of chili oil or extra sesame oil before serving.

Tips for Perfect Chow Mein Every Time

Use Fresh Noodles If You Can

Fresh chow mein noodles work best because they are springy and fry beautifully. Dry noodles also work—just avoid overcooking.

High Heat Matters

Stir-frying on higher heat helps vegetables stay crisp and adds that authentic smoky flavor.

Slice the Chicken Thin

Thin slices cook quickly and evenly, preventing dryness.

Don’t Skip the Sauce Ingredients

Hoisin adds sweetness, oyster sauce adds savory richness, and sesame oil adds nutty aroma.

Variations

Vegetarian Chow Mein

Swap chicken for tofu or more veggies like mushrooms or bell peppers.

Beef or Shrimp Chow Mein

Use thinly sliced flank steak or peeled shrimp. Both cook in minutes.

Spicy Chow Mein

Add ½–1 teaspoon chili flakes, chili oil, or sriracha.

Low-Sodium Version

Use low-sodium soy sauce and reduce the oyster sauce slightly.

Serving Suggestions

Chicken chow mein is amazing on its own, but for a bigger meal serve it with:

• Spring rolls
• Asian cucumber salad
• Stir-fried broccoli
• Egg drop soup

Leftovers reheat beautifully, making this ideal for meal prep.

Fun Cultural Context

Chow mein (炒面) literally translates to “stir-fried noodles.” Originating in Northern China, it became popular worldwide thanks to Chinese immigrants who adapted the dish using locally available ingredients. Over time, chow mein became a beloved comfort food in Chinese-American cuisine, with countless regional variations. This recipe captures the best of both worlds—authentic flavors with the weeknight convenience we all need.