Chow Mein: A Chinese Chef's Masterclass (鷄肉炒麵)

Everything you need to know to master Chinese takeout chow mein noodles!

flodesk gif
Prep Time
20 min
Total Time
35 min
Yields
4 servings
YouTube Tutorial

A Recipe by Daddy Lau

My dad's been cooking Chinese food for over 50 years - as a kid fending for himself in Guangzhou, as the head chef of his own restaurant, and as a loving father in our home.

Hopefully, by learning this recipe, you'll get to experience some of the delicious joy we felt growing up eating his food!

- Randy

This is your ultimate guide to cooking the chow mein of your dreams! Use this recipe as a base. Then, adapt the protein and vegetables to whatever is available to you. Let us know where your creativity takes you!

In the recipe, we branch off the instructions a bit near the end to accommodate your equipment. If your cookware slopes down like a traditional wok shape, where the liquid of the ingredients would collect in the bottom, we recommend cooking the chicken and the vegetables separately.

If you're cooking on a flatter piece of cookware, which gives the liquid of the ingredients a better chance of evaporating quickly, you can cook the chicken and vegetables together.

Check out a quick story summary of our recipe!

Ingredients

Weight: US
oz
g
Volume: US
cup
mL
Servings
4

Main Ingredients

  • 18 oz thick chow mein noodles
  • 2 oz red onion
  • 2 oz carrot
  • 6 oz cabbage
  • 1 oz green onion
  • 4 oz bean sprouts
  • 12 oz chicken thigh
  • 4 tbsp corn oil

Chicken Marinade

  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 3 tsp cornstarch
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 0.25 tsp white pepper

Sauce

  • 2 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 2 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 2 tsp dark soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp chicken bouillon powder
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil

The best vegetables for chow mein

The most ideal vegetables for your chow mein will provide a refreshing crunchy texture to go along with the noodles. They also need to stand up to the intense heat and motion of stir-frying, so avoid leafy greens like bok choy or spinach, which would quickly soften and wilt.

In our recipe, we show you how to make chow mein with the classic carrot and cabbage. Other great options include celery, the harder stalks of some greens, and broccoli.

How to pick noodles for chow mein

If you can get your hands on them, we prefer making this chow mein recipe using thick fresh yellow noodles. If you can’t find those, you can use ramen noodles or dried egg noodles.

In a pinch, you could use pasta, like angel hair or spaghetti, but it’s not ideal for getting that signature aromatic stir-fried noodle texture.

Follow our recipe instructions as written if you are using fresh noodles.

If you use dried noodles, skip the steaming step, and boil the noodles directly. You can follow the instructions on the package of noodles, or adjust the time so the noodles come out with your preferred texture.

Step 1: Prepare veggies

We always like to chop the vegetables before the cutting board is contaminated with raw meat. To harmonize with the long, thin shape of the noodles, we'll be cutting all our vegetables into long, thin strips.

Cut the red onion (2 oz) into strips.

Stabilize the carrot (2 oz) by cutting a thin slice along the side. Put the carrot with that base down, then cut into thin slices. Angle the slices so that they are more oblong than circular. Then, cut the slices into strips.

Cut the cabbage (6 oz) into strips as well, about 1/2-inch thick.

Cut the green onions (1 oz) into 1-inch long pieces.

Step 2: Prepare chicken

If you have bone-in chicken thighs (12 oz), begin by deboning the meat. To remove the bone, angle your knife towards it and slice down both sides. When the bone is more exposed, pull it up vertically and slice around it to release it from the flesh.

Even out the thickness of the meat by slicing through the thicker parts of the flesh. Then, cut into thin strips, going along with the grain.

Place the strips of chicken into a bowl. To this bowl, add oyster sauce (1 tbsp), cornstarch (3 tsp), water (3 tbsp) and white pepper (0.25 tsp). Mix well so all the seasonings are well-distributed and all of the chicken is well-coated. Set aside to marinate.

Step 3: Create sauce

In a bowl, combine oyster sauce (2 tbsp), light soy sauce (2 tbsp), dark soy sauce (2 tsp), sugar (1 tsp), and chicken bouillon powder (1 tsp).

Step 4: Steam & boil noodles

Place a steamer rack in a wok. Add a couple inches of boiling water, but stop before you reach the top of the steaming rack. Turn the heat to high.

Place the chow mein noodles (18 oz) on a plate or a perforated steamer basket. Put it into the wok and cover with the lid.

Once the water is boiling, begin your timer (so if your water is already steaming nicely, start counting right away). Steam for 12-15 minutes with the stove on high heat.

Once the time’s up, take out the noodles, remove the steamer rack, then dump the noodles directly into the boiling water in the wok. Loosen up the noodles and cook for 5-6 minutes on medium-high heat.

If you break apart a strand of noodle and the center has a pale dot, the noodle is not fully cooked through and it needs a bit more time. If there’s no white dot, it’s ready.

Drain the cooked noodles through a colander.

Step 5: Stir-fry chicken

Add oil (1 tbsp) to the bowl of marinated chicken and mix to distribute. This oil helps the chicken pieces loosen up from one another, reduces sticking in the wok, and contributes to a softer, silkier texture on the surface of the meat itself.

Heat the wok on high. When it just begins to smoke, add oil (2 tbsp) and swirl to coat.

Lower the heat to medium and add the chicken to the wok. Use chopsticks or a spatula to spread the chicken out in the wok so that more surface area can sear. Let the bottom of the chicken pieces sear before stirring. After 30-40 seconds, when the chicken pieces have developed a good sear, they’ll begin to release from the wok on their own.

Increase the heat to high, stirring and separating the chicken pieces with a spatula. Stir-fry the chicken like this for 40-50 seconds until the chicken is nearly or fully cooked through.

Wok cooking: Turn the heat down to medium and transfer the chicken to a clean dish; we’ll bring it back later.

Large frying pan cooking: Turn the heat down. Do not remove the chicken.

Step 6: Stir-fry veggies

There should be plenty of residual oil left in the wok after stir-frying the chicken, so we won’t need to add any additional oil at this point. Add the red onions and cook until they’re aromatic.

Add the cabbage and stir-fry together for 20-30 seconds.

Add the carrots and stir-fry together for 30 seconds on high heat.

Wok cooking: Remove the vegetables from the wok. You can transfer them into the dish that’s holding the cooked chicken.

Large frying pan cooking: Remove the chicken and the vegetables from the wok, transferring them into a clean dish.

Step 7: Stir-fry noodles

Add oil (1 tbsp) to the wok or pan.

Add noodles and turn the heat up to high. Use chopsticks to loosen the noodles up and quickly spread them out over the surface of the wok. Don’t stir or mix them up yet; give the noodles time to sear and take on some lovely golden-brown coloring.

After 1 minute of pan-frying the noodles, stir and flip the noodles around so that a new side of the noodles can sear. Pan-fry for another minute so this side can also get golden-brown.

Lower the heat to medium and let the noodles pan-fry for a final 40 seconds. (Last chance for that crispy golden-brown goodness!)

Add sauce

Give the sauce a stir to make sure that it’s still well-combined. Turn the heat to low, and pour the sauce into the wok. Stir until the sauce is well-distributed.

Add everything else & serve

Add the pre-cooked chicken and vegetables back into the wok. Mix and stir-fry all together until well-combined, or for 30 seconds.

Turn the heat up to medium-high and add the bean sprouts. Stir-fry until the bean sprouts (4 oz) are warmed up and mixed into the noodles, or about 1 minute.

For a finishing note of nutty aroma and a glossy shine, drizzle sesame oil (1 tbsp) over the chow mein. Mix and stir-fry on high heat until it’s just distributed, about 1 minute.

Plate and serve. Enjoy!

FAQ

How do you prevent soggy chow mein noodles?

  • The steaming step is the key! You kickstart the cooking process without allowing the noodles to soak up excess water. Then you add them to the water so they can cook and absorb water at the same time. By having different levels of cooking and soaking time, the noodles can hydrate the appropriate amount.

How do you keep noodles from sticking to the wok?

  • Make sure that your wok is hot, dry, and just beginning to smoke. Then add your oil. Give the oil a quick swirl to coat the wok, and now the noodles won't stick.
  • It's important that the wok is hot and dry so that when the oil goes in, the wok can soak up the oil. If there's any moisture, that moisture will block the oil from soaking in.
  • If it sticks just a bit, and you're almost done cooking, don't stress about it. Just keep chugging along and plate the chow mein when it's done.

How do you make vegetarian chow mein?

  • Our chow mein recipe is chicken, but it's very simple to make it vegan or vegetarian. Swap out the meat for an alternative protein like mushrooms or firm tofu, and swap out the oyster sauce and chicken bouillon powder for vegetarian options.

Summary

Print Recipe
Made With Lau
madewithlau.com/recipes/chow-mein
Chow Mein: A Chinese Chef's Masterclass (鷄肉炒麵)
Everything you need to know to master Chinese takeout chow mein noodles!
  • Prep Time: 20 min
  • Total Time: 35 min
  • Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients

Main Ingredients

  • 18 oz thick chow mein noodles
  • 2 oz red onion
  • 2 oz carrot
  • 6 oz cabbage
  • 1 oz green onion
  • 4 oz bean sprouts
  • 12 oz chicken thigh
  • 4 tbsp corn oil

Chicken Marinade

  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 3 tsp cornstarch
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 0.25 tsp white pepper

Sauce

  • 2 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 2 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 2 tsp dark soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp chicken bouillon powder
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil

Step 1 - Prepare veggies

↑ Jump to details

Cut the red onion (2 oz) into strips.

Cut the carrot (2 oz) into thin slices. Then, cut the slices into strips.

Cut the cabbage (6 oz) into strips as well, about 1/2-inch thick.

Cut the green onions (1 oz) into 1-inch long pieces.

Step 2 - Prepare chicken

↑ Jump to details

If you have bone-in chicken thighs (12 oz), debone the meat by slicing around the bone and removing it.

Even out the thickness of the meat by slicing through the thicker parts of the flesh. Then, cut into thin strips, going along with the grain.

Place the strips of chicken into a bowl. To this bowl, add oyster sauce (1 tbsp), cornstarch (3 tsp), water (3 tbsp) and white pepper (0.25 tsp). Mix well so all the seasonings are well-distributed and all of the chicken is well-coated. Set aside to marinate.

Step 3 - Create sauce

↑ Jump to details

In a bowl, combine oyster sauce (2 tbsp), light soy sauce (2 tbsp), dark soy sauce (2 tsp), sugar (1 tsp), and chicken bouillon powder (1 tsp).

Step 4 - Steam & boil noodles

↑ Jump to details

Place a steamer rack in a wok. Add a couple inches of boiling water, but stop before you reach the top of the steaming rack. Turn the heat to high.

Place the chow mein noodles (18 oz) on a plate or a perforated steamer basket. Put it into the wok and cover with the lid.

Steam for 12-15 minutes with the stove on high heat.

Once the time’s up, take out the noodles, remove the steamer rack, then dump the noodles directly into the boiling water in the wok. Loosen up the noodles and cook for 5-6 minutes on medium-high heat, until the noodles are fully cooked through.

Drain the cooked noodles through a colander.

Step 5 - Stir-fry chicken

↑ Jump to details

Add oil (1 tbsp) to the bowl of marinated chicken and mix to distribute.

Heat the wok on high. When it just begins to smoke, add oil (2 tbsp) and swirl to coat.

Lower the heat to medium and add the chicken to the wok, quickly spreading it out. Let the bottom of the chicken pieces sear before stirring. After 30-40 seconds, when the chicken pieces have developed a good sear, they’ll begin to release from the wok on their own.

Increase the heat to high, stirring and separating the chicken pieces with a spatula. Stir-fry the chicken like this for 40-50 seconds until the chicken is nearly or fully cooked through.

Wok cooking: Turn the heat down to medium and transfer the chicken to a clean dish; we’ll bring it back later.

Large frying pan cooking: Turn the heat down. Do not remove the chicken.

Step 6 - Stir-fry veggies

↑ Jump to details

Use the residual oil in the wok or pan to cook the vegetables for this step.

Add the red onions and cook until they’re aromatic.

Add the cabbage and stir-fry together for 20-30 seconds.

Add the carrots and stir-fry together for 30 seconds on high heat.

Wok cooking: Remove the vegetables from the wok. You can transfer them into the dish that’s holding the cooked chicken.

Large frying pan cooking: Remove the chicken and the vegetables from the wok, transferring them into a clean dish.

Step 7 - Stir-fry noodles

↑ Jump to details

Add oil (1 tbsp) to the wok or pan.

Add noodles and turn the heat up to high. Use chopsticks to loosen the noodles up and quickly spread them out over the surface of the wok. Don’t stir or mix them up yet; give the noodles time to sear.

After 1 minute of pan-frying the noodles, stir and flip the noodles around so that a new side of the noodles can sear. Pan-fry for another minute so this side can also get golden-brown.

Lower the heat to medium and let the noodles pan-fry for a final 40 seconds.

Add sauce

Give the sauce a stir to make sure that it’s still well-combined. Turn the heat to low, and pour the sauce into the wok. Stir until the sauce is well-distributed.

Add everything else & serve

Add the pre-cooked chicken and vegetables back into the wok. Mix and stir-fry all together until well-combined, or for 30 seconds.

Turn the heat up to medium-high and add the bean sprouts. Stir-fry until the bean sprouts (4 oz) are warmed up and mixed into the noodles, or about 1 minute.

Drizzle sesame oil (1 tbsp) over the chow mein. Mix and stir-fry on high heat until it’s just distributed, about 1 minute.

Plate and serve. Enjoy!

Step 8 - Take pictures
Whip out your camera (1). Begin taking photos (1,000,000). Pick your favorites!
Step 9 - Share and tag us on Instagram @madewithlau #madewithlau!
Did you have fun making this recipe? We'd love to see & hear about it. (Especially my dad. He would be THRILLED!)

Enjoy!

We have many, many happy memories of enjoying this dish growing up.

Now, hopefully, you can create your own memories with this dish with your loved ones.

Also, I cordially invite you to eat with us and learn more about the dish, Chinese culture, and my family.

Cheers, and thanks for cooking with us!

Feel free to comment below if you have any questions about the recipe.