Description
A quick and delicious Easy Chow Mein recipe combining tender noodles, crisp vegetables, and savory sauce for a perfect busy night meal. Ready in under 30 minutes, this versatile Chinese-American stir-fry balances flavors and textures for a family-friendly dinner that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Noodles and Sauce
- 8 oz egg noodles or lo mein noodles
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup water or broth
Vegetables
- 1 cup carrots, thinly sliced
- 1 cup bell peppers, thinly sliced
- 1 cup cabbage, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
- 2 green onions, chopped (plus extra for garnish)
Optional Protein
- 8 oz chicken, shrimp, or tofu (thinly sliced)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Chop all vegetables into thin, even strips and slice protein thinly if using. Cook noodles according to package instructions, stopping just before fully tender to prevent mushiness.
- Stir-Fry the Protein: Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add protein and stir-fry until cooked through and browned. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Cook the Vegetables: Add remaining oil to the pan. Toss in garlic and ginger, cooking until fragrant. Quickly add carrots, bell peppers, and cabbage, stir-frying until crisp-tender to preserve color and crunch.
- Combine Noodles and Sauce: Return protein to the pan along with drained noodles. Pour in soy sauce, oyster sauce, and water or broth. Toss carefully but thoroughly to coat noodles evenly and warm through.
- Finish with Green Onions and Serve: Sprinkle chopped green onions on top, give everything one last toss, and serve immediately while hot and fresh.
Notes
- Use high heat to achieve slight crispiness on noodles.
- Undercook noodles slightly before stir-frying to maintain texture.
- Prep all ingredients and mix sauces before starting for smooth cooking.
- Toast garlic and ginger briefly to release full aroma before adding veggies.
- Adjust soy and oyster sauce amounts to taste for saltiness and richness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stir-Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
Keywords: Easy chow mein, quick dinner, stir-fried noodles, Chinese stir-fry, egg noodles, vegetable chow mein