Panda Express Chow Mein

Panda Express Chow Mein. Bouncy chow mein noodles stir fried in a savory simple sauce with crunchy cabbage, celery, onions. An easy recipe that serves as the perfect side dish.

Pair this tasty chow mein with some protein and your favorite stir-fried vegetables and you'll have a complete meal! This recipe is ready in 15 minutes!

What is Panda Express Chow Mein?

Panda Express is one of the most popular Chinese fast-food chains in the United States. This Chinese takeout restaurant serves Americanized Chinese food. Their dry chow mein noodles are one of their most iconic delicious noodles often a guilty pleasure for many! It's a lo mein stir fry with a savory sauce, cabbage, celery, and onions.

Easy Chow Mein Recipe

An easy chow mein recipe that can be easily made in your own kitchen with simple ingredients at a fraction of the price. The main differences between my online recipe and the real thing is mine is made with less oil, it's tastier, and made with quality ingredients. Making this a perfect side to any tasty dinner. I share a list of main course(s) that you can serve these noodles with below.

Ingredients

You'll need the below ingredients list for panda's chow mein. Scroll down to the recipe card below for exact measurements.

Note: Most Asian grocers will carry these ingredients. You may find some at your select local grocery store or online, like on Amazon.  

• Chow mein noodles: In Chinese cuisine, chow mein noodles are traditionally used for chow mein. Chow mien is made of wheat flour, water, and egg. You can find these noodles in the refrigerated section of your grocery store.

Notes on Noodles:

• Chow Mein Noodles are much tastier than the noodles used in panda express (which tend to be soggy lacking that bouncy texture). The trick is to cook chow mein noodles for 20-30 seconds in hot boiling water first and then strain immediately. These type of noodles cook relatively quickly. However, if you want to mimic the exact texture of the panda express noodles, you can over cook them for 60-90 seconds.
• Or opt for fresh yakisoba noodles, frozen yaki soba noodles or any fresh noodles made of egg or are yellow in color.
• Ramen noodles could also work but blanch these noodles just until loosened or they will become soggy. Make sure to rinse them in cold water to stop the cooking process.

Stir Fry Components:

• Celery: This vegetable gives this copycat panda express chow mein recipe that fresh taste that is iconic to these noodles.
• Cabbage: A crunchy vegetable that will balance the texture of the bouncy tender noodles.
• Onion: White or yellow onion will work.
• Vegetable oil, or any neutral oil like avocado oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, vegetable oil or canola oil. Panda express uses a lot of oil in their stir-fry noodles for that oily texture. We'll be using less but you can always add more if you prefer.

Chow Mein Sauce:

• Regular soy sauce: this is just your all-purpose soy sauce. It's different from dark soy sauce where it's not thick and not as dark and saltier. In addition, it's also saltier than low-sodium soy sauce.
• Oyster sauce: a savory thick dark sauce that is made of oyster extract giving any dish a deep umami taste. It's not the same as hoisin sauce as hoisin is very sweet.
• Sesame oil: a nutty finishing oil that offers a wonderful aroma to any Chinese dish.
• Garlic: this aromatic helps to round out the flavors in our chow mein sauce.
• Dark soy sauce: this helps to give the chow mein noodles some of that brown color
• Chicken stock: make sure it's unsalted chicken stock. Feel free to substitute with beef stock or vegetable stock
• Cornstarch: or substitute with potato starch or tapioca starch. This helps thicken our sauce to make it stick to our noodles

How to Make Panda Express Chow Mein

In a small bowl, combine Chow Mein Sauce ingredients as listed above.

In a large pot of boiling water, blanch chow mein noodles for 20-30 seconds until loosened.

Strain immediately. If you're using other noodles, blanch just until loosened and no more.

In a large wok on medium high heat, add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Once oil is hot, add onions, cabbage and celery. Cook until softened, about 1 minute.

Sweep veggies to the side. Add remaining oil into empty space. Then add noodles and sauce.

Toss to mix until noodles have absorbed most of the sauce. Remove off heat and enjoy!

Storage

Leftover chow mein will last 4 days stored in an airtight container. To reheat, reheat over medium heat in a non-stick pan or microwave for 2-3 minutes.

FAQ

Can I add any other vegetables or protein to this dish?

Yes! Feel free to add the following suggested ingredients:

• snow peas
• bell pepper
• sautéed chicken breast
• bean sprouts
• fresh ginger

Where can I purchase chow mein noodles?

Any Asian grocery store will sell them in their refrigerated section.

What can I serve this dish with?

This panda express chow mein copycat recipe can be served with any main dish below:

• Orange Chicken,
• General Tso Chicken
• Lemon Chicken
• Mongolian Chicken
• Mongolian Beef
• Kung Pao Chicken
• Black Pepper Beef
• Crab Rangoon
• Mushroom Chicken
• Black Pepper Chicken

The above delicious recipes are also served at Panda Express and many other Chinese restaurants. They're also some of my most popular recipes on the blog!