Name: Chicken Chow Mein
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Ingredients: 1/4 cup soy sauce (sub coconut aminos or tamari); 2 teaspoons ginger, grated; 1 teaspoon garlic, minced; 3 teaspoons oyster sauce; 1 teaspoon sesame oil; 1 tablespoon rice vinegar; 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce; 2 tablespoons chicken broth; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 tablespoon butter (sub plant-based butter); 8oz spaghetti; 2 teaspoons garlic; 1 bag (14oz) coleslaw mix; 1/4 cup green onions, chopped; 1/2 cup celery, sliced (optional); optional garnish: additional sliced green onions and/or fresh cilantro

Published on 03/17/25

by Erin Jensen

Our Chicken Chow Mein recipe will breath new life into dinner with the most delicious sauce, tender chicken, and fresh veggies.

A fork twirling chicken chow mein noodles in a bowl.

The Best Chicken Chow Mein

We love when a dinner comes together in 30 minutes or less and is packed with healthy ingredients. Which is why this recipe has been on repeat over at my house. Crunchy veggies, a flavorful sauce, and protein packed chicken makes this great recipe a no-brainer.

Looking for More Simple Dinner Recipes?

Then you’ve got to try our easy ginger sesame salmon recipe!

What You Will Need

soy sauce – The base of your homemade sauce. If using low sodium soy sauce, just give the sauce a taste and add a pinch of salt if need be.
ginger & garlic – Two of our favorite ingredients to add the best warming flavors.
oyster sauce & sesame oil – Adds a boost of flavor to the chow mein sauce.
rice vinegar – Just a touch of acid to balance out the flavor profiles.
chili garlic sauce – Experiment with the amount for less or more heat.
chicken broth – Makes the sauce extra saucy!
cornstarch – Helps to make a nice, thick sauce.
boneless, skinless chicken thighs – This dish is super versatile so experiment with different meat varieties that suit your taste preferences.
kosher salt & ground black pepper – A little goes a long way!
butter – To help get a nice sear on the chicken.
spaghetti noodles – The type of noodles vary from recipe to recipe, but we decided to keep things simple and go with spaghetti. Other options include japanse noodles, thin egg noodles, rice boodles, or Chinese egg noodles.
coleslaw mix – The mixed variety usually has different cabbage varieties with some matchstick carrots, but simple shredded green cabbage works well too.
green onions & celery – For some added crunch and color.

What Is Chicken Chow Mein

Chicken Chow Mein is a stir-fry noodle dish that includes chicken, veggies, and a savory sauce which you can find at most asian grocery stores. In our opinion, the key to a flavorful meal is a homemade sauce, which we’ve included in this delicious chicken chow mein recipe.

How To Make Chicken Chow Mein

Start by gathering your ingredients and seasoning your chicken thighs with kosher salt and ground black pepper.

Individual bowls of shredded cabbage, green onions, minced garlic, salt & pepper, butter, chicken thighs, chow mein sauce, and raw noodles.

Next, make the chow mein sauce by adding all of the sauce ingredients to a small mixing bowl or mason jar and mix to combine.

Meal Prep

Make this sauce in advance and store in the fridge to make dinner even quicker.

A hand holding a jar of chow mein sauce next to a picture of indiividual bowls of

Next, bring a skillet to medium-high heat and add the butter, allowing it to melt and coat the pan. Then sear the chicken thighs for about 2 minutes per side. Then lower the heat to medium and allow the chicken thighs to cook through until an internal meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F. Once the chicken is done cooking, remove it from the skillet and let it rest while you start on the veggies.

Two images showing the coleslaw mixture added to the pan and then after cooking for a few minutes.

Add water to a large pot and bring it to a boil. Then add in your noodles and cook them until they’re al dente following the package instructions. Meanwhile, in the same skillet that you cooked the chicken in, cook the minced garlic for about 30 seconds. Feel free to add some oil or a splash of chicken broth if the skillet looks dry. Then add in the coleslaw mix, celery, and green onions, cooking everything for about 3 minutes.

Two images showing the noodles added to the pan and the sauce being poured on top.

Add the noodles to the skillet and mix them in with the sautéed veggies. Then slice up your juicey chicken and place it in the skillet along with your homemade sauce. Then give everything a good toss, top with additional green onions and/or cilantro, and enjoy!

Fully cooked chicken chow mein in the skillet.

Recipe FAQs and Tips

What is the sauce in chow mein made of? – there are a lot of variations of chow mein sauce ingredients. Some recipes call for hoisin sauce or fish sauce instead of oyster sauce.
What is the difference between chow mein and lo mein? – The main difference between these two dishes are how the noodles are prepared. Chow mein uses a stir-fry technique to get the noodles to an almost crispy texture while lo mein calls for boiled, soft noodles.
What are chicken chow mein ingredients? These vary from recipe to recipe, but in short, chow mein calls for noodles, a protein, veggies, and a sauce.

Made this Asian chicken chow mein and loved it?! We would love it if you would take a minute and leave a star rating and review – it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!

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