Panda Express Chow Mein
This copycat Panda Express chow mein recipe is better than what you get at the restaurant. It combines tender noodles, sweet onions, and crisp cabbage tossed in a wonderful umami sauce. The best part is, it’s ready in 30 minutes!
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
Budget Friendly: Taking your family out to eat keeps getting more expensive! The ingredients in this recipe won’t break the bank, and you can feed way more people than what you get from the restaurant.
Customizable: You can adjust the recipe to suit your taste preferences. Add more veggies, a protein, or even more or less seasonings.
Family Meal: Gather your family and make a fun Asian-inspired meal with this chow mein. Pair it with my Panda Express copycat Beijing beef and honey walnut shrimp, with crispy air fryer egg rolls for a complete meal.
Healthier Copycat Recipe
I don’t know about you, but my kids LOVE going out to eat! Don’t get me wrong, I do as well. With everything getting so expensive, I wanted to make this simple copycat recipe at home. It not only saves me time and money, but I know exactly what I am feeding my kids and can make healthier choices for them.
Ingredients for Panda Express Chow Mein
How to Make Panda Express Chow Mein
This copycat recipe is simple, uses only a few ingredients, and is ready in 30 minutes. You will love how the simple flavors combine to make something so delicious. My kids love Panda Express, and I love making this instead of spending the money to get takeout!
Noodles: Cook the chow mein noodles according to the package directions. Drain the noodles and set them aside.
Cook: Heat the vegetable oil in a wok or skillet. Add the onion and cabbage, and cook the vegetables, stirring occasionally, until tender -about 5 minutes.
Whisk: In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, ginger, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and salt and pepper to taste.
Stir: Add the noodles to the skillet, then pour the sauce over the noodles and vegetables. Toss and stir to coat everything in the sauce. Cook for a few minutes, remove from heat, and serve fresh!
Chow Mein Tips and Variations
I had to try this recipe a couple of times to get it right. I noted down a few tips and variations for you to adjust to make it how you like.
Get your veggies in! Panda Express chow mein is pretty simple. You can add more vegetables and/or protein to it and serve it as the main dish. Try carrots, broccoli, peas, water chestnuts, chicken, pork or beef.
Can I switch up the noodles? You can use regular spaghetti noodles, udon, or yakisoba noodles. Or any kind of stir-fry friendly noodle instead of the chow mein.
Seasoning Packets: If the only chow mein noodles you can find are the kind that comes with seasoning in an individual package, leave out the packet and just use the noodles.
How to Store Panda Express Chow Mein
I love making a big batch of these delicious noodles. My kids enjoy heating them up after school.
Fridge: Store chow mein leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezer: This can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you are ready to eat, let thaw in the fridge and reheat in the microwave.