Skip the takeout and recreate your favorite noodle dish cheaper and better at home! Panda Express Chow Mein Copycat recipe is ready in minutes and tastes just like the restaurant. This vegetarian stir-fry is hearty, tasty, and sure to satisfy your Chinese food cravings!
Back in the day, when I worked 9 to 5, Panda Express was my lifeline. Although I love to cook, the last thing I wanted after a long day's toil was to worry about what's for dinner, and a couple of combo plates picked up on my way home from work regularly saved me from having to throw together a meal.
Now that I am blogging full-time at home, I no longer have the excuse of "I'm too tired" to cook. Besides, G and I agreed to streamline our household food expenses, which means less eating out and more home-cooked meals.
So what does one do when craving her favorite Panda Express chow mein, but she's too cheap to cough up the dough? She learns how to make it herself.
Good thing Panda Express Chow Mein Copycat is quick and easy to recreate at home. So quick and easy, in fact, it's ready to enjoy in less time than it would take to wait in line at the restaurant!
Plus, there are no fancy ingredients to drive around town for. Well, maybe the noodles, but everything else you can find at most major supermarkets.
This popular side dish is a simple medley of stir-fried noodles, onions, celery, and cabbage that is hearty and delicious. If you want to bulk it into a complete meal, feel free to add protein such as shrimp, chicken, or pork and more veggies such as carrots, snap peas, and bean sprouts.
Noodles to use
What sets Panda Express chow mein apart is its delicious noodles. These wheat noodles have a soft yet chewy texture, making them the perfect canvas for savory sauce and stir-fried veggies.
Fresh chow mein noodles are available at most Asian supermarkets, but Japanese Yakisoba or our very own Pancit canton are good options if you can't find them. Whatever type of noodles you buy, check their package directions on preparing them properly for stir-frying.
Cooking tips
- Stir-frying is a quick process so have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go before you start.
- To prevent the noodles from getting soggy, cook them about 1 minute or so less than the suggested cook time on the package and rinse in cold water right away. They will finish off when stir-fried with the rest of the ingredients.
- Cut the vegetables in uniform and bite sizes to ensure even and fast cooking.
- The sauce will taste pretty strong and salty but don't worry, it will balance out once mixed in with the rest of ingredients.
- To toss the ingredients freely and without spills, use a wok or a wide skillet with high sloping sides.
- Use tongs to stir-fry to help keep the noodles intact and lessen breakage.
- Cook on high heat to sear the food quickly and to lock in the vegetables' natural juices.
Serving suggestions
- Give this vegetable chow mein copycat a try; it's cheaper to make at home and tastes much better!
- In the mood for more Asian food? Forget takeout and enjoy your very own "combo plate" with Panda Express firecracker chicken, Panda Express sweet fire chicken, and shrimp fried rice.
How to store leftovers
Keep in a container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at 1 to 2-minute intervals or until completely warmed.
Ingredients
- 14 ounces fresh chow mein noodles
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- ยผ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 2 tablespoons Chinese cooking wine
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ยผ teaspoon pepper
- 1 onion, peeled and sliced thinly
- ยฝ head cabbage, sliced thinly
- 4 stalks celery, sliced thinly on a bias
Instructions
- Loosen the yakisoba noodles and remove excess oil by gently rinsing under warm water. Drain well.
- In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, oyster sauce, cooking wine, brown sugar, sesame oil, and pepper. Stir until blended and sugar is dissolved.
- In wok or wide pan over high heat, heat canola oil.
- Add onions, cabbage, and celery. Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes or until the vegetables begin to caramelize.
- Add noodles and sauce mixture. Using tongs, gently stir together until combined and evenly coated with sauce.
- Continue to cook for about 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through and sauce is mostly absorbed. Serve hot.
Notes
Nutrition Information
โThis website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.โ
Vanessa says
What kind of Chinese cooking wine? I see many of them.
Lalaine Manalo says
It is the Shao Xing ๐
Jojo Hua says
Mmmm, that looks so delicious and perfect! I can actually imagine how it would taste!
Lalaine says
Thanks, Jojo. ๐
Vinil says
I'm trying to eat in too. Another fabulous recipe to add to my collection.
Lalaine says
Can't beat homecooked meals ๐ Enjoy the recipe!
Ebrian Fox says
Simple to prepared but I'm kinda hooked with this. I'll try this on weekend. ๐
Lalaine Manalo says
Enjoy!
Jen says
This looks amazing! I'm going to try it for sure! My kids love this type of meal, but I'm never sure how to do it! Now I know! Thanks for sharing! ๐
Lalaine says
Thanks, Jen!
Dr. K. Lee Banks says
I want some NOW! ๐ Looks yummy and like something I must try (this and some of your other recipes here). Bookmarking for later! Need to come back when I make my grocery shopping list.
Ching says
Oh I am subscribing!! Teach me how to cook sinigang! Haha
Christine says
This looks yummy! I have been looking for a recipe like this Panda Express copycat. Thanks for sharing!
Lalaine says
You're welcome, Christine. I hope you try it!
Oursamyatra says
I love to have this. so yeamii... Love to read the blog. Thanks for sharing
Ashley says
Oh man this looks so good. I am getting really hungry now! I hope I can find those noodles is a store close to me, so I can recreate this dish!
sarahseyebrows says
Stir fry is so yum!
Lalaine says
It sure is ๐
Stefanie says
This looks so delicious. Iยดll definitely try this on the weekend
Lalaine says
Please do, it won't disappoint ๐