10 popular chinese stir fry recipes using one AMAZING homemade All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce. All on the table in less than 15 minutes!
Last week I shared my Real Chinese All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce recipe, the ultimate secret weapon for fast mid week meals. It takes minutes to mix up then can be stored in the fridge for weeks, and you can use it for stir fries (including noodles) and even soups. It’s great to use as a base to add other flavours – such as herbs, chilli and of course garlic and ginger – but it has enough of a depth of flavour that you can even use it on its own. To use, you simply give the jar a good shake, add to the stir fry with water and cook it until it thickens and becomes a thick sauce that coats your stir fry ingredients.
I call this sauce Charlie (as in “Charlie Brown”…because stir fry sauces are often referred to as “brown sauce” – unoriginal, I know!). Click here to read more about Charlie in the original post. In summary, the reason why Charlie is so great is because he is similar to the sauce base of so many popular Chinese dishes so instead of mixing up 10 ingredients every time you want to throw together a quick stir fry, you have Charlie on hand to use. He is not an exact replica of the sauce for any recipe, but he is very close to many. Hence his versatility.
In this post I’m sharing 10 popular Chinese Stir Fry dishes made using Charlie – and all on the table in 15 minutes (thanks to Charlie). The directions will be slightly more summarised than how I usually write recipes, but that’s a small compromise for the convenience of having 10 recipes in one post.
Using Charlie, the ingredients of each of these recipes closely resembles the original, authentic version, but with Charlie ready made, you can make these a lot faster than if you were making them from scratch. I hope you find this post handy!
10 Classic Chinese Meals – One Amazing Sauce
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CHICKEN CHOW MEIN
Ingredients
- 200 g/7oz fresh chow mein egg noodles
- 2 cups Chinese cabbage , shredded
- 1 cup carrot , shredded
- 100 g/4oz chicken (or beef or pork) sliced against the grain
- 2 shallot/scallion stems , cut into 2″/4cm slices
- 3 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 1/2 tbsp oil
- ¼ cup Real Chinese All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Prepare noodles according to packet instructions.
- Heat oil in wok over high heat. Add garlic and sauté for 10 seconds, then add the chicken and sauté until just cooked and nicely browned.
- Add the cabbage and carrot, stir fry for 30 seconds, then add the Sauce and water and let it cook for 30 seconds until the Sauce starts to thicken.
- Then add the noodles and shallots and toss to coat with the sauce, then serve immediately.
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SUPREME SOY SAUCE CHOW MEIN
Ingredients
- 200 g/7oz fresh chow mein egg noodles
- 2 cups bean sprouts
- 40 g/1 oz chives , cut into 4cm/2″ lengths
- 3 tbsp oil
- 3 tbsp Real Chinese All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce
- 2 dashes white pepper
- 1/3 cup water
- Toasted sesame seeds (garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare noodles according to packet instructions.
- Heat oil in wok over high heat. Add the noodles and toss to heat through and coat with the oil – about 1 minute.
- Add the Sauce, pepper and water and cook for 30 seconds until the Sauce starts to thicken.
- Add the bean sprouts and chives and stir fry to combine, about 30 seconds – they should remain crisp. Remove from heat, garnish with sesame seeds and serve immediately.
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HOKKIEN NOODLES
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup your choice of sliced chicken or pork
- 200 g / 7 oz Hokkien noodles
- 1 1/2 cups Chinese cabbage , shredded
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 cup shredded carrot
- 2 shallot/scallion stems , cut into 4cm/2″ slices
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1/4 cup Real Chinese All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce
- 1 cup water
- White pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil in wok over high heat. Add the meat and stir fry until coloured, then add the cabbage and fry until the cabbage is starting to wilt and the meat is cooked. Remove from wok and set aside.
- Add the noodles, Stir Fry Sauce and water, bring to boil and stir ocassionaly until the water reduces to become thick and a sauce consistency.
- Return the other ingredients to the wok, quickly toss to combine, season to taste with pepper and serve immediately.
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STIR FRIED CHICKEN WITH VEGETABLES
Ingredients
- 5 oz/150 g chicken , thinly sliced
- 2 bok choys , leaves cut from stem and stem cut into 1/4″/1cm sticks
- 1 carrot , sliced thinly on diagonal
- 2 shallot/scallion stems , cut into 2″/4cm
- Handful of bean sprouts
- 1 tsp garlic , minced
- 2 tbsp oil
- ¼ cup Real Chinese All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce
- 1 tbsp chilli bean sauce (optional)
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Heat oil in wok over high heat. Add garlic and sauté for 10 seconds, then add the chicken and cook until the outside of the chicken turns white (but inside is still pink).
- Add the carrots and bok choy stems and stir fry for 30 seconds, then add the sauce, chilli bean sauce and water and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute until the sauce thickens.
- Toss in the bean sprouts and bok choy leaves, give it a quick stir then remove from heat and serve immediately.
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STIR FRIED SNOW PEAS WITH BEEF
Ingredients
- 250 g/8oz snow peas , trimmed
- 200 g/7oz beef , sliced thinly against the grain
- 1 tsp garlic , minced
- 2 tbsp oil
- ¼ cup Real Chinese All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Heat oil in wok over high heat. Add garlic and sauté for 10 seconds, then add beef and cook until sealed and browned on the outside but not yet cooked through, about 1 minute.
- Add the Sauce and water and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute until sauce is thickened.
- Add the snow peas and stir fry for 30 seconds just to warm through the snow peas and coat with the sauce (they should be crisp, they will continue to cook off the stove). Remove from stove and serve immediately.
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CASHEW CHICKEN
Ingredients
- 400 g/10oz chicken thigh fillets , cut into cubes
- 1/2 cup unsalted cashew nuts
- 1 green capsicum/bell pepper , cut into small square pieces
- 1/4 brown or white onion , cut into 1cm/0.5″ squares
- 1 tsp ginger , julienned or minced
- 2 tbsp oil
- 3 tbsp Real Chinese All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce
- 1 tbsp Chinese cooking wine
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Heat oil in wok over high heat. Add the onion, capsicum/bell peppers and ginger and stir fry until starting to colour, then add the chicken.
- Cook until the chicken is browned and almost cooked through, then add the Sauce, cooking wine and water then let cook for 1 minute or so until the sauce thickens.
- Add cashew nuts and give a few quick stirs, then remove from heat and serve immediately with rice.
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PAD SEE EW (EXPRESS)
Ingredients
- 8 oz/200g fresh wide flat rice noodle (Thai recipe uses Sen Yai) or the widest dried rice noodle stick you can find (even Pad Thai is ok)
- 4 cups (packed) Chinese broccoli, leaves separated from stems (cut stems vertically into thin sticks)
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 cup chicken , sliced into 1/4″ / 0.5cm slices
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1/4 cup Real Chinese All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Prepare the noodles according to the packet instructions.
- Heat the oil in a wok over high heat, add the garlic and stir fry for 10 seconds. Add the chicken and cook until coloured white, then add the Chinese broccoli stems.
- Once the chicken is coloured, push everything in the wok to one side, crack in the egg and scramble it. Don’t worry if it sticks to the wok and burns a bit, this adds to the char grilled flavour you want.
- Add the noodles, Sauce and water, and stir to combine all the ingredients and for the sauce to cook.
Recipe Notes:
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STIR FRIED BEEF AND BROCCOLI
Ingredients
- 200 g/7oz beef , sliced thinly against the grain
- 1 head broccoli , cut into florets (about 4 cups), blanched or steamed (should be still crisp)
- 1 tbsp ginger , julienned
- 1 1/2 tbsp oil
- ¼ cup Real Chinese All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Heat oil in wok over high heat. Add ginger and sauté for 10 seconds, then add beef and cook until sealed and browned on the outside but not yet cooked through, about 1 minute.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir fry until the sauce is thickened. Serve immediately.
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SHANGHAI NOODLES
Ingredients
- 100 g/4oz pork , sliced thinly against the grain
- 200g / 7 oz shanghai style noodles (or udon noodles)
- 2 cups Chinese cabbage , shredded
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1/4 cup Real Chinese All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce
- 2 tsp Chilli Bean Sauce (or Sriracha or any other Asian chilli sauce)
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Prepare noodles according to packet instructions.
- Heat oil in wok over high heat. Add garlic and stir fry for 10 seconds, ensuring garlic doesn’t burn.
- Add the pork and stir fry until coloured, then add the cabbage and fry until the cabbage is starting to wilt and the pork is almost cooked.
- Add the noodles, Stir Fry Sauce, Chilli Bean Sauce and water and stir fry for 30 seconds until the sauce is thickened and coating the noodles. Serve immediately.
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CANTONESE RICE NOODLES WITH BEEF
Ingredients
- 200 g flat rice noodles (“he fen” or “shahe fen”)
- 100 g/3oz beef , sliced
- 1/2 onion , sliced
- 1 cup bean sprouts (optional: trim them)
- 2 scallion/shallot stems , cut into 2″/4cm pieces
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 tbsp ginger , julienned or minced
- 1/4 cup Real Chinese All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Prepare noodles according to packet instructions.
- Heat wok in oil over high heat, add the ginger and stir fry for 10 seconds, then add the onion. Cook onion for 30 seconds until starting to soften, then add the beef.
- When the beef is browned, add the noodles, Sauce and water and stir fry for 30 seconds or so until the sauce has thickened. Toss in the bean sprouts and quickly stir, then remove from heat. Serve immediately.
If you enjoyed this, you might find this Stir Fried Noodles – Build Your Own guide useful – read this, and you’ll never again need a recipe to make stir fried noodles!!
Hi Nagi, I have tried almost all of your recipes they are wonderful. Love your charlie sauce. Thank you
Thanks so much Natalie!
I would like to thank you for such wonderful recipes – friendly and sharing. You are very talented – recipe prove it.
Thank you so much!
I have looked online and at the stores here for your cooking wine and the only place I can find either is in Australia, and they want more to ship the item than what it costs. Do u know of any place here in the states that sell either item?
Here in Canada I found it at Walmart, of all places! Couldn’t believe it as it’s 18% alcohol😳 In Saskatchewan there is no booze sold in grocery stores but I was super excited to get it 😁
Thank you so much found you 1year ago and you have given some of my favorite recipes finally started to write down so I remember all.you are a gift in my books ps love dog stories.i have a golden too.xo from cananda
Charlie Brown is my new best friend thanks to Nagi. The sauce is so easy to make and makes the flavour of my once boring stirfrys …. unreal!
I’ll keep following you Nagi, you’re recipes are authentic in flavour; ingredients are easy to get (regional Queensland!) and work every time.
Hi Nagi
I may have missed it but what are the serving size for these 10 dishes?
Phil
I don’t see a printable version of your 10 classic Chinese with one sauce dishes. Is there one available?
Would you please send me the recipe for Chirlie your special sauce, I have spent two days trying to find it with no luck, it sounds fabulous. Thank you Maureen
Hi Maureen – here it is! 🙂 https://www.recipetineats.com/real-chinese-purpose-stir-fry-sauce/
I’m having a great time with my Charlie, I think we are a match made in heaven. I will marry him if he asks me . I have made myself a up a Chinese Cook Book with your recipes and I have spread the word far and wide. All my Friends & Family are into it now Thanks Nagi
Regards
Mary R
That’s wonderful to hear Mary! Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed this – N x ❤️
Thank you, Nagi! I just found your wonderful Charlie sauce and it is a definite keeper in this house. I’ve made two noodle dishes with it so far and my husband and I have loved both of them. You are a keeper too, Nagi.
That’s terrific to hear Janet, thanks for leaving a review! N x
Hi Nagi, Thank you so much for this recipe collection and the amazing Charlie sauce! I just cooked chow mein noodles, carrots and cabbage with the real Chinese all purpose stir fry sauce tonight and my young picky eater daughter loved it! This is the second recipe from your website that I cooked and my daughter approved it to be on the cook again recipe collection. So that’s 2 out of 2 already. We are both looking forward to the next RecipeTinEats recipe we are going to try and I feel confident that any recipe I try will go on the cook again recipe collection. Thank you!
Thanks & Regards,
Lani
That’s great Lani! So glad you enjoyed it, thanks for letting me know! N xx
Do u have recipe for tomato beef chow mein?
I’m sorry I don’t Rain, I haven’t ever heard of that!
Hi
I just found your site.
Do u have receipe for tomato beef chow mein sauce?
I just found your website. Hopefully, you’ll share your sweet and sour sauce recipe with me. Are your digital cookbook and Chicken Wings cookbook ready for purchase?
Hi Margaret! I am still working on the stir fry book, so many recipes to test and create!! The Wings book is available 🙂 -> https://www.recipetineats.com/chicken-wings-cookbook/
Hi,
For the cashew chicken you say to add Charlie, cooking wine and water. Are you mixing the sauce with water (3 spoons sauce, 6 spoons water) and then adding the wine and extra water?
Just discovered this sauce a few days ago, it will be life changing!
Hi Eimear! Nope, use the quantities per this post i.e. just 1/4 cup of water 🙂
Hi nagi. Ur Charlie sauce works wonders… so happy I found u. I was wondering what will u add or take from that sauce to make sweet and sour sauce.
Hi Lily! There’s a few ingredients required – apple cider vinegar for sour, sugar for sweet. It’s going to be in my stir fry book! I’m so excited!
I LOVE your recipes … just delightful !
Many thanks !
Can you email me the recipe for the sweet and sour sauce using “Charlie” that you referenced in the comments ?
I would appreciate it … 🙂
Carol
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this Carol! Thanks so much for letting me know 🙂 I’m planning to post the sweet & sour recipe using Charlie soon! N x
Hello, great recipes, lots of things to note down. One thing, I keep ginger-garlic paste cubes frozen for my curries, I see you use either ginger or garlic for the recipes, are they strict (as in the original Chinese recipes) or can I use that GG paste for these too?
Hi! ginger and garlic are both classic Chinese flavourings so you can definitely use them!
Nagi, I just made my first batch of Charlie this afternoon and I am IN LOVE! Dinner tonight was a basic “whatever’s in the fridge” stir fry and it was absolutely delicious! Going to try your beef and broccoli tomorrow and I can’t wait, I know it will be terrific.
Thank you so much for all of your beautiful recipes!
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed my recipe Robyn! Thank you for letting me know! N x
Nagi, so glad to have found you. I’m having company for dinner tonight and I will have Charlie in the kitchen with me. When is your book coming out? What will be the name of the book? Will I be able to get it on Amazon? I live in Panama, central America and book stores are infrequent around here.
Hi Peg! I’m still working on the book, there are a LOT of recipes in it!!! Doing testing on it 🙂 It will only be sold here on my site in Digital form so you won’t need to get to a book store! So glad you are enjoying Charlie!! Isn’t he the best? I always have a bottle of him in the fridge! N x