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Home Collections 15 Minute Meals

Chow Mein Ramen Noodles

By:Nagi
Published:1 Jul '19Updated:21 Jan '21
108 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

Chow Mein Ramen Noodles is the FASTER way to make Chow Mein using a couple of cheeky shortcuts: pre shredded Coleslaw mix and instant ramen noodles. It’s the fastest of fast foods – a 12 minute recipe, including preparation!

Close up of Chow Mein Ramen Noodles in a rustic black bowl, ready to be eaten

Make ramen noodles better – faster!

Next time you’ve had a long day at work and you have to deal with the question that billions of people around the world face every day what’s for dinner??, here’s your answer: Chow Mein Ramen Noodles.

It’s everything you know and love about Chow Mein, except it’s faster to make:

  • 12 minute recipe including prep
  • one pan cooking
  • simple, magic 5 ingredient Chow Mein Sauce
  • veggie loaded – but you don’t even know it! This has half your daily recommended 5 serves of veg a day.

Freshly cooked Easy Chow Mein Recipe in a black skillet, ready to be served.

Handy shortcuts for this recipe

This is not one of those super quick dinner recipes like Jamie Olive 15 Minute Meals style where it’s a whirlwind of manic activity with food flying everywhere, the oven and stove going at the same time, mixing with one hand while flipping steaks with the other, then after all that you’ve got 45 minutes of clean up.

Nope.

This is an easy breezy 12 minute recipe, and here are the handy shortcuts I use:

  • instant ramen or any other instant noodles cooked in the same skillet;
  • store bought Coleslaw mix – shredded cabbage and carrots – rip the packet open and tip it in!
  • 5 ingredient Chow Mein Sauce that doesn’t require cornflour/cornstarch for thickening (the starch from the ramen noodles thickens it)

Toss the ramen seasoning packs – we make our own sauce!

Instant noodles and ramen

Any ramen or instant noodles!

This Chow Mein Ramen Noodles is the latest in a line up of “how to make ramen noodles better” series I started earlier this year (listed at bottom of post!). So I’m pretty sure I’ve made this recipe with every brand of instant ramen and instant noodles I’ve been able to get my hands on – and it works every time.

I have a theory that this recipe is impossible to stuff up because ramen noodles are MADE to be so foolproof that even inebriated college students can boil up some up after a late night out at the pub!?

How to make Easy Chow Mein Recipe

Ingredients for Easy Chow Mein Recipe

What Chow Mein Ramen Noodles tastes like

In terms of flavour, it tastes just like “real” Chow Mein. In fact, I recommend in my Chow Mein recipe to use ramen noodles if you can’t find Chow Mein noodles!

The main difference in the eating experience is the texture of the noodles themselves. While they are the same thickness, ramen noodles have a more slippery texture and are white, whereas Chow Mein noodles are yellow. But there’s no difference in the flavour of the noodles!

Chopsticks picking up Easy Chow Mein recipe

Faster and healthier than take out

This really is a “faster than take out” recipe for anyone.

Even if you’re one of those people who like to swan around the kitchen sipping a glass of wine, chatting on the phone to your friend with half an eye on the TV so you don’t miss a second of Real Housewives, rummaging around in your pantry to dig out sauces, dragging a chair over to reach up high into the back of the cupboard for that packet of ramen noodles you know is buried there somewhere.

Yes, even if that’s you, you will have this Chow Mein Ramen Noodles on the table, ready to eat, faster than ordering take out (or Uber Eats?). – Nagi x


More Next-Level Ramen Noodles!

Toss the seasoning packet! Be amazed what you can make with a packet of ramen – super quick!

  • Quick Asian Beef Ramen Noodles
  • Chicken Vegetable Ramen Noodles
  • Asian Mushroom Ramen Noodles
  • 12 Minute Thai Chicken Peanut Noodles

Chow Mein Ramen Noodles in a rustic black bowl with chopsticks, ready to be eaten

Watch how to make it

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Close up of Chow Mein Ramen Noodles in a rustic black bowl, ready to be eaten

Chow Mein Ramen Noodles

Author: Nagi
Prep: 7 mins
Cook: 8 mins
Total: 15 mins
Mains
Asian
5 from 24 votes
Servings2
Tap or hover to scale
Print
Recipe video above. The fastest, easiest Chow Mein recipe ever! Made using a couple of cheeky shortcuts - ramen noodles, a Coleslaw mix, with the noodles cooked in the same skillet. It's a quicker version of real Chow Mein - 99% of the flavour, but FASTER!

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 200g/7oz chicken , sliced (thigh, breast)
  • 2 garlic cloves , minced
  • 2 ramen or instant noodle cakes , discard seasoning (Note 1)
  • 200g/7oz pre shedded Coleslaw mix , cabbage and carrot (Note 2)
  • 3 green onion stems , cut into 5cm/2" lengths
  • 1 heaped cup beansprouts
  • 1 cup (250 ml) water

Chow Mein Sauce:

  • 1.5 tbsp light soy sauce (Note 3)
  • 1.5 tbsp Oyster Sauce (Note 4)
  • 1 tbsp Chinese Cooking Wine or Mirin (Note 5)
  • 2 tsp sesame oil , toasted (Note 6)
  • 1 tsp white sugar (SKIP if using Mirin)

Instructions

  • Mix Sauce in a bowl.
  • Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add garlic, cook 10 seconds.
  • Add chicken and cook until mostly changes from pink to white, then add Sauce.
  • Cook for 1 minute, then add Coleslaw mix and white part of green onions.
  • Cook for 1 1/2 minutes until cabbage wilts, then push everything to the side to make room for the ramen (see video & photos in post).
  • Add water then squidge the ramen cakes in side by side.
  • When water simmers, leave for 45 seconds. Flip, then leave for 30 seconds.
  • Loosen noodles, add bean sprouts and green onion, then toss energetically for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes until sauce reduces and coats noodles. (Note 7)
  • Serve immediately!

Recipe Notes:

1. Instant noodles/ramen - any brand will work here as long as both the noodle cakes will fit in your skillet! Discard the seasoning packets - we're making our own sauce.
2. Pre shredded Coleslaw mix used for convenience! Green cabbage, carrot and a tiny bit of red cabbage. Can also finely slice your own - 2 cups green cabbage, 1 cup carrot.
3. Soy Sauce - use light or all purpose soy sauce. Do not use dark soy sauce or sweet soy sauce.
4. Oyster Sauce - sub with Hoisin sauce. You'll get a hint of five spice flavour which makes it different to Oyster Sauce, but it's lovely!
5. Mirin - a Japanese sweet cooking wine. Chinese cooking wine also great, otherwise use dry sherry. Non alcoholic sub - use LOW SODIUM soy sauce and sub all water with LOW SODIUM chicken stock.
6. Sesame oil - use toasted sesame oil if you can because it has a stronger flavour. Otherwise use untoasted. (Toasted is dark brown, untested sesame oil is yellow)
7. Noodles doneness - the beauty of instant noodles is that they're basically foolproof. So if the noodles are not tender enough, just add more water and toss more. If the noodles get too thick, add touch of water to loosen!
8. Nutrition per serving. Reduce sodium by 250 mg per serving (500 mg in total) by using LOW SODIUM soy sauce.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 624cal (31%)Carbohydrates: 55g (18%)Protein: 22g (44%)Fat: 26g (40%)Saturated Fat: 5g (31%)Cholesterol: 75mg (25%)Sodium: 1462mg (64%)Potassium: 445mg (13%)Fiber: 3g (13%)Sugar: 4g (4%)Vitamin A: 420IU (8%)Vitamin C: 44.4mg (54%)Calcium: 71mg (7%)Iron: 2mg (11%)
Keywords: chicken chow mein, Chow Mein, easy chow mein
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @RecipeTinEats.

 Life of Dozer

You know how you feel in those fancy chocolate shop? That’s how Dozer feels here – we’re in the warehouse of The Free Range Butcher where I bulk purchase offal for Dozer every few months.

I’ve been requested by a number of people to share Dozer’s diet. It’s in progress! I want to get it officially “signed off” by a specialist before going out officially with it. But for those who want a sneak peak of the post in progress, here it is. 🙂

Dozer the golden retriever dog in The Free Range Butcher warehouse - Mona Vale

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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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108 Comments

  1. Iris says

    January 16, 2021 at 1:37 pm

    5 stars
    We absolutely loved this dish! The ramen noodles are great – we have never had them before!!!! The sauce was wonderful – I will double it next time! Thank you Nagi and Dozer!

    Reply
  2. Iris L. Gerosky says

    January 16, 2021 at 1:36 pm

    5 stars
    We absolutely loved this dish! The ramen noodles are great – we have never had them before!!!! The sauce was wonderful – I will double it next time! Thank you Nagi and Dozer!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      January 16, 2021 at 3:38 pm

      I’m so glad you loved it Iris!! N x

      Reply
  3. Vi says

    December 27, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    5 stars
    I love this recipe. So easy and gets some veggies into my kids!

    Reply
  4. Vlada says

    December 9, 2020 at 12:09 am

    How many grams are in one serving?

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      December 9, 2020 at 5:04 pm

      Hi Vlada, sorry I haven’t weighed the final cooked meal – but the whole recipe makes 2 serves. N x

      Reply
  5. MJ says

    November 20, 2020 at 1:48 pm

    5 stars
    Awesome. Quick and Easy. Thank You.

    Reply
  6. Connie N says

    August 2, 2020 at 7:14 am

    5 stars
    I made this tonight. It was delicious. I will try the Hoisin next time (I like this flavor and it will be put it over the top). Another easy great recipe!

    Reply
  7. Betty says

    July 18, 2020 at 3:32 am

    I love Chinese food light food I am trying to lose weight

    Reply
  8. Cindy Weaver says

    June 2, 2020 at 1:47 am

    Loved the ease of the ramen recipe. When cooking for one, the easier the better thanks so much for sharing. 😋

    Reply
  9. Nicole Kenney says

    May 15, 2020 at 6:00 pm

    Would this freeze well if I made a huge batch and then froze vacuum packed servings?
    Thanks!

    Reply
  10. Mark Winslow says

    April 13, 2020 at 2:51 am

    Stuck at home and trying new recipes for me and the wife. This was an easy fix for Sunday lunch and will add to the meal rotation. Thanks for making this dummy proof! I also love the notes that goes along with it.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      April 14, 2020 at 11:22 am

      Thanks so much for the great feedback Mark! N x

      Reply
  11. Lori says

    March 30, 2020 at 5:00 am

    You’re the best love everything you suggest perfection doing these tonight perfect quarantine recipe

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      March 30, 2020 at 1:29 pm

      Thanks so much Lori ❤️

      Reply
  12. Monica says

    March 8, 2020 at 6:02 am

    5 stars
    I made this recipe today! Delicious!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      March 9, 2020 at 10:20 am

      Wahoo! That’s great Monica! N x

      Reply
  13. Lynn Behen says

    March 2, 2020 at 11:55 pm

    Love your recipies! It would be helpful if you included serving size with your nutritional info. I have a carb counter in my household and it would make portioning easier. Chow Mein on the menu tonite!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      March 3, 2020 at 4:58 pm

      Hi Lynn, the number of servings in the recipe is listed at the top of the recipe card ❤️

      Reply
  14. kevin says

    January 12, 2020 at 7:00 am

    I will try your recipe, Nagi, sounds delicious. But it’s Jamie Oliver not Jamie Olive.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      January 13, 2020 at 5:15 pm

      Thanks for picking that up – small typo!

      Reply
  15. Racheal says

    January 4, 2020 at 5:27 am

    5 stars
    Made this week. Everyone loved it. Considering there are 8 of us, 5 of which are children, that is an accomplishment! Absolutely love that I stumbled across your site! We have tried a few other recipes as well, from both your site and your mom’s site. All have turned out delicious and easy. It has resulted in everyone getting personalized chopsticks for Christmas due to how often we are eating Asian cuisine. Also, the 3 teenage children have requested recipe books for their birthdays! Once again, THANK YOU from Missouri, USA.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      January 4, 2020 at 5:15 pm

      Oh that’s lovely Racheal!

      Reply
  16. Kristine Bourdos says

    November 13, 2019 at 9:08 am

    5 stars
    This was awesome. Full of flavor. Family loved it. Will be added to my Favorites in Recipe Book!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      November 13, 2019 at 6:10 pm

      Wahoo! Perfect Kristine!

      Reply
  17. Marilyn Loyer says

    November 13, 2019 at 8:52 am

    I have made your fishcakes and satay sticks and they were delicious

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      November 13, 2019 at 6:12 pm

      Woot! So glad you loved them Marilyn!

      Reply
  18. Kyra T says

    October 3, 2019 at 9:46 pm

    5 stars
    Seriously I don’t know why I haven’t cooked this before! Maybe because I’ve always thought meh- how can a dish with 2min noodles be good for dinner- but Wow!! What a quick and super easy uber tasty dish everyone loved. 🙌🏼
    Sorry I don’t comment on everything I’ve made of yours but I guarantee at least 4 of your recipes feature in our weekly meals. My 16yo asked why you don’t have your own tv show. 🤔🤔

    (Ps hope your having a good holiday!! 😊)

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      October 4, 2019 at 11:40 am

      I’m so glad you gave it a shot! It’s the perfect midweek emergency meal! – N x

      Reply
  19. Te Rau Karakia says

    September 5, 2019 at 2:48 pm

    Loved your chow mein great favours and lite and easy my first time doing this recipe really enjoyed it my daugther enjoys your recipes too its easy for her an shes asked me too have lunch with just to taste her cooking Thanks Nagi it made her a cook at last and me it helps me with my health and diet.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      September 5, 2019 at 8:01 pm

      That’s fantastic to hear, thanks so much – N x

      Reply
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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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