One of my all time favourite dishes at my local Chinese!! Crispy noodles topped with a saucy chicken and vegetable stir fry, this is a CRUNCHY version of Chow Mein. You’ll love how the sauce soaks the noodles so some of it is soft, while some of it stays crispy.
Made healthier by pan frying rather than deep frying the noodles, this is an easy recipe that can be on the table in 20 minutes!
Chinese Crispy Noodles
At my local Chinese, they call this Crispy Chow Mein Noodles. It’s a Hong Kong / Cantonese style dish, and there are a lot of variations but the core of it is a bed of deep fried crunchy noodles topped with a saucy stir fry.
The stir fry topping is much saucier than most Chinese stir fries and this is because you need plenty of sauce so it soaks through some of the noodles, softening them so they can be slurped up like normal noodles.
But the best part is all the crunchy noodle bits that remain! So as you eat your way through the plate, you get that awesome combo of juicy chicken, tender-crisp vegetables, loads of tasty Chinese brown sauce, soft slippery noodles AND crunchy noodles.
It’s crazy good!!!
How to make Chinese Crispy Noodles
Typically, the crunchy noodles served at Chinese restaurants are deep fried.
Tasty, for sure, but my skinny jeans aren’t so much of a fan. 😤
So when I make Chinese Crispy Noodles at home, I pan fry them. It means that the very centre of the noodles don’t go 100% crispy like when you deep fry.
But the entire surface area of the noodle “pancake” does get crispy, so as long as you make them fairly thin, you certainly won’t feel like you’ve been cheated of crispiness!!!
What you need for Crunchy Chow Mein
Here’s what you need for Crunchy Chow Mein. I’ve separated the photos into two components:
-
Base ingredients – for the sauce and the crispy noodles; and
-
Vegetable options for topping – there’s really no rules here. Just use around 4 to 5 cups of any vegetables you want.
Type of Noodles
This recipe for Chinese Crispy Noodles won’t work using refrigerated fresh Hokkien noodles, egg noodles because they are stickier and wetter so they don’t crisp up as well.
Chow Mein noodles are distinctly drier and a bit crinkly – see image below – and this is what makes it possible to make them crispy in a pan!
Can’t find Chow Mein noodles?
No problem! Just use ramen noodles or instant noodles (see this Ramen Stir Fry recipe for photos). Spray the UNCOOKED noodles with oil and BAKE! (Yes really, it works 100% perfectly)
The most important part – crunch retention!!
The idea with this recipe is that there’s plenty of sauce, so it soaks the noodles and makes them soft so they can be picked up with chopsticks like normal noodles.
BUT it’s VERY important to ensure that you retain a SOME crunch! What I like to do is to pour the saucy topping in the centre of the crunchy noodle cake so the edges stay crunchy.
The one caveat I have about these Crispy Noodles is that you will make a bit of a mess of yourself eating it. Those darn crunchy noodle bits, they stick out all over the place.
So when you try to shovel noodles into your mouth, it’s inevitable that some of those crunchy bits stick out and miss your mouth, so you end up with sauce all over your face.
That’s just part of the fun of eating this!! ~ Nagi x
Watch how to make it
More unmissable Asian noodles!
-
Classic Chow Mein – also see the Emergency Chow Mein Ramen recipe!
-
Chinese Chicken Salad – with crispy noodles!
-
Express noodles: Quick Beef Ramen Noodles, Chicken Vegetable Ramen Noodles and 12 Minute Thai Chicken Peanut Noodles
-
Browse the Noodle recipes collection!
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Chinese Crispy Noodles with saucy Chicken and Vegetables (crispy CHOW MEIN!)
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 tbsp Chinese cooking wine (shoasing wine) (sub Dry Sherry, Mirin, Note 1)
- 1.5 tbsp soy sauce , light or all purpose (not dark soy)
- 1/4 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp sugar
- White pepper , one dash
- 3/4 cup (185ml) chicken stock / broth , low sodium
- 3 tbsps cornflour / corn starch
Crispy Noodles
- 200 g / 8 oz fresh chow mein noodles (Note 2)
- 4 tbsp water , separated
- 2 tbsp peanut oil (or vegetable or canola)
Stir Fry
- 150 g / 5 oz chicken , thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp peanut oil , if needed (or vegetable or canola)
- 2 garlic cloves , finely chopped
- 1/2 onion , sliced
- 1 carrot * , small, halved lengthwise then sliced on diagonal
- 1 bok choy * , stems and leaves separated with stems cut vertically into sticks
- 2 shallots/scallions * , cut into 5cm/2" pieces
- 2 cups cabbage * , cut into 2.4cm / 1" squares
- 1/2 cup (125ml) water
Instructions
Sauce & Chicken Marinade
- Mix the Sauce ingredients EXCEPT cornflour and chicken broth/stock.
- Remove 1 tbsp Sauce and mix through chicke. Leave to marinate 10 minutes+.
- Mix cornflour into Sauce until lump free.
Crispy Noodles
- Turn oven onto low (to keep noodles warm while you cook the topping).
- Divide noodles into 2 then shape into 20cm/8" rounds. Keep them tangled - this holds them together while cooking.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in skillet over medium high heat. Place 1 noodle cake into pan then drizzle over 2 tbsp water.
- Wait until the water evaporates (steam cooks the noodles), then pat down lightly and let the noodles cook for a further 1 to 2 minute until the bottom of the noodles are golden brown (lift up with a spatula to check).
- Slide noodles onto a plate, then flip upside down back into the pan. Cook for a further 1 1/2 - 2 minutes until golden brown, then transfer to tray and place in oven to keep warm.
- Repeat with remaining noodle cake.
Saucy Stir Fry Topping
- Add an extra 1 tbsp oil if needed, increase heat to HIGH. Add garlic and onion, cook for 30 seconds.
- Add chicken and cook until it changes from pink to white (still raw inside)
- Add the carrot and bok choy stems, cook 30 seconds.
- Add cabbage and leaf of buk choy, cook for 1 minute until they start to wilt.
- Add chicken broth, water, then Sauce and stir. Let it simmer for 1 - 2 minutes until the Sauce thickens to a syrup consistency (see video).
To serve
- Place a noodle cake on the plate, then spoon over the stir fry onto the middle of the noodles (leave edges crispy) being sure to use up all the sauce so it soaks the noodles. Serve immediately!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Originally published August 2014, updated September 2019. Long overdue for an overhaul – new photos, new video, new writing and slightly streamlined recipe. Most importantly, Life of Dozer section added!
Life of Dozer
You have no idea how much time I’ve invested into trying to get him to “bow” on command…..
Lisa says
Hi Nagi,
Thanks for all the great recipes. I like the new “my favorites” feature. Any way to add notes to a recipe (for example, my family likes the sauce for this recipe less thick so I use less corn starch).
Thanks,
Lisa
Nagi says
I’m so glad you’re loving the feature Lisa – It’s in early stages just now ๐
Brian S says
Another winner, Nagi, just like all the others I’ve tried. I made this tonight using thinly sliced pork strips and followed your method of substituting Ramen noodles. Had to add a little more water to the sauce just before serving to give it some juiciness! It was delicious!!! All of your sauces I’ve made have been fantastic!
Nagi says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Brian!
bob says
I am addicted to your site. I used to get a similar dish at a local restaurant covered with tons of black bean sauce. Is there an easy way to use this as a base for a black bean sauce?
Nagi says
Hi Bob, sounds delicious! Feel free to pop any recipe requests on my “recipe request” page ๐
Tricia Beesley says
Hi Nagi, planning to try this tonight. Neither Coles nor Woolies here have the fresh Fantastic Chow mein noodles available so will try the dried. Maybe sold out as a result of your recipe!
Nagi says
Oh no! They sell them near the fresh pasta in the fridge section – N x
Tricia says
Yes they have the Hokkien
and Singapore Fantastic noodles but not Chow mein.
Jim says
Do you use white or dark meat chicken? Do you use regular green cabbage or Napa cabbage? Many thanks!!
Nagi says
Hi Jim, I use thigh for this recipe and regular green cabbage – N x
Nancy says
Puedo hacer la receta con camarones?
Nagi says
Hi Nancy, you sure can but I’d add the prawns to the pan last minute as they won’t take long to cook – N x
Salwa Bachsinar says
Hey what can i use instead of alcohol?
Nagi says
Hi Salwa, I talk about this in the recipe notes – N x
Tammy Pauls says
Wow! Made this last night! Wow! Into the regular rotation it goes.
Nagi says
Perfect Tammy! That’s awesome to hear โค๏ธ
Sue Dalitz says
Wow!! I was so surprised that this worked! I was disobedient and added the Maggi Noodles sachets to the stir fry sauce. Absolutely amazing thank you Nagi!!
Nagi says
I’m so glad you loved it Sue!
Lorraine says
I made this for dinner tonight. It was a little stressful getting all the ingredients together, but it was well worth it. Itโs a lovely, delicately flavored dish. It reminded me of chicken chow mein that I had in Bostonโs Chinatown with my mother on those special days she took me shopping.
Nagi says
I’m so glad you loved it Lorraine!!
Sue Dalitz says
So could I seriously use uncooked 2 minute noodles? Please say yes!!
Nagi says
YES! Spray and bake!!
Annette says
Hi Nagi, I was so excited to see this recipe! Iโm 65 this week and can still remember my first foray into a Chinese Restaurant! One of the first things I had was this crispy noodle chow mein! I LOVED those crispy noodles! Bought noodles yesterday and will be eating this tonight. I love, love, love ALL your recipes. So flavourful and I also LOVE the way you write your recipes! Thank you!
Nagi says
You’re so welcome Annette, thank you so much for the lovely feedback โค๏ธ
Natalie says
With recipes like this there is no reason to eat out. It tasted exactly like the local Chinese but better because I knew what went into it. Delish!
Cece says
I just finished eating & cooking this and let me tell YOU everybody said this was โbloody deliciousโ and that theyโve never given this type of feedback before ! Amazing flavours Nagi! And the crunch WOW ๐ฏ. Thank you x
Nagi says
Wahoo! I’m so glad it was a hit Cece!!
Gabriella Alberici says
Another absolutely delicious recipe. Easy, quick and my husband and me are still raving about how tasty it was the next day. I couldn’t get hold of the Chow Mein noodles but had some rice noodles and used those, it worked well and we loved the crunch.
Nagi says
I’m so happy you loved it Gabriella!!
Michelle says
I have never had chow mien take out and after having made this recipe I probably never will. This recipe is totally amazing.
Nagi says
So much better when you make it at home!
Frank Luciano says
OMG OMG OMG OMG I will never ever order chow mien out again . I had so many family and friends go crazy over this. Nagi you are my new found love recipe girl!!!!
Nagi says
WOOT! You’re totally converted, no more take out for you!!
Mala Dasgupta says
Hi Nagi! Greetings from India. I am all set to cook this Delish looking noodles tonight. Just a quick question – no salt to taste required? Thank you very much for your posts ๐
Nagi says
I hope you love it Mala – the salt comes from the oyster sauce, soy and broth in this recipe ๐
Sam Singleton says
Thank you Nagi, this was sooo good. I used broccoli, caulifloer an snow peas instead of cabbage, but it was still fantastic ๐
Nagi says
Perfect Sam!!
Carol says
Oh my! Cooked this for dinner tonight…yum yum yum. What can I say? Delicious Nagi. Love your work ๐
Nagi says
I’m so glad you loved it Carol!