Panda Express Chow Mein (Copycat)

Skillet of Panda Express Chow Mein noodles with tongs. Egg rolls in the background.

5 from 103 votes

Our Panda Express Chow Mein copycat recipe is easy to make and tastes just like the Panda Express side dish. Make a healthier version of this chow mein at home for a fraction of the price!

Prep Time20

Cook Time5

Total Time25

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: Side, Side Dish

Servings:

Calories: 169kcal

Author: Erica Walker

Equipment

Large Wok

Ingredients

¼ cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
ground black pepper, to taste
2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 (5.6 ounce) packages Yakisoba noodles or Chinese Egg Noodles (Found in the produce section of the grocery store. Usually, the 3 packages are sold together in one 17oz. pack)
⅔ cup celery chopped diagonally
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 cups chopped cabbage

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and black pepper. Set aside.
Remove noodles from packages and discard included flavoring packets. Rinse noodles well, drain, and set aside.
Heat oil in a large wok or skillet over medium heat. Add celery and onion and sauté for about 1-2 minutes or until onions start to become soft and transparent. Add cabbage and sauté an additional minute.
Add noodles and soy sauce mixture to the vegetables. Stir-fry over medium-high heat for an additional 2-3 minutes or until noodles are heated through.

Video

Notes

In this recipe, you can add a shake or two of sesame oil to the vegetable oil to add a deeper flavor, but don't overdo it! I am not including it in the recipe because the sesame oil flavoring can become overpowering really quickly if you aren't careful. I have made it both ways (with and without sesame oil) and they both taste great.
Don't overcook the noodles. Overcooking them can cause them to break. You want them to be just heated through.

Nutrition