Healthy Chicken Chow Mein

This Healthy Chicken Chow Mein recipe is a classic Chinese-inspired dish that you can feel good about feeding your family! Packed with veggies, protein, and pasta, this complete meal comes together easily thanks to a simple sauce and a quick stir-fry method.

If your family loves Asian food, but you don’t love the fat and calories that are often associated with those tubs of take-out, then you should definitely give this recipe a try! The flavors are mild enough to appeal to even your youngest audience (it’s not spicy at all!), and it’s packed with nutrients thanks to loads of veggies that are tossed throughout the pasta.

What is Chicken Chow Mein?

The name “Chow Mein” (in Mandarin “ch’ao mien”) means “stir-fried noodles,” and originated in Northern China. While the chow mein served in American Chinese restaurants has been altered to appeal to Western tastes, it is based on an authentic Chinese dish of stir-fried vegetables with boiled noodles.

What’s the difference between Chicken Chow Mein and Chicken Lo Mein?

While these dishes are very similar, Chow Mein typically includes stir-fried noodles (with a crispier texture), while Lo Mein is tossed with soft boiled noodles.

How to make Chicken Chow Mein:

You know what’s great about this quick and easy Chicken Chow Mein? There’s very little prep involved! The only slicing required: cutting your chicken into strips. Otherwise, I take some help from frozen vegetables and a bag of angel hair coleslaw from the produce section. Dump them in your skillet or wok, stir-fry them with the sauce, and a healthy Chicken Chow Mein dinner is served!

Ingredients:

• Thin noodles
• Sesame oil
• Chicken broth
• Soy sauce and oyster sauce
• Brown sugar
• Cornstarch
• Garlic (I use a jar of fresh minced garlic for a shortcut)
• Chicken breast
• Shredded cabbage (I use a bag of coleslaw mix for a shortcut)
• Frozen stir-fry vegetables
• Bamboo shoots

1. First, cook the pasta according to package directions. Toss the cooked pasta with sesame oil for added flavor and to prevent the noodles from sticking to each other.
2. Next, make the chicken chow mein gravy by stirring together the broth, soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar and cornstarch.
3. Finally, stir fry the chicken and garlic in a large skillet or wok. Set the meat aside, stir fry the cabbage, vegetables and bamboo shoots. Then add the sauce, cooked pasta, and cooked chicken back to the wok for a few more minutes (just until the gravy thickens). Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds, and enjoy!

What to serve with Cantonese Chicken Chow Mein:

This is really a complete meal, thanks to the noodles, chicken and vegetables. That said, if you want to offer some additional options on the side, try pairing the healthy Chicken Chow Mein with frozen egg rolls (or spring rolls), dumplings or Wonton Soup.

Cook’s Tips and Recipe Variations:

• Use just about any of your favorite fresh or frozen vegetables! You can stick with just broccoli, or mix it up with grated carrots, snow peas, or frozen green peas.
• Change up the protein by using strips of beef or shrimp in lieu of the chicken. or turkey would also work in lieu of the chicken.
• Vegetarian? Skip the meat and toss in a few extra bamboo shoots, tofu, or some more veggies!
• If you like a spicy dish, serve the stir fry with crushed red pepper flakes or Sriracha hot sauce.
• Is Chicken Chow Mein healthy? We keep this particular recipe healthy with wholegrain pasta, plenty of vegetables and lean protein. The dish uses minimal fat and sugar. The stir fry is not low carb, gluten-free, or Keto-friendly, as it calls for wheat noodles.
• The sesame oil adds so much rich, Asian flavor to this dish — don’t skip it!

More easy recipes that are just like your favorite Chinese takeout:

• Chinese Pepper Steak
• Dump-and-Bake Kung Pao Chicken
• Quick and Easy Vegetable Lo Mein
• Dump-and-Bake Sweet and Sour Chicken
• Asparagus and Beef Stir Fry
• Dump-and-Bake General Tso Chicken

Healthy Chicken Chow Mein

5 from 1 vote

Prep: 2 minutes minutes

Cook: 20 minutes minutes

0 minutes minutes

Total: 22 minutes minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 344 kcal

This Healthy Chicken Chow Mein recipe is a classic quick and easy Chinese-inspired dish that you can feel good about feeding your family!

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Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 8 ounces angel hair pasta (I used wholegrain pasta, but you can substitute with any noodles that you prefer)
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 3 tablespoons chicken broth
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic (I use a jar of pre-minced fresh garlic for a shortcut)
• ½ lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into thin strips
• 2 cups finely shredded cabbage (I used bagged coleslaw mix for a shortcut)
• 1 (14 ounce) package (about 4 cups) frozen stir-fry vegetables, slightly thawed
• 1 (8 ounce) can sliced bamboo shoots, drained

Instructions

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, rinse, and place in a large bowl. Toss pasta with sesame oil.
• Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, stir together broth, soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, and cornstarch. Set aside.
• Heat a large skillet or a wok over medium-high heat and coat with vegetable oil or spray with cooking spray. Add garlic and chicken and stir for about 3 minutes, or until no longer pink. Remove chicken from skillet and cover with foil to keep warm.
• Add cabbage, stir-fry vegetable blend, and bamboo shoots to the skillet and stir-fry for 3-5 minutes (or until cabbage is wilted and vegetables are tender).
• Add broth mixture, cooked pasta, and cooked chicken back to the skillet with the vegetables. Stir-fry for 2 more minutes, or until sauce thickens. Serve.

Notes

• Use just about any of your favorite fresh or frozen vegetables! You can stick with just broccoli, or mix it up with grated carrots, snow peas, or frozen green peas.
• Change up the protein by using strips of beef or shrimp in lieu of the chicken. or turkey would also work in lieu of the chicken.
• Vegetarian? Skip the meat and toss in a few extra bamboo shoots, tofu, or some more veggies!
• If you like a spicy dish, serve the stir fry with crushed red pepper flakes or Sriracha hot sauce.
• Is Chicken Chow Mein healthy? We keep this particular recipe healthy with wholegrain pasta, plenty of vegetables and lean protein. The dish uses minimal fat and sugar. The stir fry is not low carb, gluten-free, or Keto-friendly, as it calls for wheat noodles.
• The sesame oil adds so much rich, Asian flavor to this dish -- don't skip it!

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4 of the recipeCalories: 344kcalCarbohydrates: 53.6gProtein: 22.3gFat: 4.6gSaturated Fat: 0.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 560.2mgPotassium: 301.1mgFiber: 8.4gSugar: 9.6g

Keyword: chicken chow mein, chicken stir fry, healthy chicken chow mein

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Chinese

Author: Blair Lonergan

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