A Quick and Healthy One-Pot Dinner
It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, life always seems to be busy! With 3 kids aged pre-school to grade 4, we are always on our toes, and healthy, one pot dinners are our go-to’s most days. I know that this is not a traditional chow mein recipe, but it is my take on chow mein with simple ingredients that we usually have on hand. If you’re looking for a totally authentic recipe, you are welcome to look somewhere else 🙂 Love one pot pastas? Check out this Cajun Chicken Pasta and this Feta Pasta with Dill next!
What’s the Difference Between Chicken Chow Mein and Chicken Lo Mein?
Like I said, I will never profess to know anything about cooking authentic Asian food, but I do my best and this is one recipe we all love. I load it up with veggies and there are no fights at dinner time. However, if you wanted to make this recipe more authentic, you could turn it into a more traditional chow mein or lo mein without too much hassle. What’s the main difference? Basically, it’s about the cooking technique. Both dishes start with Chinese egg noodles that have been cooked al dente. From there, chow mein dishes are made with stir-fried noodles topped with savory sauce, veggies, and/or meat. In lo mein dishes, the noodles are cooked briefly in the sauce along with the other ingredients. As a one-pot dish, this easy chicken chow mein recipe doesn’t exactly take either approach. It may not be authentic, but it is flavorful, easy, healthy, and fast! You can have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes! If you love Asian-inspired chicken dinners, you might also like these Chicken Lettuce Wraps or this Teriyaki Chicken!
Recipe Ingredients
Let’s take a look at the ingredients for this easy recipe. Most If you’re not sure whether hoisin sauce is worth an extra purchase, just do it. It adds so much amazing flavor and you will find yourself using it over and over. (Note: To see the recipe card with amounts and nutrition info, scroll to the bottom of this post!)
Oil: I use canola oil for gently cooking the chicken and veggies, but you could substitute any oil you prefer. Just make sure it has a reasonably high smoke point—you don’t want to ruin the flavor of a more delicate oil. Sesame oil is a common choice, but has a strong flavor so I would recommend just using a little for finishing. Chicken: Breasts are my go-to, but chicken thighs would also be fine. They should be boneless and cut into cubes. Fresh Vegetables: Red bell pepper, snap peas, shredded cabbage (or coleslaw mix), and matchstick carrots are a colorful and easy combination. However, feel free to substitute your favourites! Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is my favorite, but garlic powder is also fine. Ginger: Again, I like to use minced fresh ginger, but the recipe will still be super tasty with powdered ginger. Red Pepper Flakes: These can be omitted for a milder dish, or you can use a couple of pinches of cayenne for more heat. Broth: To give our one-pot pasta more flavor, I use chicken broth instead of water to cook the pasta. You can also use vegetable broth or water, depending on what you have or prefer. Soy Sauce and Hoisin Sauce: These two Asian sauces combine to make the perfect easy chow mein sauce! Noodles: You’ll need a box (375 grams or about 13 ounces) of whole grain spaghettini pasta, or an equal amount of dried ramen or chow mein noodles. Water and Cornstarch: These are optional, for thickening the sauce.
How to Make One Pot Chicken Chow Mein
To make this recipe, you’ll need to saute everything briefly and then simmer to cook through. It’s easiest and fastest if you get your ingredients prepped and ready to go before you start the cooking process! See the detailed recipe down below in the recipe card.
Tips and Variations
This dish is so, so flexible! You can change the pasta, the protein, the veggies, and even how you prepare it. As you know, I’m not a big fan of rules here, so you do your thang! Here are a few ideas
Protein: This dish works well with lean cubed boneless pork chops, cubes of firm, well-drained tofu, or even browned ground beef. I don’t recommend using cubes of steak, because they may over- or under-cook (depending on the cut). And if you’re into batch cooking or meal prep, you can made a big batch of Instant Pot Shredded Chicken and setting some aside for this Chicken Chow Mein! Veggies: You might want to mix up the veggies. Onions, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, snow peas, bean sprouts, green onions, bok choy, water chestnuts… the choices are endless! Two Pots? If you like, you can cook the noodles in the broth separately from the stir-fried, saucy veggies and chicken. Cook them until al dente, and then give them a quick stir-fry in a skillet to get a crispy pan-fried texture. Yum!
Serving Suggestions
This one-pot meal is complete in itself, but if you’d like to add an extra dish or two, one of these simple takeout-style recipes would be a great choice! Meal prep is easy if you make several main dishes one night per week, and set the leftovers aside (or freeze them) to use later in lunches, etc.
Mongolian Beef: Set it and forget it! This Mongolian Beef with Pineapple is great over your favorite rice or noodles. Grilled Chicken: Sweet and Spicy Coconut Grilled Chicken? How can I put this… you need this chicken in your life! And you don’t have to use an outdoor grill. It cooks up just as perfectly on a grill pan or cast iron skillet. Sweet and Sour Chicken: Another slow-cooker favorite, this easy Crockpot Sweet and Sour Chicken is a sticky, sweet, and tangy main course the whole family will adore.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Store this pasta in airtight containers in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 3 days. The best way to reheat saucy pasta is in the microwave or in a covered skillet. Reheating in the pot may result in a scorched bottom layer and cold top layer!
To Microwave: Place the desired portion in a shallow layer on a plate and microwave for 10-30 seconds at a time until hot. Stir to prevent hot and cold spots. To Reheat on the Stove: Place the desired portion in a shallow layer in a skillet. Add a splash of water or broth if the pasta seems dry. Heat on low, covered, until the dish is steaming hot.
More Easy One Pot Recipes
Chicken Tortellini Soup Healthy One Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce Taco Mac
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