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:
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Base ingredients – for the sauce and the crispy noodles; and
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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!
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Classic Chow Mein – also see the Emergency Chow Mein Ramen recipe!
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Chinese Chicken Salad – with crispy noodles!
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Express noodles: Quick Beef Ramen Noodles, Chicken Vegetable Ramen Noodles and 12 Minute Thai Chicken Peanut Noodles
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Browse the Noodle recipes collection!
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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…..
Hi. Unfortunately the only noodles I could find are refrigerated pan frying Hong Kong style noodles. I know you say they won’t work but is there anything I can do to MAKE them work?
Nagi, what skillet do you use to cook this, and would it work if it was cooked in a wok?
The whole family enjoyed this one. I made it into a combination chowmein and was lazy and used ready made crunchy noodles .. Flavours are amazing will make this one a regular in our house
This is my go to. Turns out the same everytime. It’s DELICIOUS!!!!!
Nagi- you are an everyday hero! This was so easy and I would have never attempted this until I saw how easy your method was. Thank you for constantly helping me feed my family!!
Hi Nagi,
This recipe was such a hit with my kids – thank you so much! Just wondering though at what step we add in the shallots / spring onions? It’s in the ingredients list but not in the instructions so I got to the end and then realised I had a bowl of the spring onions sitting there. I mixed them it at the end but it’s probably not where they are supposed to go. Much appreciated if you could point me in the direction for next time because this is definitely going to be cooked again and again!
I would add at step #4, along with the cabbage and bok choy greens. You want to avoid overcooking as it will reduce the freshness. But this is just my opinion 🙂
I love the crispy noodle chow mein at my local Chinese restaurant, so I thought I’d try to make it at home. The sauce is the perfect blend of ingredients, and the crispy noodles make this chow mein out of this world! My husband doesn’t really care that much for chow mein, and looked disappointed when I told him we were having chow mein for dinner. He changed his mind once this was on his plate. We both had seconds! Thank you for this recipe. It is going into my recipe collection, an honor bestowed on only the best of the best!
Thanks for sharing this recipe! I am so glad to have found your recipe. This simple yet looks delicious!!
Nagi, I have made this twice in one week. I found this a beautiful recipe and enjoyed cooking it, the flavour is spot on outdid any Chinese shop in our area. Will try your other recipes also. Thankyou
Nagi, I’m not a cook, my wife is the master of that domain, but I do get in there occasionally. Never attempted anything “Asian” before but have a thing for crispy noodles. I made this first and foremost because your directions/video/explanations are so good. It turned out great. Even the chef of the house must have been impressed because she asked me to make it again a few days later. Love your site/recipes etc. You are my go to source and have elevated my interest in cooking to the point I have now cooked a 2nd dish and looking for more. Thank you for providing such a great site. We live in Vancouver but have been to Oz about 8 times. Love the land down under. All the best….Jack
This was very good. I used mushrooms instead of chicken for a vegetarian dish. Next time I’m going to reduce the sugar, as I’d like a bit more of a savory flavor. Thank you detailing the steps so clearly and making it so easy to cook up a delicious meal. The short, simple videos that accompany some of your recipes are the best!
Delicious. I love how detailed your recipes are, and every one of your recipes I have made so far is a winner. Thank you!
Is there another way to substitute the oyster sauce in a recipe that’s for for itas I am allergic to the oyster sauce
There are several vegetarian oyster sauces available that are made with mushrooms! N x
Hi Nagi, is the sauce in this recipe much different to “Charlie”?
Thank you Nagi,
love the recipes and nearly all the time i have the ingrediants.
So its perfect. Yummo
My husband and I love Chinese, I have a very old cook book from the 80’s.
This is going to be a whole family favourite.
Thank you so much. 😁yummo
This is absolutely SENSATIONAL! The bests are nowhere near as intimidating to make as I thought, and so delicious.
Thanks! N x
This recipe was delicious! Couldn’t find chow mein noodles but it still worked.
Great! N x
Hi Nagi. I love all your recipes, they are always delicious. I’m hoping to make “crunchy noodle chicken chow mein”
Tried baking the noodle cake, as can’t get fresh at woolies ATM. The cake just went a little brown but still seemed hard, are you thinking when yummy sauce goes on, cake will soften? I wanted a “nest “like you had. Also could buy fantastic fresh noodle but Hokkien thin style any thoughts on whether they will crisp up? Thanks.
Oh my goodness Nagi! This was absolutely AMAZING!!!! My husband said he likes everything I make but this was “flipping” amazing!!! It was better than my local Chinese!! Thank you so much
WOOT! You won’t need to order take out any more!! N x