This Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein recipe is easy to make and comes together in just 20 minutes.
The recipe serves six and costs approximately $6.70 to make. That’s only around $1.11 per serving!
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Panda Express Chow Mein
Our Copycat Chow Mein recipe comes together faster than you can drive to Panda Express and order it! With this recipe, you can make a healthier version of the popular dish while saving money making it at home.
Our recipe only takes twenty minutes to make, so you can easily make this on a busy weeknight. You can serve these noodles as a side dish or add a protein such as chicken, beef, or shrimp to make it a main dish.
This chow mein recipe is so good; everyone will think you picked it up from Panda Express! You will impress your family with how delicious the chow mein is, and you will love its simplicity.
As an added bonus, this dish also makes for great leftovers for a quick lunch the next day.
Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein Ingredients & Cost:
- 14 oz package dry Lo Mein noodles – $4.18
- 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil – $0.12
- 2 cups thinly chopped cabbage – $0.88
- 3 large stalks celery – $0.75
- 1/2 yellow onion – $0.23
- 3 large garlic cloves – $0.15
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce – $0.10
- 1 Tablespoon oyster sauce – $0.29
The recipe cost is calculated by the amounts needed for the recipe. To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained. The pricing for this recipe was updated in December 2023.
How to Make Panda Express Chow Mein
***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.
- First, pour oil into a large deep skillet and preheat until oil is simmering for 30 seconds.
- Add the cabbage, celery, and onion to the skillet.
- Then cook, constantly stirring, until the onions are translucent.
- Add garlic, and then add in the cooked noodles, soy sauce, and oyster sauce.
- Finally, stir until the vegetables are evenly distributed and the noodles are coated and heated through. Serve and enjoy!
Get Kids Involved in Making Panda Express Noodles
- Ages 2-3: Have them help you prepare the celery by breaking the stalks from the bunch. They can also wash and clean the stalks.
- Ages 4-5: Help them measure the soy sauce and oyster sauce. They can also count out the cloves of garlic.
- Ages 6-8: Guide their hands on the knife as you show them how to chop the celery and cabbage.
- Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
- Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe unsupervised while you do the happy dance in the corner!
Panda Chow Mein Recipe Variations
- If you can’t find lo mein noodles, then you can use spaghetti.
- Sometimes I make this a complete meal by adding chicken and vegetables like carrots, broccoli, and snow peas.
What to Serve with Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein
How to store Panda Express Noodles
- Serve: As with most recipes, to avoid bacteria growing, you shouldn’t leave this Chow Mein out for longer than 2 hours.
- Store: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Unfortunately, we do not recommend freezing this recipe. The vegetables will be a wilted mess upon defrosting.
Panda Express Chow Mein Recipe FAQs
Our Chow Mein sauce is made of soy sauce and oyster sauce. Super easy and tasty!
The ingredients in chop suey and chow mein are very similar. The main difference is in the preparation and presentation. Chow mein is made by adding cooked noodles to the sauce and vegetables. Chop suey is made by serving the cooked vegetables and sauce over rice or fried noodles.
Chow mein does fall under the category of an authentic Chinese dish. However, how it is made in American restaurants has been slightly altered from the traditional dish. But the inspiration for the recipe does come from a traditional Chinese dish of vegetables and noodles.
Chow Mein Tools:
- large skillet
- mixing spoon
- colander
- knife
- cutting board
- measuring spoons
- measuring cups
More $5 Recipes like this Chow Mein Panda Express Copycat Recipe
- Best Homemade White Bread
- Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
- Buttermilk Sheet Pan Pancakes
- Corn Muffins
- Crock Pot Greek Yogurt
- Dry Roasted Chickpeas
- Eggs Benedict Breakfast Braid
- English Muffin Pizzas
- French Toast with Blueberry Syrup
- Green Smoothie
Panda Chow Mein
Recipe Cost 6.70 Serving Cost 1.11Equipment
- large skillet
- mixing spoon
- Colander
- knife
- cutting board
- Measuring spoons
- measuring cups
Ingredients
- 14 oz package dry lo mein noodles cooked as per package instructions
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 large stalks celery cut on the diagonal
- 2 cups thinly chopped cabbage
- ½ yellow onion sliced into thin half-moons
- 3 large garlic cloves minced
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoons oyster sauce
Instructions
- In a large deep pan or skillet add the oil. Preheat the pan on high until the oil is shimmering, about 30-45 seconds.
- Add celery, cabbage, and onion and cook, stirring constantly, until the edges of the vegetables are browned and the onions are translucent about 4 minutes.
- Add garlic and stir constantly for 30-60 seconds or until fragrant.
- Stir in the cooked noodles, soy sauce, and oyster sauce. Cook and stir constantly until the noodle and veggies are coated in the soy sauce and the noodles are heated through.
- Serve immediately.
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Nutrition
This Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein recipe is easy to make and come together in just 20 minutes. The recipe serves 6 and costs $4.26 to make. That’s just 71¢ per serving!
Amanda says
This is restaurant-quality Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein made at home. Superb!
Sgurl says
Easy and delicious
Jess Jankowski says
Thank you!
Allison says
I love Panda Express Chow Mein!! What brand of lo mein noodles do you use?
Jess Jankowski says
Isn’t it so good?! We like Simply Asia and also Ka-Me, just note that the Ka-Me are a little wider typically. Enjoy!