I love their Chow Mein so much that I had to recreate it at home. The Panda Express Chow Mein has become a regular in my dinner rotation.
One of the items I love the most to get when I go to Panda Express is their famous Orange Chicken with a side of their Panda Express Chow Mein.
Making this recipe is a lot simpler than you think. The only ingredient you probably don’t have on hand are the yaki soba noodles. Unlike stir fry noodles or egg noodles, yaki soba noodles are typically located in the refrigerated section.
If you can’t find yaki soba noodles at your local grocery store, you can use chow mein noodles, low mein noodles or if really desperate, you can use ramen noodles (without the flavoring packet)
You might be wondering why I chose yaki soba noodles instead of chow mein noodles for this dish. Both are fantastic for stir-fries, but the key difference is that chow mein noodles are typically made with eggs, giving them a slightly richer flavor and chewier texture, while yaki soba noodles are egg-free, offering a lighter bite.
Copycat Rating
Since the goal of a Copycat Recipe is for it to taste exactly like the original, it’s only natural to rate this recipe against the original. This Copycat recipe rates a solid 9 out of 10 in my opinion.
Serving Suggestions
Now that you’ve made a delicious chow mein, why bot try my Fantastic Slow Cooker Orange Chicken and my Jalapeño Avocado Egg Rolls. So yummy!
Gather your Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this Copycat Chow Mein recipe from Panda Express (see recipe card for quantities):
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce – be sure to use low sodium or the chow mein will be too salty
- Light Brown Sugar – adds a little sweetness to this dish
- Garlic Cloves – it wouldn’t be chow mein without garlic
- Fresh Ginger – if you must, you can use 1/8 teaspoon of ground ginger
- Ground Black Pepper – for seasoning
- Vegetable Oil – you can also use canola oil or peanut oil
- Yaki Soba Noodles – the main ingredient for this chow mein recipe
- Celery – used in the Panda Express Chow Mein
- Yellow Onion – sweet onion or white onion can also be used
- Cabbage – you can either buy pre-shredded cabbage or shred your own
How to Make Panda Express Chow Mein
- In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and black pepper. Set aside.
- Remove the Yaki Soba noodles from their package and discard any flavoring packets that are included. Rinse the noodles well, drain, and set aside.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet (or Wok). Add the celery and onions and sauté for about 10-12 minutes or until onions start to become soft and transparent.
- Add the cabbage and sauté for an additional minute or so.
- Add the Yaki Soba noodles and soy sauce mixture to the skillet and sauté for an additional 2-3 minutes or until noodles are heated through.
Printable Recipe Card
Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein
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Ingredients
- ¼ Cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Light Brown Sugar
- 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 1 Tsp Fresh Ginger, grated
- Ground Black Pepper, to taste
- 3 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
- ⅔ Cup Celery, chopped diagonally
- 1 Yellow Onion, thinly sliced
- 2 Cups Cabbage, chopped
- 17 oz Yaki Soba Noodles
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and black pepper. Set aside.
- Remove the Yaki Soba noodles from their package and discard any flavoring packets that are included. Rinse the noodles well, drain, and set aside.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet (or Wok). Add the celery and onions and sauté for about 10-12 minutes or until onions start to become soft and transparent.
- Add the cabbage and sauté for an additional minute or so.
- Add the Yaki Soba noodles and soy sauce mixture to the skillet and sauté for an additional 2-3 minutes or until noodles are heated through.
