Name: Panda Express Chow Mein Copycat Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 2 packs of dry Yakisoba noodles (no spice packets; drained); 8 oz cabbage (sliced); 2 oz celery (chopped); ½ cup yellow onion (diced); 3tbsps oil; ½ tbsp soy sauce; 1tbsp oyster sauce

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Chow mein is a favorite side in Panda Express and for a good reason. It is an uncomplicated dish that complements well with any savory food.

It is saucy, with smooth and chewy noodles and a dash of vegetables that make it a complete meal on its own.

In this post, we will get to know more about the well-loved chow mein. At the end of the post, you will find an easy cook copycat recipe of chow mein for you to try.

Table of Contents

What is Panda Express chow mein?

Chow mein is one of the most popular side and combo dishes of Panda Express. It is made with yakisoba or mein noodles, cabbage and celery, and sauced with the combination of soy sauce and oyster sauce.

Ingredients & substitute

All the ingredients in the chow mein noodles can be found in all Asian stores. Here are the ingredients needed for the dish:

Canola oil or vegetable oil
Sesame oil
Yakisoba noodles
Soy sauce
Oyster sauce
Salt

For substitutes, you can also use any high heat oil instead of canola. The soy sauce can be substituted with mirin or liquid aminos. As for the noodles, you can use traditional Chinese mein noodles or any stir-fry noodles.

Panda Express chow mein calories & nutrition

As per Panda Express website, chow mein contains 510kcal per serving (180kcal from fat). It has a total fat of 20g, saturated fat of 3.5g and sodium of 860mg. It also contains 80g carbohydrates, dietary fiber at 6g, sugar at 9g and protein at 13g.

Tools used in the recipe

For this recipe, here are the following tools that you must prepare:

Wok or non-stick pan
Knife
Cutting board
Small bowls for the seasoning
Large bowl for the noodles

How to make Panda Express chow mein

As have been said, this is a simple dish to cook. All you must do is chop the veggies finely, stir-fry them in the wok and add the chow mein noodles or yakisoba (without seasoning packets) in the bed of veggies. After that, just season it with soy sauce, oyster sauce, and salt and you are done.

Begin the process by finely chopping the cabbage and celery. Rinse and then dry.
Put oil in the wok and begin cooking the vegetables. Cook and caramelize a bit for 5mins.
Toss in the noodles. Stir the noodles and the veggies together for 5mins.
Season the mixture with soy sauce and oyster sauce. Let cook for another 3mins.
Serve warm.

More Panda Express copycat recipes

Variations on Panda Express chow mein

To suit chow mein with your dietary requirements and personal choice, here are some variations of the dish that you can employ:

Vegan and gluten-free: use liquid aminos and gluten-free noodles
Vegetables: you can add carrots, snow peas, bean sprouts, bell peppers, and green onion
Protein: you can add shirataki mushrooms, shrimp, pork, beef, chicken, and tofu
Noodles: you can substitute ramen, udon, or angel hair pasta
Flavor: for a spicier taste, you can add sriracha or chili oil

How to store Panda Express chow mein

For leftover chow mein or lo mein noodles, keep them sealed in an airtight container before refrigerating. It can last in the fridge for 3-4 days.

FAQs

Can you freeze Panda Express chow mein?

Yes. You can also extend the shelf life of chow mein by keeping it frozen. Same thing, keep it in an airtight container before freezing. It could last in the freezer for two months.

What does Panda Express chow mein taste like?

Chow mein noodles taste tangy, salty, with a hint of sweetness. It also has a distinct umami taste, with a crispy and chewy texture.

What to serve with Panda Express chow mein?

Here are the following main/savory dishes that go well with Panda Express chow mein:

Mongolian beef
String bean chicken breast
Orange chicken
Cashew chicken
Kung pao chicken
Lettuce wraps
Ham fried rice/shrimp fried rice
Chinese pork BBQ

Is Panda Express chow mein healthy?

Considering the ingredients as well as the carbs and calorie content of chow mein, we can consider it as a healthy food. However, it is high in sodium, so you need to make the necessary adjustments to make it healthier. You may change the noodles, scrap the salt, or modify the soy sauce used in the dish.

Is Panda Express chow mein keto friendly?

Well, it is made of noodles so basically it is not keto-friendly. But you can always substitute it to shirataki keto noodles to make it a keto-friendly meal for you. You can also add more proteins to the dish like meats and tofu.

Is Panda Express chow mein gluten-free?

Also no. The noodles are made of wheat flour and the soy sauce is well, made of soya and wheat. But of course, there is a gluten-free solution to this. You can use mirin, or gluten-free soy sauce to pass to your gluten-free diet.

Is Panda Express chow mein dairy-free?

Yes. It is plant-based, and the other ingredients are not infused with any dairy content so it is safe for people with dairy allergies and are suffering from lactose intolerance.

Does Panda Express have chow mein or lo mein?

Panda Express has chow mein not lo mein. A lot of people contest that it is lo mein but the crisp, oily, and dry texture of the noodles clearly say that it is chow mein. As such, we can settle the clout surrounding this dish from Panda Express. It is authentically chow mein, you guys!

What is better lo mein or chow mein?

When translated, lo mein means tossed noodles while chow mein would mean stir-fried noodles. As such, chow mein is crispier, more oily but drier when cooked compared to lo mein.

Lo mein is first parboiled then tossed in sauce. It is smoother, silkier, more like pasta, and can be used for soup-based dishes.

Conclusion

We all love the simple yet filling character of chow mein from Panda Express. It is easy to prepare and cook and unlike the other dishes on the menu, you can count on it for having low carbs and relatively low calories.

It is the perfect side to any meal and at the same time loaded enough to be eaten as it is.