Easy Chow Mein

This easy chow mein tastes like takeout but because it’s homemade it contains less fat and salt. What’s more is that this dish is a slow-cooker recipe, so you can set it at lunch and enjoy it in time for dinner.

That said, if you want a meal in minutes, opt for any number of Asian stir fry recipes like spicy beef or veggie cashew stir fry.

Ingredients for Easy Chow Mein

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• Ground beef: Because ground beef is made from a tough cut of meat like chuck, it’s a great way to achieve a tender result at an affordable price.
• Onion: We recommend using white, sweet or yellow onions for this recipe, as purple onions may overwhelm the other flavors.
• Celery: Crunchy and slightly grassy in flavor, celery is a great veg to balance the other savory, rich ingredients in this easy chow mein.
• Chinese vegetables: Typically, the vegetables favored for an Asian stir fry include snap peas, bell peppers and broccoli.
• Brown gravy: While we suggest using an instant mix, you can make homemade brown gravy, if you’d prefer.
• Soy sauce: When it comes to soy sauce, there’s a wide range of options. To make sure you choose a quality one, check out our favorite soy sauce brands.
• Egg noodles or rice: Feel free to use store bought or make your own egg noodles for this recipe. If you’d prefer to serve this dish with rice, we recommend a long grain variety like jasmine or basmati rice.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the ground beef

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Place a large skillet over medium heat and cook the beef until it’s no longer pink. Remove from the heat and drain the excess liquid.

Editor’s tip: Remember to break the meat into crumbles as you go.

Step 2: Place everything in a slow-cooker

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Transfer the beef into a 3 quart slow-cooker. Stir in the celery, Chinese vegetables, gravy mix and soy sauce.

Step 3: Finish cooking and serve

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Cover and cook on low. Stir occasionally until the celery becomes tender, about four to six hours. Serve with noodles or rice.

Alejandro Monfort for Taste of Home

Easy Chow Mein Variations

• Swap out the protein: This dish pairs well with almost any variety of protein so feel free to swap out the ground beef if you’d like. For example, chicken chow mein is popular (or you can use pork, tofu or even shrimp.)
• Try a different noodle: Although egg noodles are the traditional choice for chow mein, you can use another if you’d prefer. Soba noodles, lo mein noodles or udon noodles would all taste great in this dish.

How to Store Easy Chow Mein

To store this recipe, place the leftovers in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to four days. You may find a lot of the sauce has been absorbed by the noodles so it’s good to have some extra sauce handy. You can use the microwave, oven or stovetop to reheat.

Can I freeze homemade chow mein?

First, allow the chow mein to come to room temperature. Transfer it to an airtight container and keep in the freezer for up to three months. That said, the noodles may change texture after two months. Enjoy any leftovers within this timeframe for the best results.

Easy Chow Mein Tips

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What makes chow mein taste like chow mein?

Chow mein is traditionally made with egg noodles and a sauce that’s sweet, salty and savory. While we use gravy mix and soy sauce, another recipe may use a combo of oyster sauce, sesame oil, sugar and soy sauce.

Do you boil chow mein noodles before frying?

It’s best to parcook or partially cook the noodles before adding them into the pan with the rest of the ingredients. Of course, this is a slow-cooker recipe so you don’t need to take this extra step.

What is chow mein sauce made of?

While we use gravy mix and soy sauce, chow mein sauce is often made from a blend of oyster sauce, sesame oil, sugar and soy sauce. Feel free to try out both sauces and see which you prefer.