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Home » Copycat Recipes » Panda Express

Panda Express Chow Mein Copycat

Published: Dec 18, 2020 · Modified: Mar 1, 2022 by Brooke · This post may contain affiliate links, which can earn us a commission.

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Craving Panda Express' chow mein noodles?  Recreate your favorite noodle dish cheaper and better by learning how to make a customizable version at home with our copycat recipe.  You'll be amazed at how quickly it be ready to eat.  You'll want to make this again and again.

bowl of copycat Panda Express chow mein

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Questions
  • How to Make
  • Variations
  • Pro Tips
  • Recipe

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Ingredients

This Panda Express chow mein copycat recipe uses fresh and simple ingredients that are easy to find in the Asian section at your grocery store.  The ingredients quickly come together to make a delicious and satisfying noodle side dish.

The Panda Express noodles are much darker in color than our recipe for this photo shoot.  This is due to the noodles used and the how dark the sauce is.

The Panda Express noodles are just a bit larger in diameter and are chewy with some tooth to them, so you'll want to take this in consideration when purchasing and cooking your noodles.  If you can find them locally or online try Wan Hua Foods Stir Fry Noodles or Japanese Yaki Soba Noodles.

On the Panda Express website they say they have onion and celery in their chow mein, but when I bought some recently the only vegetable present was cabbage.

  • Oil: high heat neutral oil and finish off with sesame oil
  • Vegetables: onion, celery (optional), cabbage
  • Noodles: mein, stir-fry, or Yaki Soba noodles
  • Sauce: liquid aminos or dark soy sauce, mirin, and oyster sauce or vegan oyster sauce
  • Spices: salt, to taste

Questions

What is the nutrition facts for Panda Express chow mein?

For a large side (4 cups or 512g) of chow mein, there are 510 calories, 6g of fiber, and 13g of protein.  Our version has 309 calories, 3.1g of fiber and 8.9g of protein for a one cup serving size. The noodles we used were 200 of those calories.  Make note different noodles will change the calories and carbs.  For more nutritional information, please scroll to the end of the recipe card.

How much does a large side of chow mein cost at Panda Express?

A large side costs, $4.20 which is 4 cups or 512 g of food.

What are the noodles made of?

The Panda Express website says that their noodles are made of wheat, so they aren't gluten free, but they are free of eggs.

What's the difference between chow mein and lo mein?

It's easy to get these two dishes confused, but they differ in the preparation method, texture, and the amount of sauce that is used.

  • Chow Mein: means fried or stir-fried.  Parboil the noddles first, then stir fry them.  Because of this, the texture is a little oily and a bit crispy compared to lo mein.  A little bit of sauce is added to the stir fry so the noodles are drier than lo mein.
  • Lo Mein: means tossed.  To prep the noodles, parboil, then toss with sauce.  The texture of the noodles is softer, more like pasta, and a good amount of sauce is added.  Lo mein noodles are easy to slurp.

How to Make

Gather all the ingredients.  Note: We included celery in this ingredient photo, but left it out of the recipe because my recent purchase of Panda Express' chow mein had no onion or celery in it just cabbage.  I left the onion in for flavor.

bowls of ingredients for copycat Panda Express chow mein

Cook the noodles according to package directions, rinse in cold water, drain and add two tablespoons of heated oil to prevent sticking.  Set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together the liquid aminos or soy sauce, oyster sauce, and mirin.

bowls of liquid aminos, oyster sauce, and mirin with a whisk

In a wok over medium high heat, heat up the oil.  Stir fry the onion (and optional celery) for two minutes, while constantly stirring.

person stirring sauteed onions in a black wok

Add the cabbage and continue stirring for a minute.

person stirring sauteed cabbage and onion in a wok

Add the cooked noodles.

cooked mein noodles and sauteed veggies in a wok

Pour in the sauce and cook until heated through, 3 to 5 minutes.

pouring the sauce on the cooked noodles and veggies

Season to taste with sesame oil and salt.

person adding sesame oil and salt to the chow mein

Serve with your favorite Chinese main course dishes while it's still hot.

person holding up chow mein noodles with chopsticks

Variations

  • Vegan & Vegetarian: Use vegan oyster sauce and noodles with no egg.
  • Gluten Free: Use liquid aminos and gluten free noodles.
  • Need more veggies?  Use carrots, snow peas, bell pepper, bean sprouts, and green onion.
  • Want protein?  Add Shiitake mushrooms, peanuts, tofu, chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp.
  • Want this spicier?  Add chili oil, sriracha sauce, or Korean gochujang chili sauce after it's removed from the heat.
  • Can't find the right noodles?  Try stir-fry, chow mein, Yaki Soba, ramen, lo mein, udon, or angel hair pasta.

Pro Tips

  • Have everything prepped before hand as this dish comes together quickly.
  • Under cook the noodles by one minute since they will finish cooking in the wok.
  • You'll want a noodle that has some tooth to it and is a bit chewy.
  • For a more authentic Panda Express type noodle, try Wan Hua Foods Stir Fry Noodles or Japaneses Yaki Soba Noodles.
  • If you want the noodles dark, use a dark soy sauce.
  • Make the noodles, then toss with warm oil to prevent sticking.

Looking for other Panda Express Copycat recipes?

  • Teriyaki Chicken
  • Kung Pao Chicken
  • Firecracker Chicken
  • Sweet Fire Chicken
  • Mushroom Chicken
  • String Bean Chicken
  • Black Pepper Chicken
  • Eggplant Tofu
  • Fried Rice
  • Super Greens

Interested in other Asian recipes?

  • Vegetable Stir Fry with Orange Sauce
  • Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry

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Recipe

person holding chow mein noodles with chopsticks

Panda Express Chow Mein Copycat

Our Panda Express chow mein copycat recipe is so easy to recreate at home.  Learn how to make this popular side dish using vegetables, noodles, and a homemade sauce.  It's ready in minutes and is completely customizable and absolutely delicious.
5 from 2 votes
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Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: chow mein, copycat recipe, Panda Express chow mein calories
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Servings: 4 cups
Calories: 347kcal
Author: Brooke

Ingredients
 

  • 3 tablespoons classic olive oil
  • ½ cup yellow onion, chopped or thinly sliced
  • ½ cup celery, thinly sliced on the bias, optional
  • 1 ½ cup green cabbage, sliced
  • 8 ounces chow mein or stir fry noodles
  • 3 tablespoons liquid aminos or dark soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons mirin
  • 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
US Imperial - Metric

Instructions

  • Whisk together the liquid aminos or soy sauce, oyster sauce, and mirin in a small bowl.
  • Heat up the olive oil over medium high heat in a wok.  Add the onion and optional celery and cook for 2 minutes.
  • Add the cabbage and cook for a minute, while stirring constantly with a large wooden spoon.
  • Add the cooked noodles and the sauce.  Cook until heated through, roughly 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and add sesame oil and a bit of salt.  Serve while still hot.

Notes

  • Prep everything before starting.
  • Since the noodles will finish cooking in the wok, undercook them by one minute.
  • To be like Panda Express, you'll want a noodle that has some tooth to it and is a bit chewy.  We used Hokan Chinese mein noodles for the photos.  The brand and type of noodles will affect the calories.
  • For a more authentic noodle, try Wan Hua Foods Stir Fry Noodles or Japaneses Yaki Soba Noodles.
  • A dark soy sauce will make your noodles look more like the Panda Express ones.
  • To prevent sticking, toss the noodles with oil.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 347kcal (17%)Carbohydrates: 48g (16%)Protein: 10g (20%)Fat: 13g (20%)Saturated Fat: 2g (13%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gSodium: 1564mg (68%)Potassium: 112mg (3%)Fiber: 4g (17%)Sugar: 5g (6%)Vitamin A: 83IU (2%)Vitamin C: 11mg (13%)Calcium: 23mg (2%)Iron: 2mg (11%)

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alex

    December 18, 2020 at 1:03 pm

    5 stars
    The noodles in this chow mein are chewy. The sauce is lovely, and adds a nice flavor to the noodles. The cabbage in here is crunchy. I really like this copycat version!

    Reply
    • Emma

      December 18, 2020 at 1:04 pm

      Thank you for your review, Alex! We're glad you enjoyed this chow mein.

      Reply
  2. Beth

    December 18, 2020 at 1:02 pm

    5 stars
    The noodles in this chow mein are soft, and a bit salty. The cabbage and onions are wonderful in this dish. This chow mein tastes the best warm. The noodles are thinner than the Panda Express one.

    Reply
    • Emma

      December 18, 2020 at 1:04 pm

      We're glad that you enjoyed this dish!

      Reply

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