Why You’ll Love this Homestyle Asian Chow Mein
If you’re craving a dish that combines comfort and flavor in one delicious package, this Homestyle Asian Chow Mein might just become your new weeknight favorite. It’s incredibly versatile—swap pork for chicken or go vegetarian if that’s more your style.
I love how this recipe delivers authentic flavors without requiring a specialty grocery run. The colorful mix of crisp vegetables, tender meat, and perfectly chewy noodles creates a texture paradise in every bite. Plus, it comes together in minutes, not hours.
Can you imagine anything better after a long day than a steaming plate of something that tastes like it came from your favorite takeout spot?
What Ingredients are in Homestyle Asian Chow Mein?
This homestyle Asian chow mein brings together a perfect balance of proteins, vegetables, and noodles, all tied together with simple seasonings that create that authentic flavor we crave.
What makes this recipe so accessible is that most of the ingredients are probably already sitting in your fridge or pantry, waiting to be transformed into something special.
The beauty of chow mein is in its medley of textures—crisp vegetables, tender meat, and those signature chewy noodles.
- 1 pound pork stew meat or 2½ cups cut-up chicken meat
- 1½ teaspoons seasoning salt
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1-2 garlic cloves
- 1 cup chopped celery
- ¾ cup chopped red, yellow, and orange bell peppers
- 5 mixed mushrooms
- ½ cup bamboo shoots
- 3 cups thinly sliced white cabbage
- ½ (14 ounce) bag chow mein noodles
- 3 tablespoons soya sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil or margarine for frying
Don’t worry too much if you’re missing one or two vegetables from the list—chow mein is incredibly forgiving and adaptable.
Can’t find bamboo shoots? The dish will still be delicious without them.
Looking to make this recipe vegetarian? Simply omit the meat and double up on mushrooms for that savory umami flavor.
For those watching sodium intake, you might want to use low-sodium soy sauce, as regular soy sauce combined with seasoning salt can make the dish quite salty.
How to Make this Homestyle Asian Chow Mein
Making this delicious chow mein is easier than you might think, and it comes together in just a few straightforward steps. Start by heating a bit of oil or margarine in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound of pork stew meat (or 2½ cups of cut-up chicken if you prefer) and sprinkle with 1½ teaspoons of seasoning salt. Let the meat brown nicely on all sides—this is where all that wonderful flavor begins to develop.
Once your meat has some good color, toss in 1 medium chopped onion and 1-2 cloves of garlic, letting them sizzle away for about 2 minutes until fragrant.
Now comes the veggie parade: add 1 cup of chopped celery, ¾ cup of colorful bell peppers, 5 mixed mushrooms, ½ cup of bamboo shoots, and 3 cups of thinly sliced white cabbage. The pan might look a bit crowded at this point, but don’t worry—those vegetables will cook down beautifully as they soften.
While the vegetables are cooking, bring a pot of water to a boil for your noodles. This is multitasking at its finest, right?
When your water reaches a rolling boil, add a pinch of salt and then your ½ bag (about 7 ounces) of chow mein noodles. Here’s a pro tip: cook them for just about 4 minutes instead of following the package directions—this keeps them from becoming mushy and maintains that perfect chew we all love in a good chow mein.
After draining and rinsing the noodles with hot water, add them directly to your frying pan with all those gorgeous vegetables and meat. Drizzle 3 tablespoons of soya sauce over everything and give it all a good toss to combine.
For an authentic Asian cooking experience, consider using a cast iron wok set which distributes heat evenly and creates that perfect restaurant-quality sear on your ingredients.
Season with additional salt and pepper to taste, though you might find it doesn’t need much more seasoning. And just like that, your homestyle Asian chow mein is ready to be devoured—still steaming and absolutely irresistible.
Homestyle Asian Chow Mein Substitutions and Variations
One of the greatest joys of this homestyle Asian chow mein recipe is how incredibly adaptable it’s to whatever you’ve got lurking in your fridge or pantry. No pork or chicken? Try beef, tofu, or shrimp instead. Vegetarians can skip the meat entirely and double up on those mushrooms for a savory umami boost.
Don’t have fresh veggies? Frozen stir-fry mix works in a pinch. No bamboo shoots? Water chestnuts provide that same delightful crunch. Can’t find traditional chow mein noodles? Ramen, spaghetti, or even rice noodles make worthy stand-ins.
The soy sauce can be swapped for tamari or coconut aminos, too.
What to Serve with Homestyle Asian Chow Mein
While homestyle Asian chow mein works beautifully as a complete meal on its own, pairing it with complementary sides can transform your dinner into a memorable feast.
I love serving mine with crispy vegetable spring rolls or plump dumplings—both provide textural contrast to the noodles.
A simple cucumber salad dressed with rice vinegar adds invigorating crunch, or try garlic-sautéed bok choy for something green and slightly bitter.
Feeling fancy? Add honey-glazed chicken skewers.
For beverages, jasmine tea cuts through the savory flavors perfectly, or try a cold Tsingtao beer for weekend indulgence.
Perfection.
Final Thoughts
After cooking this homestyle Asian chow mein countless times, I’ve come to appreciate how this humble dish brings together the best of comfort food with impressive versatility.
The beauty lies in its adaptability—swap proteins, add different veggies, or adjust spices to suit your taste. What makes this recipe special is how it transforms simple ingredients into something truly satisfying.
I hope you’ll give this chow mein a try on your next busy weeknight.
There’s something magical about the way the crispy noodles mingle with tender vegetables and savory sauce.
Sometimes, the most unpretentious dishes bring the greatest joy to our tables, don’t they?
