Panda Express Chow Mein Copycat
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Tastes just like Panda Express except it takes just minutes to whip up and tastes a million times better!
I love recreating take-out recipes at home. You know exactly what’s going into your dish, and the homemade version is ALWAYS better without a doubt. And this Panda Express copycat is no exception. Best of all, you can make this in less than 20 minutes! How easy is that?
I kid you not. This is one of the easiest recipes I have ever made. It requires such few ingredients and this recipe is practically foolproof. And there really is no comparison to Panda Express because it’s just that much better. We didn’t even have a main dish to pair this with but we still devoured this on its own like there was no tomorrow!
TOOLS FOR THIS RECIPE
WHAT IS YAKI-SOBA?
Yaki-Soba is ramen-style noodles and can be found in the refrigerated aisle of your local grocery store.
Panda Express Chow Mein Copycat
Ingredients
- 2 (5.6-ounce) packages refrigerated Yaki-Soba, seasoning sauce packets discarded*
- ¼ cup reduced sodium soy sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 ribs celery, sliced diagonally
- 2 cups shredded cabbage
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling water, add Yaki-Soba until loosened, about 1-2 minutes; drain well.
- In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, garlic, brown sugar, ginger and white pepper; set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add onion and celery, and cook, stirring often, until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in cabbage until heated through, about 1 minute.
- Stir in Yaki-Soba and soy sauce mixture until well combined, about 2 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
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I live in Ireland so dont know where to get the noodles – would it be ok to use a packet of dried noodles or would a packet of fresh noodles do? Are they just plain noodles – needless to mention i have never eaten in Panda Express!
Yes, you can certainly use dried noodles or fresh – it just won’t be a Panda Express copycat recipe!
So delicious!
Bookmarking it as this is my fav at Panda express!! Thanks for sharing!!
I’ve never eaten at Panda Express… now I don’t have to (LOL)! This looks absolutely amazing. I always love your recipes and photographs and visit your blog almost daily for inspiration!
I’ve never had Panda Express but will make sure to try this out!
I love Panda Express Chow Main Noodles! These look amazing!
When I was a poor college student spending my summers working in Cali I went to Panda express everyday for lunch and ordered a plate of white rice and then loaded it with plum sauce because it was practically a free lunch. Now living on the east coast I haven’t been to Panda express in a long time…this recipe will bring me right back.
Panda express/ takeout is expensive. An actual poor college experience is cooking all your own food cause you can’t go out ha. Just saying. This recipe rocks though.
SMH..Did you actually read what they said???… they would eat WHITE RICE and PLUM SAUCE!! lol sounds like a broke college kid to me!
This looks 1000x better than take out!
Hi, Where do you buy these noodles in Bay area? Which stores have these? Thanks
Grocery stores such a Safeway or Ranch99 should carry them. Although I recommend calling ahead to make sure it’s in stock.
I get them at my local Winco store too.
I also find them at Winco!
I tried looking for them at winco in the refrigerator section and nothing I ended up getting the dry noodles instead
They are at the Winco store and are located in the smaller section of refrigerated produce like where mushrooms and herbs are. They have these noodles there as well as other fresh Asian products.
I find them at my local Lucky’s and Safeway in Santa Clara. If I keep asking nicely I hope Target starts carrying them as well.
Hey, I live in East San Jose and there is a huge asian population! You can go to Any asian Story and it’s guarantee you will find them! There located in the been sprout, bamboo shoot refrigerated section. Can’t miss it! or if you go to Japantown in downtown San Jose. Hope I reached out on time. I get mine at Marina Foods!
OMG, I love you for making this homemade version as it is one of my favorite mall foods, ever. My waistline is already panicking. 😉
I don’t love Panda Express, but I do love their chow mein! I always steal my husband’s whenever he gets it. Love that I can now make it at home!
The amount of Panda Express noodles that I consumed as a teenager is embarrassing. I would order the orange chicken with a DOUBLE order of these noodles. Ridiculous. And man, do I miss my teenage metabolism…
Wow,I’m 14 and do the exact thing you do.(double order chow mein and all) xD
This looks amazing, and I love making copy cat recipes that are way healthier and tastier! Thanks for sharing!
Love this recipe. Thank you.
Ok this may be a stupid question but what the heck are Yaki-Soba and where would I find them?
Yaki-Soba is ramen-style noodles and can be found in the refrigerated aisle of your local grocery store.
Would it work with regular ramen noodles..
I haven’t tried it myself but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Although you may have to adjust cooking time as needed.
Check near the premade salads and such in the produce area. I find that the ramen will clump together really easily compared to the yaki-soba.
I’ve never seen refrigerated yaki soba. Can you suggest a brand to search for?
Yaki-Soba is ramen-style noodles and can be found in the refrigerated aisle of your local grocery store. Feel free to use your preferred brand. I personally love Maruchan Yakisoba.
is this the same as the ones in the soup isle? I’ve never seen them in the refrigerated section.
You may be referring to the dried noodles.
Could I use dried spaghetti noodle instead and still get same results?
Kathy, it is best to use Yaki-Soba to obtain the best results possible.
yakisoba noodles r expensive. almost three bucks a pack. if i went to asian store, what would i buy that is comporable? they have so many noodles…? thx in advance.
You can really use any type of noodles to fit your budget.
Ramen noodles work in a pinch. Just pour boiling water over them first to soften.
Please, please, don’t use Ramen “noodles”, as they are not real noodles, just a bunch of hard to digest chemicals! You could use thin soup noodles, and it would be delicious!
I just made it with left over spaghetti pasta and it was great. I didn’t have enough pasta and should have cut the soy sauce mixture a little. Also, the next time I make it, I will use low salt soy sauce. All and all, I loved it and am glad I finally found this recipe.
I used just plain old spaghetti noodles taste just as close and less expensive.
I was just recently introduced to Panda Express when I moved from Canada to the States, and now I want it all the time.
However, I can totally pass on the fried rice and I always go straight for the chow mein. So, obvi I want this forever. The end.
Pinned!
I’ve only eaten at Panda Express once (in Mexico City of all places!) but I’m pretty excited about being able to recreate it at home!
Where are the bean sprouts?
I did not add them in this recipe but feel free to add them in to taste!
If I’m using a 16oz package of noodles how much more should I add to the other ingredients?
Unfortunately, without further recipe testing, I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment regarding substitutions and modifications.
Mathematics says 30% (1/3) more of everything. It’s cooking and therefore forgiving.