Our 65 Favorite Chinese Food Recipes
Updated: Jan. 03, 2024
Cooking Chinese food recipes at home might seem daunting, but thanks to some creative shortcuts, it's actually pretty easy to whip up restaurant-quality dishes in your own kitchen.
When you’re craving Chinese food, you have two options: You could order takeout and wait for the delivery to arrive, or, in the same amount of time, you could whip up a copycat recipe with the same great flavors but less grease and sodium.
Get ready to start cooking wonton appetizers like crab rangoon and potstickers and filling Chinese chicken recipes like sesame chicken and chicken lo mein Below are our favorite Chinese food recipes, from apps to mains to sides. As for dessert, homemade fortune cookies are a must.
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Easy Chicken Fried Rice
With only eight ingredients and half an hour, you can make this takeout favorite at home. Swap out the rotisserie chicken for tofu, extra veggies or pork tenderloin to shake things up.
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Instant Pot Sesame Chicken
Thanks to the Instant Pot, this classic Chinese chicken recipe is ready in only 20 minutes. Want to make it gluten-free? Swap out the soy sauce for gluten-free tamari.
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Shrimp Egg Foo Young
While traditional egg foo young tends to be high in calories, this version uses egg whites and reduced-sodium soy sauce to lighten it up. To make it vegetarian, skip the shrimp and use veggie broth instead of chicken broth.
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Slow-Cooker Mongolian Beef
This Mongolian beef is a Taiwanese stir-fry dish that’s saucy and flavorful thanks to garlic, red pepper flakes, hoisin sauce, soy sauce and sesame oil. If you’re a spicy food fan, add a drizzle of Sriracha for an extra kick.
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Sticky Sesame Cauliflower
This vegetarian appetizer is a bit time-intensive since the batter is made from scratch. But it’s baked, not fried, which cuts down on fat and the clean-up.
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Crispy Crab Rangoon
Thanks to store-bought wonton wrappers, crab rangoon is deceptively easy to make at home. To prevent the filling from leaking during the frying process, freeze the filled crab puffs before you cook them.
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Cashew Chicken with Bok Choy
Could this be the perfect weeknight dinner? Bok choy, complete with protein, veggies and rice, comes together in about half an hour. Don’t have a wok? No problem! Just use your largest skillet.
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Quick Chicken Lo Mein
Thanks to store-bought rotisserie chicken, quick chicken lo mein is ready faster than your family can shout, “We’re hungry!” The combination of oyster sauce, lime juice and chili sauce makes this dish taste just like takeout.
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Slow-Cooker Beef and Broccoli
We love slow-cooker tips that turn recipes into knock-out meals. Expert tip for this beef and broccoli: Brown the meat in a frying pan before adding it to the slow cooker for the best flavor and texture.
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Quick Ginger Pork
Super quick dinner recipes are a lifesaver on busy weeknights, so keep this ginger pork in your back pocket. It goes from fridge to table in 20 minutes. Add sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds to make it extra fancy.
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Black Pepper Chicken
While it’s tempting to use chicken breasts for this recipe, we recommend using boneless, skinless chicken thighs to ensure maximum juiciness. Make sure to cut against the grain and keep the pieces roughly the same size for tender meat that’s evenly cooked.
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Ginger-Pork Wontons
Yes, these wontons are fried, but don’t be too intimidated by the cooking process. With a deep cast-iron or electric skillet, each batch cooks up in less than three minutes.
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Mandarin Pork Stir-Fry
The secret ingredient to the tangy sauce: Orange juice, plus mandarin oranges for extra flavor. Have extra mandarin oranges on hand? Here are some of our best mandarin orange recipes to keep the citrusy goodness going.
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Asian Chicken Dumplings
Did you know that dumplings are a lucky Chinese New Year food? Use minced fresh ginger and Chinese five-spice powder to give these chicken-filled dumplings a flavorful kick.
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Kung Pao Chicken
This one-skillet (or wok) meal only requires 15 minutes of cook time, which means less time over a hot stove and more time eating with your family. Double the hot sauce and sub chile peppers for sweet peppers if you’re craving extra spice.
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Broccoli Beef Lo Mein
Those who are short on time can prep some of this lo mein in advance. Cook and drain the noodles, slice the mushrooms and chop the broccoli up to three days ahead of time and store them in the fridge in airtight containers until you’re ready to cook.
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Crab Egg Foo Yong
Although egg foo young looks complicated when you eat it at a Chinese restaurant, it’s pretty easy to whip up at home. After all, it is essentially an omelet! Just make sure to have a seasoned cast iron pan or nonstick skillet on hand to keep the egg from sticking.
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Slow-Cooker Malaysian Chicken
Thanks to chicken and sweet potatoes, this dish is packed with protein. One serving contains a whopping 33 grams.
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Chicken Pot Stickers
Keep the pot stickers from, er, sticking to the rack of the steamer by greasing it with oil or butter before cooking. Freeze any extra pot stickers in a single layer on a sheet of waxed paper until they are firm, then transfer them to an airtight freezer container and place back in the freezer.
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Turkey Lo Mein
OK, lo mein with turkey probably isn’t something you’ll see at a traditional Chinese restaurant. But this creative swap—plus chicken ramen noodles instead of lo mein noodles—makes this dish a feast of fun flavors and textures.
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Chinese Scallion Pancakes
If you’re a fan of scallion pancakes, learning to make them at home is a no-brainer. Save time by making the easy six-ingredient dipping sauce in advance and you can have this satisfying appetizer whenever you crave it.
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Almond Ginger Cookies
You don’t even need a rolling pin to make these delightful almond-topped cookies. Just roll the dough into a ball, then flatten each cookie with the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar.
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Garlic Chicken & Broccoli
We love a good slow-cooker chicken recipe. Prep this flavorful dish in the morning, then cook for several hours until it’s ready to serve.
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Simple Sesame Chicken with Couscous
With seven ingredients—most of which you probably already have in your pantry—and 25 minutes, you can have dinner ready and on the table in a jiffy.
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Amazing Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
Saucy and flavorful with a bit of a kick, this easy slow-cooker meal looks and tastes like it’s from a restaurant, with way less fat. Just 3 grams of fat, to be exact.
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Tofu Chow Mein
This seven-ingredient wonder is ready in just 30 minutes. Expert tip: Cut the block of tofu in half and wrap it with a kitchen towel. Let it sit in the fridge to absorb any excess water before you begin to cook.
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Pork & Rice Meatballs
The best part of these cute meatballs? Teriyaki sauce, ginger, rice vinegar, lemon zest and Sriracha chili sauce transform into an addictive dipping sauce you’ll want to eat on everything.
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Chinese Spinach-Almond Salad
Whip up this salad for a light lunch, or serve it as a starter. Either way, you’re getting a dish packed with vitamins A and K, plus 24 grams of protein.
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Easy Pot Sticker Soup
Frozen chicken pot stickers make this impressive-tasting soup secretly simple. Pop all the base ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning, then enjoy the fragrant smell of homemade soup all day while it simmers.
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Asian Slow-Cooked Short Ribs
You might want to make a double batch of these tender, flavorful ribs. Save the leftovers for lunch the next day, and serve them on a toasted bun with cabbage slaw.
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Chinese Chard with Almonds
If you don’t already have hoisin sauce in your pantry, now is your sign to pick some up at the grocery store. The Cantonese sauce is a tasty glaze for everything from meat to veggies. Next, you can try hoisin pork tenderloin.
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Asian Wraps
What’s better than ordering Chinese takeout for lunch? Whipping up these crunchy and refreshing Asian wraps the night before with leftover pulled chicken.
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Quick Sesame Chicken Noodles
We’ve never met a noodle dish we didn’t like, but thanks to chicken ramen noodles, frozen grilled chicken breast strips and lots of fresh veggies, this lightning-quick recipe has now become one of our absolute favorites.
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Healthier-than-Egg Rolls
Cut down on cooking time by using instant brown rice, or even ready-to-eat brown rice, which you can find in the freezer aisle and heat up in the microwave. We love a good shortcut!
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Cashew Chicken with Ginger
Need a meat-free entree? Our readers suggest making this dish vegetarian by swapping the chicken for extra mushrooms and the chicken broth for veggie broth.
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Crispy Baked Wontons
If you’re a beginner, the easiest way to fold a wonton is a simple triangle. Place the filling in the center of the wonton wrapper, moisten the edges with water, then fold one corner diagonally over the filling to form a triangle. Press the edges to seal them together.
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Snow Peas & Beef Stir-Fry
This quick and easy Chinese classic is about to become a new family favorite. Our readers suggest adding fresh ginger to give the dish an added zing.
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Crispy Orange Chicken
Believe it or not, this impressive-looking copycat dish is ready in just 30 minutes. Frozen popcorn chicken is the ingredient that makes this recipe so quick, but no one would ever know.
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Five-Spice Chicken Wings
Chinese five-spice powder gives this flavorful chicken appetizer its name. The five spices, in case you’re wondering, include: star anise, cloves, Chinese cinnamon, fennel seeds and Sichuan pepper.
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Spicy Beef & Pepper Stir-Fry
If you’re a spicy food fan, this spicy beef stir-fry is a must-try. Add more or less Sriracha depending on how hot you like it.
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Baked Pot Stickers with Dipping Sauce
Your dinner guests will never guess how low-maintenance these tasty appetizers are. Thanks to pre-cooked chicken breast and store-bought wonton wrappers, they’re ready in less than an hour. If you have any extra wonton wrappers, we have more recipe ideas to use them up.
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Easy Chow Mein
Using powdered brown gravy mix as a shortcut helps get the Chinese-inspired main on the table in a flash. But if you don’t have the packets on hand, a blend of dark and light soy sauce and oyster sauce works too.
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Pineapple Shrimp Stir-Fry
For the weeknight time-saving version, open a can of unsweetened pineapple tidbits. For the weekend showstopper, cut a fresh pineapple.
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Pork & Vegetable Spring Rolls
Dried cherries and wasabi-coated green peas make this recipe a total winner. If this is your first time making spring rolls, learn how to make spring rolls at home just like a pro!If you’re confused, here’s the difference between egg rolls and spring rolls!
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Chinese-Style Ribs
Your guests won’t be able to put their finger on the complex flavor of the sauce on these ribs. Believe it or not, it’s sherry, orange marmalade and pumpkin pie spice.
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Beef & Spinach Lo Mein
If you don’t have lo mein noodles on hand, whole-wheat or multigrain spaghetti adds a delicious texture. Buckwheat or soba noodles are tasty swaps, too.
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Quick Chicken & Broccoli Stir-Fry
Use cooked, cubed chicken and this dish will be ready in just about 25 minutes. Before you get started, make sure you have rice vinegar, sweet rice wine and fish sauce on hand.
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Baked Egg Rolls
Heat the oven to 350°F, then bake these scrumptious egg rolls until warm and crispy. Make a double batch, because these crispy appetizers are great frozen and reheated. Just pop the cooled leftovers in a freezer container, separating into layers with waxed paper.
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Slow-Cooker Sweet-and-Sour Pork
Ta-da: Only 15 minutes of prep time. Toss the ingredients in the slow cooker before work, then come home to a complete dinner. You can even prep it in advance; freeze the pork, onion, green pepper and pineapple in a freezer bag, then thaw in the fridge for 48 hours before adding it to the slow cooker.
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Saucy Beef with Broccoli
It’s so easy to make this entree a complete meal: Add lots of extra veggies, like red peppers, mushrooms and carrots, then serve on a bed of cauliflower rice.
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Spicy Orange Chicken
Love General Tso’s chicken? This citrusy version with some heat includes fresh navel oranges and lemon juice for a sweet sauce that’s also packed with vitamins.
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Shrimp Fried Rice
Vibrant, flavorful shrimp fried rice only takes 20 minutes to make (and it will be devoured even faster). Don’t skip out on the optional crumbled bacon topping.
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Chicken and Pineapple Stir-Fry
Pineapple, ginger, brown sugar and molasses make the most delicious glaze for chicken and veggies. If the sauce seems too thin at first, add an extra sprinkle of cornstarch until it’s as thick as you like it.
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Baked Crab Rangoons
If this Chinese takeout favorite is something you’d never dream of making at home, think again. It’s actually ready in less than an hour, thanks to our trusty secret weapon; store-bought wonton wrappers.
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Egg Drop Soup
Why is it called “egg drop soup?” A scrambled egg is literally drizzled into the boiling broth while stirring slowly with a whisk or fork, creating beautiful egg ribbons. Add sesame oil, chiles or other spices to amp up the flavor.
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Healthy Steamed Dumplings
This dish is much healthier than its takeout counterpart and more fun, too. The whole family can fill and fold the dumplings together and, of course, eat them together once they’re finished!
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Ginger Steak Fried Rice
There’s a trick to cutting steak into thin, even slices. Pop the steak in the freezer until it’s partially frozen to keep the meat firmer and easier to slice.
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Mushroom Pepper Steak
Marinate the steak for up to an hour to make it extra tender and flavorful. While you’re waiting for the meat to do its thing in the fridge, cook white rice or cauliflower rice to make this dish a complete meal.
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Orange Ginger Chicken
Wondering about the ingredients that make orange ginger chicken so delightfully sweet and tangy? The mixture of orange marmalade, ground ginger and honey coats the cubes of chicken and tenderizes the meat.
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Almond Vegetable Stir-Fry
Save this speedy dinner recipe for a busy weeknight. The crunchy and flavorful vegetarian dish cooks in a flash—make the wok or skillet extra hot, then stir fry for just four minutes.
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Sweet Gingered Chicken Wings
Browning the wings to perfection is all about the proper use of the broiler setting: Bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes until juices run clear, then preheat the broiler and cook four inches from the heat for just a minute or two.
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Asparagus Beef Lo Mein
Believe it or not, asparagus beef lo mein comes together with only five ingredients. Thanks to hoisin sauce, minced garlic and beef ramen noodles, it doesn’t get much easier than this!
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Sirloin Stir-Fry with Ramen Noodles
Need to pack some extra veggies into your diet? Make this easy and delicious stir-fry for dinner, featuring four servings of vegetables, including carrots, broccoli, sweet red pepper and baby corn.
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Zesty Orange Beef
Don’t skimp on the orange zest, as it really brings out the depth of flavor in the dish. If you don’t love spicy food, just skip the hot chiles.
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Wonton Pot Stickers with Soy Reduction
It might be tempting to use store-bought sauce instead of spending an extra 15 minutes making soy reduction sauce. But trust us; this sweet-and-salty, herb-infused dipping sauce will become a permanent fixture in your fridge.
Originally Published: January 14, 2021
