Skip phoning in an order, because you’ll have fun making everything in your own kitchen. All of these dishes are rich, fragrant, and colorful! As one of the most loved cuisines in the world, you’ll love learning how to make those mouthwatering and satisfying Chinese dishes. From stir-fries to spring rolls to Chinese peanut sauce, this recipe round-up proves just how easy it is to cook good Chinese food at home. Expect a balanced flavor, inviting aroma, and no leftovers from 26 of the best Chinese recipes of all time!
1. Chicken Chop Suey
Chop suey is among the most popular Chinese foods today. It’s a stir-fry vegetable dish that’s cooked with meats, then bounded by a flavorful sauce. This recipe calls for tender chicken bites along with easy-to-find veggies like bean sprouts, celery, and carrots. For the sauce, all you’ll need to do is combine the chicken broth with these pantry staples: sugar, sesame oil, soy sauce, and water. Chop suey can be served over rice or noodles. If you’re watching your carb intake, pair it with cauliflower rice instead.
2. Chinese Noodle Soup
This is the quickest Chinese recipe I’ve ever tried. There’s no need to follow a specific list of ingredients. Any noodles, any protein, and any vegetables will do! The key ingredient is the Asian-inspired soup broth, which may or may not require a trip to the Asian market. Besides the chicken stock and soy sauce, you’ll need sesame oil, ginger, garlic, sugar, and Chinese cooking wine for the soup broth. Can’t find that special wine? Try dry sherry. If you want to prepare this dish traditionally, use thin egg noodles and Chinese cabbage. For a healthier variation, swap the egg noodles for zoodles.
3. Cashew Chicken
This easy-peasy recipe doesn’t require a wok. You’ll only need a large non-stick skillet and a couple of classic Chinese flavorings. This dish features roasted cashew nuts and stir-fried chicken tossed and cooked together in a garlic sauce. It tastes similar to what you can get at Chinese restaurants, only fresher and more affordable.
4. Beef and Broccoli
Beef and broccoli is one of my go-to dishes when looking for a balanced meal that’s a cinch to make. For this recipe, all you’ll need is one skillet and 15 minutes of your time. For the ingredients, everything’s available at your favorite local supermarket. This includes broccoli florets, beef flank steak, cornstarch, dry sherry, and a couple of spices. The pairing of crunchy broccoli and tender beef is iconic. But wait until you add the thick, sweet-savory sauce. It’s Asian flavor at its finest!
5. Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce
Steamed Chinese broccoli drizzled with an oyster sauce that’s out-of-this-world flavorful. This dish is one of my personal favorites! Chinese broccoli has a similar flavor profile to spinach but has thicker leaves. Meanwhile, the sauce has a meld of sweet and savory flavors, which also pair well with other Chinese greens. This dish is often served as a side for Asian mains that are low on veggies, and thus creating a balanced meal. But honestly, I could make a meal out of this side dish when paired with some delicious fried rice!
6. Dan Dan Noodles
Dan dan noodles carry the flavor of Szechuan cuisine, which is very, very spicy. So for this noodle dish, expect the sauce to be fiery! A bunch of leafy greens, chopped peanuts, and scallions are thrown into the mix to create layers of flavors. Of course, the dried white noodles and meat mixture make this dish oh-so-filling. Before slurping the noodles, be sure to coat them with a little bit of everything for the best taste!
7. Chinese Cucumber Salad
From a flaming hot dish, let’s go to something light and refreshing: Chinese cucumber salad. This Asian-inspired dish has a unique flavor, thanks to the combination of soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and garlic. For the most flavorful salad, smash the cucumber first before cutting it. This creates cucumber slices with a coarse texture that helps with absorbing the sauce.
8. Chow Mein
Chow mein is a traditional Chinese dish that’s quick-cooked, so the noodles are light and perfectly crunchy. Using this recipe, you’ll have a restaurant-quality chow mein ready in 30 minutes. It’s that easy! Along with bok choy, bean sprouts, and mushrooms, the noodles are tossed in a delicious oyster-based sauce. Make the dish more satisfying by adding some protein like chicken or tofu.
9. Lo Mein
Looking for an easier Asian noodle dish to prepare? Yup, such a dish exists, and it’s called lo mein, which you can make in 15 minutes! The secret to this yummy stir-fry dish is a good quality soy sauce that needs to be mixed with sesame oil and a pinch of sugar. While chow mein is known for its nice crunch, lo mein noodles are perfectly soft that they absorb plenty of the dish’s sauce.
10. Chicken Fried Rice
This easy chicken fried rice will hit your table in 30 minutes or less. Garlic powder and soy sauce give bold flavors to this dish. But if you marinate the chicken before adding it to the rice mix, you’ll get a much more flavorful fried rice. Drizzling some sesame oil into the rice brings out an Asian flavor. If you like to heat things up, simply add a little chili paste.
11. Chinese Spring Rolls
Chinese spring rolls are indeed a delight to eat. They’re deliciously crispy and packed with a balanced mix of veggies and meat. Or you can go meatless if you like. Flavored with soy sauce, sesame oil, Shaoxing wine, and a couple of pantry spices, these golden, crispy rolls will leave a memorable taste. But that’s not all. Chinese spring rolls are often served with a Worcestershire or sweet-chili sauce for dipping. It adds a wonderful depth to the rolls’ blend of flavors!
12. Chinese Chicken Salad
Most Chinese recipes yield healthy and delicious meals. This Chinese chicken salad is no different. As a super versatile recipe, you can add more veggies to this salad to make it healthier. Or you can omit veggies you aren’t a big fan of. The sesame-vinaigrette sauce and marinated chicken are the salad’s main sources of flavor. Top everything off with chow mein noodles and almonds to add bulk and some nice crunch.
13. Steamed Buns
Learning this recipe is your gateway to making steamed buns with fantastic fillings! Chinese steamed buns are soft and fluffy, but firm enough to hold your favorite ingredients. This recipe will teach you how to make plain steamed buns, which can already be pretty challenging for beginners. There’s a lot of kneading involved, but using a stand mixer can ease things up. Once you master this recipe, you can make other delicious variations like whole wheat steamed buns.
14. Chinese Green Beans
Here’s another Chinese dish that’s easy-breezy to make. This recipe requires a couple of simple ingredients, such as soy sauce, chili garlic paste, rice vinegar, and green beans. If you have a wok, it’s helpful. It allows for high heat, quick-cooking that will help you get the right texture. These Chinese green beans are a staple in Szechuan cuisine, so expect a relatively strong spicy kick!
15. Peanut Noodles
Noodle lovers won’t hesitate to feast on this mouthwatering dish. These peanut noodles are flavored with a hearty sauce made with creamy peanut butter and classic Asian spices. These include dark soy sauce and fish sauce for a savory taste, lime juice to brighten things up, and sesame oil and chili oil for a flavor bomb.
16. Chinese Peanut Sauce
Peanut sauces are made differently, and this is among the most irresistible ones. Besides using it for cooked pasta, this peanut sauce can also be a dip for lightly steamed veggies. It’s so simple to make, and all the ingredients are readily available. All it takes is a few minutes of mixing. The total prep time is 10 minutes. What’s not to love?
17. Sesame Noodles
Warm or cold, these restaurant-style sesame noodles will keep you hooked. That’s because the noodle sauce is, yet again, flavored with peanut! I’m not going to lie — these Chinese recipes really made me a huge peanut sauce fan. The addition of fresh ginger, garlic, and sriracha adds a little zing to this AMAZING sauce. You can use different kinds of noodles, but udon is simply the best. Top everything with scallions, peanuts, and sesame seeds for a crunchy good dish.
18. Chinese Zucchini Salad
Zucchini salad is already pretty popular in the US, but this Asian version takes this dish up a notch. The sauce is made up of oyster sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, and salt. Throw in some green onions and garlic to the salad mix for added flavor.
19. Fried Milk
Milk is healthy, but when fried, not so much. Still, this recipe is a must-try. Just pay attention to how much you’re eating. The milk mixture consists of coconut milk, regular milk, sugar, and cornstarch. Coat it with starch, egg, and breadcrumbs, then fry to golden perfection. Take a bite and appreciate the meld of crunchy and velvety textures. You’ll be in love!
20. Crab Rangoon
Crispy fried crab rangoon dipped in a sweet and sour dip is one of the tastiest Chinese dishes EVER. The crab has a unique meaty flavor, amped up by cream cheese and Asian spices. Everything goes into the wrapper, and you’ll have the option to bake them in the oven for a healthy variation.
21. Chinese Eggplant
Vegans assemble; this is the dish you’ve been waiting for! Eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring, and these crisp eggplant pieces with Szechuan sauce are strong proof. This dish has an amazing spicy flavor with garlicky and sweet notes. Serve over cauliflower rice or quinoa for a hearty meal.
22. Stir Fried Rice Cakes
Now, rice cakes aren’t traditionally stir-fried, but give this recipe a try. You’ll love it! Perfect for special occasions or even quick weeknight meals, this dish is ready in under 30 minutes. The sticky rice cakes are fried with veggies, aromatics, a savory sauce, and your choice of meat. The result is fragrant, chewy, and oh-so-yummy comfort food!
23. General Tso’s Tofu
This dish is a healthy take on classic General Tso’s chicken. So instead of meat, you’ll use tofu. The flavor is on the lighter side because the tofu is sauteed not fried. It also calls for fewer red pepper flakes. Marinating the tofu in tamari and apple cider adds a wonderful flavor to the dish. Serve with white rice or an Asian-style veggie dish for a complete meal.
24. Fortune Cookies
Fortune cookies are quite tricky to make but are definitely fun. These small, golden, sugary cookies come with slips of paper inside, called “fortunes.” While still flexible, the cookie batter is folded into a butterfly shape, creating a pocket where the tiny slip of paper goes. Traditional fortunes are mostly Confucian phrases about life. But now, you can make your own by writing some quotes or advice.
25. Mango Pudding
A meal isn’t complete without a dessert, right? For lovers of all sweets, this mango pudding is SO nice to have. This creamy comfort food is bursting with sweet tropical mango flavor. It’s made with gelatin sheets, milk, sugar, cream, and of course, mangoes. Fresh mangoes are best for this recipe, but you can also use frozen ones or canned mango pulp. For added flavor, you can use coconut milk as a substitute for regular fresh milk. Yum!
26. Chinese Green Tea
Green tea is among the most consumed tea in China. This drink comes with health benefits, such as improved brain function and increased metabolism, to name a few. And the taste? It’s mellow yet refreshing, so it’s perfect to pair with any Chinese dish. This recipe will teach you how to make Chinese green tea the easy way. You’ll just need some boiled water, tea leaves or bags, and less than 10 minutes of your time. Click on a star to rate it!
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