This is what I make at home instead of getting takeaway when I don’t have a load of time (or desire!) to spend hours in the kitchen, but want to eat a delicious, flavour-packed, quick and easy bowl of stir-fried noodles.
This Beef Chow Mein is made with minced (ground) beef, a whole heap of vegetables (which can be customised to suit your family’s tastes) and a chow mein sauce made with simple pantry ingredients. The flavour profile of this recipe is mild, perfect for all members of the family, flavoured with a hint of garlic, soy sauce and sesame oil. Aside from being outrageously delicious, I can get 4 serves for what I would pay for just one at a restaurant!
Watch how to make Beef Chow Mein
Beef Chow Mein
“So moreish. A great meal loved by all.” Share PrintIt only takes 25 minutes to whip up this family-friendly Chinese classic in the comfort of your own home. Filled with beef, noodles and veggies, it's a complete meal in a bowl.
Ingredients
Chow Mein Sauce
- 2 tbsp all-purpose soy sauce or tamari
- 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine or mirin
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce (optional, see note 1)
- 1 tsp freshly minced garlic
- 1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
- 60 ml (¼ cup) water
Stir-fry
- 300 g (10½ oz) thin egg noodles
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 500 g (1 lb) minced (ground) beef
- 2 eggs, whisked
- 150 g (2 cups) shredded green cabbage
- 1 large carrot, julienned
- 180 g (1½ cups) bean sprouts
- 4 spring onions (scallions), cut into 2 cm (¾ inch) batons
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- Chilli oil, to serve (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the chow mein sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
- Cook the thin egg noodles as per the packet instructions, less 1–2 minutes. Rinse in cold tap water, drain and set aside. They will continue cooking in the stir-fry.
- Heat the oil in a large, deep, heavy-based pan over high heat and add the beef. Cook for 2–3 minutes until it changes from pink to brown, breaking it up with the back of your spoon. Stir 2 tablespoons of the chow mein sauce through the beef to season.
- Add the eggs to the beef and cook, stirring, for 1–2 minutes until the eggs are cooked through.
- Add the cabbage and carrot and cook, stirring, for 1 minute until softened.
- Add the chow mein sauce and cook, stirring, for 1–2 minutes.
- Add the noodles, bean sprouts and spring onion. Use tongs to toss and cook for a further 1 minute until the spring onion and bean sprouts are heated through.
- Drizzle with sesame oil and chilli oil, if using. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition information
Nutrition Facts
Beef Chow Mein
Amount per Serving
Calories
528
% Daily Value*
Fat
24
g
37
%
Saturated Fat
6
g
38
%
Trans Fat
0.4
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
4
g
Monounsaturated Fat
12
g
Cholesterol
159
mg
53
%
Sodium
1451
mg
63
%
Potassium
723
mg
21
%
Carbohydrates
36
g
12
%
Fiber
4
g
17
%
Sugar
5
g
6
%
Protein
38
g
76
%
Vitamin A
2832
IU
57
%
Vitamin C
23
mg
28
%
Calcium
66
mg
7
%
Iron
6
mg
33
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimer re gluten-free and dairy-free recipes
Watch how to make it
Recipe notes
Note 1 – The oyster sauce is completely optional and I choose to omit it in this recipe, making this fantastic for all members of the family, including kids. If you’re wanting to amp up the depth of flavour, add the oyster sauce for a flavour bomb!
Recipe inspired by Recipe Tin’s Beef Chow Mein – I love Nagi’s use of egg in the recipe, allowing the beef to cling to the noodles.
Margaret says:
So moreish a great meal loved by all
Nicole says:
Thanks so much Margaret. I’m glad you enjoyed it! Nic x
Hannah says:
This is one of our family favourites, with 3 small children – they all love it! We chop up the cabbage as finely as possible (sometimes even dice it) and omit the bean sprouts in favour of extra carrot/cabbage as they store better in the fridge for when we need it.
Nicole says:
Hi Hannah, I love to hear this! Thank you for sharing. Nic x
Emily says:
Made this tonight for my family and my daughter loved it! Huge thing as it was a new meal she had never had before. Thank you for sharing relatable and easy family meals.
Tam says:
This recipe is incredibly tasty! First of all, I recommend including the oyster sauce otherwise I see where it may be bland. Second, I added extra veggies like red capsicum, broccoli & extra carrot.
Lastly, the quality of noodles is important. Mine were a bit gluggy (MC Yee brand). Other than that super tasty recipe that will be on my weekly rotation as my boys devoured it. “Try it you will love it!” Thanks Nicole!
Nicole says:
Thank you so much Tam! This is a favourite at our place too. Nic x
Kellie says:
Made this recipe today and it really lacked flavour. I was so disappointed. I’ve made other recipes from thus site and this is the first to not turn out well.
Nicole says:
I’m sorry to hear this wasn’t a favourite Kellie! Thank you so much for taking the time to write and comment on the recipe. This one has a mild flavour profile, but I will add some additional notes to the recipe, explaining how to amp up the flavour. Nic x
hannahgalea says:
Great recipe! But there were so many noodles, I felt the amount of noodles compared to the mince and veggies to be quite overpowering!
bquinn426 says:
I cooked this tonight, and it was delicious.
Very easy, flavour was great. I did leave the Sesame off my Husbands because of an allergy, and I just used some chilli flakes ontop because I didn’t have chilli oil, and it was great! Will definitely be making its way into our regular dinners!