Simple Veggie Chow Mein in a Wok

This simple veggie chow mein is one of our go-to week night meals. Who doesn’t crave takeout? I have to give it to this recipe though because my husband and I actually enjoy this more than our local chow mein takeout!

Make it a Meal

I love to use this veggie chow mein recipe as an easy week night dinner! All you have to do to make it a meal is add your favorite protein. I love topping mine with an over medium fried egg or grilled shrimp.

What veggies should I put in my chow mein?

Chow mein often includes onion, cabbage, carrots, celery and bean sprouts, but the veggie combination is really up to you. You can use whatever you have on hand. This is a great recipe to clean out the fridge with at the end of the week!

In this recipe, I used all of the above, plus I added red pepper. I also like to include broccoli and bok choy when they’re in season! Sometimes, I leave the bean sprouts out. Other times, I like the added crunch they provide! Have fun, and make it your own.

Do I have to use a wok?

You don’t have to use a wok for this recipe, you can just use a large frying pan to stir fry your veggies and noodles. I do prefer a wok because I find it a lot easier to make in a wok. However, I was using a frying pan for years before I finally got a wok.

I recently had the opportunity to be gifted the 14″ HexClad Wok. I did work as a HexClad creator to make an Instagram reel featuring this simple veggie chow mein recipe, and I wanted to share my honest thoughts over here on the blog about how I’ve been liking the pan. So far, I’ve tossed my pastas in the wok, made my toasted coconut fried rice (recipe coming soon!), and this delicious chow mein.

I have absolutely been loving their wok so far! It has held up very well, has been super non-stick, and I’ve been loving the versatility of it. I’ll come back to this post in a year or so to provide an update on how well they’ve held up and if I’m still loving them! You can check out their wok and other pans by clicking here. This is not a link I make money from, it just helps me if I ever want to collab with them again in the future!

How to Make this Simple Veggie Chow Mein Recipe

This veggie chow mein comes together rather quickly once you’ve gotten all the prep work out of the way.

Prep

Since this cooks up pretty quickly, before heating your pan make sure to:

• Chop all your veggies
• Toast sesame seeds (optional for topping)
• Whisk up your sauce
• Whisk up your corn starch slurry
• Boil your thin egg noodles (chow mein noodles) according to package directions, drain and run cold water over them to stop the cooking and keep them from sticking together and set aside

I like to do my sauce and corn starch slurry separately so the noodles can soak up some of the sauce before thickening with the corn starch.

Stir Fry

If you are using a wok, start by adding a high heat oil to your pan. Allow that to get hot and then dump that oil. Next, add your oil for the recipe followed by the garlic and whites of your green onion. Then you’ll add in your veggies and stir fry them until softened, about 5 minutes or so.

Then, add in your chow mein noodles and your sauce. Stir this all together a few more minutes and allow the noodles to soak up some of the sauce before adding in your corn starch slurry to thicken. Cook for 2-3 more minutes, and your chow mein is ready to serve!

Serve

Serve up your chow mein as a side, or top it with your favorite protein and serve it as a meal. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and the greens from your green onions. Enjoy!

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