10-Minute Pan Fried Noodles | Cookerru (2024)

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These quick & easy pan fried noodles are made with a handful of ingredients in a single pan, making it the perfect meal to add to your dinner rotation. Tossed in a savory sauce and aromatic vegetables, these stir-fried noodles are packed with flavor and can easily be customized to your liking.

What are Pan Fried Noodles?

Soy sauce pan fried noodles, also known as Chi You Huang Chow Mein (豉油皇炒面), are a popular kind of Chinese stir-fried noodles that are traditionally served as a quick lunch or breakfast, and are commonly enjoyed at dim sum restaurants.

10-Minute Pan Fried Noodles | Cookerru (1)These fried noodles can also be found as the classic option for noodles for Chinese takeout as well, as their versatile flavors pair well with every dish and are a flavorful alternative to a plain bowl of steamed rice.

Best of all, these noodles are incredibly simple to make in a single pan and call for simple, accessible ingredients from your kitchen, making it to be one of my staple dishes to make for all different types of occasions.

10-Minute Pan Fried Noodles | Cookerru (2)As we will be using fresh noodles for this recipe, all that’s needed is to assemble the sauce while quickly blanching the noodles, and stir fry everything together in a wok until the vegetables, noodles, and sauce are evenly combined.

Although this dish is vegetarian, it is incredibly savory and packed with umami flavors as we are using soy sauce as the base, as well as garlic and green onion to add wonderful aromas to the dish.

10-Minute Pan Fried Noodles | Cookerru (3)

These noodles are delicious on their own, but can also be paired with your favorite Chinese dishes such as Mongolian Chicken or Black Pepper Beef to prepare a comforting and satisfying meal all in the comfort of your home.

Thanks to their versatile flavors, these pan fried noodles can also be easily modified and customized to your preference and can be made with so many different toppings to cater to every palate.

What do I need to make Pan Fried Noodles?

This noodle stir-fry calls for simple ingredients from your kitchen hence why they are often my go-to for emergency weeknight meals.

Here is everything you’ll need for this recipe:

10-Minute Pan Fried Noodles | Cookerru (4)

  • Fresh noodles: You can also use dried noodles, but using fresh pre-cooked noodles that are sold in the refrigerated section of Asian grocery stores will make the process quick & convenient while having the best texture.
    • Hong Kong-style fried noodles, Shanghai noodles, and chow mein or egg noodles are all great options, but you can also substitute with any other noodle of choice such as udon, ramen, or yakisoba noodles.
    • Fresh noodles can be prepared within seconds by blanching them in boiling water, or even using hot tap water. Once the noodles are loosened, simply drain in a colander and they are ready to be used in the stir fry!
  • Neutral oil: any flavorless oil with a high smoke point such as vegetable oil, avocado oil, peanut oil, canola oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, and corn oil will all work for this stir fry noodles recipe.
  • Garlic, green onion, and bean sprouts: for the texture and aroma.
  • Soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, white pepper (or black pepper), and water: for the sauce for noodles.
  • Sesame oil and sesame seeds: for the finishing touch.

And that’s it! All the ingredients you’ll need to make your own batch of delicious Chinese stir-fried noodles.

What other ingredients can I add to the stir fry?

As the flavors of these noodles are delightfully versatile, you can easily add in or substitute the toppings to your preference.

For protein, you can add thinly sliced or minced meat such as chicken, beef or pork, shrimp or scallops, tofu, or mushrooms, and bok choy, gai lan, onion, bell pepper, carrots, cabbage, peas, or broccoli for the vegetables, or any other ingredients that you have around.

10-Minute Pan Fried Noodles | Cookerru (5)To add a hint of spice to the dish, you can add a dash of crushed red pepper or Gochugaru to the sauce for noodles, mix in some fresh or dried chillies when frying the aromatics, or simply garnish with some chili oil upon serving.

The possibilities are truly endless for this noodle stir-fry, so please feel free to be creative with this!

This is one of most cherished recipes to date and one that has been highly requested on the blog, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. ツ

10-Minute Pan Fried Noodles | Cookerru (6)I hope you enjoy this easy & delicious stir fry noodles recipe, and as usual, please feel free to leave a comment below or message me on Instagram with any questions you may have. Happy cooking everyone!

Other easyDinnerrecipes you may like:

  • Mongolian Chicken
  • Yaki Udon (Stir Fried Udon Noodles)
  • Melt-In-Your-Mouth Japanese Hamburger Steak
  • Bulgogi Beef Udon Stir Fry
  • Easy 15-Minute Mapo Tofu

10-Minute Pan Fried Noodles | Cookerru (7)

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5 from 34 votes

10-Minute Pan Fried Noodles

These quick & easy pan fried noodles are made with a handful of ingredients in a single pan, making it the perfect meal to add to your dinner rotation. Tossed in a savory sauce and aromatic vegetables, these stir-fried noodles are packed with flavor and can easily be customized to your liking.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time5 minutes mins

Total Time10 minutes mins

Course: Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: Cantonese, Chinese

Servings: 2 people

Ingredients

  • 300 g fresh noodles see notes below
  • 2 tbsp neutral oil
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 green onions cut lengthwise in 2" pieces
  • 1 cup bean sprouts or other vegetables
  • 1 tsp sesame oil to finish

Sauce

Instructions

  • Combine the sauce ingredients in a bowl and prepare the noodles as per package instructions. Rinse the noodles under cold water, drain, and set aside.

  • Heat oil in a wok or a large pan over medium heat. Add garlic and white parts of green onion and cook until fragrant. Add noodles and mix to combine.

  • Pour in the sauce and cook for about 2-3 minutes until the noodles are caramelized. Add bean sprouts, reserved green onion, and sesame oil to finish. Enjoy!

Notes

Using fresh pre-cooked noodles will make the process quick and simple while resulting in the best texture, but feel free to use dried noodles if that's all you have at hand.

Hong Kong style fried noodles, Shanghai noodles, and chow mein or egg noodles are all wonderful options, but you can also use any other noodle of choice such as udon, ramen, or yakisoba noodles.

Fresh noodles can be prepared in seconds by blanching them in boiling water or hot tap water. Once the noodles are loosened, rinse under cold water and drain in a colander and they are ready to be used in the stir fry!

For more ingredient details and ideas, please refer to the blog post above. Happy cooking everyone!

♥ Did you make this recipe?

Please give it a 5-star rating orleave a commentbelow to share your experience, or tag@cookerruon Instagram to showcase your creations!

10-Minute Pan Fried Noodles | Cookerru (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between pan-fried noodles and crispy noodles? ›

The main difference is that noodles labeled "Hong Kong" or "pan-fried noodles" are par-cooked in boiling water, which makes them ready to stir-fry. Use this variety for dry stir-fried noodle dishes, like this stir-fried chow mein with four vegetables and whenever you want the noodles to be slightly (or very) crispy.

How to pan fry instant noodles? ›

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Break up noodles and add to skillet, cooking until browned, stirring constantly. Add noodle seasoning packets, water, and vegetables; cook until all water is absorbed and noodles are tender, stirring occasionally. Serve immediately.

Why is fried noodles unhealthy? ›

Eating fried noodles every day can be unhealthy if consumed in large quantities or as part of an overall unhealthy diet. Fried noodles are high in calories, saturated fat and sodium, which can contribute to weight gain and increase the risk of chronic health conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure.

Can you fry noodles instead of boiling? ›

In a heavy frying pan or a wok, heat the 3 tablespoons of peanut oil over medium-high to high heat. Add the noodles. Quickly spread them out to the edges of the pan and let them cook without stirring until they are browned on the bottom. This will take about 5 to 8 minutes.

What are pan-fried noodles vs lo mein? ›

Making chow mein noodles involves using a small amount of oil in a very hot wok to lightly fry the ingredients while stirring briskly. For lo mein, the noodles are already cooked and are simply mixed and tossed with the rest of the ingredients instead of fried.

Can you use ramen noodles for pan-fried noodles? ›

From the Test Kitchen. For crisp, satisfying texture, you'll lightly fry tender ramen noodles to achieve a delightfully crunchy exterior, then finish them with just a touch of soy sauce.

Can you fry ramen noodles with egg? ›

Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add noodles and stir for 2 minutes more. Whisk eggs, water, and salt together in a bowl; pour into the same skillet as the noodle mixture. Cook and stir eggs until set and cooked through, 2 to 4 minutes.

How to make pan fried noodles out of top ramen? ›

Basically a little flash boil, couple of minutes, tops. Then drain the water and toss the noodles into a pan with butter and oil. Add garlic and Italian seasoning (or any of the great ideas here!) and fry them up until they start to get a little crunchy.

How do you fry noodles without sticking to the pan? ›

To keep them from sticking and also make them easier to stir-fry, return the noodles to their pot after draining and toss the with sesame oil or cooking oil.

Why are 2 minute noodles bad for you? ›

Though instant ramen noodles provide iron, B vitamins and manganese, they lack fiber, protein and other crucial vitamins and minerals. Additionally, their MSG, TBHQ and high sodium contents may negatively affect health, such as by increasing your risk of heart disease, stomach cancer and metabolic syndrome.

What happens if you eat instant noodles every day? ›

The study revealed that eating excess instant noodles cannot only cause obesity but also lead to metabolic ailments such as diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension, heart problems, and so on. Is eating instant noodles twice a week do any harm? Not if you eat healthy enough otherways.

How many times can I eat instant noodles in a week? ›

The ideal frequency is between two to three times a week only. They should not be consumed solely, since the dish itself lacks certain key nutrition groups such as protein and fiber, leaving a risk of having malnutrition if consumed in the long term.

Why do they fry instant noodles? ›

In the production process, the noodle is steamed by heat to become ripe, at this time the average water content is about 30% -40%. Therefore, to reduce moisture in the fibre, manufacturer uses the frying method. At this step, the process of “mutual substitution” between water and oil occurs in the noodle.

What is the best oil for stir frying noodles? ›

So many different oils, the good news is you can stick with what you know – canola is great! The best oils for stir frys are the oils with the higher smoke points. These tend to be the “thinner” oils such as peanut, grapeseed or canola.

What happens when you fry instant noodles? ›

Fried ramen noodles have a caramelized flavor because of the effect of the hot oil on the wheat flour in the noodle dough. Steamed noodles are bouncier and more "neutral" in flavor, working in harmony with the broth rather than overtaking the flavor with "fatty" fried notes.

What is another name for crispy noodles? ›

Mein gon (面干 miàn-gān), informally referred to as crunchy noodles or crunchy chow mein, are a type of noodle-shaped cracker (or dried biscuit) used in American Chinese cuisine.

What is crispy noodles from the Chinese? ›

Indeed, many readers have asked us to detail how to make them. They're basically deep-fried egg noodles (or fried wonton wrappers or egg roll wrappers). Golden brown and crunchy, they're often served in little wooden bowls as a restaurant appetizer with duck sauce and Chinese hot mustard on the side.

What are crispy fried noodles called? ›

At my local Chinese, they call this Crispy Chow Mein Noodles. It's a Hong Kong / Cantonese style dish, and there are a lot of variations but the core of it is a bed of deep fried crunchy noodles topped with a saucy stir fry.

What are crispy noodles used for? ›

Serve these crispy noodles with Chinese mustard and duck sauce as an appetizer, or use them as a garnish for soups. They're just like the ones you get at a Chinese restaurant. I love to sprinkle them over my egg-drop soup.

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