26 Takeout-Inspired Chinese Chicken Recipes (2024)

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26 Takeout-Inspired Chinese Chicken Recipes (1)Lindsay ChampionUpdated: Nov. 17, 2023

    Making your favorite Chinese chicken recipes like pot stickers or lo mein means you can skip the takeout order and the delivery fees.

    Some nights, you want to sit on the couch with a takeout box full of chicken lo mein from your local Chinese restaurant. But on those evenings when another night of ordering restaurant takeout isn’t in the cards, try cooking our favorite Chinese chicken recipes right at home. You’ll get the same fantastic flavors without as much oil, fat or sodium. Plus, there’s more than enough that you’ll have leftovers for another day (or two).

    Below are some of our favorite takeout-inspired chicken dishes, from Kung Pao chicken to General Tso’s stew. So put your Chinese cooking tools to work! And if you’re still hungry, make Chinese almond cookies or homemade fortune cookies for dessert.

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    Taste of Home

    Mongolian Chicken

    Cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts into small and even pieces to ensure that the sauce coats every bite. You could also use a different cut of chicken if you prefer recipes with chicken thighs or chicken tenderloins.

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    26 Takeout-Inspired Chinese Chicken Recipes (3)

    TMB Studio

    Sesame Chicken

    Sesame chicken is similar to General Tso’s chicken, but with less heat. If you do want to make it spicier, add chili oil or chili sauce as you cook the chicken, or drizzle the sauce on the chicken once plated.

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    26 Takeout-Inspired Chinese Chicken Recipes (4)

    TMB Studio

    General Tso's Chicken

    This takeout favorite requires breading and frying, so try it on a night when you have a bit of extra time to cook. If you like it extra spicy, add more red pepper flakes.

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    26 Takeout-Inspired Chinese Chicken Recipes (5)

    Nancy Mock for Taste of Home

    Orange Chicken

    If this sticky-sweet chicken is your go-to order, then you’ll be excited to make it at home. It comes together in about 40 minutes and serves six. So invite a few friends or plan for leftovers.

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    5/26

    Chicken Pot Stickers

    The recipe makes four dozen pot stickers, and if you have leftovers, they’re easy to freeze. Just cover and freeze the uncooked pot stickers in a single layer on waxed paper until firm, then transfer to freezer containers and store until you’re ready for more.

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    6/26

    Kung Pao Chicken

    Warning: This dish is spicy. If you aren’t that brave, go easy on the Sriracha chili sauce and serve with an extra scoop of rice. As a refresher, here’s our guide on how to cook rice so you can master a restaurant-quality base for Kung Pao chicken.

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    26 Takeout-Inspired Chinese Chicken Recipes (8)

    TMB Studio

    Chinese Chicken with Garlic Sauce

    Make this garlicky chicken in the time it would have taken for your takeout order to arrive. Serve with white or jasmine rice, or even lo mein.

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    8/26

    Taste of Home

    Szechuan Skillet Chicken

    If you don’t own a cast-iron skillet, it might be time to invest in one. It heats evenly, it can go in the oven, and it will last pretty much forever. But even if you don’t have this handy tool, you can still make Szechuan skillet chicken with a traditional frying pan.

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    9/26

    Black Pepper Chicken

    Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for the juiciest results. When you slice the chicken, cut against the grain to shorten the muscle fibers and help the meat stay as tender as possible.

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    10/26

    General Tso’s Stew

    If you love General Tso’s chicken, this slow-cooker soup is about to be your new favorite weekday dinner. Thanks to shredded, pre-cooked chicken, you don’t even have to brown it before you pop it in the slow cooker.

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    11/26

    Baked Egg Rolls

    If you thought you could never make restaurant-quality egg rolls at home, think again. Thanks to store-bought egg roll wrappers, this appetizer comes together in a flash.

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    12/26

    Taste of Home

    Pineapple-Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry

    Here, boneless, skinless chicken breasts are cut into bite-sized cubes. If you’ve ever struggled with cutting raw chicken, here’s a tip: The easiest way to cube chicken is to slice it while it’s still slightly frozen.

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    13/26

    Stir-Fry Chicken Lo Mein

    While Chinese-style egg noodles are the traditional noodles used in lo mein, don’t worry if you can’t find them at the grocery store. You could also use Japanese yakisoba, udon noodles, rice noodles or even al dente spaghetti.

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    14/26

    Taste of Home

    Miso Butter Roasted Chicken

    While making this dish is time-consuming (25 minutes to prepare the ingredients and another 90 minutes to cook), it makes a complete meal that serves six. It’s also a great option for batch cooking; the leftovers will keep for several days in the fridge.

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    15/26

    Cashew Chicken with Bok Choy

    This shortcut version of a takeout classic makes things simple with boneless, skinless chicken breasts and store-bought stir-fry sauce. Your dinner guests will never believe it all came together in just about half an hour.

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    16/26

    Taste of Home

    Asian Chicken Dumplings

    These dumplings are fabulous for a special occasion, and thanks to a package of pot sticker or gyoza wrappers, this recipe is much easier than it looks. You can typically find Chinese five-spice powder at most Asian grocery stores, but if you don’t see it, you can always make your own.

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    17/26

    Taste of Home

    Easy Fried Rice

    Sure, you could buy the frozen, pre-made stuff. But when it’s this easy to make from scratch, why would you? Add leftover chicken to make it a full meal.

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    18/26

    Taste of Home

    This takeout staple uses cornstarch to thicken the sauce. But if you add too much and find it’s too thick or lumpy, just add a small amount of chicken broth or water until it reaches the consistency you like.

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    Slow-Cooker Sweet-and-Sour Chicken

    This sweet-and-sour chicken is one of those easy slow cooker recipes you’ll want to bookmark for a busy weeknight. After browning the chicken in a skillet, pop the ingredients in the slow cooker, which does most of the work for you.

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    20/26

    Instant Pot Sesame Chicken

    We love a trusty Instant Pot recipe, and this sesame chicken takes only 10 minutes of prep time and another 10 minutes to cook. Serve it over a bed of rice or noodles to make it a complete meal.

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    21/26

    Taste of Home

    Asian Glazed Chicken Thighs

    Calling all healthy eaters: With less than 300 calories and less than 2 grams saturated fat per serving, this light and healthy dinner option also packs in a whopping 22 grams of protein. Serve with cauliflower rice or stir-fried veggies.

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    Honey Chicken Stir-Fry

    Take this meal from fridge to table in 30 minutes with a package of frozen stir-fry veggies and a simple sauce that’s made with honey and reduced-sodium soy sauce. You might want to make some extra sauce to sop up the rice.

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    26 Takeout-Inspired Chinese Chicken Recipes (24)

    TMB Studio

    Chinese Chicken Salad

    This crunchy, flavorful salad combines Chinese and napa cabbage, chicken, ginger and chow mein noodles in a tangy sesame oil and rice vinegar dressing. Add veggies like carrots and green onions for extra crunch.

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    26 Takeout-Inspired Chinese Chicken Recipes (25)

    Risa Lichtman for Taste of Home

    Chinese Chicken and Broccoli

    This copycat recipe tastes pretty much exactly like the takeout version, thanks to an irresistible sauce made from oyster sauce, Shaoxing rice wine, soy sauce, cornstarch and hoisin sauce. If you like the sauce a bit thicker, add extra cornstarch.

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    26 Takeout-Inspired Chinese Chicken Recipes (26)

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    Chicken Lo Mein

    You might have most of these ingredients already sitting in your pantry. In this recipe, angel hair subs in for lo mein noodles. Just make the pasta and sauce, cook the chicken, stir-fry the veggies, mix in the noodles and enjoy.

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    Sweet and Sour Chicken

    You’ll want to slather this amazing five-ingredient sauce on everything. Pineapple chunks, sugar, cider vinegar, salt and—yes—ketchup are a winning combination.

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    Originally Published: June 08, 2021

    26 Takeout-Inspired Chinese Chicken Recipes (28)

    Lindsay Champion

    Lindsay has worked in digital media for more than a decade, covering topics like food, health and wellness, and life in New York City. Though she now writes for sites like Taste of Home, PureWow and Well+Good, she originally got her start at Broadway.com as a features editor. Lindsay is the author of the novel "Someday, Somewhere" and is working on a second.

    When she isn’t writing, you can find Lindsay curled up with a book, spending time with her family or exploring NYC.

    26 Takeout-Inspired Chinese Chicken Recipes (2024)

    FAQs

    Why is Chinese takeout chicken so tender? ›

    It's because they tenderise chicken using a simple method called Velveting Chicken using baking soda. It's a quick and easy method that any home cook can do, and can also be used for beef. Use this for all your favourite Chinese chicken dishes, like Cashew Chicken, Chicken Stir Fry, Chow Mein and Kung Pao Chicken.

    How to make homemade Chinese food taste like takeout? ›

    Blogger Tips: How to Make Homemade Chinese Food Taste Like Takeout!
    1. Roll It Up With Spring Roll Wrappers. Spring roll wrappers are essential when it comes to Chinese Takeout. ...
    2. Use Tender Meat Substitutes. ...
    3. Using Tofu To Create Eggy Dishes! ...
    4. Make Your Own Tso Sauce at Home. ...
    5. Make Spicy Sweet Hoisin Sauce.

    What is the most popular Chinese chicken dish? ›

    General Tso's Chicken

    A sweet, slightly spicy, deep-fried chicken dish that is popularly served in North American Chinese restaurants.

    What kind of chicken is used in Chinese takeaways? ›

    Now, it may not be boneless, skinless, all white breast meat. But it will be some part of the chicken. Chinese cooks prefer to use dark meat because it has more flavor and doesn't dry out.

    What do Chinese restaurants use to make meat tender? ›

    This is how to tenderise beef with a Chinese restaurant method called “velveting beef”. Also used for chicken, it's a simple, highly effective technique using baking soda that transforms economical beef so it's incredibly tender in stir fries and stir fried noodles.

    What gives Chinese food its distinct flavor? ›

    A blend of cinnamon, cloves, Sichuan peppercorns, fennel and star anise, these five spices give the sour, bitter, pungent, sweet and salty flavors found in Chinese cooking. This spice works extremely well with meats and in marinades.

    Why does Chinese takeout taste so good? ›

    As for the taste, Chinese-American foods are often stir fried in much oil, use fresh vegetables, and have unique flavors high in umami, salt and sugar.

    What is a flavor enhancer commonly added to Chinese food? ›

    Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer often added to restaurant foods, canned vegetables, soups, deli meats and other foods.

    What is China's number one dish? ›

    Chow mein is not only one of the most popular dishes in China, but it has also become a signature dish at Chinese restaurants all around the world. With stir-fried noodles, and your choice of sauteed tofu, vegetables, or meat, Chow mein has become an easy and reliable meal to be savored and enjoyed.

    What is the most loved Chinese food? ›

    Some of the most popular dishes in Chinese cuisine include sweet and sour pork, kung pao chicken, ma po tofu, wontons, dumplings, chow mein, Peking roasted duck, spring rolls, moo shu pork, and hot pot.

    What sauce do they use in Chinese takeaways? ›

    Soy sauce (jiàng yóu, 酱油), the most common of Chinese sauces, sounds simple, and for the most part, it is. However, there are many types, each unique to different Asian cuisines (Chinese, Japanese, Thai, etc.).

    What is amazing chicken on a Chinese menu? ›

    Chinese Amazing Chicken is usually prepared by marinating the chicken in a mixture of soy sauce, ginger, and garlic. The chicken is then stir-fried or pan-fried until it is cooked through. It is often garnished with green onions and sesame seeds for added flavor and presentation.

    What is Chinese crispy chicken called? ›

    General Tso's chicken is crispy, twice-fried chicken in a deliciously sweet and sticky glaze. This mouthwatering dish delivers a combination of Asian flavors that will knock your chopsticks off! Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice and garnish with sliced green onions.

    Why is chicken rubbery in Chinese food? ›

    Because most of them are Boiled Chicken, hence you might have that feeling of rubbery, actually they are better than fried.

    Why is Panda Express chicken so soft? ›

    Why is Panda Express chicken so soft? Chinese restaurants use a cooking technique called velveting. One method is to marinate the meat with cornstarch to create a moist, velvety soft texture. Another method is to coat the meat in baking soda for about 20 to 30 minutes, rinse, and use in the recipe as directed.

    Is velveting meat unhealthy? ›

    Velveting chicken is a perfectly healthy meat preparation method since the core ingredients are cornstarch and oil, each of which is perfectly fine for you to eat. So, velveting can deliver delicious, tender meat without sacrificing quality when it comes to taste or health.

    Why is Chinese fried chicken different? ›

    After separating the skin, the rest of the chicken meat is prepared in the style of Chinese hand-shredded chicken. Additional seasonings are added, such as onion and Japanese sansho pepper, which give the dish a spicy, floral bouquet.

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