Shrimp Chow Mein

by Sabrina Snyder

Published on

21 Comments

5 from 9 votes
4 servings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
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Shrimp Chow Mein is a homemade version of your favorite take-out, with shrimp, veggies, and noodles in a savory sauce, ready in 30 minutes.

Chinese Noodles are a fan favorite on the site including Chicken Lo Mein, Pad See Ew (Thai Stir Fried Noodles) and Easy Pad Thai.

Shrimp Chow Mein in bowl with fork

Shrimp Chow Mein is one of the most popular Chinese Food take-out dishes, and it’s insanely easy to make right at home! This chow mein is the shrimpier version of the Classic Chinese Chow Mein made with fresh shrimp, vegetables, and a savory sauce tossed with chow mein noodles and bean sprouts.

There is not a lot of prep time needed for this, because the whole thing takes a total time of under 30 minutes to prepare. Plus it’s done in just one pot (or wok), so cleanup is really easy.

In fact, this recipe comes together so quickly, you’ll want to have everything prepped ahead of time. While you’re prepping your veggies, you can have your noodles cooking in hot water, then have them ready to go when your shrimp goes in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Shrimp Chow Mein and Shrimp Lo Mein?

Both dishes use egg noodles, but shrimp chow mein uses specific chow mein fried noodles, while lo mein uses noodles that are boiled. Lo mein also typically has more sauce in the dish than chow mein, while chow mein has more oil and is crispy in texture because the noodles are fried.

What other veggies can I add to Shrimp Chow Mein?

Lots of veggies would go great with Shrimp Chow Mein. Try adding mushrooms, green onions, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, bell peppers, broccoli, or bok choy.

How do I make Vegetarian Chow Mein?

If you want to make this vegetarian, you can substitute the shrimp with extra firm tofu.

How do I make Low Carb Chow Mein?

Make this chow mein lower carb by using tofu noodles, but they won’t be as crunchy as your traditional chow mein noodle. Or you can stir fry spiralized vegetables like carrots and zucchini.

What other meats can be used for Chow Mein?

This recipe calls for shrimp but you can make it with pork, beef, prawns, or chicken, too. I like to use chicken breast for a leaner cut of meat. Or make this vegetarian with extra firm tofu.

Shrimp Chow Mein Collage of cooking steps

More Homemade Chow Mein and Noodle Recipes

Chow Mein with Shrimp

Tips for Making Shrimp Chow Mein

  • Can’t find chow mein noodles? You can substitute yakisoba noodles and just toss the packet and use the noodles only.
  • You can add ½ teaspoon of powdered ginger or a teaspoon of minced ginger to the Chow Mein for more flavor, or ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper or a dash of sriracha for heat.
  • Part of what makes Chinese food taste so good is the way the wok works with the heat. Try to keep your wok or pan really hot, and pay close attention while stirring to make sure the food quickly cooks instead of burning. I like to use a more traditional wok, but you can find electric ones if you don’t have a gas stove.
  • This Shrimp Chow Mein recipe calls for either regular or light soy sauce, it is not recommended to use dark soy sauce for this chow mein.

How to Store Shrimp Chow Mein

  • Serve: Do not leave Shrimp Chow Mein at room temperature longer than 2 hours.
  • Store: Shrimp Chow Mein will last refrigerated in an airtight container for 3-4 days. When reheating, add a tablespoon or two of water to the dish, to keep the noodles from drying out.
  • Freeze: Shrimp Chow Mein can be frozen up to 3 months. Allow to cool completely before freezing in individual freezer safe containers for easy defrosting and reheating. 
Shrimp Chow Mein in bowl with fork

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Dinner, then Dessert

Shrimp Chow Mein

Shrimp Chow Mein is a homemade version of your favorite take-out, with shrimp, veggies, and noodles in a savory sauce, ready in 30 minutes.
Yield 4 servings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine Chinese Food
Author Sabrina Snyder
Shrimp Chow Mein in bowl with fork
PrintRate

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound shrimp , peeled and deveined (13-15 count)
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 cup cabbage , thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup red cabbage , thinly sliced
  • 1 cup celery , thinly sliced
  • 1 carrot , thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic , minced
  • 2 tablespoons sweet soy sauce , aka Kecap Manis*
  • 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
  • 4 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 1 cup water
  • 12 ounces chow mein noodles , cooked a minute shy of the directions*
  • 6 ounces bean sprouts , optional
  • sesame seeds for garnish , optional

Instructions

  • Heat a large pan or wok on high heat with the oil and cook the shrimp for one minute on each side then remove the shrimp from the pan and add in the cabbage, red cabbage, celery and carrots.
  • Cook 2-3 minutes until wilted, add the garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
  • Add the soy sauce, sweet soy sauce, oyster sauce and water and bring to a boil for 1 minute.
  • Add in the pasta, bean sprouts and shrimp and toss to coat.

Video

Notes

Note: click on times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer while cooking.
*Homemade Kecap Manis: Add 1 ½ teaspoons of soy sauce and 1 ½ teaspoons of molasses or dark brown sugar with a tiny pinch of ground anise. This is a decent substitute, but if you can get the original the flavor will be even deeper.

Nutrition

Calories: 556kcal | Carbohydrates: 76g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 285mg | Sodium: 2349mg | Potassium: 274mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 31.5mg | Calcium: 201mg | Iron: 6mg

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Shrimp Chow Mein Collage

Photos used in a previous version of this post.

Shrimp Chow Mein
Shrimp Chow Mein
Chow Mein made with Shrimp

About the Author: Sabrina Snyder

Sabrina is a professionally trained Private Chef of over 10 years with ServSafe Manager certification in food safety. She creates all the recipes here on Dinner, then Dessert, fueled in no small part by her love for bacon.

Sabrina Snyder is a professionally trained personal and private chef of over 10 years who is the creator and developer of all the recipes on Dinner, then Dessert.

She is also the author of the cookbook Dinner, then Dessert – Satisfying Meals Using Only 3, 5 or 7 Ingredients, published by Harper Collins.

She started Dinner, then Dessert as a business in her office as a lunch service for her coworkers who admired her lunches before going to culinary school and becoming a full time personal chef and private chef.

As a personal chef Sabrina would cook for families one day a week and cook their entire week of dinners. All grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning was done along with instructions on reheating. As a private chef she cooked for private parties and cooked in family homes in the evenings for families on a nightly basis after working as a personal chef during the day.

Sabrina has been certified as a ServSafe Manager since 2007 and was a longstanding member of the USPCA Personal Chef Association including being on the board of the Washington DC Chapter of Chefs in the US Personal Chef Association when they won Chapter of the year.

As a member of the community of food website creators Sabrina Snyder has spoken at many conferences regarding her experiences as a food writer including the Indulge Food Conference, Everything Food Conference, Haven Food Conference and IACP Annual Food Professionals Conference.

Sabrina lives with her family in sunny California.

See more posts by Sabrina

Dinner, then Dessert, Inc. owns the copyright on all images and text and does not allow for its original recipes and pictures to be reproduced anywhere other than at this site unless authorization is given. Read my disclosure and copyright policy. This post may contain affiliate links.

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Comments

  1. I enjoyed making this shrimp dish, preparation of all the ingredients is a must! It comes together quickly and we will be adding it to our dinner rotation! I use MoMoFuko raman noodles, just the noodles – also added chili crunch for a little kick! I seem to always find a recipe on this website and all have been enjoyable to make and delicious!

    Reply

  2. Love this one! Was wondering if I could bake the shrimp instead to save a few calories and mess?? Pls advise. Thank you so much ?

    Reply

  3. Hi!

    I made it tonight for my family, and they loved it. My son said that it was better than the Chow Mein from the Chinese restaurant.
    Thank you for the recipe!

    Reply

  4. Just got done eating this! Wanted something different than rice tonight so I tried this, so good and easy too! Forgot to put the ginger in but it was still delicious. Everything I have tried from here has been fantastic, do you mind if I use these recipes when I open my own restaurant? ?

    Reply

  9. This was wonderful! Definitely something I will be making regularly. My whole family enjoyed it, even the picky ones.

    Reply

  11. Can you make this with substitute for shrimp.? Also, I have your Tater Tot recipe in the oven right now!! I can’t wait & will it make it too mushy if I melt shredded cheese on top rt before I take it out? I love cheese ?

    Reply

    1. Yes, you can substitute with chicken or whatever protein you’d like. So glad you’re enjoying the recipes so much!

      Reply