Soy Sauce Pan Fried Noodles (2024)

Fast and easy Cantonese soy sauce pan fried noodles that can be made in 10 minutes are the best noodle dish for those busy weekdays. The fresh egg noodles are lightly charred and then mixed in a savory and sweetened soy sauce-based stir fry sauce for a deliciously crispy and caramelized noodle stir-fry.

This easy stir-fried noodles recipe is very versatile and can be paired with any stir-fried protein or vegetable dish such as chicken and broccoli, beef with black bean sauce, or garlic green beans. Or you can fully customize your stir-fried noodles recipe by adding protein and vegetables directly into the recipe!

What are Soy Sauce Pan Fried Noodles?

Soy sauce pan-fried noodles, also known as Cantonese Chi You Huang Chow Mein (豉油皇炒面) is a popular stir fry noodle dish that is typically served for a quick breakfast or lunch at dim sum restaurants. The name “Chi You Huang” means “the king of soy sauce”. These pan-fried noodles are made with fresh egg noodles, bean sprouts, green onions, and soy sauce.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This easy pan fried noodles recipe is a staple dish for those busy weeknights. Here are 3 top reasons why you’ll love these stir-fried noodles recipes.

1. Quick and Easy. Made with a handful of pantry staple Asian ingredients, these stir fry noodles take less than 10 minutes to make at home.
2. Customizable. This Chinese pan fried noodles recipe is a vegetarian-friendly version that can be customized by adding your protein or vegetables of choice.
3. Versatile. Making this classic Chinese takeout fried noodles recipe pairs with every dish and is a more flavorful alternative to white rice.

Kitchen Equipment

You will need the following items of kitchen equipment to make this noodle stir-fry.

• Mixing Bowl: a mixing bowl is necessary to mix the noodle stir-fry sauce.
• Wok: using a wok to cook the soy sauce pan fried noodles allows for quick and even cooking.

Ingredients

You can find all of the ingredients for this soy sauce pan fried noodles recipe at your local Asian grocery store. I’ve linked everything you can find online below.

Noodle Stir-Fry

• Fresh Egg Noodles: you can use Hong Kong-style fried noodles, Shanghai noodles, chow mein, or egg noodles. Fresh noodles are the best for flavor and convenience.
• Garlic: garlic adds a hint of aromatics to the Chinese pan fried noodles for another layer of flavor.
• Bean Sprouts: bean sprouts add crunch and texture to the fried noodles.
• Green Onions: adds another aromatic layer to the soy sauce pan fried noodles.
• Toasted Sesame Oil: toasted sesame oil is a finishing ingredient that adds a hint of umami nuttiness to the easy stir fried noodles.

Stir Fry Sauce

• Soy Sauce: soy sauce is the main base for soy sauce noodles.
• Dark Soy Sauce: dark soy sauce is a deeper and slightly sweeter soy sauce that adds a lightly caramelized taste as well as contributes to the deep brown color.
• Sugar: sugar balances the rich salty umami flavors of the soy sauce.
• White Pepper: white pepper season the sauce with a hint of heat.
• Water: a touch of water lightly dilutes the noodle stir-fry sauce.

Substitutions and Additions

These Chinese pan fried noodles are easily customizable based on your preferences. I’ve listed some ideas for substitutions and additions for you below.

Substitutions

• Dry noodles: if you cannot find fresh egg noodles, you can easily substitute them with dry noodles instead. Spaghetti noodles or ramen noodles work well in a pinch!
• Frozen udon: for thicker noodles stir fry, go ahead and use udon instead.
• Black pepper: if you don’t have white pepper, black pepper works as well.
• Brown sugar: brown sugar instead of regular sugar will add a richer sweetness.

Additions

• Protein: you can add chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, or tofu to add protein to this pan fried noodles recipe.
• Vegetables: if you’d like a more hearty noodle stir-fry go ahead and add broccoli, cabbage, bell peppers, snow peas, baby corn, carrots, mushrooms, etc.
• Spice: if you like spicy pan fried noodles, go ahead and add Thai chilis, sriracha, chili flakes, or chili oil crisp to your recipe.

How to Make Soy Sauce Pan Fried Noodles

Here are the steps on how to make this pan fried noodles recipe. I recommend having all the ingredients measured and ready to go before you begin cooking.

1. Prepare the noodles. Prepare the noodles according to the package instructions. If using fresh noodles, blanch the noodles for about 1 minute in boiling water. Rinse in cold water and drain. Set aside.

2. Mix the sauce. In a small mixing bowl, add the soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, white pepper, and water. Mix until the sugar has dissolved and set aside.

See Also

Asian Ground Beef NoodlesSpicy Noodles RecipeGARLIC CHILLI NOODLESCreamy Mushroom Udon

3. Saute aromatics. In a wok over medium heat, add a tablespoon of oil. When the wok is hot, add the minced garlic, and the white part of the green onion. Cook until fragrant about 2 minutes.

4. Add the noodles and sauce. Then add the noodles and toss to combine. Spread the noodles onto a thin even layer and cook until crisp about 3 minutes. Then lower the heat to medium-low add the sauce and toss to combine until the noodles are caramelized.

5. Add bean sprouts and green onions. Then add the bean sprouts and green onions and cook for 3-4 minutes or until softened.

6. Serve. Remove from heat, mix in the sesame oil, and enjoy!

Storage Instructions

You can store these Chinese pan-fried noodles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheat: pan fry on the stove in a wok until warm or alternatively you can microwave the stir-fried noodles covered until warm.

Frequently Asked Q’s & A’s

What is the sauce for soy sauce pan-fried noodles made of?

The stir fry sauce is made with soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, and white pepper.

Can I use other types of noodles for pan fried noodles?

If you don’t have fresh egg noodles, you can use other noodles such as spaghetti, ramen, udon, etc. Just note that the texture and flavor will be different.

What vegetables can I add to the stir fry noodles?

You can add broccoli, cabbage, bell peppers, snow peas, baby corn, carrots, mushrooms, etc.

What do I serve pan fried noodles with?

You can serve this easy stir fried noodles recipe with any protein or vegetable stir-fry dishes such as chicken and broccoli, beef with black bean sauce, char siu pork, etc.

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