Craving Chinese food but don’t want to order takeout? You can make delicious Chinese dishes right in your own kitchen. With some basic ingredients and simple techniques, you’ll be whipping up tasty stir-fries, dumplings, and noodle dishes in no time.
These 30 Chinese recipes are easy to make at home and will satisfy your cravings for authentic flavors. From quick weeknight meals to more elaborate weekend projects, you’ll find options for every skill level and taste preference. Get ready to impress your family and friends with your Chinese cooking skills.
Sweet and sour pork is a classic Chinese-American dish you can easily make at home. It features tender pork pieces and pineapple chunks in a tangy sauce.
To make it, coat pork cubes in a double dredge and fry them twice for extra crispiness. This technique gives the meat a crunchy exterior while keeping it juicy inside.
The sauce combines sweet and sour flavors perfectly. You can whip it up using common ingredients like ketchup, vinegar, and sugar.
This dish takes about 30 minutes to prepare. It’s a great option for a quick weeknight dinner that tastes just like takeout.
Mapo tofu is a spicy Sichuan dish that combines soft tofu with ground pork in a flavorful sauce. To make it at home, start by blanching cubed tofu in salted water for 2 minutes.
Heat oil in a wok and fry minced garlic and ginger until fragrant. Add ground pork and cook until crispy. Stir in doubanjiang (spicy bean paste) and cook for a minute to release its flavors.
Add the blanched tofu to the wok along with chili oil, Sichuan peppercorns, and a touch of sugar. Gently stir to coat the tofu without breaking it. Let it simmer for a few minutes to absorb the sauce.
Serve your homemade mapo tofu hot over steamed rice for a delicious and authentic taste of Sichuan cuisine.
Peking duck is a famous Chinese dish known for its crispy skin and tender meat. You can make a simplified version at home with some preparation.
Start by patting the duck dry and brushing it with a mixture of maltose, hot water, and vinegar. Let it rest uncovered in the fridge for 24-48 hours to dry the skin.
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the duck breast-side up on a roasting rack and prick the skin all over. Roast for about 1 hour and 40 minutes, adjusting the temperature as needed.
Serve your homemade Peking duck with thin pancakes, sliced scallions, and hoisin sauce. While not exactly like restaurant versions, it’s a tasty approximation you can enjoy at home.
Szechuan beef is a spicy and flavorful dish you can make at home. Start by slicing beef thinly against the grain. Marinate it in soy sauce and cornstarch for 10 minutes.
Heat oil in a wok or large skillet. Sear the beef quickly over high heat until browned. Remove it from the pan and set aside.
Stir-fry vegetables like bell peppers, onions, and garlic. Add Sichuan peppercorns and dried chilies for heat.
Return the beef to the pan. Pour in a sauce made with soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar. Cook everything together until the sauce thickens.
Serve your homemade Szechuan beef hot over rice for a tasty meal.
Spring rolls are a popular Chinese appetizer. You can make them at home with a few simple steps. Start by preparing the filling with vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and mushrooms. Add some cooked shrimp or pork if you like.
Place the filling on a spring roll wrapper. Fold the corners and roll it up tightly. Brush the edges with beaten egg to seal.
You can deep-fry spring rolls in hot oil for a crispy texture. Cook them until golden brown. If you prefer a healthier option, try air-frying them instead.
Serve your homemade spring rolls hot with a sweet chili sauce for dipping. They make a great snack or party food.
Fried rice is a quick and tasty Chinese dish you can easily make at home. Start by cooking rice ahead of time and letting it cool.
Heat oil in a wok or large skillet. Add diced vegetables like carrots, peas, and onions. Stir-fry until softened.
Push the veggies aside and scramble eggs in the empty space. Mix everything together. Add the cooked rice and stir-fry for a few minutes.
Season with soy sauce, salt, and pepper to taste. For extra flavor, try adding cooked chicken, shrimp, or tofu. Sprinkle with green onions before serving.
Chow mein is a tasty Chinese dish you can easily make at home. It has noodles, veggies, and often chicken or other meat. You can whip it up in about 30 minutes.
The key to good chow mein is the sauce. Mix soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil for a classic flavor. Cook your noodles until they’re slightly crispy.
Add veggies like bok choy, mushrooms, and bean sprouts for crunch and color. Toss everything together in a hot pan or wok. The result is a meal that’s better than takeout.
Making chow mein at home lets you control the ingredients. You can add more veggies or adjust the sauce to your taste.
Dim sum is a Chinese meal of small, shareable dishes often enjoyed during brunch. You can make many popular dim sum dishes at home.
Try steamed pork-and-mushroom shumai, a tasty dumpling filled with ground pork and shiitake mushrooms. Baked char siu bao, fluffy buns stuffed with barbecue pork, are another classic choice.
For a savory option, make turnip cake (lo bak go) with shrimp, scallops, and Chinese sausage. Steam custard buns for a sweet treat.
You can create a simple steamer using a plate and foil balls in a pot of water. This lets you enjoy homemade dim sum without special equipment.
Char Siu is a tasty Chinese BBQ pork dish you can make at home. The key is the marinade, which gives the meat its signature flavor and color.
Mix soy sauce, honey, hoisin sauce, five-spice powder, and other ingredients to create the marinade. Coat pork strips in this mixture and let them sit for a few hours.
When ready to cook, preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Place the pork on a wire rack over a tray filled with hot water. This helps keep the meat moist.
Roast the pork, basting it with leftover marinade every 20 minutes. The result is juicy, caramelized pork with a sticky glaze.
Lemon chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish that blends sweet and tangy flavors. To make it at home, start by cutting chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Season them with salt and pepper.
Coat the chicken in cornstarch, then dip it in beaten eggs. Fry the pieces until golden and crispy. Set them aside on a wire rack to drain excess oil.
For the sauce, mix lemon juice, sugar, chicken broth, and cornstarch in a pan. Cook until it thickens. Pour the sauce over the crispy chicken just before serving.
Serve your homemade lemon chicken with steamed rice for a tasty meal. You can garnish with lemon slices and green onions if you like.
Vegetable lo mein is a tasty Chinese noodle dish you can easily make at home. Start by cooking lo mein noodles until they’re al dente.
While the noodles cook, chop up your favorite veggies like mushrooms, carrots, and bell peppers. Sauté the vegetables in a hot wok or large skillet.
Make a simple sauce by mixing soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and garlic. Add the cooked noodles and sauce to your vegetables and toss everything together.
Cook for a few more minutes until the noodles are heated through and coated in sauce. Serve your homemade vegetable lo mein hot for a quick and delicious meal.
General Tso’s Chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish known for its sweet and spicy flavor. You can easily make it at home with a few key ingredients.
Start by cutting chicken into bite-sized pieces and coating them in cornstarch. Fry the chicken until golden and crispy.
For the sauce, mix soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. Simmer the sauce in a pan until it thickens.
Toss the fried chicken in the sauce to coat evenly. Serve your homemade General Tso’s Chicken over rice for a tasty meal.
Orange chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish. You can make it at home with a few simple steps. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and coat them in a mixture of egg, flour, and cornstarch.
Fry the coated chicken until golden brown. For the sauce, combine orange juice, zest, soy sauce, and brown sugar in a pan. Thicken it with a cornstarch slurry.
Toss the crispy chicken in the orange sauce. The result is sweet, tangy, and satisfying. Serve your homemade orange chicken over rice for a tasty meal.
Beef with broccoli is a popular Chinese-American dish you can easily make at home. Start by slicing beef thinly against the grain and marinating it in soy sauce and cornstarch.
Blanch broccoli florets briefly in boiling water to keep them crisp and bright green. Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat.
Stir-fry the beef quickly until browned, then remove it from the pan. Add ginger and garlic, then stir-fry the broccoli. Pour in a savory sauce made with soy sauce, oyster sauce, and a touch of sugar.
Return the beef to the pan and toss everything together until the sauce thickens and coats the ingredients. Serve your homemade beef with broccoli over steamed rice for a tasty meal.
Sesame chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish you can easily make at home. To start, cut boneless chicken into bite-sized pieces and coat them in a mix of egg, flour, and cornstarch.
Fry the coated chicken until golden and crispy. For the sauce, combine soy sauce, honey, vinegar, and sesame oil in a pan. Simmer until it thickens.
Toss the fried chicken in the sauce and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. This creates a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors with a delightful crunch.
Serve your homemade sesame chicken over steamed rice for a tasty meal. You’ll love how the sticky sauce coats each piece of tender chicken.
Dumplings are a beloved Chinese dish you can easily make at home. These delicious pockets of dough filled with meat or vegetables come in many varieties.
To make dumplings, mix flour and water to create the wrapper dough. Roll it out thinly and cut into circles. Prepare a filling of ground meat, vegetables, and seasonings.
Place a small amount of filling in the center of each wrapper. Fold and pinch the edges to seal. You can steam, boil, or pan-fry dumplings depending on the type.
Popular dumpling varieties include pork and chive potstickers, shrimp har gow, and soup-filled xiao long bao. With practice, you’ll master the art of wrapping and cooking perfect homemade dumplings.
Hunan chicken is a spicy Chinese dish from Hunan province. It features tender chicken pieces and crisp vegetables in a flavorful sauce.
To make Hunan chicken at home, start by marinating sliced chicken in a mixture of cornstarch and seasonings. Stir-fry the chicken until golden, then set it aside.
Next, cook minced garlic and vegetables like broccoli, celery, and bell peppers in a hot wok. Add the chicken back in along with a spicy sauce made from soy sauce, vinegar, and chili paste.
Stir-fry everything together until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken and vegetables. Serve your homemade Hunan chicken hot over steamed rice for a tasty meal.
Pork fried noodles are a tasty Chinese dish you can make at home. Start by marinating thin slices of pork for 20-30 minutes. Cook your choice of noodles according to package instructions.
In a hot pan, stir-fry vegetables like bok choy and onions. Add the pork and cook until it turns white. Toss in bell peppers and carrots for extra flavor and crunch.
Make a sauce using soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil. Pour it over the pork and veggies. Add the cooked noodles and toss everything together.
For extra flavor, try adding garlic, green onions, or Chinese five spice. Cook until the noodles are heated through and coated in sauce. Serve your homemade pork fried noodles hot and enjoy!
Egg Foo Young is a tasty Chinese-American dish you can easily make at home. It’s a type of omelet filled with veggies and meat or seafood.
To make it, whisk eggs and mix in bean sprouts, green onions, and your choice of protein. Pork, chicken, or shrimp work well. Add a pinch of salt and pepper for flavor.
Heat oil in a pan and pour in small portions of the egg mixture. Cook until golden brown on both sides. The result is a crispy outside with a soft, flavorful inside.
Serve your Egg Foo Young with a savory gravy made from chicken broth, soy sauce, and cornstarch. It’s a filling meal that’s sure to satisfy.
Crispy seaweed is a popular Chinese takeaway dish you can easily make at home. Despite its name, it’s usually made with cabbage or kale, not actual seaweed.
To prepare, thinly slice your greens and mix them with salt, sugar, and oil. You can then fry them in a wok or use an air fryer for a healthier option.
If using an air fryer, cook the greens for about 7 minutes at 170°C (340°F). For traditional frying, use a deep fryer at 180°C until crispy, which takes about 30 seconds.
After cooking, toss the crispy greens with a bit more salt and sugar to taste. Serve immediately as a tasty side dish to your main Chinese meal.
Braised pork belly is a classic Chinese dish loved for its tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. To make it, you’ll need pork belly cut into thick pieces.
Start by blanching the pork in boiling water to remove impurities. Then, heat oil and sugar in a wok over low heat.
Add the pork, ginger, and scallions to the wok. Pour in Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer.
Let the pork braise for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally. The result is a rich, flavorful dish with perfectly tender meat.
Ma Po Eggplant is a tasty twist on the classic Sichuan dish. You’ll love this vegetarian version of the spicy, savory favorite.
To make it, fry eggplant pieces until golden brown. Set them aside. In a wok, cook ginger and garlic to release their flavors.
Add ground pork if you want a meaty version. Stir in Sichuan peppercorns for that signature numbing spice. Mix in soy sauce, chili oil, and a bit of sugar for balance.
Combine the sauce with your cooked eggplant. Let it simmer briefly to meld the flavors. Garnish with green onions before serving.
This dish pairs well with steamed rice. It’s a great way to enjoy eggplant with bold Sichuan flavors.
Pork and cabbage dumplings are a classic Chinese dish you can easily make at home. Start by mixing ground pork with finely chopped Napa cabbage, seasonings, and spices.
Place a small amount of filling on each dumpling wrapper. Fold and pinch the edges to seal. You can cook these dumplings in different ways.
To pan-fry, heat oil in a skillet and brown the bottoms of the dumplings. Add water, cover, and steam until cooked through. For boiling, drop dumplings in simmering water and cook until they float.
Serve your homemade pork and cabbage dumplings hot with a dipping sauce of soy sauce, vinegar, and chili oil.
Dan Dan Noodles are a spicy Sichuan dish you’ll love. They feature wheat noodles in a flavorful sauce.
The sauce combines sesame paste, chili oil, and Sichuan peppercorns. It’s nutty, spicy, and has a unique numbing kick.
You’ll top the noodles with crispy ground pork and pickled vegetables. Some recipes add fried peanuts or soybeans for extra crunch.
To make Dan Dan Noodles, first prepare the sauce. Then cook and season the pork until crispy. Boil the noodles and mix everything together.
This dish is quick to make at home. In about 30 minutes, you can enjoy authentic Sichuan flavors right in your kitchen.
Essential Ingredients for Chinese Cooking
Chinese cooking relies on a blend of key ingredients that create its unique flavors. These items form the foundation for many dishes and help you achieve authentic tastes at home.
Staple Spices and Sauces
Soy sauce is a must-have for Chinese recipes. It adds saltiness and umami to dishes. Light soy sauce is used for seasoning, while dark soy sauce gives color and richness.
Five-spice powder brings warmth and depth. It mixes cinnamon, cloves, star anise, fennel, and Sichuan peppercorns. Use it sparingly as its flavor is strong.
White pepper is preferred over black in Chinese cooking. It has a milder, earthy taste that complements many dishes.
Oyster sauce adds sweetness and complexity to stir-fries and marinades. It’s made from oyster extracts and seasonings.
Rice vinegar brings a mild tanginess to dressings and sauces. It’s less acidic than Western vinegars.
Fresh Produce and Proteins
Garlic and ginger are staples in Chinese cooking. They add aromatic flavors to stir-fries, soups, and marinades. Fresh is best, but powdered forms work too.
Green onions (scallions) are used in many recipes. They add a mild onion flavor and freshness to dishes.
Tofu is a versatile protein source. It comes in different textures and absorbs flavors well.
Napa cabbage is common in stir-fries and dumplings. It has a mild, sweet taste and crunchy texture.
Eggs are used in many ways, from fried rice to egg drop soup. They add protein and richness to dishes.
Chinese Cooking Techniques
Chinese cuisine uses many cooking methods to create delicious dishes. Two key techniques are stir-frying and steaming. These methods help preserve flavors and textures while cooking food quickly.
Stir-Frying
Stir-frying is a fast cooking method that uses high heat and constant motion. You’ll need a wok or large frying pan and a spatula. Heat your pan until it’s very hot, then add a small amount of oil.
Toss in your ingredients and keep them moving. Cook meats first, then set them aside. Next, stir-fry veggies in order of cooking time. Harder veggies go in first.
Add sauces near the end of cooking. The whole process often takes just a few minutes. This quick cooking keeps food crisp and colorful.
Steaming
Steaming is a healthy way to cook that keeps nutrients in food. You’ll need a steamer basket and a pot with a tight-fitting lid. Fill the pot with a few inches of water, but don’t let it touch the basket.
Bring the water to a boil, then add your food to the basket. Cover and let the steam cook your food. Steaming works well for veggies, fish, and dumplings.
Different foods need different steaming times. Veggies might take 3-5 minutes, while dumplings could need 6-8 minutes. Check your food often to avoid overcooking.
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
