Quick and Easy Chinese Recipes for Home Cooks
Many Chinese dishes are naturally fast and simple to prepare. By stir-frying ingredients at high heat and using basic sauces (soy sauce, rice vinegar, oyster sauce, etc.), you can have a flavorful meal on the table in minutes. With a stocked pantry of staples (ginger, garlic, scallions, soy sauce) and pre-chopped veggies and proteins, you’ll spend very little time cooking and a lot of time enjoying the meal. The recipes below—from stir-fries to noodles, rice dishes, and a classic soup—all take about 30 minutes or less and use readily available ingredients.
Stir-Fry Dishes
Kung Pao Chicken
Kung Pao Chicken is a classic spicy stir-fry with chicken, peanuts, and dried chili peppers. The signature spice is Sichuan peppercorn, which gives a fragrant, mouth-numbing kick. In this easy version, bite-sized chicken pieces are stir-fried (not deep-fried) with soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil, ginger and garlic. Cashews or peanuts add crunch and flavor. This dish comes together very quickly—expect about 20–25 minutes from start to finish.
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Ingredients: chicken (breasts or thighs), peanuts (or cashews), dried chilies, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, rice wine or sherry, sesame oil, and scallions.
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Time: ~25 minutes.
Shrimp and Broccoli stir-fry – tender shrimp and crisp broccoli tossed in a savoury garlic-soy sauce.
Shrimp and Broccoli Stir-Fry
This is a quick takeout-style stir-fry that’s surprisingly easy to make at home. Fresh or thawed shrimp cook in just a few minutes, so after a quick blanch of broccoli and shrimp, you can stir-fry the shrimp with broccoli in a brown garlic sauce. One recipe notes you can finish the whole dish in “less than 10 minutes” after prep. Total time is about 25–30 minutes. The result is tender shrimp and bright-green broccoli coated in a savory sauce (soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic, and ginger), perfect over steamed rice.
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Ingredients: shrimp (peeled, deveined), broccoli florets, garlic, fresh ginger, soy sauce, oyster sauce, chicken broth (or water), and cornstarch (for thickening).
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Time: ~30 minutes.
Chicken in Oyster Sauce
Oyster Sauce Chicken is a one-pan stir-fry using chicken thighs and simple vegetables in a rich oyster-soy sauce. Oyster sauce (a sweet-savoury brown sauce) gives this dish its characteristic flavor. According to The Spruce Eats, you simmer chicken thighs and veggies in a mix of oyster sauce, soy sauce, rice wine, and broth, and serve it all over rice. This recipe takes about 30 minutes total, making it perfect for a busy night.
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Ingredients: chicken thighs (bone-in or boneless), broccoli or green beans, carrots (or bell pepper), oyster sauce, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry), chicken broth (or water), garlic, and ginger.
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Time: ~30 minutes.
Noodle Recipes
Vegetable Chow Mein
Vegetable Chow Mein is a quick veggie stir-fry with Chinese egg noodles (or lo mein noodles) and a mix of crunchy vegetables. It typically includes bell pepper, onion, zucchini, shiitake (or other) mushrooms, plus garlic and ginger. These are tossed with a savory sauce of soy and oyster sauces (with a splash of rice vinegar and sesame oil). This colourful noodle dish “fries up quickly,” taking only about 20 minutes to cook. The result is flavorful noodles coated in a sauce with tender-crisp vegetables – simple and satisfying.
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Ingredients: Chinese egg noodles (or spaghetti), bell peppers, onion, zucchini, mushrooms, garlic, ginger, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil (optionally a little rice vinegar or chili sauce).
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Time: ~20 minutes.
Rice Dishes
Basic Fried Rice
Fried rice is one of the first dishes beginners learn because it’s so quick and versatile. Starting with cooked (preferably cold) rice, you simply stir-fry it with beaten eggs, chopped green onions, a dash of soy sauce (or oyster sauce), and salt and pepper. It’s easy to add whatever you have on hand—diced ham, peas, carrots, or other veggies—to make it a full meal. According to The Spruce Eats, basic fried rice “takes just a few minutes to prepare” once the rice is ready.
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Ingredients: cooked rice (day-old rice works best), eggs, green onions (scallions), soy sauce (or oyster sauce), salt, pepper (plus optional peas, carrots, diced ham or chicken).
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Time: ~10–15 minutes.
Classic Chinese Soups
Egg Drop Soup
Egg Drop Soup is a light, soothing soup that’s incredibly fast—about 15 minutes from start to finish. In this soup, chicken broth is brought to a simmer, and then beaten egg is slowly stirred in, creating silky “egg ribbons” in the soup. Seasonings are minimal – a splash of soy sauce and sesame oil for depth and a pinch of white pepper or salt. You can also add tofu cubes, corn or peas if you like. As one recipe notes, you can make “restaurant-quality” egg drop soup at home in under 15 minutes.
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Ingredients: chicken broth, eggs, soy sauce, sesame oil (optional cornstarch for a thicker soup), salt, and white pepper (garnish with chopped chives or green onion).
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Time: ~15 minutes.
Each of these recipes uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients and can be on the table in about half an hour. By prepping ingredients in advance and cooking on high heat, you’ll get authentic-tasting Chinese flavors without the wait. Enjoy these dishes as quick weeknight meals that still deliver on taste and satisfaction!
