If you want to have a delicious classic homemade Chinese dish ready when you get home for dinner, this is the one for you.
This dish really lets your slow-cooker do all the heavy lifting for you. And you can cook it on HIGH for a shorter amount of time, or on LOW for a full day. Either way delivers perfect results. If you’re really in the mood for an Asian classic meal, add some homemade egg rolls for starters! A true family favorite!
How To Make Slow-Cooker Chicken Chow Mein
You may be wondering, what’s the difference between chow mein and chow fun? Chow fun noodles are thicker and more white than chow mein, which is round, yellowish, and looks almost like dried spaghetti. Here’s a great chow fun recipe featuring broccoli and beef.
Chow mein noodles can be found in the Asian section of most well-stocked supermarkets, Asian markets, or online. If you can’t find them, chow-fun noodles will work. Of in a real pinch, good ole spaghetti will work, too.
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The Ingredients You Will Need
Almost all of the following ingredients can be found at your local market.
Here’s what you’ll need to have on hand
Oil – Vegetable, canola, or even olive oil all work great
Salt and pepper – For seasoning the chicken, not the sauce (no need)
Chicken – Boneless, skinless thighs, or breasts
Carrots – Juliiened, matchstick, or cut into small medallions
Green 0nions – aka Scallions, slices, green and white parts (save extra for garnish)
Celery – Sliced
Ginger – Fresh is definitely best, finely minced
Garlic – Fresh, minced
Bean sprouts – Found in the produce section, can also use mung bean sprouts, sometimes you can find canned bean sprouts (in the Asian section)
Soy sauce – Low sodium, if desired
Red pepper flakes – For a little heat, but not too much (optional)
Water chestnuts – Chopped, found in the Asian section
Chicken broth – or Vegetable
Sugar – Don’t skip this, it provides the classic Chinese taste
Cornstarch – Mixed with water, to help thicken the sauce
Chow mein noodles – Follow package instructions for preparing
Toasted sesame seeds – Not 100% necessary, but make a nice garnish
EXPERT TIP: You’ll need to cook the chicken first before adding it to the slow cooker. This can be done up to 2 days in advance of assembling the dish in the slow cooker.
Tips for Perfect Slow-Cooker Chicken Chow Mein
Prep the Ingredients in Advance – The only part of this recipe that can take up to 20 to 30 minutes, is getting the ingredients prepped to place in the slow cooker. Chop the veggies the night before. Seek out matchstick carrots. You could even go with baby carrots. And cook the chicken in advance. Once you’re ready to start slow-cooking, it’s as simple as “dump and go.”
Cook on HIGH or LOW – This recipe is not like a slow-cooked pot roast, where you get the best results from truly slow-cooking the meat for 10 to 12 hours. You can cook this recipe on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, or on LOW for 6 to 10 hours. Either way will give you perfect results. Choose whichever time setting best fits your own schedule.
Thicken The Sauce with a Slurry – In the final 10 to 15 minutes of cooking, just before serving, you’ll want to add a cornstarch slurry (¼ cup cornstarch mixed with ½ cup cool water). Stir it in and allow the sauce to thicken. If you skip this step, the sauce will be too thin and not have the classic chicken chow mein texture (and taste).
NOTE: Prepping your ingredients in advance makes it even easier when you are ready to assemble the slow cooker. Or, give yourself about 30 minutes before you turn the slow cooker on, and you’ll be just fine.
How To Serve
Once you’ve prepared the noodles and they are cooked and softened, you’ll want to stir them into the chicken and veggie mixture until fully combined.
You can plate each guest’s (or family’s) dish before serving. Or, even better, let them serve themselves directly from the slow cooker. Be sure to have extra sliced scallions, red pepper flakes, and toasted sesame seeds for garnishes.
We have also served the chicken chow mein over steamed rice and loved that, too.
Other Amazing Slow Cooker Dishes To Try
So many different types of cuisines can be made in your slow-cooker. Here are some of our all-time favorites:
Slow-Cooker Provencal Chicken Stew
BBQ Pulled Pork
Spiral Ham
Baby Back Ribs
Irish Dublin Coddle (Sausage and Potato Stew)
Hearty Beef Stew
Beef Brisket
Beef Braciole
BBQ Chopped Beef Sandwich
Asparagus Risotto
Corn on the Cob
In the meantime, isn’t this Chinese dish made in your trusty slow cooker making you hungry?
This dish is just amazing in taste and the preparation hard takes any effort at all.
It’s fun to make chow mein as a stir-fry in your wok or skillet, but you just can’t argue with the ease of letting your slow cooker do all the heavy lifting for you!
And, leftovers heat up beautifully on the stove and are honestly, quite possibly, even better the next day! Every bite is a taste sensation!
Ready to make one of the best Chinese dishes in town…in your slow cooker? Go for it!
And when you do, be sure to take a photo of it, post it on Instagram, and tag @HowToFeedaLoon and hashtag #HowToFeedaLoon!
Slow-Cooker Chicken Chow Mein
Equipment
- 1 6-quart slow-cooker
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil or canola, or olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- 1½ lbs chicken breasts boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 medium carrots thinly sliced, or julienned
- 6 green onions aka scallions, thinly sliced, green and white parts, plus extra for garnish
- 3 celery stalks sliced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger minced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 8 oz. bean sprouts
- ⅓ cup soy sauce low sodium works well
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes more for extra heat, omit for no heat at all
- 1 8 oz. can water chestnuts drained and chopped
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ½ cup cold water
- Chow mein noodles cooked, or rice, for serving.
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.1 tbsp vegetable oil
- Season chicken with salt and pepper all over and then add to skillet and cook until lightly browned, about 10 to 15 minutes.Salt and pepper, 1½ lbs chicken breasts
- Place cooked chicken into slow cooker.
- Add remaining ingredients, except cornstarch and water (don't include the noodles/rice); stir to combine.3 medium carrots, 6 green onions, 3 celery stalks, 1 tbsp fresh ginger, 3 cloves garlic, 8 oz. bean sprouts, ⅓ cup soy sauce, ¼ tsp red pepper flakes, 1 8 oz. can water chestnuts, 1 cup chicken stock, 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, or on LOW for 6 to 10 hours.
- About 10 minutes before serving, mix together the cornstarch with the water in a small bowl or measuring cup. Add to the slow cooker and stir. Stir occasionally until thickened, about 10 minutes.¼ cup cornstarch, ½ cup cold water
- Meanwhile, cook the noodles according to the package instructions and then mix them into the chicken mixture. Stir until fully mixed.Chow mein noodles
- Keep on warm until ready to serve, or, serve at once. Garnish with extra sliced scallions, red pepper flakes, and toasted sesame seeds.
Notes
Nutrition
POST UPDATE: This recipe was originally published in April 2018, but was updated with improved tweaks to the recipe with new tips and photography and a fabulous new video in February 2023!
This was so good!! We’d been craving Chinese food but often the restaurant fare is too salty or fatty for our liking. This recipe filled the bill, perfectly seasoned, it’s definitely a keeper!
My only issue was with the bean sprouts. By the time the cooking was finished they had kind of melted into the mixture. I think I would like to add them in later in the cooking so that they would retain their appearance and consistency but I don’t know the best time to do that, how far into the cooking. Advice?
Kris I have to compliment ALL your recipes, I have never had a fail with them, and your instructions are exceptionally well written. And I love your videos with the Loon. You both do a terrific job. Keep up the good work!
Linda! So sorry for the delayed reply! We are so so thrilled you made the slow-cooker chicken chow mein and enjoyed it! That’s a great tip about waiting to add the bean sprouts. If you like them with a bit of crunch (and who wouldn’t?)…stir them in 30 minutes before serving. Thank you so so much for your kind words and support! It’s the reason we do what we do!!! You are the BEST!!! Have a great day! xoxo Kris & Wesley
I had to use canned bean sprouts so right after it was done I was not sure I loved it. Now, on the next day I served some up with some crispy chow mein noodles and some Braggs Aminos mixed into my serving and I love it! I will definitely make this again!
Hi Susan! Yes!! We LOVE that you tweaked to your own tastes!!! That’s perfection! We are so so happy you had success with the chow mein! And THANK YOU for sharing and for the wonderful review. That means so much to us!! Please stay in touch! xoxo Kris & Wesley
This was by far the best chowmein we have ever had! It was soooo good! Thank you for this exceptional recipe!
Hi Vickie! You just made our day! We are THRILLED you made the slow-cooker chow mein and had such great success with it! We love it so much, too! Thank you so very much for sharing and for the wonderful review. That means the world to us! Please stay in touch! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Thankyou so much for this great recipe! Made this for dinner last night and was hesitant because I just could not believe you could make chowmein in a crockpot! WOW! Turned out fantastic even though I subbed with cabbage and veggies I had on hand
Hi Vickie! Yay!! We are thrilled you tried the chicken chow mein and enjoyed it! It’s really surprisingly delicious, isn’t it? Thank you so so much for sharing and for the wonderful review! That honestly means so much to us!
I’m so tired of chicken.can I make it with beef?
Of course! Do any kind of steak cut into strips. Freezing it for about 20 minutes first makes cutting it into strips easier. Let us know if you make it and what you think! All the best, Kris & Wesley
This was quick and delicious! Got rave reviews from the family! Thanks for the recipe. 🙂
So sorry for the delayed reply! We are so so happy you made the chicken chow mein and you and the family loved it! Woo hoo! Thank you so much for sharing and for the wonderful review. That means the world to us!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
This looks delicious and I am anxious to try. I wonder if the liquid is hot enough if you could add the uncooked noodles directly to the crockpot 12-15 mins at the end of cooking versus boiling separately?
Hi Mary! That’s a fantastic question! You could absolutely do that and it would save you a step. We always cook them first to make sure they are perfectly cooked. But, there’s no reason you can’t let the slow-cooker do the work for you. It might take a little longer than 12 to 15 minutes, but go for it! It should work just fine! And please let us know how it all turns out! Thanks so much! Best, Kris & Wesley
I love my new Christmas present Green|Pan slow cooker (it is a game changer) and have been looking for new slow cooker recipes to try. Chicken Chow Mein is going to be the next thing to try. Best of all it can be frozen so the two of us have ready made meal or two in the weeks to come. Thanks guys!
Hi Diana! That’s a GREAT Christmas present! We think you’ll love this recipe and if you make it, please let us know! Check out the sidebar on our site…we’re adding our favorite slow-cooker recipes! Enjoy!!
i WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPED TO ALL YOUR VIDEO ON HERE THAT SHOW WHAT YOU ARE MAKING i HAVEN’T BEENABLE TO SEE ANY FOR SOMETIME NOW .. i MISS WATCHING YOU COOK PLEASE BRING IT BACK SORRY I WROTE IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS ..THE OTHER WAY IS TOO SMALL THANK YOU VERA
Hey guys! You’ll never believe what I did with this recipe. I have been filling my freezer with freezer meals. We are so tired of eating dinner at 8:30 because of our long days at work. Was worried about this one and thought that it would make everything soggy. I just threw everything in a freezer bag, thawed it and then threw into the crockpot. It was very good! I’m not really a crockpot dinner fan but this one changed my mind. It was the first freezer meal that I tried out of the bunch. This set the bar high for the next ones to try. Thanks for always inspiring me to try new things. Be well my favorite cooking guys.
There is nothing better than being able to have a meal all ready to go after a long day! And we, as always, are so so happy that we can help out in any way! Chicken chow mein is a great one to freeze! Thank you so so much for letting us know and for the 5 stars! You are a superstar!!! Kris & Wesley
Goodness! Just made this and once again…super delish!! Thank you, thank you!! hubby loves it! served with smoke basmati rice (cause hubby loves rice vs noodles.)…super easy and amazing dish~! Thank you again and again for sharing!! xoxo
Hi Kristy! Isn’t that good?! We really love it, too, and the addition of smoked basmati rice sounds perfect. I think we’ll try it that way next time. Thanks so much for letting us know! xoxo
Made this today and it was amazing! My husband said it’s a keeper. Thanks for the great recipes.
That is so wonderful to hear, Patti! We just love this dish and so glad you and your hubby enjoyed it. And thank you so much for letting us know. xoxo Kris & Wesley
I’m currently bedridden because of an accident so even though I love to cook I can’t work in the kitchen. One of the very few upsides of what I’m going thru now is I have a lot of free time to play on the internet where I found you! I’m enjoying your blog tremendously and am looking forward to trying out your mouthwatering recipes on my family as soon as I’m able to.
Oh, Brenda! We are so sorry to hear you are not on your feet! We hope and pray you are getting great care, feeling better and will be ready to try out some of our recipes in no time! Thank you so much for your note, and we are thrilled that you found us and we found you!! Please take care and please stay in touch! Feel better!! xoxo Kris & Wesley