Vegan Chow Mein

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Vegan chow mein is an easy dinner that the whole family will love! Fresh vegetables and noodles are stir-fried with a delicious sauce that is loaded with flavor. This wholesome, healthy meal will quickly become a new favorite recipe. The best part? It takes just 30 minutes to make!

Chinese takeout is total comfort food in our house. And chow mein is one of my favorite dishes! But I don’t love all the unhealthy fats and additives that come with takeout, and sometimes it’s hard to find a true vegan friendly chow mein.

That’s why I decided to create this vegan chow mein recipe! It’s delicious, healthy, packed with flavor, and so easy to make!

Adding vegetables to stir-fried noodles is a great way to get extra nutrition into your diet. The yummy sauce infuses flavor into the cabbage, carrots, broccoli, and snow peas for an irresistible bite every time!

This tasty recipe for vegetable chow mein is a healthy makeover of the classic Chinese noodle dish. It’s a a great option for anyone who’s looking for a meatless meal that’s both filling and satisfying.

It also happens to be incredibly versatile – you can customize it however you like! Feel free to add in your favorite vegetables or swap out the noodles for a different type of noodle. Or, for additional protein, make this a tofu chow mein recipe! Adding an extra source of protein will keep you full and satisfied even longer. For a bigger meal, try pairing it with vegetarian wontons or some vegan egg rolls!

If you love Asian food, you might also like my vegan teriyaki noodles which is another plant-based noodle dish that’s big on flavor!

👩🏽‍🍳 Why This Recipe Works

• Vegan and can be made gluten free
• Easy recipe for weeknight dinner
• Clean ingredients
• Made with healthy vegetables
• Super versatile – can be made with different veggies & proteins!
• Best vegetable chow mein recipe ever!

Latest Recipe Video!

🥘 Ingredients

You can find all the ingredients for this healthy chow mein recipe at your local grocery store or Asian market! See recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact measurements.

For The Stir Fry

• Olive Oil: To keep these Chinese vegan noodles as healthy as possible, use olive oil or avocado oil! Avoid using palm oil or canola oil as these can be inflammatory.
• Red Onion & Garlic: Sauteed onion and garlic adds the best flavor to this vegan chow mein! I like to use red onion in this dish, but any type of onion will work fine and taste great.
• Cabbage, Carrots, & Broccoli: You will add cabbage, carrots, and broccoli to the large skillet once the onion and garlic has sauteed for a couple minutes. These bright veggies add color and health for a nourishing meal! You can add bell peppers here too!
• Snow Peas & Bean Sprouts: Snow peas and bean sprouts are both very popular vegetables in Chinese food, amongst other Asian cuisine. If you have trouble finding snow peas, it is perfectly fine to use snap peas.
• Chow Mein Noodles: If you are unable to find vegan chow mein noodles, you can use any long/thin noodle of your choice. For a quick and easy meal use instant ramen or other instant noodles.
• Green Onions: Green onions add the perfect boost of flavor to this veg chow mein recipe. For a bolder taste you can use spring onion!
• Toasted Sesame Seeds: While toasted sesame seeds are completely optional, I recommend them! They add a perfect touch of classic Asian flavor! Plus, sesame seeds add a healthy fat to this chow mein with vegetables.

For The Sauce

• Soy Sauce: Soy sauce is the base of the vegan chow mein sauce. Other options include liquid aminos, coconut aminos, or hoisin sauce. Using a dark soy sauce will give this recipe a richer taste that is slightly less salty.
• Sesame Oil: Sesame oil adds a slightly nutty and earthy taste to the sauce. It is very common and popular for Asian dishes, bringing a sense of comfort and familiarity to this vegetarian chow mein recipe.
• Coconut Sugar: Coconut sugar adds a touch of sweetness to the sauce and tones down the boldness of the sesame oil. Brown sugar can also be used if you want to keep this sauce as close to traditional as possible.
• Sriracha: Adding sriracha to the sauce is optional and you can use different amounts depending on spice preference. If you prefer other flavors or spices, feel free to use whatever you want.
• Rice Wine Vinegar: Rice wine vinegar is sweet and acidic, similar to apple cider vinegar. You can also use a Chinese cooking wine, which typically has cinnamon and nutmeg in it, along with amino acids. 
• Corn starch: Using cornflour helps to thicken the sauce so that it can fully coat the veggies and noodles.

🔪 How To Make Vegan Chow Mein

Healthy chow mein noodles are easy to make at home! With a few simple steps you will have this vegan recipe mastered. It tastes just as good as dining in at a restaurant, but way healthier and cheaper! Here is how to make vegetable chow mein:

Mix Sauce Ingredients: In a small bowl mix together all of the sauce ingredients and set aside.

Cook Noodles, Saute Onion & Garlic: Boil water and cook the chow mein noodles according to the package directions until “al dente.” Drain and set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil or olive oil in a large pan or wok on medium heat. Cut onions into thin slices and crush garlic cloves. Sauté for 1-2 minutes.

Add Veggies: Add the cabbage, carrot and broccoli florets. Continue to sauté for 5 minutes on a medium-high heat until cooked and tender. You may need to add 2-3 tbsp water to the wok to help cook the vegetables.

Add Additional Veggies: Next, add the snow peas and bean sprouts. Sauté for a couple of minutes before adding the sauce and cooked noodles.

Add Noodles And Sauce: The last thing you’ll do add the noodles and sauce, and cook everything for 2-3 minutes while the sauce thickens. Add half of the sliced green onion and toss to coat all ingredients.

Serve: Serve these healthy Chinese noodles immediately, topped with remaining sliced green onion and toasted sesame seeds.

💭 Expert Tips

• For more sauce, add an additional ¼ cup water to the sauce ingredients and increase the corn starch to 1 tbsp. 
• To stop noodles from overcooking, you can rinse them under cold water and drain. This is especially important for rice noodles to yield the best result!
• Prepare ahead. All vegetables can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days before cooking.
• Make sure the noodles are vegan. Check that the noodles are vegan friendly and cook them as described on the packaging before adding to the cooked vegetables.
• Do not freeze. Chow mein isn’t suitable for freezing as the stir-fried noodles will not reheat well.
• Speed up the cook time. Use a high heat when cooking to ensure the veggies cook quickly.

📖 Variations

• Add Protein: Make a tofu chow mein or chicken chow mein for extra protein. To make a crispy tofu, press the tofu block with a clean kitchen towel to drain excess water. Saute with a little oil or speed up the process with this air fryer tofu. You can also add soy curls for an easy vegan chicken chow mein, as it has a very similar texture!
• Spicy Chow Mein: Turn up the heat on this vegan chow mein recipe by adding your favorite spices or doubling up on the sriracha. Try it with chili crisp, red pepper flakes, or jalapenos.
• Try Different Veggies: The next time you make these vegan Chinese noodles switch it up with different vegetables. Red bell pepper, shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, or green beans would all taste delicious!
• Make It Gluten Free: Use vegan, gluten free chow mein noodles instead of regular chow mein noodles, or just use any gluten free spaghetti or gluten free noodles you like! Also, use coconut aminos or tamari instead of the soy sauce.
• Adjust The Sauce: This vegan chow mein sauce recipe is very versatile and can be seasoned however you’d like. You can add white pepper, minced ginger, or fresh garlic!

🍽 Serving Suggestions

Serve these vegan asian noodles topped with fresh green onion and toasted sesame seeds. You can serve individually or family style in the center of your table. This dish pairs perfectly with any Asian side dishes as well! Here are some of our favorite ways to serve these vegetarian Asian noodles:

• Asian Appetizers: Vegetable spring rolls, wontons, dumpling, egg rolls and more taste great with this dish!
• Rice: Feel free to keep it simple by serving some steamed white or brown rice on the side, or for a more flavorful option, try this tofu fried rice.
• Protein: If you don’t want to add protein directly into these Chinese vegetable noodles, serve it alongside this air fryer tempeh, or these tofu skewers!
• Stir Fried Vegetables: Looking for even more veggies? Serve this frozen vegetable stir fry or this Thai basil eggplant on the side!

❓Recipe FAQs

🍲 More Healthy Asian Recipes!

• Gluten Free Stir Fry Sauce
• Avocado Sushi
• Sauteed Miso Mushrooms
• Thai Basil Eggplant Recipe
• Vegan Satay Noodles
• Vegan Thai Green Curry
• Tofu Broccoli With Sesame

📋 Recipe Card