⚡Quick & Easy Chinese Recipes
30-minute Chinese meals for busy weeknights. 105 recipes — tested in Western kitchens with regular grocery store ingredients.
All Quick & Easy recipes
How to Make Kung Pao Chicken – Easy 25-Minute Authentic Recipe
宫保鸡丁 (Gōng Bǎo Jī Dīng)
Easy Kung Pao Chicken recipe ready in 25 minutes. All ingredients available at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. No wok requ...
How to Make Mapo Tofu – Authentic Sichuan in 20 Minutes
麻婆豆腐 (Má Pó Dòu Fu)
Authentic Mapo Tofu (麻婆豆腐) ready in 20 minutes. Silky tofu in a fiery Sichuan sauce. Ingredients available at Whole Food...
Garlic Green Beans – The 10-Minute Sichuan Side Dish
干煸四季豆 (Gān Biān Sì Jì Dòu)
10-minute Sichuan garlic green beans (干煸四季豆). Crispy, blistered, and packed with garlic flavor. Vegan, keto, gluten-free...
Egg Drop Soup – The 5-Minute Chinese Comfort Food
蛋花汤 (Dàn Huā Tāng)
5-minute egg drop soup (蛋花汤) — silky egg ribbons in savory chicken broth. The easiest Chinese comfort food. 4 ingredient...
Tomato Egg Stir-Fry – China's Ultimate Comfort Food in 10 Minutes
番茄炒蛋 (Fān Qié Chǎo Dàn)
10-minute Chinese tomato egg stir-fry (番茄炒蛋) — the dish every Chinese person grew up eating. 5 ingredients, pure comfort...
Smashed Cucumber Salad – The 5-Minute Refreshing Side
拍黄瓜 (Pāi Huáng Guā)
5-minute smashed cucumber salad (拍黄瓜) — crisp, garlicky, and refreshing. No cooking required. The perfect side for any C...
Hot and Sour Soup – The 15-Minute Takeout Classic
酸辣汤 (Suān Là Tāng)
15-minute hot and sour soup (酸辣汤) — rich, peppery, tangy. The real deal, not the gloppy takeout version. Tofu, mushrooms...
Egg Fried Rice – The 10-Minute Dinner That Uses Up Everything in Your Fridge
蛋炒饭 (Dàn Chǎo Fàn)
10-minute egg fried rice (蛋炒饭) — the ultimate fridge clean-out dinner. Day-old rice, eggs, and whatever vegetables you h...
Garlic Baby Bok Choy – The 5-Minute Vegetable Side Dish
蒜蓉小白菜 (Suàn Róng Xiǎo Bái Cài)
5-minute garlic baby bok choy (蒜蓉小白菜) — bright green, garlicky, and perfect. The easiest Chinese vegetable side dish. Ve...
Chicken Lo Mein – 15-Minute Takeout Noodles at Home
鸡丝捞面 (Jī Sī Lāo Miàn)
15-minute chicken lo mein (鸡丝捞面) — chewy noodles, tender chicken, and crisp vegetables in savory sauce. Better, faster, ...
Wonton Soup – Homemade Dumplings in 30 Minutes
馄饨汤
Homemade wonton soup in 30 min....
Beef and Broccoli – The 15-Minute Takeout Favorite
西兰花牛肉
15-minute beef and broccoli stir-fry — tender flank steak, crisp broccoli florets, and a savory brown sauce. Faster than...
Orange Chicken – Better Than Panda Express
陈皮鸡
Crispy orange chicken in sticky sweet orange sauce....
Sesame Chicken – Crispy, Sticky, 25 Minutes
芝麻鸡
Crispy sesame chicken in sweet sesame sauce....
Chicken Congee – Chinese Rice Porridge
鸡粥
Silky chicken congee — comfort in a bowl....
Chinese Eggplant in Garlic Sauce
鱼香茄子
Silky eggplant in garlic sauce — 15 min....
General Tso's Chicken – The Takeout Icon
左宗棠鸡
The most famous Chinese takeout dish at home....
Sweet and Sour Pork
咕噜肉
Crispy sweet and sour pork with pineapple....
Shrimp Fried Rice
虾仁炒饭
15-minute shrimp fried rice — plump shrimp, golden scrambled eggs, and wok-kissed jasmine rice. Better than delivery and...
Salt and Pepper Tofu
椒盐豆腐
Crispy salt and pepper tofu in 15 min....
Kung Pao Shrimp
宫保虾仁
Kung Pao shrimp — Sichuan spicy shrimp in 15 min....
Chicken Chow Mein
炒面
Crispy pan-fried chow mein in 15 min....
Moo Shu Pork
木须肉
Moo shu pork — Chinese scrambled eggs with pork....
Chinese Steamed Eggs
蒸水蛋
Silky Chinese steamed eggs — like savory custard....
Ginger Scallion Noodles
姜葱捞面
10-min ginger scallion noodles — pure comfort....
Chinese Corn Soup
玉米羹
Silky Chinese corn soup — 15 min....
Stir-Fried Rice Cakes (Nian Gao)
炒年糕
Chewy Shanghai-style stir-fried rice cakes in 15 minutes....
Cashew Chicken
腰果鸡丁
Better-than-takeout cashew chicken in 18 minutes. Crunchy cashews, tender chicken....
Steamed Broccoli with Oyster Sauce
蚝油西兰花
8-minute steamed broccoli with oyster sauce — the ultimate Chinese side dish....
Chinese Lemon Chicken
柠檬鸡
Crispy Chinese lemon chicken with glossy lemon glaze — ready in 25 min....
Tomato Egg Drop Soup
番茄蛋花汤
Comforting Chinese tomato egg drop soup — 13 minutes, 5 ingredients....
Eggplant with Garlic Sauce (Yu Xiang Eggplant)
鱼香茄子
Sichuan fish-fragrant eggplant — silky, spicy, and ready in 15 min....
Shrimp with Lobster Sauce
虾仁龙糊
Cantonese shrimp in silky egg sauce — no actual lobster, all the flavor....
Salt and Pepper Shrimp
椒盐虾
Restaurant-style salt and pepper shrimp — crispy, aromatic, 18 min....
Scrambled Eggs with Shrimp
虾仁炒蛋
Silky Cantonese scrambled eggs with shrimp — 10 min comfort food....
Hong Kong Pan-Fried Noodles
港式炒面
Crispy Hong Kong pan-fried noodles — crispy on the bottom, saucy on top....
Shrimp and Tofu Stir-Fry
虾仁豆腐
Silky tofu and shrimp stir-fry — light, protein-packed, 13 min....
Chinese Chicken Salad
中式鸡丝沙拉
Sichuan-style shredded chicken salad — spicy, numbing, 15 min....
Garlic Spinach Stir-Fry
蒜蓉菠菜
Garlic spinach stir-fry — the fastest Chinese side dish, 6 minutes....
Smashed Cucumber Salad (Pai Huang Gua)
拍黄瓜
5-minute smashed cucumber salad — the ultimate no-cook Chinese side dish....
Soy Sauce Fried Rice
酱油炒饭
Dark, savory soy sauce fried rice — the simplest fried rice that tastes like a restaurant....
Quick Chinese Pickles
泡菜
Quick Chinese pickles — crunchy, tangy, ready in 2 hours. No canning required....
Egg Foo Young
芙蓉蛋
Classic Chinese-American egg foo young with brown gravy — a takeout icon....
Braised Tofu with Mushrooms
红烧豆腐
Braised tofu with mushrooms in savory soy sauce — 17 min vegan comfort food....
Chicken and Mushroom Stir-Fry
蘑菇炒鸡片
Easy chicken mushroom stir-fry — juicy chicken, earthy mushrooms, 18 min....
Beef with Black Bean Sauce
豉汁牛肉
Beef with black bean sauce — a Cantonese classic ready in 18 minutes....
Century Egg and Pork Congee
皮蛋瘦肉粥
Silky Cantonese century egg and pork congee — the ultimate Chinese breakfast comfort....
Hot and Sour Shredded Potato
酸辣土豆丝
Sichuan hot and sour shredded potato — crispy, tangy, ready in 15 min....
Fujian Fried Rice
福建炒饭
Fujian fried rice — topped with a thick seafood egg gravy, a coastal classic....
Shaanxi Cold Skin Noodles (Liang Pi)
凉皮
Shaanxi liang pi — chewy cold skin noodles with chili oil, sesame paste, and cucumber....
Wuhan Hot Dry Noodles (Re Gan Mian)
热干面
Wuhan hot dry noodles — the ultimate Hubei breakfast, chewy noodles coated in sesame paste....
Gluten-Free Kung Pao Chicken
无麸质宫保鸡丁
Gluten-free kung pao chicken — all the Sichuan heat, peanuts, and zing, made with tamari....
Xian Dou Jiang (Savory Soy Milk Soup)
咸豆浆
Shanghai savory soy milk soup — curdled soy milk with dried shrimp, pickled radish, and you tiao....
Jianbing (Chinese Breakfast Crepe)
煎饼果子
Beijing jianbing — the iconic Chinese street breakfast crepe with egg, crispy wonton, and hoisin....
Wonton Soup
馄饨汤
Classic wonton soup — delicate shrimp and pork dumplings in clear golden broth....
Winter Melon Soup
冬瓜汤
Light, refreshing winter melon soup with pork ribs — a cooling Cantonese summer classic....
Classic Egg Drop Soup
蛋花汤
Silky egg drop soup — wisps of egg in clear chicken broth, ready in 8 minutes....
Tomato Egg Drop Soup
西红柿蛋花汤
Comforting tomato egg drop soup — tangy-sweet tomato broth with silky egg ribbons....
Smacked Cucumber with Garlic
蒜泥拍黄瓜
Smacked cucumber with garlic — the 5-minute cold dish that goes with everything....
Smacked Cucumber with Sesame
麻酱拍黄瓜
Smacked cucumber with sesame paste — creamy, nutty, and refreshing....
Smacked Cucumber with Peanut
花生碎拍黄瓜
Smacked cucumber with crushed peanuts — crunchy, tangy, and loaded with texture....
Red-Braised Eggplant
红烧茄子
Red-braised eggplant — silky, soy-glazed eggplant that absorbs sauce like a sponge....
Buddhist Vegetable Stir-Fry
素炒时蔬
Simple Buddhist vegetable stir-fry — seasonal greens with ginger and garlic. Clean flavors, bright colors, ready in 15 m...
Sweet and Sour Tofu
糖醋豆腐
Vegan sweet and sour tofu — crispy tofu triangles in tangy pineapple sauce....
Congee Sampler (Three Ways)
粥（三味）
Congee three ways — plain base with chicken, fish, and vegetarian toppings to mix and match....
Chinese Tea Eggs
茶叶蛋
Marbled Chinese tea eggs — soy and tea-braised eggs with beautiful crackle patterns....
Soy Milk and You Tiao Breakfast
豆浆油条
The iconic Chinese breakfast combo — warm sweet soy milk with golden fried dough sticks for dipping....
Hot and Sour Soup
酸辣汤
Restaurant-style hot and sour soup — peppery, tangy, loaded with tofu, mushrooms, and egg ribbons....
Fish Ball and Seaweed Soup
鱼丸紫菜汤
Quick fish ball soup with seaweed — light, bouncy Fujian-style fish balls in clear broth....
Corn and Egg Drop Soup
玉米蛋花汤
Sweet corn egg drop soup — naturally sweet corn kernels in silky egg flower broth....
Century Egg with Chilled Tofu
皮蛋豆腐
Century egg with chilled tofu — the classic cold appetizer: creamy black egg on silken tofu....
Jellyfish Salad
凉拌海蜇
Crunchy jellyfish salad — sesame-dressed strands with a satisfying snap in every bite....
Cumin Beef Stir-Fry
孜然牛肉
Xinjiang cumin beef — lightning-fast stir-fry with aromatic cumin, chili, and onion....
Hong Kong-Style French Toast
港式西多士
Hong Kong-style French toast — deep-fried peanut butter sandwich in egg batter, topped with butter and condensed milk....
Pineapple Bun (Bo Lo Bao)
菠萝包
Hong Kong pineapple bun — soft milk bread with a crackly, buttery cookie crust. No pineapple inside!...
Fujian Sweet Potato Soup
福建地瓜汤
Fujian sweet potato soup — a beloved Fujianese dessert: sweet, gingery potato chunks swimming in warm syrup....
Fujian Clear Broth Noodles
福建清汤面
Fujian clear broth noodles — delicate thin noodles in a pristine, aromatic pork and anchovy broth....
Chinese Buffet-Style BBQ Ribs
中式烤排骨
Chinese buffet-style BBQ ribs — sticky, sweet, and impossibly tender. The takeout classic made at home....
Kung Pao Shrimp (Substitution)
宫保虾仁（置换版）
Kung pao shrimp — the same classic Sichuan technique with juicy shrimp instead of chicken. Ready in 15 minutes....
Cantonese Fish Congee
广东鱼片粥
Cantonese fish congee — silky rice porridge with thin slices of fresh fish that poach in seconds in the hot broth....
Chicken Fried Rice (Better Than Takeout)
鸡粒炒饭
Better-than-takeout chicken fried rice — smoky, fluffy, loaded with chicken and vegetables. The Friday night classic....
Northern Chinese Steamed Buns (Mantou)
馒头
Mantou — Chinese steamed buns from the northern plains. Fluffy, pillowy, and begging to be torn apart and dipped in anyt...
Shrimp and Eggplant Stir-Fry
虾仁茄子
Shrimp and eggplant stir-fry — silky eggplant and plump shrimp in a garlic-soy glaze. Fast, easy, delicious....
Tofu and Egg Drop Soup
豆腐蛋花汤
Tofu egg drop soup — silky tofu in fragrant egg flower broth, ready in 10 minutes....
Quick Chinese Pickled Cucumber
快速腌黄瓜
Quick Chinese pickled cucumber — crunchy cucumber coins in a sweet-sour-soy dressing. Ready in 2 hours....
Garlic Zucchini Stir-Fry
蒜蓉西葫芦
Garlic zucchini stir-fry — tender zucchini ribbons in a garlic-soy glaze, ready in 10 minutes....
Chinese Mushroom and Tofu Soup
菌菇豆腐汤
Chinese mushroom and tofu soup — mixed mushrooms and silken tofu in a gentle ginger broth. Clean, nourishing, 17 minutes...
Shrimp and Baby Bok Choy
虾仁小白菜
Shrimp and baby bok choy — quick, light, and elegant. Plump shrimp on a bed of garlicky baby bok choy....
Green Bean and Tofu Stir-Fry
菜豆豆腐
Green bean and tofu stir-fry — crispy pan-fried tofu with blistered green beans in a savory soy glaze....
Lemongrass Chicken Stir-Fry
香茅鸡片
Lemongrass chicken stir-fry — tender chicken slices with fragrant lemongrass, chili, and fish sauce. Fast and aromatic....
Chinese Turmeric Cauliflower
姜黄菜花
Chinese turmeric cauliflower — cauliflower florets wok-tossed with turmeric, cumin, and Szechuan pepper. Vibrant, health...
Soy-Braised Potato Bites
酱油土豆丁
Soy-braised potato bites — cubed potatoes braised in soy, sugar, and star anise until sticky-glossy and meltingly tender...
Pork and Pickled Mustard Greens Stir-Fry
雪菜肉丝
Pork and pickled mustard greens — a Shanghainese classic of tender pork slivers and tangy pickled greens....
Chicken and Wood Ear Mushroom Stir-Fry
木耳炒鸡片
Chicken and wood ear mushroom stir-fry — tender chicken slices, crunchy black wood ear mushrooms, and a garlic-soy finis...
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
糖醋肉丸
Sweet and sour meatballs — tender pork meatballs in a glossy sweet and sour sauce. Kid-friendly, crowd-pleasing....
Creamy Chicken Corn Soup (Chinese Style)
鸡茸玉米汤
Creamy chicken corn soup — a Chinese restaurant favorite with shredded chicken and sweet corn in a velvety broth....
Spam Fried Rice (Hawaiian-Chinese)
午餐肉炒饭
Spam fried rice — crispy Spam cubes, fluffy jasmine rice, and egg. The pantry hero that tastes way better than it has an...
Eggplant and Tofu in Garlic Sauce
茄子豆腐煲
Eggplant and tofu in garlic sauce — Chinese eggplant and crispy tofu in a savory-spicy garlic sauce. So good you'll forg...
Chinese Omelette (Chicken and Bean Sprout)
鸡丝银芽炒蛋
Chinese omelette — paper-thin egg omelette with shredded chicken and crunchy bean sprouts. Ready in 11 minutes....
Ginger Scallion Fish Fillets
姜葱鱼片
Ginger scallion fish fillets — tender white fish poached in ginger-scallion oil. The simplest Cantonese technique....
Tangerine Beef Stir-Fry
陈皮牛肉
Tangerine beef stir-fry — flank steak with dried tangerine peel, Sichuan peppercorns, and a hint of sweetness....
Chinese Kale with Oyster Sauce (Gai Lan)
蚝油芥兰
Gai lan with oyster sauce — Chinese broccoli blanched then wok-tossed in savory oyster sauce. The perfect side dish....
Crispy Pork Belly Stir-Fry
脆皮五花肉
Crispy pork belly stir-fry — twice-cooked pork belly with charred edges, leeks, and a fermented black bean sauce....
Sichuan Cold Beef Salad
川味凉拌牛肉
Sichuan cold beef salad — tender shredded beef with cucumber in a fiery, numbing chili and Sichuan pepper dressing....
Cantonese Pan-Fried Pork Chops
煎猪排
Cantonese pan-fried pork chops — thin-cut pork chops marinated in soy and garlic, pan-fried until golden and juicy....
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About Quick & Easy Chinese recipes
Quick and easy Chinese recipes are designed for weeknights when you want something better than takeout but don't have hours to cook. Most dishes come together in 30 minutes or less and use pantry staples.
This collection includes 105 tested recipes. Each one includes step-by-step instructions, precise measurements, substitution notes, and nutrition information.
Tips for cooking Quick & Easy dishes
- Prep all ingredients before turning on the stove
- Use high heat and don't overcrowd the pan
- Keep a bottle of soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar within reach