9 Chinese Food Recipes to Try at Home

Hey, friend! Tired of spending $50 on takeout that arrives cold and somehow still costs more than your grocery budget? Same. That’s why I went full food-nerd mode and recreated the 9 Chinese dishes we all crave—but made them faster, cheaper, and honestly way tastier at home.

These are the recipes my family begs for weekly. No weird ingredients, no restaurant secrets, just straight-up deliciousness you can whip up in your pajamas. Ready to become the takeout hero of your house? Let’s do this.

1. Better-Than-Takeout Beef and Broccoli

Why It’s Awesome
Tender beef, crisp broccoli, and that glossy, savory sauce you can’t stop spooning over rice. Takes 20 minutes and beats any delivery.

Ingredients

• 1 lb flank steak, thinly sliced
• 4 cups broccoli florets
• ⅓ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup oyster sauce
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-inch ginger, grated
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• Sesame seeds & green onions for garnish

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Whisk soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. Set half aside for sauce.
2. Toss beef in the other half and let sit 10 minutes.
3. Sear beef in hot oil 2 minutes per side. Remove.
4. Stir-fry broccoli 3 minutes, add cornstarch slurry and reserved sauce.
5. Return beef, toss 1 minute. Done.

Why You’ll Love It
My teenager says it’s better than our local spot. That’s the ultimate compliment.

2. Crispy Orange Chicken (Yes, It’s Actually Crispy)

Why It’s Awesome
That sticky, tangy orange sauce clings to ultra-crispy chicken. Skip the drive-thru line forever.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb chicken thighs, cubed
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 2 eggs
• Oil for frying
• ½ cup orange juice
• ⅓ cup sugar
• ¼ cup rice vinegar
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• Zest of 1 orange
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp ginger
• 1 tbsp cornstarch slurry

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Dip chicken → egg → cornstarch. Fry at 350°F for 4-5 minutes until golden.
2. Simmer orange juice, sugar, vinegar, soy, zest, garlic, ginger 3 minutes.
3. Thicken with slurry, toss in chicken.
4. Try not to eat it straight from the pan.

Why You’ll Love It
It stays crispy even with sauce. Magic.

3. 15-Minute Garlic Sesame Noodles

Why It’s Awesome
Buttery, garlicky noodles with the perfect sweet-salty sauce. Dinner (or late-night snack) in 15 minutes flat.

Ingredients

• 8 oz spaghetti or lo mein noodles
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp ginger
• 2 green onions
• Sesame seeds

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Boil noodles. Save ½ cup pasta water.
2. Sauté garlic and ginger in sesame oil 30 seconds.
3. Add soy sauce, sugar, pasta water. Simmer 2 minutes.
4. Toss noodles in sauce. Top with green onions and sesame seeds.

Why You’ll Love It
I make this when I’m lazy and starving. Never fails.

4. Kung Pao Chicken That Actually Has Kick

Why It’s Awesome
Tender chicken, crunchy peanuts, and dried chilies in a sauce that’s sweet, spicy, and addictive.

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken breast, cubed
• ½ cup peanuts
• 8-10 dried red chilies
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp hoisin
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 3 green onions

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Velvet chicken in 1 tbsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp soy sauce for 10 minutes.
2. Stir-fry chicken until 80% cooked. Remove.
3. Sauté chilies and bell pepper. Add sauce (remaining ingredients).
4. Return chicken, toss with peanuts and green onions.

Why You’ll Love It
Adjust the chilies to your spice level. I go full fire. 🔥

5. Homemade Pork Fried Rice (Better Than Takeout, Fight Me)

Why It’s Awesome
Day-old rice, crispy pork, veggies, and that perfect egg ribbon. Uses whatever’s in your fridge.

Ingredients

• 3 cups cold cooked rice
• ½ lb pork tenderloin, diced
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup frozen peas & carrots
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 2 green onions
• 2 cloves garlic

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Scramble eggs, remove.
2. Sear pork, remove.
3. Sauté garlic and veggies. Add rice, sauces, pork, eggs.
4. Toss until everything’s hot and fragrant.

Why You’ll Love It
My ultimate “clean out the fridge” recipe. Never the same twice, always delicious.

6. Sticky Honey Walnut Shrimp

Why It’s Awesome
Crispy shrimp in a creamy, sweet honey sauce with candied walnuts. Tastes like your favorite Chinese buffet.

Ingredients

• 1 lb shrimp
• ½ cup cornstarch
• ⅓ cup walnuts
• ¼ cup sugar
• ⅓ cup mayo
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
• Lemon juice

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Candy walnuts: boil sugar + water, toss walnuts, fry until golden.
2. Coat shrimp in cornstarch, fry until crispy.
3. Mix mayo, honey, condensed milk, lemon. Toss with shrimp.
4. Top with candied walnuts.

Why You’ll Love It
Sweet, creamy, crunchy. Pure decadence.

7. Dan Dan Noodles (Spicy, Peanutty Heaven)

Why It’s Awesome
Spicy, peanutty sauce with ground pork and noodles. Hits every flavor note.

Ingredients

• 8 oz noodles
• ½ lb ground pork
• 2 tbsp peanut butter
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp Chinese sesame paste or tahini
• 1 tbsp chili oil
• 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorn powder (optional but amazing)
• Bok choy or spinach

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Brown pork with garlic and ginger.
2. Make sauce: peanut butter, sesame paste, soy, chili oil, peppercorn.
3. Boil noodles and greens.
4. Toss everything together.

Why You’ll Love It
My comfort food when I want bold flavors fast.

8. Chinese Lemon Chicken (Crispy, Tangy, Addictive)

Why It’s Awesome
Crispy chicken in a bright, sticky lemon sauce. Sweet, sour, and better than any mall food court.

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken breast, cubed
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 2 eggs
• Oil for frying
• ½ cup lemon juice
• ⅓ cup sugar
• ¼ cup chicken broth
• 1 tbsp cornstarch slurry
• Lemon zest

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. chicken → egg → cornstarch. Fry until golden.
2. Simmer lemon juice, sugar, broth. Thicken with slurry.
3. Toss chicken in sauce. Garnish with zest.

Why You’ll Love It
My kids request this more than pizza. Enough said.

9. Vegetable Lo Mein (Better Than Delivery, Seriously)

Why It’s Awesome
Springy noodles, crisp veggies, and the most delicious sauce. Ready before delivery would even arrive.

Ingredients

• 8 oz lo mein or spaghetti
• 2 cups mixed veggies (carrot, bell pepper, snap peas, etc.)
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp hoisin
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 2 cloves garlic
• Green onions

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Cook noodles. Save ¼ cup pasta water.
2. Stir-fry garlic and veggies 3 minutes.
3. Add noodles, sauces, pasta water. Toss 2 minutes.
4. Finish with sesame oil and green onions.

Why You’ll Love It
Customizable, fast, and my go-to when I want takeout vibes without the wait.

There you have it—9 Chinese recipes so good you’ll never dial for delivery again. They’re faster, cheaper, and honestly taste better because you made them with love (and maybe a little kitchen dancing). Which one are you trying first? Let me know—I’m already hungry again just writing this. Happy cooking, you absolute legend! ❤️

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