26 Chinese Chicken Recipes Inspired by Your Favorite Takeout Order

Making your favorite Chinese chicken recipes like pot stickers or lo mein means you can skip the takeout order and the delivery fees.

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Some nights, you want to sit on the couch with a takeout box full of chicken lo mein from your local Chinese restaurant. But on those evenings when another night of ordering restaurant takeout isn’t in the cards, try cooking our favorite Chinese chicken recipes right at home. You’ll get the same fantastic flavors without as much oil, fat or sodium. Plus, there’s more than enough that you’ll have leftovers for another day (or two).

Below are some of our favorite takeout-inspired chicken dishes, from Kung Pao chicken to General Tso’s stew. So put your Chinese cooking tools to work! And if you’re still hungry, make Chinese almond cookies or homemade fortune cookies for dessert.

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Mongolian Chicken

Total Time 35 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This is a fun way to make chicken. Mongolian chicken has a lot of flavor and a bit of heat for good measure. —Mary Ann Lee, Clifton Park, New York

Cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts into small and even pieces to ensure that the sauce coats every bite. You could also use a different cut of chicken if you prefer recipes with chicken thighs or chicken tenderloins.

bowl with sesame chicken and rice
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Sesame Chicken

Sesame chicken is similar to General Tso’s chicken, but with less heat. If you do want to make it spicier, add chili oil or chili sauce as you cook the chicken, or drizzle the sauce on the chicken once plated.

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General Tsos Chicken
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This takeout favorite requires breading and frying, so try it on a night when you have a bit of extra time to cook. If you like it extra spicy, add more red pepper flakes.

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Orange Chicken
Nancy Mock for Taste Recipes

Orange Chicken

If this sticky-sweet chicken is your go-to order, then you’ll be excited to make it at home. It comes together in about 40 minutes and serves six. So invite a few friends or plan for leftovers.

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Chicken Pot Stickers

Total Time 55 min
Servings 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Chicken and mushrooms make up the filling in these pot stickers, a traditional Chinese dumpling. Greasing the steamer rack makes it easier to remove them once they're steamed. —Jacquelynne Stine, Las Vegas, Nevada

The recipe makes four dozen pot stickers, and if you have leftovers, they’re easy to freeze. Just cover and freeze the uncooked pot stickers in a single layer on waxed paper until firm, then transfer to freezer containers and store until you’re ready for more.

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Kung Pao Chicken

Total Time 40 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: My family loves the kung pao chicken from our favorite Chinese restaurant. But in less time than it takes for the delivery guy to arrive, we can be digging into a steaming platter of this copycat recipe! —Jennifer Beckman, Falls Church, Virginia

Warning: This dish is spicy. If you aren’t that brave, go easy on the Sriracha chili sauce and serve with an extra scoop of rice. As a refresher, here’s our guide on how to cook rice so you can master a restaurant-quality base for Kung Pao chicken.

Chinese Chicken With Garlic Sauce
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Chinese Chicken with Garlic Sauce

Make this garlicky chicken in the time it would have taken for your takeout order to arrive. Serve with white or jasmine rice, or even lo mein.

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Szechuan Skillet Chicken

Total Time 35 min
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: My whole family loves this Szechuan chicken. My husband prefers it without peppers, but he is happy to let others have his! I use the ginger paste that comes in a tube and pre-shredded carrots to save time. —Christine Snyder, Boulder, Colorado

If you don’t own a cast-iron skillet, it might be time to invest in one. It heats evenly, it can go in the oven, and it will last pretty much forever. But even if you don’t have this handy tool, you can still make Szechuan skillet chicken with a traditional frying pan.

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Black Pepper Chicken

Total Time 45 min
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: I just love this black pepper chicken recipe, and the aroma is out of this world! The dish is slightly sweet and very peppery, so you may want to serve it over white or brown rice to tame the heat. —Barbie Miller, Oakdale, Minnesota

Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for the juiciest results. When you slice the chicken, cut against the grain to shorten the muscle fibers and help the meat stay as tender as possible.

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General Tso’s Stew

Total Time 2 hours 10 min
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: I love Asian food and wanted a chili-like soup with the distinctive flavors of General Tso’s chicken. The slow cooker makes this super easy, and you can use any meat you like. It’s wonderful with turkey, ground meats or leftover pork. —Lori McLain, Denton, Texas

If you love General Tso’s chicken, this slow-cooker soup is about to be your new favorite weekday dinner. Thanks to shredded, pre-cooked chicken, you don’t even have to brown it before you pop it in the slow cooker.

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Baked Egg Rolls

Total Time 40 min
Servings 16 servings
From the Recipe Creator: These egg rolls are low in fat but the crispiness from baking will fool you into thinking they were fried! —Barbara Lierman, Lyons, Nebraska

If you thought you could never make restaurant-quality egg rolls at home, think again. Thanks to store-bought egg roll wrappers, this appetizer comes together in a flash.

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Pineapple-Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry

Total Time 30 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: I found the original recipe for this dish on a can of pineapple slices in the 1980s. After making it for a number of years, I lightened the ingredients and adapted it to a quick skillet meal. My family gave it a big thumbs-up, and we've enjoyed it this way ever since! —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

Here, boneless, skinless chicken breasts are cut into bite-sized cubes. If you’ve ever struggled with cutting raw chicken, here’s a tip: The easiest way to cube chicken is to slice it while it’s still slightly frozen.

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Stir-Fry Chicken Lo Mein

Total Time 30 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This simple, yet scrumptious chicken lo mein recipe is the perfect stir-fry meal. Follow our handy step-by-step video below for a spur-of-the-minute supper special enough to serve guests! —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen

While Chinese-style egg noodles are the traditional noodles used in lo mein, don’t worry if you can’t find them at the grocery store. You could also use Japanese yakisoba, udon noodles, rice noodles or even al dente spaghetti.

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Miso Butter Roasted Chicken

Total Time 1 hour 55 min
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: I love this recipe because the prep work is done in the beginning. Look for a prepared spatchcock chicken in your grocery store. However, if you can’t find it, get your butcher to spatchcock the chicken and then the only work left to do is to chop the veggies. —Stefanie Schaldenbrand, Los Angeles, California

While making this dish is time-consuming (25 minutes to prepare the ingredients and another 90 minutes to cook), it makes a complete meal that serves six. It’s also a great option for batch cooking; the leftovers will keep for several days in the fridge.

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Cashew Chicken

Total Time 30 min
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: There are lots of recipes for cashew chicken, but my family thinks this one stands alone. We love the flavor from the fresh ginger and the crunch of the cashews. Another plus is it's easy to prepare. —Oma Rollison, El Cajon, California

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Asian Chicken Dumplings

Total Time 50 min
Servings 2.50 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: To celebrate my two daughters' heritage, we occasionally make Chinese food, especially around traditional holidays like the Lunar New Year. I took a classic pork dumpling recipe and modified it using ground chicken so we can have them anytime, not just during the holidays. —Joy Olcott, Millersville, Pennsylvania

These dumplings are fabulous for a special occasion, and thanks to a package of pot sticker or gyoza wrappers, this recipe is much easier than it looks. You can typically find Chinese five-spice powder at most Asian grocery stores, but if you don’t see it, you can always make your own.

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Easy Fried Rice

Total Time 30 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This easy fried rice recipe really captures the flavor of fried rice served in restaurants. Use leftover chicken for a satisfying meal that's simple to put together. —Lori Schweer, Mapleton, Minnesota

Sure, you could buy the frozen, pre-made stuff. But when it’s this easy to make from scratch, why would you? Add leftover chicken to make it a full meal.

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Chicken with Garlic Sauce

Total Time 30 min
Servings 4 cups
From the Recipe Creator: Chicken with garlic sauce is a popular dish on Chinese takeout menus. This version is so easy you can have it ready on your dinner table in less time than it takes for delivery. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen

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Slow-Cooker Sweet-and-Sour Chicken

Total Time 3 hours 35 min
Servings 5 servings
From the Recipe Creator: I use my slow-cooker to fix this stir-fry like supper. Adding the onions, pineapple and snow peas later in the process keeps them from becoming over-cooked. —Dorothy Hess, Hartwell, Georgia

This sweet-and-sour chicken is one of those easy slow cooker recipes you’ll want to bookmark for a busy weeknight. After browning the chicken in a skillet, pop the ingredients in the slow cooker, which does most of the work for you.

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Instant Pot Sesame Chicken

Total Time 20 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Your family will love the flavorful sauce that coats this chicken, and you'll love how quick and easy it is for a weeknight dinner! If you serve gluten-free meals, use tamari instead of soy sauce. — Karen Kelly, Germantown, Maryland

We love a trusty Instant Pot recipe, and this sesame chicken takes only 10 minutes of prep time and another 10 minutes to cook. Serve it over a bed of rice or noodles to make it a complete meal.

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Asian Glazed Chicken Thighs

Total Time 25 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Everyone goes for this super moist, garlicky chicken, including my fussy kids. For your holiday buffet or family gathering, serve it with rice or noodles. —Carole Lotito, Hillsdale, New Jersey

Calling all healthy eaters: With less than 300 calories and less than 2 grams saturated fat per serving, this light and healthy dinner option also packs in a whopping 22 grams of protein. Serve with cauliflower rice or stir-fried veggies.

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Honey Chicken Stir-Fry

Total Time 30 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: I'm a new mom, and my schedule is very dependent upon our young son, so I like meals that can be ready in as little time as possible. This all-in-one chicken stir fry recipe with a hint of sweetness from honey is a big time-saver. —Caroline Sperry, Allentown, Michigan

Take this meal from fridge to table in 30 minutes with a package of frozen stir-fry veggies and a simple sauce that’s made with honey and reduced-sodium soy sauce. You might want to make some extra sauce to sop up the rice.

Chinese Chicken Salad
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This crunchy, flavorful salad combines Chinese and napa cabbage, chicken, ginger and chow mein noodles in a tangy sesame oil and rice vinegar dressing. Add veggies like carrots and green onions for extra crunch.

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Chinese Chicken And Broccoli
Risa Lichtman for Taste Recipes

This copycat recipe tastes pretty much exactly like the takeout version, thanks to an irresistible sauce made from oyster sauce, Shaoxing rice wine, soy sauce, cornstarch and hoisin sauce. If you like the sauce a bit thicker, add extra cornstarch.

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Chicken Lo Mein
Charles Brutlag/Shutterstock

You might have most of these ingredients already sitting in your pantry. In this recipe, angel hair subs in for lo mein noodles. Just make the pasta and sauce, cook the chicken, stir-fry the veggies, mix in the noodles and enjoy.

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Sweet And Sour Chicken
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You’ll want to slather this amazing five-ingredient sauce on everything. Pineapple chunks, sugar, cider vinegar, salt and—yes—ketchup are a winning combination.

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