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August 4, 2021

Instant Pot Panda Express Chow Mein

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Instant Pot Panda Express Chow Mein–a copy cat recipe for Panda’s chow mein…only it’s made faster, easier and cheaper in your Instant Pot.

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Instant Pot Panda Express Chow Mein

Instant Pot Panda Express Chow Mein

This tastes like the real thing, only better because it’s not so heavy and greasy and doesn’t leave you in a Chinese food coma. Panda Express chow mein is a noodle dish with with onions, celery, cabbage, soy sauce and oyster sauce. With only 8 ingredients and a 3 minute pressure cook time this dish comes together super quick.

You can make this as your main dish or serve it as a side to chicken or another meat. It really is a perfect side dish to orange chicken, cashew chicken or another chicken dish. Another idea is to serve stir fried vegetables with it (like broccoli and snow peas).

I was skeptical that this would have enough flavor with the small amount of sauce included in the recipe. However it flavored it really nicely without it being over the top salty or heavy. You can always add extra sauce if you feel like it needs more!

I used plain old spaghetti noodles instead of Yakisoba noodles because they are easier to find and it’s what I had on hand. I haven’t tried this with any other noodle so I’m not sure how it would work out. But I thought the spaghetti worked out perfectly. I used a thin spaghetti with a 3 minute pressure cook time. Angel hair will be the same cooking time. If you’re using thicker spaghetti then use a 4 minute pressure cook time.

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Instant Pot Panda Express Chow Mein

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Instant Pot Panda Express Chow Mein


★★★★★

4.9 from 9 reviews

  • Author: 365 Days of Slow and Pressure Cooking
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 minutes (plus 5-10 minute NPR)
  • Total Time: 18 minutes
  • Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
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Description

A copy cat recipe for Panda’s chow mein…only it’s made faster, easier and cheaper in your Instant Pot.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 Tbsp vegetable or canola oil
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 2 ribs of celery, sliced thinly
  • 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 8 oz thin spaghetti
  • 8 oz chopped cabbage (about 3–4 cups)
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp oyster sauce

Instructions

  1. Turn Instant Pot to sauté setting. When the display says HOT add in the oil and swirl it around. Add in the onion and celery and sauté for about 4-5 minutes. Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off sauté setting. 
  2. Break the spaghetti in half and lay it in a criss cross pattern in the broth.

  3. Cover the spaghetti with the cabbage. 
  4. Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 3 minutes. When time is up let the pot sit for 5-10 minutes. Then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
  5. Stir in the soy sauce and the oyster sauce. 
  6. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*. You can also use a 3 or 8 quart pot. 

  • Category: Pasta
  • Method: Instant Pot

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Instant Pot Panda Express Chow Mein

*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

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44 Comments Filed Under: All Recipes, Asian, Instant Pot, Pasta Tagged With: copy cat recipe, 10 ingredients or less

Recommendations

Comments

  1. Sherry B says

    September 6, 2021 at 1:15 pm

    I’ m making Dan Dan noodles tonight so will have to see which one we like the best! Panda express or Dan Dan noodles????!!!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 7, 2021 at 1:16 pm

      And what was the verdict?

      Reply
    • Sherry B says

      September 7, 2021 at 3:30 pm

      We liked the Panda Express chow mein the best!!

      Reply
  2. Sherry B says

    September 6, 2021 at 1:09 pm

    We loved this!! I did double the cabbage and added stir fried beef strips after it was done cooking.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 7, 2021 at 1:17 pm

      Sounds like a great meal!

      Reply
  3. Deanna says

    August 31, 2021 at 6:28 pm

    I made this for supper tonight and we really like it!! I did double the amount of vegetables per a previous comment along with chopped carrots. I added a little bit of Hoisin sauce and some leftover cooked chicken too. I will definitely make this again! I look forward to trying more of your yummy recipes! 😁

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      September 1, 2021 at 12:55 pm

      WOO! Love those ideas!

      Reply
  4. Inge Bristow says

    August 30, 2021 at 8:04 pm

    Everything tasted really good, but the spaghetti noodles stuck together, how do I stop that from happening. I will make this again.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 31, 2021 at 2:33 pm

      Did you lay them in a criss cross pattern? That helps me

      Reply
      • Inge Bristow says

        August 31, 2021 at 8:29 pm

        Hello Karen, I did lay them criss cross as the instructions said but I am going to try again. maybe more than one criss cross pattern?

        Reply
        • Karen says

          September 1, 2021 at 12:54 pm

          yes that’s what I would try!

          Reply
  5. Christine says

    August 30, 2021 at 4:43 am

    I’m hoping you can help! No one seems to list whether the pressure cooker setting is ‘HIGH’ or ‘LOW’, including you at least on this recipe. I want to start making more recipies in my IP including this one not just rice! I haven’t made this & don’t want to until I can find out which pressure level most recipes are using as it will change cooking time & possibly the release method. I would love your answer! I left one star off for what I feel is important, the pressure level. I gave it 4 stars based on others reviews & the simplicity. I really want to figure this out!! Thank you! Maybe people will begin updating this detail. Thank you! 😀

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 30, 2021 at 12:41 pm

      Hi Christine, unless a recipe explicitly states that it is low pressure it is high. High is the default.

      Reply
  6. Kim says

    August 29, 2021 at 9:21 am

    I don’t have a kitchen scale. How do I know how much 8 oz of spaghetti is? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 30, 2021 at 12:58 pm

      8 ounces in half a box so you can eyeball it…or this may help you: https://www.wikihow.com/Measure-Dry-Pasta

      Reply
  7. Merriam says

    August 28, 2021 at 11:02 am

    Do you think Zoodles would work? Or Hearts of Palm noodles? Trying to cut carbs by using veggie based noodles. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 30, 2021 at 1:06 pm

      I think that they would get way too done if you tried to pressure cook. But if you could do it on the stove I bet it would be tasty!

      Reply
  8. Kathy says

    August 28, 2021 at 10:49 am

    Have made it twice Fabulous recipe!!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 30, 2021 at 1:06 pm

      Thanks so much for the 5 stars Kathy!

      Reply
  9. Julia says

    August 8, 2021 at 5:57 pm

    Loved it. The only thing I will do differently next time is to double the amount of veggies. The dish was delicious. I did use sesame oil instead of vegetable oil and it gave it such a great Chinese food flavor. Thanks so much for this recipe.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 9, 2021 at 7:33 pm

      Good idea on the sesame oil! And yes on the veggies too.

      Reply
    • Karen Veneziale says

      September 26, 2021 at 1:22 pm

      This recipe is amazing! And leftovers the next day are phenomenal! I used whole wheat spaghetti and doubled the veggies.

      Reply
      • Karen says

        September 27, 2021 at 7:28 pm

        So glad you liked it Karen!

        Reply
  10. Jim Bob says

    August 7, 2021 at 9:38 am

    Howdy Karen

    This is Jim Bob .. I fixed the Hoisin noodles, everybody liked it with no left overs. Panda Express Chow Mein same thing, no left overs. tomorrow I will add chicken, and cook the Drunken noodles. I am so happy that I can cook thin spaghetti noodles … everything in one pot with perfect results. Thank you for the recipe

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 7, 2021 at 12:18 pm

      It really is the best isn’t it? I’m so glad you are finding recipe that you enjoy here!

      Reply
      • Twinkle Starr Martin says

        August 7, 2021 at 12:27 pm

        Well I just got your cook book today…it is huge…..would like to know where this recipe is in the book….and would be sooo helpful if the ones that you send on the net could have a page number on them…we love cooking them but want to make them in the book….

        Reply
        • Karen says

          August 9, 2021 at 7:41 pm

          Hi! Thanks for purchasing my book. These new recipes aren’t in the book. Anything from my blog that is dated after August 2020 is not in the cookbook.

          Reply
          • Twinkle Starr Martin says

            August 10, 2021 at 5:51 am

            We loved the hoisin noodles….had to use gluten free ones and it still came out perfectly…….will make Panda ones next….thank you keep on cooking….

            ★★★★★

  11. MDT says

    August 5, 2021 at 11:13 am

    Hi. If I use thin spaghetti should I decrease cooking time?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 6, 2021 at 9:54 pm

      No keep it the same 🙂

      Reply
  12. Debbie says

    August 5, 2021 at 5:46 am

    Can I add shrimp to this dish?

    Reply
    • Brenda Bates says

      August 5, 2021 at 11:13 am

      Good question – I’d like to know too. Or maybe chicken. Thanks for asking!

      Reply
    • Karen says

      August 6, 2021 at 9:55 pm

      That would taste amazing! But I would worry it would overcook if you pressure cook it with the pasta. If it’s pre-cooked I would stir it in afterwards. If it’s uncooked you will probably want to sauté it on the stove and stir it in afterwards.

      Reply
      • Brenda Bates says

        August 17, 2021 at 8:47 am

        Would adding cut up chicken be the same (need to be pre cooked) or could it be added with everything else, and would the cook time remain the same? I’d cut the chicken in small pieces so it would be a shorter cook time.

        Thanks!

        Reply
        • Brenda Bates says

          August 18, 2021 at 8:52 am

          I went ahead and added cut up chicken breast, added it before the spaghetti and added an extra minute – it was perfect, and we had eggrolls with it. So good – thanks again for another great recipe!

          ★★★★★

          Reply
          • Karen says

            August 18, 2021 at 2:51 pm

            Sounds perfect!

  13. Helen says

    August 4, 2021 at 5:42 pm

    Has anyone tried this with fresh noodles instead of dried? Would cooking time be the same?

    Reply
  14. Summer says

    August 4, 2021 at 4:42 pm

    Thoughts on what could be substituted for oyster sauce? This sounds so good! I prefer their chow mein over fried rice any day!

    Reply
    • Brenda Bates says

      August 5, 2021 at 11:12 am

      I Googled this question because I wanted to know too, and this is what I found. I have Hoisin Sauce so that’s what I’ll use.

      What Is a Good Oyster Sauce Substitute? 6 Options
      Fish sauce. Although it’s not a perfect substitute, you can use fish sauce in place of oyster sauce in some recipes.
      Soy sauce
      Hoisin sauce
      Worcestershire sauce with soy sauce
      Teriyaki sauce
      Vegan mushroom sauce

      Reply
    • Karen says

      August 6, 2021 at 9:55 pm

      I agree with Brenda’s list!

      Reply
  15. Mary says

    August 4, 2021 at 4:09 pm

    Husband can’t have cabbage what can I use instead

    Reply
    • Colleen says

      August 4, 2021 at 4:21 pm

      Zucchini strips? You can make them with a vegetable peeler, or carrots?
      Now I am hungry!

      Reply
    • Amber says

      August 6, 2021 at 11:25 am

      Bok choy

      Reply
      • Jan says

        August 28, 2021 at 8:39 pm

        Bok choy is a variety of cabbage.

        Reply

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Hi, I’m Karen. I know that dinner time can be less than relaxing. Busy schedules and cranky kids and a hundred other things can lead to weariness when it comes to putting dinner on the table. I can help! I make homemade, family-friendly slow cooker and Instant Pot dinners and share the recipes with you.

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