Instant Pot Panda Express Chow Mein

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Thinking about heading to Panda Express for some Chinese cuisine? Think again…you can make your own Panda Express chow Mein right at home in your Instant Pot! I think the copycat recipe is even better than what you get at Panda. In addition to making chow mein, you can also make some other gourmet Chinese dishes including:

• Chinese Instant Pot Chicken Curry
• Instant Pot Cashew Chicken
• Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken
• General Tso Chicken

Nothing says Chinese like a variety of options. Whip out those Instant Pots and make a whole meal out of it!

*I use affiliate links in this post. If you buy anything from my links I will earn a small commission*

Instant Pot Chow Mein Tips

This recipe is so easy to make that you can do it even if you haven’t ever used your Instant Pot before! In fact, you won’t even have to use the pressure cook setting! Here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Don’t walk away. This recipe only takes about 5 minutes to complete. If you leave it on sauté and walk away, you may burn the noodles.
2. Use exact ingredients. If you can’t find one of the ingredients, click the link below to order them online. You must use the ingredients exactly for it to taste like Panda Express.
3. Can do it on the stovetop. If you prefer to use your Instant Pot for one of the other Chinese recipes above, you can always follow the directions below on your stovetop to make this delicious Instant Pot chow mien.

panda express chow mein ingredients

For this Panda Express Chow Mein, you will need to get some pretty specific ingredients. Make sure you have them all before you start the recipe!

• 14 oz pre-cooked pouches of Hokkien noodles 
• 2 stalks of celery chopped 
• 1/2 yellow onion sliced thin
• 3 tablespoons of olive oil 
• 2 tablespoons of low sodium soy sauce 
• 1/2 cup of shredded cabbage 
• 2 tablespoons of hoisin sauce 

How to Make Instant Pot Panda Express Chow Mein

For this recipe, you will not be using the pressure cook setting. Follow the simple steps below:

Step 1: Turn on Sauté

Set instant pot to sauté. This allows the instant pot to heat up to the temperatures of a hot wok. 

Step 2: Sauté the Veggies

Add the oil and vegetables (including the crunchy celery) sauté until starting to caramelize.

Step 3: Add the Noodles and Sauce

Once vegetables start to caramelize, add the noodles and the sauces.

If you want a bit more of a crunch in your chow mein, you can add some chopped peanuts or cashews when you stir in the hoisin sauce.

Step 4: Continue to Sauté

Sauté for 3 minutes stir constantly to avoid burning the noodles. 

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Remove and serve.

Did you enjoy this fun Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein Recipe? You may also love the following posts:

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• Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken Recipe
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• The Best Instant Pot Meatloaf Recipe
• A Great Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken Recipe
• 31 Must-Try Mexican Instant Pot Recipes
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• Cheesy Ranch Chicken Instant Pot Recipe
• Instant Pot General Tso Chicken Recipe
• Instant Pot Ham: The Best Ham You Will Ever Haven
• Instant Pot Cauliflower Salad
• Instant Pot Chicken And Quinoa
• Instant Pot Beef And Broccoli

About Angela Milnes

Angela Milnes is a Qualified Early Years Teacher who has specialised in teaching. She has a wealth of experience teaching young children and adults. Angela has also taught cooking classes and loves to share both family recipes and easy instant pot recipes here on The Instant Pot Table. Follow her on Pinterest!