Chicken Yakisoba Recipe: A Delicious & Easy Family Meal
This Chicken Yakisoba recipe is a family favorite, and it’s incredibly easy to whip up at home in about 30 minutes! Get ready to enjoy a flavorful and satisfying meal that everyone will love.
I’ve always been a fan of yakisoba noodles, but my love for them deepened after traveling to Japan. The experience of tasting authentic yakisoba inspired me to recreate this delicious dish at home. What’s great is that it’s so simple to make, and it’s a dish that both kids and adults tend to enjoy! It’s a perfect way to bring a taste of Japan to your kitchen.
Inspired by the Summer Olympics in Japan, I wanted to share my family’s Chicken Yakisoba recipe. This recipe is a simplified and flavorful version of our favorite takeout dishes. It captures the essence of yakisoba while being easy enough for a weeknight dinner. It’s the ideal balance of convenience and deliciousness.
Essential Tools and Equipment for Chicken Yakisoba
Having the right tools can make the cooking process smoother and more enjoyable. Here’s what you’ll need to prepare your Chicken Yakisoba:
- Wok: A wok is ideal for cooking yakisoba due to its shape and ability to distribute heat evenly.
- Cutting Board: Essential for prepping your vegetables and chicken.
- Knife: A good quality knife will make chopping and slicing easier.
- Mixing Bowls (2): One for mixing the sauce and another for holding the cooked chicken.
While a wok is preferred for making this yakisoba dish, any heavy-bottomed pan with high sides will work. Using a wok ensures even cooking and allows for easy tossing of the ingredients. If you don’t have a wok, a large skillet is a suitable alternative.
Key Ingredients for Chicken Yakisoba
The quality of your ingredients will significantly impact the flavor of your Chicken Yakisoba. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need:
To make the authentic yakisoba sauce, you’ll need the following key ingredients:
- Yakisoba Noodles: You can use traditional yakisoba noodles or instant noodles. Ensure you follow the package directions for cooking your chosen noodles. Fresh or dried yakisoba noodles are the most authentic, but instant noodles can be a convenient substitute.
- Chicken: I prefer using skinless, boneless chicken thighs as they tend to be more flavorful and tender. However, chicken breasts also work well. Whichever cut you choose, cut the chicken into similar-sized pieces for even cooking. Chicken thighs provide a richer flavor, while chicken breasts are leaner.
- Ketchup: Yes, ketchup! It adds a unique sweet and tangy flavor to the yakisoba sauce. This unexpected ingredient is a key component of authentic yakisoba sauce.
- Worcestershire Sauce: This fermented condiment, made with a vinegar base, adds even more tang to the sauce. Its classic sweet, savory, salty, and tangy flavors help balance the dish. Worcestershire sauce provides a depth of flavor that enhances the overall taste of the yakisoba.
- Oyster Sauce: I love the richness that oyster sauce adds to yakisoba sauce. We also use oyster sauce a lot in Filipino cooking. Oyster sauce contributes a savory umami flavor that elevates the dish.
- Sugar: A small amount of granulated sugar balances the sauce perfectly. It enhances the sweetness and complements the other flavors.
- Onions: I prefer the mild flavor of yellow onions and like to slice them very thinly. Thinly sliced onions cook evenly and blend well with the other ingredients.
- Carrots: These add a nice crunch and pops of color to the yakisoba noodles. Julienned carrots are ideal as they cook quickly and evenly.
- Cabbage: You can use green or red cabbage, or a combination of both! Cabbage adds a subtle sweetness and a satisfying texture to the dish.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Chicken Yakisoba Noodles
Follow these simple steps to create your own delicious Chicken Yakisoba:
Step 1: Prepare the Sauce. In a large bowl, whisk together all the sauce ingredients. Then, pour half of the sauce into a second bowl and set it aside. This reserved sauce will be used at the end to add extra flavor.
Step 2: Cook the Noodles. Cook the noodles according to the package directions. While the noodles are cooking, begin preparing the chicken.
Step 3: Cook the Chicken. Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the wok is hot, add the chopped chicken pieces and pour in half of the prepared sauce. Stir constantly to coat all the chicken pieces with the sauce. Cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 4 to 7 minutes.
Step 4: Set Aside the Chicken. Remove the chicken from the wok and transfer it to a bowl. Set it aside for later.
Step 5: Cook the Vegetables. Ensure there is enough cooking oil left in the wok. If not, add one tablespoon of oil. Add the carrots and onions to the wok and stir constantly, cooking until softened, about 2 minutes. Then, add the cabbage and cook for one more minute, until softened.
Step 6: Combine and Serve. Add the chicken back to the wok. Drain the cooked noodles and add them to the wok. Pour in the remaining bowl of yakisoba sauce. Stir all the ingredients together until everything is well coated.
Step 7: Serve Immediately. Enjoy your homemade Chicken Yakisoba!
Quick Time-Saving Tips for Chicken Yakisoba
Want to make this dish even faster? Here are some handy kitchen shortcuts:
- Use Pre-Cooked Chicken: Save time by using pre-cooked chicken from the grocery store.
- Pre-Chopped Vegetables: If you don’t have time to chop veggies, use a coleslaw mix (without dressing) of red and green cabbage and carrots.
- Instant Noodles: Opt for instant noodles instead of regular yakisoba noodles for a quicker cooking time.
Proper Storage Tips for Chicken Yakisoba
To keep your leftovers fresh, follow these storage tips:
Since this chicken yakisoba recipe makes a large amount, I like to serve some as a main course one night. Then, I save the rest and we serve it as a side dish on another night.
To help the yakisoba stay fresh longer, I use airtight containers. These containers vacuum seal to lock in freshness and are also crack- and shatter-resistant. Additionally, they’re stain- and odor-resistant too! This is a big plus, considering so many delicious dishes we cook are fragrant and have strong sauces that tend to stain regular old containers.
Complementary Dishes to Serve with Chicken Yakisoba
Enhance your meal with these delicious side dishes:
Some of our favorite dishes to serve with chicken yakisoba recipe include:
- Instant Pot Filipino Chicken Adobo
- Wonton Noodle Soup
- Authentic Filipino Lumpia
- Grilled Honey Garlic Chicken Skewers
Frequently Asked Questions About Chicken Yakisoba
Here are some common questions answered:
Yes! You can use real yakisoba noodles, instant yakisoba noodles, or even spaghetti.
Absolutely. This chicken yakisoba recipe is just as delicious with broccoli, red cabbage, and mushrooms. If using larger vegetables, like broccoli, be sure to sauté those along with the carrots first. Then add the other, thinner vegetables that cook faster.
Yakisoba sauce is a richer, more complex blend of flavors, whereas soy sauce is simply soy sauce. The combination of ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and oyster sauce give this yakisoba sauce a nice depth of flavor which makes this dish absolutely delicious!
You can freeze cooked chicken yakisoba in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to one month. However, this dish is best eaten fresh, within five days. Freezing tends to diminish the flavors of the dish. If you do freeze yakisoba, allow it to that in the refrigerator overnight. You’ll also want to add some yakisoba sauce, or even plain soy sauce or teriyaki sauce, to the dish when reheating in the microwave or stovetop.
More Family Favorite Recipes
Looking for more inspiration? Try these other delicious recipes:
- Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles
- Instant Pot Moroccan Chicken
- Seared Scallops with Corn and Longganisa
- Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Asparagus
- Thai Chicken Salad
Enjoy creating this flavorful and easy Chicken Yakisoba recipe! It’s a surefire way to bring joy to your dinner table.