Easy Moo Shu Chicken - Family Food on the Table (2024)

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Moo shu chicken is a quick and easy recipe to make at home in just 20 minutes! This version uses on-hand ingredients and is incredibly flavorful.

I'm back from a long weekend at the beach with my girl friends -- it's an annual trip we do every year -- and I'm so thankful for this group of women.

We laugh until we cry, we share stories and memories and hardships, we soak in the sun and walk on the beach, we cook up a storm and we have an absolute blast. My heart is full, and it's definitely a great way to kick off summer!

OK, let's move along to the food.

Today I’m excited to share yet another takeout fakeout favorite that we make at home.

See easy chicken pad Thai, sweet and sour chicken, quick chicken curry and chicken chow mein for some other favorites I’ve shared here on Family Food on the Table.

(And stay tuned, because I've got an egg roll in a bowl recipe coming soon.)

Moo shu chicken is a more recent favorite of mine after I first tried it from a local restaurant and fell in love with the dish.

So naturally, I had to try to recreate it at home!

And while this is certainly not traditional, it is my cheater home-cook version using on-hand ingredients that we can get in our local grocery store.

And I think you’ll find the flavor and taste is just as good as the restaurant version!

We’ve got tender strips of chicken and egg, cabbage and mushrooms, and a scrumptious - but simple - sauce of hoisin sauce and soy sauce.

And while you are certainly welcome to try your hand at making your own mandarin pancakes at home, I find flour tortillas are a fabulous and convenient swap.

Just tuck your moo shu chicken into your tortillas, roll them up and you will be devouring dinner!

It’s one of those dishes that’s actually incredibly easy to make but has you marveling at your kitchen prowess. ????

Ingredient Notes:

Chicken: You can make this with boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs. Or use a combination of both. We’re cutting the pieces small, so they will cook through in the same time.
Cabbage: Feel free to use bagged, shredded cabbage or buy a green or Napa cabbage and slice it yourself. You’ll need 3 cups total.
Mushrooms: You may be able to find fresh shiitake mushrooms in your store, or you can use dried and reconstitute them according to the package directions. You could also sub another type of mushroom if you want.
Hoisin sauce: I always make this with hoisin sauce, but some people use oyster sauce instead. Feel free to sub that if it’s what you have on hand, or to use half of each for the sauce.
Gluten-free: You can try using arrowroot powder instead of cornstarch and tamari in places of the soy sauce to make this recipe gluten-free.

Also, as mentioned, I tend to just use plain flour tortillas, even though they are a slightly different taste and texture than the mandarin pancakes this dish is usually served with.

Here’s a recipe for homemade mandarin pancakes if you’d like to make yours from scratch instead.

Or you could even serve this moo shu chicken with some steamed rice instead if you prefer.

As for toppings, some sliced green onions are a great touch. And you can definitely top yours with some extra hoisin or soy sauce if you’d like.

Last thing, let’s talk about what to do with the leftovers.

How to store leftovers:

- Leftover moo shu chicken, once cooled, can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

- Reheat in a skillet or in the microwave. Add some extra hoisin or soy sauce if needed to wake it up a little.

Whether this is an old favorite or an Asian dish you haven’t yet tried, I hope you give this homemade moo shu chicken a go in your kitchen.

Ingredients

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips (see notes)
3 tablespoons canola oil, divided
2 large eggs, beaten
1 cup sliced shiitake mushrooms
3 cups sliced green cabbage
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
½ teaspoons sesame oil
2 teaspoons cornstarch

For serving:

Mandarin pancakes or flour tortillas
Sliced green onions
Extra hoisin or soy sauce

Instructions

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the eggs and season lightly with salt and pepper. Let cook in an even layer until a flat omelet forms, about 3-4 minutes. Carefully flip the eggs over to finish cooking on the other side, about 1-2 minutes more. Remove the eggs and cut into strips; reserve.
Add 1 tablespoon of the oil to the same pan and increase the heat to medium high. Add the chicken strips and season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Remove to a bowl.
Add the final 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan. Add the mushrooms, cabbage and ginger and cook for 2-3 minutes, until tender.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil and cornstarch.
Return the chicken and egg to the pan with the vegetables, then add the sauce and mix well. Let simmer for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until slightly thickened and everything is warmed through. Serve immediately.

Notes

Chicken: You can make this with boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs. Or use a combination of both. We’re cutting the pieces small, so they will cook through in the same time.

Cabbage: Feel free to use bagged, shredded cabbage or buy a green or Napa cabbage and slice it yourself. You’ll need 3 cups total.

Mushrooms: You may be able to find fresh shiitake mushrooms in your store, or you can use dried and reconstitute them according to the package directions. You could also sub another type of mushroom if you want.

Hoisin sauce: I always make this with hoisin sauce, but some people use oyster sauce instead. Feel free to sub that if it’s what you have on hand, or to use half of each for the sauce.

Gluten-free: You can try using arrowroot powder instead of cornstarch and tamari in places of the soy sauce to make this recipe gluten-free.

Leftovers: Leftover moo shu chicken, once cooled, can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in a skillet or in the microwave. Add some extra hoisin or soy sauce if needed to wake it up a little.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 462Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 196mgSodium: 909mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 4gSugar: 9gProtein: 43g