13 Panda Express Recipes for Chinese Food Fans (2024)

Panda Express has an extensive menu and always offers a satisfying and delicious experience, but that doesn’t mean you always want to pay restaurant prices or even drive all the way over there. We have some good new for you – you can still enjoy the very best Panda Express recipes by creating copycat versions right there in the comfort of your own kitchen! Whether you want beef, pork, noodles, chicken, or something else, you’re going to be impressed with all these tasty copycat dishes from the Panda Express menu!

Black Pepper Chicken – Copycat Panda Express

13 Panda Express Recipes for Chinese Food Fans (1)

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Make restaurant-style black pepper chicken at home in just 30 minutes with this delicious copycat Panda Express recipe. Satisfy your Asian food cravings with this easy and flavorful stir-fry.
Get the Recipe:Black Pepper Chicken – Copycat Panda Express

Wok Seared Steak and Shrimp – Panda Express Copycat

13 Panda Express Recipes for Chinese Food Fans (2)

Make this tasty Panda Express copycat wok-seared steak and shrimp dish at home with soy sauce, chili sauce, ginger, and garlic flavors. Impress your friends or enjoy it for lunch or dinner – it’s like an Asian surf and turf with beef and shrimp!
Get the Recipe:Wok Seared Steak and Shrimp – Panda Express Copycat

Easy Copycat Panda Express Mushroom Chicken Recipe

13 Panda Express Recipes for Chinese Food Fans (3)

Love Panda Express but can’t make it to the restaurant as often as you’d like? This Copycat Panda Express Mushroom Chicken Recipe will cure your craving any time it hits.
Get the Recipe: Easy Copycat Panda Express Mushroom Chicken Recipe

Honey Walnut Shrimp – Panda Express Copycat

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This Panda Express honey walnut shrimp copycat recipe coats crispy deep-fried tempura shrimp in a tantalizing sweet and savory sauce that’s served with candied walnuts. This will become one of your favorite quick dinner recipes!
Get the Recipe: Honey Walnut Shrimp

Instant Pot Fried Rice

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Let your instant pot get the flavor of Panda Express fried rice on your table in no time. This recipe is easy, tasty and best of all, budget friendly so you can get your Panda fix anytime!
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Fried Rice

Orange Chicken – Panda Express Copycat

13 Panda Express Recipes for Chinese Food Fans (6)

Panda Express Copycat Orange Chicken has tender chunks of pan fried chicken that are smothered in a delicious orange sauce that has a kick of heat! The perfect quick night dinner option that’s ready in just 35 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Panda Express Copycat Orange Chicken

Broccoli Beef

13 Panda Express Recipes for Chinese Food Fans (7)

If you love broccoli beef over rice from Panda, then you have to try this copycat recipe. It is so tasty, and you are going to love how quick this dish comes together for a weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Beef

Kung Pao Chicken

13 Panda Express Recipes for Chinese Food Fans (8)

This recipe for kung pao chicken might be even better than what you can get at Panda Express! You are sure to love the flavor of this easy and budget friendly take out fake out!
Get the Recipe: Kung Pao Chicken

Vegan Orange Tofu

13 Panda Express Recipes for Chinese Food Fans (9)

This 15 minute meal is a perfect vegan option for those nights you want take out, but don’t really want to go out and get it. It is made with simple ingredients for a flavorful and filling meal when served over rice.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Orange Tofu

Crispy Sweet and Sour Pork

13 Panda Express Recipes for Chinese Food Fans (10)

Use crispy pork belly to make this restaurant quality sweet and sour pork. This tastes even better than what you will get from Panda Express. It is also not too complicated to make on a weeknight for fast, homemade food.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Sweet and Sour Pork

Black Pepper Chicken

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Black pepper chicken makes for such a wonderful and easy dinner option. This recipe is loaded with celery to make a healthy one dish meals that tastes even better than an order from your favorite fast food spot.
Get the Recipe: Black Pepper Chicken

Chow Mein Copycat

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If you can’t resist chow mein from Panda Express, then you need to make this at home, as soon as possible. It is so easy to make on a busy night and it pairs well with chicken, pork, beef or shrimp for a versatile homemade meal.
Get the Recipe: Chow Mein Copycat

Mushroom Chicken

13 Panda Express Recipes for Chinese Food Fans (13)

Serve this mushroom chicken with zucchini over rice for a homemade meal that tastes even better than what you can get at Panda Express. This is so fresh and flavorful for a fast weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Mushroom Chicken

Bella Bucchiotti

Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause.

Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts. As well, Bella celebrates her Italian heritage with tasty dishes inspired by her favorite Italian foods. She has been featured in publications such as MSN, Self, Well + Good, New York Post, Salon, and more.

As a social media influencer, Bella can be found on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Since 2015, she has partnered with international brands and Fortune 500 companies. Living with celiac disease and Type 1 diabetes, Bella takes every opportunity to share her experiences with T1D and educate others about these autoimmune diseases.

13 Panda Express Recipes for Chinese Food Fans (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between Panda Express and Chinese food? ›

Does Panda Express serve authentic Chinese food? A lot of the Chinese dishes sold in Panda Express are not really that authentic because most of them are altered for the American taste. Some dishes are authentic but there are still traces of alteration within the dishes.

Does Panda Express use oyster sauce in chow mein? ›

The other critical ingredient that Panda Express uses in their Chow Mein is oyster sauce. Oyster sauce is a thick, dark brown sauce made from the extract of fresh oysters along with sugar, salt, and water.

What is the most worth it at Panda Express? ›

The Ultimate Ranking Of Panda Express Menu Items
  1. The Original Orange Chicken. Emily Kammerlohr / Static Media.
  2. Broccoli Beef. Emily Kammerlohr / Static Media. ...
  3. Honey Sesame Chicken Breast. ...
  4. SweetFire Chicken Breast. ...
  5. String Bean Chicken Breast. ...
  6. Black Pepper Angus Steak. ...
  7. Beijing Beef. ...
  8. Chili Crisp Shrimp. ...
Feb 3, 2024

What is in Panda chow mein? ›

Welcome to Hong Kong: in a city of skyscrapers, the street stall is king. Trying the local food is a rite of passage. Inspired by HK cuisine, our chow mein is made from Hokkien style noodles with a mouthwatering hit of soy sauce, sesame oil, spring onion and sesame seeds.

What is the lawsuit against Panda Express? ›

According to the suit, “hundreds of thousands” of customers paid hidden delivery fees with “false and misleading” disclosures, USA Today reported. The settlement would apply to customers who placed a delivery order through the Panda Express website or app between July 17, 2020, and Feb.

Does Panda Express still use MSG? ›

From world-famous orange chicken to delicious chow mein, Panda Express defines American-Chinese cuisine with bold flavors and fresh ingredients. Panda Express entrees and sides contain zero grams of trans fat per serving and adds no MSG in their food.

What rice does Panda Express use? ›

To make Panda Express white rice, simply cook your choice of long grain rice according to the package directions — no extra flavors or steps! And if you do want some extra flavor, my Asian sesame rice would pair wonderfully with any of your favorite Chinese entrees.

What oil does Panda Express cook with? ›

Panda Express leans heavily into the use of seed oils. Specifically: Soybean Oil: This is one of the predominant oils used, often used for frying and sautéing.

What is the healthiest food at Panda Express? ›

Here are the healthiest Panda Express menu options that go lighter on calories, sodium, sugar, and fat, and load up on protein and veggies.
  • String Bean Chicken Breast. ...
  • Black Pepper Angus Steak. ...
  • Grilled Teriyaki Chicken. ...
  • Firecracker Shrimp. ...
  • Grilled Teriyaki Cub Meal. ...
  • Mushroom Chicken. ...
  • Super Greens. ...
  • Brown Steamed Rice.
Feb 20, 2024

Is it better to get a bowl or plate at Panda Express? ›

If you eat a lot, the plate is recommended for you as it goes with 2 entrees and one side. I just get the bowl, for one entree and one side, just enough for me. Whether you order bowl or plate, it is priced just right. The side is either noodles or friedrice.

What is the most popular item on Panda Express menu? ›

There's a reason why this dish is Panda's claim to fame. The restaurant's most popular entree is made with crispy boneless pieces of meat combined with the chain's secret sweet yet spicy orange sauce. Almost everyone who walks through Panda's doors orders orange chicken.

Is Panda fried rice or chow mein healthier? ›

Actually Chow Mein is a more tasty and nutritious dish than fried rice. While having Chinese food, are noodles healthier compared to fried rice, or is it the same? Generally both noodles and rice are inherently healthy. Like most fried food, fried rice is not as healthy as say regular rice or regular noodles.

Does Panda Express use real meat? ›

The real “meat” of the Panda Express menu is in the form of chicken. There are more chicken-based dishes than any other protein on the menu. Here, you will find everything from lean meats with vegetables to fried, battered choices loaded with sugary sauce.

What kind of noodles are used at Panda Express? ›

Panda express uses Stir Fried Wheat Noodles similar to these. I used these Chow Mein noodles for this recipe. You can find them in your local grocery store where they have a dedicated section for Asian ingredients.

Is Panda Express like real Chinese food? ›

Its authenticity is often disputed, and it's commonly written off as a “guilty pleasure” by those who indulge in it. But the fact is, this food has become its own genre of regional Chinese cuisine and some of its dishes are as American as apple pie. Find yourself a cuisine that can do both.

Is Panda Express considered Chinese food? ›

Panda Express (Chinese: 熊貓快餐) is an American fast food restaurant chain that specializes in American Chinese cuisine.

Is Panda Express healthy Chinese food? ›

Most people agree Panda Express isn't authentic Chinese cuisine, but sometimes a heaping helping of orange chicken and chow mein just hits the spot. Unfortunately, most of the fast food chains' menu items aren't very healthy.

Is Panda Express orange chicken like General Tso? ›

Orange chicken is called Chinese food in North America, but orange chicken is rarely found in Chinese restaurants in China. Andrew Cherng, owner and founder of Panda Express, said that orange chicken is just a variation of General Tso's chicken, another dish that is almost unknown in China.

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