This copycat Panda Express mushroom chicken recipe is based on the very popular mushroom chicken that you can get at Panda Express. Even better, you don’t even need to leave the house for this takeaway quality meal!
Mushroom Chicken Panda Express
You can now enjoy mushroom chicken in the comfort of your own home. It’s really easy to make, and is absolutely delicious, featuring classic Asian ingredients and flavors for a really lovely slice of homemade goodness. We’re using chicken slices with some mushroom and zucchini, all mixed up in a garlicky soy sauce. It’s astonishingly simple to make, and all you really need to do is marinate your chicken, then sear it before sauteeing the veggies in the sauce.
Easy Weeknight Dinner For Family
This is a great dish for easy weeknight dinners. It’s really quick to prepare, with no need for extensive slow-cooking or basting. The only thing that will take some time is marinating your chicken, which you can do in 30 minutes if you’re in a rush or overnight if you have some preparation time. Otherwise, it will cook in a matter of minutes! We’re using high heat and some thin strips of chicken so the chicken cooks in just a few minutes, as do the veggies. Really, cooking this dinner is just as easy and convenient as ordering takeout!
You'll Need
You will need simple ingredients to make this fantastic Asian-inspired chicken dinner in less than 30 minutes.
Sauce Ingredients
How To Make Copycat Panda Express Mushroom Chicken
- First, you need to either slice your chicken breast to a quarter inch thick, or use pre-sliced chicken breast. Either is fine, although if you slice it yourself you may find the chicken to be a little moister.
- Now, prepare your chicken stir fry marinade of soy sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, and rice vinegar. Soak your chicken in the marinade for half an hour, or overnight. The marinating process will help add some flavor to your chicken and tenderise it.
While your chicken marinates, it’s time to prepare your veggies!
How To Saute Chicken for The Perfect Sear
We’ve assembled a few key tips for making sure you get the perfect piece of chicken every time.
- You want your pan, or work, to be hot when the chicken goes in. A vegetable based oil with a high smoke point is perfect! Avocado oil, Canola or peanut oil is great.
- Don’t pour any of your excess marinade into the pan. You want to drip off the excess marinade before adding the chicken to the pan.
- Avoid overcrowding the pan. Your chicken really should be spaced apart enough not to touch.
- You want to lay your chicken flat in a single layer. As above, there ought to be no overlapping, as this causes the chicken to steam rather than sear.
- While it might be tempting to handle your chicken as it cooks, do not touch! Leave your chicken alone until it gets a golden brown sear, which should take about 30 seconds to 1 minute per side with the quarter inch pieces we’re using.
We’ve made a great all-purpose chicken stir fry marinade. It brings plenty of flavor to your chicken, and doesn’t overwhelm it either.
Once your chicken is done, remove it from the pan. Now add garlic, ginger, your mushrooms and zucchini. As with the chicken, you want the pan to be hot when your veggies go in. When you cook vegetables over low heat, they release quite a bit of liquid, instead of searing. You don’t want steamed vegetables. You want a nice, golden brown sear on all your ingredients. Remember that a lot of Asian food is all about high heat.
Once you have a nice sear on your veggies, you can return the chicken to the pan. Throw your stir fry sauce in there as well. Saute the lot together for one to two minutes, and serve it immediately. If you want a less saucy variation, simply use less of the sauce.
What To Serve With Panda Express Mushroom Chicken
We encourage you to serve this chicken dish with Instant Pot Jasmine Rice or noodles. You could, if you want to reduce your carb intake, serve with lettuce, or in a nice wrap.
Another great idea, if you like your Asian food spicy, is to add some chilli paste or flakes. You could also try adding some other veggies, like carrots, water chesnuts, broccoli, or celery.
Tips For Making Mushroom Chicken
- A longer marinating time will give you a softer, more flavorsome chicken experience. It depends on your own personal palate, but for a marinade you really need at least 30 minutes. If you soak the chicken in your marinade overnight, it will have a stronger flavor with plenty of tender, juicy chicken.
- You want to stir your sauce before adding it to the pan. The cornstarch we’re using as a thickener will settle, making it seem like a different viscosity to what it actually is.
- Serve the mushroom chicken immediately after cooking.
Storing Mushroom Chicken Leftovers
One of the great things about this recipe is how well it turns into leftovers! If you have any extra chicken left after you’ve finished dinner, you can store it really easily.
Any leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. You want to eat the chicken within that time frame, as cooked chicken turns relatively quickly. Besides, like most meals, this is way better when you eat it fresh!
More Asian-Inspired Recipes
Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken
Panda Express Kung Pao Chicken
Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp Recipe
If you make this recipe be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! I will be happy to hear from you!
PrintPanda Express Mushroom Chicken Copycat
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
This copycat Panda Express mushroom chicken recipe is based on the very popular mushroom chicken that you can get at Panda Express.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ( 500 grams) boneless and skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced- ¼ inch thick
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 cups mushrooms, cleaned and quartered
- 1 large zucchini, cut into half circles
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, minced
Chicken Marinade
- 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
Sauce
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup light soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine all the ingredients for the marinade. Add the chicken and mix to coat; allow to marinate for 20-30 minutes or overnight.
- Combine all the ingredients for the sauce in another small bowl. Set it aside.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Once the skillet is smoking, add the chicken in a single layer (don't overcrowd the skillet to get a good sear). Cook until browned, flipping and mixing as needed. Once cooked, remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the mushrooms and zucchini to the skillet and cook until vegetables are crisp tender ( about 2-3 minutes), mixing frequently.
- Reduce the heat to medium low and add the chicken back to the skillet. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
- Finally, pour the sauce into the skillet, mix everything to coat. Stir fry until the sauce thickens.
- Serve immediately.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- A longer marinating time will give you a softer, more flavorsome chicken experience. It depends on your own personal palate, but for a marinade you really need at least 30 minutes. If you soak the chicken in your marinade overnight, it will have a stronger flavor with plenty of tender, juicy chicken.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Category: Chicken recipes
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Calories: 300kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 1946mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 82mg
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Luna says
This is our favorite at Panda Express! Very delicious! Thanks!
chefjar says
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and leave a review Luna!
Chloe says
Omg it’s fantastic! Tastes like mushroom chicken at Panda Express! Thanks!
chefjar says
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and leave a review Chloe!
Mila says
This was a spectacular meal! Next time I will try thighs just because we dark meat lovers!
chefjar says
That’s so great to hear Mila! Thanks so much for the great comments and review!
Holly says
It’s better than Panda Express! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
chefjar says
Thank you Holly! I am glad you enjoyed this chicken copycat recipe!
Nora says
This recipe never lets us down! Very delicious and easy to make! Thanks!
chefjar says
Thank You, Nora!
Layla says
A great recipe! Thanks!
chefjar says
Thank you Layla for sharing experience! We are glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Karolina says
I used regular soy sauce because that's all I had and it ended up being too salty.
Definitely follow the recipe and use light or low sodium soy sauce.
Other than MY mistake, this recipe was perfect. My 2&4 year olds absolutely demolished their dinner.
I only marinated the chicken for about 30 minutes but next time I'll try doing it overnight.
chefjar says
Hey, Karolina! I am glad you and your kids enjoyed the recipe. And thank you for sharing your experience!
Laura Kelly says
I made this last night and was sooooo happy with how it turned out! Delicious! Very easy! Everyone loved it! I was not expecting to make this, had no plans to, but the recipe I'd chosen was starting to look like it was going to be a little blah, so I clicked over to this recipe in my Pinterest recipe file. I remembered it looked appealing....caught my eye. It had better ingredients..... more flavorful ones. I'm so glad I did. I did not use the vegetables that we're called for however because I was prepared to make something else that called for snow peas, sliced carrots and mushrooms along with the chicken breast, so that's what I used. The chicken was perfect. Very tender. Everything tasted so good. It went together quickly.
I love this recipe and will be using it a lot in the future I'm sure! Love it!
Thank you for it!
chefjar says
Hey, Laura! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe and thanks for sharing your experience!
Kelly says
My go to recipe. Absolutely delicious!
Roma says
Exactly what I made for dinner. It turned out delightful and delicious! Thank you for this recipe.
chefjar says
I’m so happy to hear that Roma, thanks so much for the great review!❤️
Vanessa says
I just made this dish tonight and I served with a little rice. It was perfect! The whole house loved it!
chefjar says
That makes me so happy Vanessa, thanks so much for the great review!💗
Ashleigh says
My family loved this chicken and the flavor was excellent! Will definitely make it again.
chefjar says
So happy to hear that! Thank you!
Kayla says
I have used this recipe several times and it always turns out to be delicious! My husband loves it!
chefjar says
Thanks so much for the great review!❤️
Kerry says
Wonderful! Did a few modifications to suit our tastes, but this is an awesome recipe to start out with! Thank you!
chefjar says
You’re very welcome Kerry, I’m so happy you enjoyed this!😋 Thanks so much for the great review!
Mari says
This recipe was absolutely delicious. Super easy to prepare as we had everything available at home. Everyone loved it. Pinned!
chefjar says
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!❤️ I am glad you liked the recipe!
Melanie Davis says
Absolutely one of our favorites! I doubled the amount. It was really delicious and I've made it several times now.
chefjar says
Thank you, Melanie! I am glad you liked this recipe)).
Janice says
Just made this for dinner and it’s wonderful! My husband and kids loved it and asked for me to make it again soon!!
chefjar says
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!❤️ I am glad you liked the recipe!
Alisa says
I followed the recipe and it came out delicious! Everyone at my house loved it! This will be added to my recipe list!
chefjar says
Thank you, Alisa!
Cassidy says
This was simply amazing! Family loved it!
chefjar says
Thank you, Cassidy!
Rumeysa says
Excellent recipe! My family couldn’t get it enough of it! This is a definite keeper in my recipe book.
chefjar says
Thank you Rumeysa!
Malia says
I made this for lunch and we really enjoyed it!! Simple and quick to make.
chefjar says
Thank you Malia! I am glad you liked the recipe.
Lileigh says
Turned out very well. My kids enjoyed it thoroughly.
chefjar says
Hey, Lileigh! I am glad you liked this mushroom chicken and thank you for sharing your experience!
Adriana Ramo says
My family loved this dish! It was very flavorful and so easy to make!
chefjar says
Hey, Adriana! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!❤️ I am glad you liked this recipe!
Ilayda Sherifi says
I made this the night before and it was wonderful! Hubby loved it. Thank you so much for this, really enjoyed it.
chefjar says
Hey, Ilayda! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!❤️ I am glad you liked this recipe!
Eugenia says
This was scrumptious! Thank you for a good recipe and simple step by step guide. Will go in my recipe book!!
chefjar says
Thank you Eugenia!
Raelyn says
I made this dish this morning and it was a huge hit in my house. This will be added to the regular rotation!
chefjar says
Thank you, Raelyn!
Silvia says
Absolutely delicious! This recipe has become a staple in my dinner repertoire!
chefjar says
Thank you for sharing your experience Silvia! I am glad you like this chicken recipe as we do.
Tessa says
I love this recipe so much. Great balance of flavors that turned the entire dish to be a spectacular hit! This one’s a keeper!
chefjar says
I am happy to hear that Tessa! It is one of our favorite copycat recipes too. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it! Tatiana 🙂
Arna says
Came out fantastic! This will definitely be one of my staple recipes.
chefjar says
Thank you, Arna!-Tatiana 🙂
Blake says
I doubled the recipe and it turned out great! This is a recipe that will be part of our household regular.
chefjar says
Thank you, Blake! I am glad you liked the recipe.-Tatiana 🙂
Melisa martinez says
Better than The Panda! My husband says it tastes good. I didn't care for the oyster sauce so I didn't add it. Didn't add all the soy sauce I used about 1/4 cup less in the sauce. I will make again. Thanks!
chefjar says
Hey, Melisa! I am glad you liked the recipe and thank you for sharing your experience!
Milania says
Exceptional recipe! It was an absolute hit with my family.
chefjar says
It's great to hear that the recipe was a hit with your family Milania! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Malena says
It was easy to make with flavorful ingredients. Definitely making this again soon!
chefjar says
That's fantastic to hear! I'm glad you found the recipe easy to make with flavorful ingredients. It's always a good sign when a recipe is well received and worth making again. I'm glad you'll be making it again soon, enjoy!
Avery says
Delish! Everyone demanded seconds! Will be using this recipe more often.
chefjar says
Hi Avery! Delicious! When everyone demands seconds, you know it's a hit.)))
Mary S says
Absolutely Delicuous! Hardly ever comment on a receipe, but this one was awesome. Only 2 of us now,but I'm sure the leftovers will be just as 👍🏽.
chefjar says
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment, Mary! I'm thrilled to hear that you found the Panda Express Mushroom Chicken recipe absolutely delicious. Your feedback means a lot to me, and I'm glad you took the time to share your experience. Leftovers can often be just as tasty, so I hope you enjoy them as well.
Patt says
Delicious. Only change I made was I added more mushrooms.
My new favorite recipe. Family loved it also.
chefjar says
Hey Patt! Thank you so much for trying the recipe! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Adding more mushrooms sounds like a great idea.
Lei Hatcher says
Turned out wonderful! Definitely making it again. I like how the recipe was simple and instructions were easy to follow.
Thank you!
chefjar says
Hey Lei! I'm thrilled to hear that the recipe turned out wonderfully for you and that you found the instructions easy to follow. Thanks or sharing your experience!
Kendra says
This was amazing. Everyone loved it. Will definitely make it again!
chefjar says
Hey Kendra! Thank you so much! We're glad to hear that everyone loved it.😊
Crystal Jarrett says
Absolutely delicious! Added a little celery for crunch. Served with steamed rice.
chefjar says
Hi Crystal Jarrett! That sounds like a fantastic addition! And serving it with steamed rice must have made for a delicious and satisfying meal. And thank you for sharing your experience!
Terry says
Omg! This is IT! Thank you for sharing. I would have never figured it out myself but will be making this a LOT now! Delicious!
chefjar says
Hi Terry! I'm so glad you loved it! And thanks for sharing your experience!
Lauren says
Absolutely fabulous!!! Followed the recipe as written - with only one substitution ( I used ground ginger instead of fresh and reduced the amount by 1/4th) and one addition (I added half a chopped onion with the zucchini and mushroom). I served with white steamed rice - I used the last of my low sodium soy sauce for the recipe and it is just the right amount that you don’t need to add anymore. I’ve found that if you don’t have low sodium soy sauce that you can use half regular soy sauce and half water to have a similar flavor. This is 100% going into the make again recipe box!!!
chefjar says
Hi Lauren! I'm glad to hear how well the recipe turned out for you! And thank you for sharing your adjustments and insights; they're sure to inspire others to try and personalize the recipe too!
Crissy says
This was delicious! I will add more vegetables next time.
chefjar says
Hi Crissy! I'm so glad you found it delicious! Adding more vegetables sounds like a fantastic idea to boost the nutrition and flavor even further.
Rosalyn says
Easy to make, delicious, just like the real thing. Definitely marinate the chicken overnight, makes a big difference. So tender and juicy. Thanks for a great recipe.
chefjar says
Hi Rosalyn! I'm glad to hear you found the recipe easy and delicious! Marinating the chicken overnight is indeed a game-changer for flavor and tenderness. Thank you so much for trying it out and for your kind words! 😊