12 Must-try Chinese Recipes (2024)

Published: · Updated: by Wei Guo · 11 Comments

A collection of popular recipes featuring some of the best Chinese dishes that are not only delicious but also easy to make at home. Give them a try!

12 Must-try Chinese Recipes (1)

Eager to try Chinese recipes but haven’t decided where to start? Have a look at this curation of dishes that are most-loved by readers of Red House Spice.

From street food to regional classics, these recipes truly reflect what authentic Chinese food is like. They provide easy, approachable instructions and are home kitchen friendly. Hope you’ll find them inspiring!

12. Chinese Crepe (Jian Bing, 煎饼)

One of the most popular breakfasts sold at street stalls, Chinese Crepewins its nation-wide popularity for its freshness,complex flavour and multi-layer texture.

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Other Popular Breakfast Recipes

  • Chinese Doughnut Stick (You Tiao, 油条)
  • 15-min Chicken Congee (鸡肉粥)

11. Eggplant with Garlic Sauce (鱼香茄子)

One of my favourites from Sichuan cuisine, Eggplant with Garlic Sauceis simply irresistible! My recipe doesn’t involve deep-frying and substitute ideas are included.

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Other Popular Sichuan Recipes

  • Mapo Tofu, the Authentic Way (麻婆豆腐)
  • Sichuan Spicy Wonton in Chilli Oil (红油抄手)
  • Dry Fried Green Beans(干煸四季豆)

10. Beef Chow Fun (干炒牛河)

If you’re a fan of Chinesetakeout (takeaway) dishes, you must try making Beef Chow Fun (Beef Ho Fun) at home. Succulent beef stir-fried with springy rice noodles then seasoned with soy sauce, it’s delicious yet very easy to cook.

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Other Popular Takeout Recipes:

  • Singapore Rice Noodles (Mei Fun, 星洲米粉)
  • Chinese Sausage Fried Rice (腊肠炒饭)
  • Chicken Chop Suey

9. Pumpkin Mochi with Red Bean Paste (红豆南瓜饼)

Soft, gooey, sweet & nutty, PumpkinMochi with Red Bean Paste offers pleasure for both the eyes and the palate. My recipe includes make-from-scratch instructions and short-cut options.

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Other Popular Sweet Treat Recipes

  • Hong Kong Style Mango Pancake (芒果班戟)
  • Steamed Red Bean Buns (豆沙包)
  • Snow Skin Mooncakes (冰皮月饼)

8.

Fried to a crispy texture and served with an aromatic seasoning, Salt and Pepper Shrimpis delectable and very easy to cook. The homemade salt and pepper seasoning can be used to cook chicken, squid, pork ribs, tofu, etc.

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Other Popular

  • Cantonese Steamed Fish (清蒸鱼)
  • Sichuan Boiled Fish (水煮鱼)
  • Steamed Garlic Prawn with Vermicelli (蒜蓉蒸虾)

7.

Pungent, flavourful and crunchy, Hot & Sour Napa Cabbageis one of the best ways to cook this versatile vegetable. Although it’s a simple stir-fry, my recipe offers many tips and tricks to help you cook it to a restaurant standard.

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Other Popular Vegetarian Recipes:

  • Cucumber Salad, Three Ways (凉拌黄瓜)
  • King Oyster Mushroom with Garlic Sauce (鱼香杏鲍菇)
  • Spicy Lotus Root Stir-fry (辣炒莲藕)

6. Sichuan Boiled Beef (水煮牛肉)

The nameSichuan Boiled Beef may sound boring, but this classic Sichuan dish has nothing but bold flavours. Succulent beef slices are cooked in a well-seasoned broth along with crispy vegetables, then topped with generous amounts of spices. It’s irresistible!

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Other Popular Beef Recipes

  • Black Pepper Beef (黑椒牛柳)
  • Braised Beef in Master Stock (酱牛肉)

5. Char Siu Bao (BBQ Pork Buns, 叉烧包)

One of the most popular dim sum dishes, Char Siu Bao is famous for its fluffy, cotton-like wrapper and saucy Char Siu pork filling. Mytried-and-tested recipe includes many cooking tips and a tutorial video.

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Other Popular

  • Steamed Bao Buns, a Complete Guide (Baozi, 蒸包子)
  • Baked Lamb Bao Buns (羊肉烤包子)
  • Gua Bao (Pork Belly Buns, 刈包)

4. Soy Sauce Chicken (豉油鸡)

Flavourful, appetizing & comforting, Soy Sauce Chicken (See Yao Gai) is a classic delicacy that can be enjoyed in many delicious ways. My recipe introduces an approachable, less labour-intensive method to cook it at home.

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Other Popular

  • Easy Peking duck (北京烤鸭)
  • How to Make Smoked Chicken in a Wok (熏鸡)
  • Black Pepper Chicken (黑椒鸡丁)
  • Kung Pao Chicken (宫保鸡丁)

3. Easy Hand-Pulled Noodles (拉面)

All-purpose flour, water and a pinch of salt, that’s all that you need for Hand-Pulled Noodles. Following my foolproof recipe, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to make them! I also have other noodle recipes showing you classic ways to serve them, such as Biang Biang Noodles, Zha Jiang Noodles, Lanzhou Beef Noodle Soup, etc.

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Other Popular Noodles Recipes

  • Dan Dan Noodles (担担面)
  • Spicy Beef Noodles Soup (香辣牛肉面)

2. Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork, 叉烧)

Aromatic, smoky, savoury & a little sweet, Cantonese cuisine classic dish Char Siu (Chinese BBQ pork) is one of the tastiest ways to cook pork. Myeasy version of this delicacy tastes just as good as what you get from a restaurant!

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Other Popular Pork Dishes

  • Braised Pork Belly (红烧肉)
  • Lion’s Head Meatballs (狮子头)
  • Twice-cooked Pork Belly (回锅肉)

1. Homemade Dumplings (饺子)

Dumpling making is a fun culinary art that every home cook should try. Agree? Ultimate Dumpling Guide is the all-time favourite on the blog. The following posts guide you to master the process of making dumplings from scratch.

Other

  • Soup Dumpling (Xiao Long Bao)
  • Steamed Dumplings, Two Ways
  • Har Gow Crystal Dumplings
  • Chicken Potstickers with a Crispy Skirt
  • Sichun Red Oil Wontons
  • Pan Fried Vegetarian Dumplings
  • Vegan Dumplings
  • Six Dumpling Sauces

More Chinese Cooking 101

  • 2024 Must-Try Recipes
  • Chinese Recipes for 2023 Holiday Season
  • Dried Shrimp, A How-To Guide
  • 15 Chinese Recipes for Chilly Days

Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. 12 Must-try Chinese Recipes (18)Leslie Sharp says

    Great recipes
    Thank You
    ❤️

    Reply

  2. 12 Must-try Chinese Recipes (19)Lisa says

    I have been trying to find a website with authentic Chinese cooking! Finally! I cannot wait to start cooking your recipes!!! Thank you so much for sharing them!

    Reply

    • 12 Must-try Chinese Recipes (20)Wei Guo says

      Welcome to Red House Spice community! Wish you a fun time cooking Chinese food!

      Reply

  3. 12 Must-try Chinese Recipes (21)Sylvie says

    Oulala!!!!! This is one of the most exciting food blogs I’ve ever seen!!! Thanks!!!

    Reply

    • 12 Must-try Chinese Recipes (22)Wei Guo says

      My pleasure to share Sylvie. Happy cooking!

      Reply

  4. 12 Must-try Chinese Recipes (23)Denny says

    I am writing to tell you I am doing a cook book on the top ten cuisines of the world and I
    Came across your site and love everything you have done!

    What inspiration can you give that would float me through my adventure more productively?

    SINCERELY
    Denny Hoff

    Reply

    • 12 Must-try Chinese Recipes (24)Wei Guo says

      A cookbook of top ten cuisines? What a wonderful idea! You should be able to find many classic Chinese recipes on mine and similar blogs. Also, there are many excellent cookbooks focusing on Chinese cooking, e.g. cookbooks by Fuchsia Dunlop. Good luck!

      Reply

  5. 12 Must-try Chinese Recipes (25)Lisan says

    I just came across your website as I’m British Chinese and can’t cook asian food very well and wanted authentic recipes. I’m so happy to have found this. Great, tasty recipes and lots of thought and tips given in regards to if it could be frozen, made quicker, good for kids on busy days. I’m inspired and looking forward to trying out some recipes! Thanks for sharing :))

    Reply

    • 12 Must-try Chinese Recipes (26)Wei @ Red House Spice says

      Great to have you here Lisan! Enjoy your time in the kitchen!

      Reply

  6. 12 Must-try Chinese Recipes (27)Rockie says

    Please keep the traditional recipes coming. I’m LOVING, WATCHING, ADMIRING, and trying as many as possible. Thanks so much for sharing, may GOD continue to Bless You to share with others your great gifts in authentic cultural cooking. You Rock😍

    Reply

    • 12 Must-try Chinese Recipes (28)Wei @ Red House Spice says

      My great pleasure to share Rockie! I will continue posting for sure.

      Reply

12 Must-try Chinese Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the most ordered Chinese meal? ›

Popular Chinese Dishes. General Tso Chicken – According to Grubhub, this sweet fried chicken dish is the most popular Chinese food in America. It's also unhealthy, considering that it is deep-fried and the recipe demands tons of sugar.

What is a typical Chinese meal for dinner? ›

A typical Chinese's meal usually consists of rice, soup and three to four side dishes. Dishes are made of seasonal vegetables, fresh seafood or bite-size portion of meat or poultry.

What are the four main Chinese dishes? ›

These four cuisines are called Four Major Cuisines or Four Cooking Styles in China.
  • Lu Cuisine (Shandong Cuisine)
  • Chuan Cuisine (Sichuan Cuisine)
  • Yue Cuisine (Guangdong Cuisine)
  • Su Cuisine (Jiangsu Cuisine)

What is the most ordered Chinese dish in America? ›

General Tso Chicken:
  • Description: The most popular Chinese dish in the U.S., is a sweet fried chicken delicacy.
  • History: Created by Chef Peng in Taiwan, named after military hero General Chiang Kai-shek.
  • Fun Fact: President Nixon's China visit in 1972 boosted its popularity.
Apr 26, 2024

What is the most loved Chinese food? ›

Some of the most popular dishes in Chinese cuisine include sweet and sour pork, kung pao chicken, ma po tofu, wontons, dumplings, chow mein, Peking roasted duck, spring rolls, moo shu pork, and hot pot.

What are the 3 most popular dishes in China? ›

The Top 5 Most Popular Dishes In China
  • Ma Po Tofu is a major staple dish in Chinese meals. ...
  • Hot Pot is the go-to dish to share on cold evenings with friends and family. ...
  • Peking Duck is one of the most popular dishes served for special occasions in China.
Jun 26, 2019

What is the healthiest Chinese food takeout? ›

13 Healthiest Chinese Food Takeout Options
  1. Steamed dumplings. Dumplings offered at a Chinese restaurant are pockets of dough filled with seasoned meat and vegetables, usually pork and cabbage. ...
  2. Hot and sour soup or egg drop soup. ...
  3. Moo goo gai pan. ...
  4. Beef and broccoli. ...
  5. Chop suey. ...
  6. Chicken and broccoli. ...
  7. Baked salmon. ...
  8. Happy family.

What is the number 1 meat consumed in China? ›

Pork dominates China's meat market. In 2022, it took up more than 50 percent of the domestic meat consumption. China is by far the world's largest pork producer, consumer, and importer.

What's the difference between chow mein and lo mein? ›

The biggest difference between chow mein and lo mein lies in the translations of their names: chow mein is fried, and lo mein is tossed. The experience is somewhat different between the two. Lo mein tends to be saucier and more toothsome, with a texture some describe as “slippery” because of the noodles' softness.

What do Chinese people eat for breakfast? ›

Congee (rice porridge), rice noodles (mixian), and rice cakes (nian gao) are staples. Dim sum, such as steamed dumplings (xiaolongbao) and dumplings (jiaozi), are also popular. Western China: In the West, breakfast is influenced by the diverse ethnic groups in the region.

What are 8 Chinese foods? ›

These eight culinary cuisines are Anhui, Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Szechuan and Zhejiang.

What are the 7 styles of Chinese food? ›

This is a great place to start in understanding what makes up Chinese food with Shandong, Fujian, Beijing, Shanghai, Hunan, Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine all explained. Knowing the different styles of Chinese food will help you pick the right one to match your tastes.

What are the 7 Chinese cuisines? ›

See also
  • Shandong cuisine.
  • Sichuan cuisine.
  • Cantonese cuisine.
  • Fujian cuisine.
  • Jiangsu cuisine.
  • Zhejiang cuisine.
  • Hunan cuisine.
  • Anhui cuisine.

What is kung bo? ›

Gong Bao or Kung Po) is a stir-fried Chinese dish that consists of cubed chicken in a sweet, spicy, and savory sauce. It originated in southwestern China in the early 1800s.

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