Panda Express Mushroom Chicken in just 20 minutes!
Update: Over the last year we have made this recipe the original way and with small variations while taste testing against the original. Lots of Panda Express visits, lots of testing (think Monica trying to recreate Phoebe’s grandmother’s chocolate chip cookie recipe) and I think I’ve gotten to the point where we can call this a spot on copycat!
Panda Express has been a go to take out lunch since I was a kid. Orange chicken, beef and broccoli and chow mein had been my go-to order until I turned 21 and started becoming more aware of my calorie intake. When I started looking at the nutritional facts I felt a little sick. I had no idea such a small amount of orange chicken could pack in so much fat and calories.
So I did a bit more research and you can enjoy Panda Express with FAR less fat and calories by choosing different “entrees.” My new go to became Panda Express Mushroom Chicken, beef and broccoli and steamed vegetables. I think that clocked in around 60% less calories! I did miss the taste of the orange chicken, but to be honest the mushroom chicken (which I normally would not have chosen) was DELICIOUS!
It took me a fair bit of searching and a few failed tries at making a dish that reminded me of the original but this recipe has been our go-to for a couple of years now and has been universally enjoyed. The best part is, the recipe is so incredibly easy, you can throw it together in as long as it takes to make rice to go with it! I do have to add a disclaimer though, this is not a *spot* on recreation. The balsamic is a little strong so you can taste it. But it does taste a lot like it, so until I do more research this is the best I’ve got if you are looking for a copycat for Panda Express Mushroom Chicken! Yep, I have been working on this recipe all year and it’s gotten an update!!
Keeping track of all the Panda Express copycat recipes here on the blog? You can find every single one of them on my new Panda Express Recipe Index, where every single Panda Express recipe has been recreated!
Panda Express Zucchini & Mushroom Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts , cut into thin bite sized slices
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 8 ounces crimini mushrooms , sliced (white mushrooms are authentic to the recipe, but I love crimini)
- 1 medium zucchini , cut in half lengthwise, then in 1/2 inch slices
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 3 garlic cloves , minced
- 2 teaspoons minced ginger (or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger)
- sesame seeds , for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Toss the chicken with cornstarch.
- Heat the canola and sesame oil in the pan.
Add chicken and cook on medium-high until browned on both sides, about 2-3 minutes on each side.
- Remove chicken from the pan, and turn the heat up to high.
- Add in the mushrooms and zucchini and cook until they start to brown.
Add the garlic and ginger and cook/stir for 30 seconds.
Cook for another 2-3 minutes as vegetables soften a little.
- Add the chicken back in and stir to coat.
- Add in the soy sauce, sugar and rice wine vinegar and stir to coat.
Serve with Perfect Brown Rice.
This was delicious and highly recommend. I didn’t have rice vinegar so I used seasoned rice vinegar and didn’t add the sugar. Absolutely will make again.
I cooked this recipe because I’ve been craving PE mushroom chicken for a while now. This is sooo good! I created double the recipe so I can have some all week. Honestly it’s been some months since I’ve been to Panda Express so I can’t talk about how authentic it is to flavor, but after having a mouthful of the one I cooked, I knew it completely satisfied what I was hoping for. Thanks so much for posting this.
I’ve never had Panda Express because there are none in our area but this was extremely delicious, can’t imagine the restaurant version being better
Sabrina,
this recipe looks wonderful, and I will certainly try this when the next gift zucchini comes my way! I saw your comment about the balsamic vinegar and I wonder if you might have been tasting Chinese black vinegar in the original. Balsamic can be used as a sub, but try finding the black vinegar and using that. I find it at the local Asian market, it’s inexpensive and just might be the very thing you’ve been looking for.
I like this dish except I would put corn starch at the very end because when I cook it on le creset the starch stuck at the bottom and burnt. I didn’t have many choice for pots.
Hi! Excited to try this recipe. Can you use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts? Or would that not be recommended?
Thank you!!
Yes, you can use that. Enjoy!
keep up the great work forgot to rate it
I was reading you blog and saw you also liked the green bean & potato I loved this myself and when it became distinct i was beside myself LOL I sure hope you are able to come up with the recipe please post it you are the greatest I LOVE PANDA
That one is still on my research and test list. Hopefully I can crack that one. So glad you’re enjoying the site.
You are a hero! Made this today and I think I can now officially kick my Panda Express habit— I like this better than their version, too! Thank you!
You just made my day, Hannah!
Made this for dinner tonight, quick and easy ! Everyone loved it including picky boyfriend and finicky 3 yr old. Thanks
Made this for my family they loved it, will definitely make again. Thanks
Hey Sabrina, his sounds like a dish my family will truly enjoy, since it contains several of our favorite ingredients. I will however use chicken tenders, sliced into bite sized pieces, ’cause that’s what I normally use in casseroles which call for diced or sliced chicken breasts. Everyone here loves zucchini, & I agree with you about Crimini mushrooms, as well. I use low sodium Soy Sauce, ’cause that’s all I buy. Also, the benefits of Ginger are VERY many, so I’m glad to see Ginger in this recipe. Thanks.
It’s sooooo good. Seriously, this is my replacement for Chinese takeout. Now…I’m gonna search this site for a Panang Curry (If I find it, I may never order out again!!)
So glad you love it so much. I’ll add Panang Curry to my to do list. Thanks for the suggestion.
Wow! This tastes so similar to the Panda Express version!
First time to cook this and it was delicious and very easy to follow. Thank you.
Has anyone subbed out the chicken for tofu? Any recommendations? This sounds AMAZING, just want to put it in for the rotation on “Meatless Mondays” tho! 🙂
I love chicken mushroom and zucchini served with steamed white rice.
Let’s be honest, I just went to Panda Express at the shopping mall and I just bought chicken mushroom and zucchini with steamed white rice, egg roll, chocolate chip cookie and Sobe life water during at my lunch time. It’s really good but thanks for telling me about that. Thank you, Sabrina.