Moo Shu Chicken Recipe

Moo shu chicken, also spelled as mu shu chicken, is a tasty dish with chicken breast filets, mushrooms, and cabbage cooked together in a sweet-savory sauce. If you’re into Chinese food with a few Americanized elements, this chicken recipe will be right up your alley! It’s also the perfect meal when you’re way behind in dinner preparations, as it only takes 30 minutes to prep and cook.

I have a weakness for dishes with crunchy veggies and tasty meat slathered with a flavorful sauce. And the moo shu food downright meets all of these criteria, and then some. The moo shu recipe, firmly rooted in northern Chinese cuisine, is also a massive hit in the US. Traditionally, Chinese mu shu food consists of pork, wood ear mushrooms, scrambled eggs, and lily flowers and is usually served with thin flour wrap (or spring pancakes). The American version of this Chinese recipe, on the other hand, uses flour tortillas, napa cabbage, bamboo shoots, and aromatics. Still, it has the authentic taste of Chinese cuisine.

Over time, I’ve tried many variations of the moo shu recipe, from moo shu pork to beef, and even vegetables. And of course, there’s this chicken version, and it was so much better than I’d imagined. Turns out, moo shu chicken is not only delicious, but also easy to recreate at home. With my easy recipe, you can have a healthy dinner brimming with Asian flavors even without visiting your favorite Chinese restaurant.

My version is a bit of a mix of the traditional Chinese and American variations. And I’m super ecstatic to say that it tastes even better than the usual Chinese takeouts! The chicken breast filets, shiitake mushroom caps, and shredded cabbage give my moo shu chicken recipe contrasting textures and flavors. Use a combination of green and purple cabbage for a bit of vibrancy, appearance-wise. This comfort food also gets a kick from a dash of minced ginger.

The sauce is what gives my homemade moo shu chicken an extra oomph of flavors. It has the perfect balance of salty, nutty, and umami flavors. Hoisin sauce and soy sauce, two popular ingredients in Chinese cookery, combine to give this dish salty and umami flavors. You can even add a bit of oyster sauce to amplify the Asian palate even more. There’s also a bit of nuttiness in my sauce coming from the sesame oil. I also tossed in a teaspoon of honey, which provided a hint of delicate sweetness to the sauce.

Cooking dinner is a race against the clock, especially during busy weeknights. I always welcome a few shortcuts to speed up the preparation–without sacrificing the taste of the outcome, of course. Instead of shredding the cabbage yourself, just grab a bagged shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix at the supermarket. Or, buy a prepared package of thinly-sliced shiitake mushrooms. Although, to be honest, the trickiest part of this moo shu chicken recipe is cutting the chicken into thin strips. I opted for pre-cut store-bought chicken breast filets and simply cut the meat crosswise into thinner slices.

If you want to stay true to the traditional recipe, I suggest that you serve moo shu chicken with pancakes. Mu shu chicken and Mandarin pancakes, also called Peking duck pancakes, are the ultimate pairing. But I decided to give this takeout favorite an Americanized spin. I served mine in flour tortillas and drizzled it with extra hoisin sauce. If you’re trying to cut out some carbs, using lettuce leaves to wrap your moo shu chicken is your best option. This vibrant Asian food will definitely be a delicious and healthy addition to your dinner table!