How to Cook Chop Suey 5 Different Ways

Craving Chinese food for dinner but not too keen on the latest price increase at your local takeout joint? If you know how to cook chop suey, you can whip this Chinese restaurant staple up any time you like.

If you thought the only way to make chop suey was on your stove, then think again! There are 5 methods you can use for how to cook chop suey that will rival your favorite local joint any day of the week.

Quick Chop Suey Tips

When you want to make a chop suey recipe, just remember it’s a flexible meal. You can use pork, chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu. If you’re using meats, take the time to velvet them by coating them in baking soda or cornstarch for 20 minutes first to get that dreamy restaurant-style texture.

Chop suey is versatile with veggies too. Add whatever you like and omit what you don’t to make a meal that you will love. Serve it on top of steamed white or brown rice, or go with noodles for something different.

Always use aromatics like fresh garlic and onions. That’s what lends it that multidimensional flavor like in those takeout boxes. As for veggies, anything goes, and you can pick and choose your favorites like mushrooms, bok choy, baby corn, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, snow peas, water chestnuts, broccoli, carrots, celery, string beans, and bell peppers.

How to Cook Chop Suey on the Stove

Can you cook chop suey without a wok? You bet! You can still make this delish dish on the stovetop with the help of a deep skillet. Start by heating oil over high heat, then adding your aromatics like garlic and onions. Once their aromas begin wafting from the pan, add your meat and cook it through. Put the veggies in and stir up together, then add your chop suey sauce, cooking until it thickens.

How to Cook Chop Suey in a Crock Pot

How about coming home to chop suey after a long day at work? If you know how to cook chop suey in a crock pot, it’s possible! You’ll start by cooking your meats in a skillet on the stove until they brown. Toss in a few aromatics at the last minute and stir together, then dump this into your crock pot. You can add the veggies you want, then pour your chop suey sauce on top.

No time to whip up a sauce? Add a hearty drizzle of soy sauce and chicken broth on top. Then cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours. Thicken the sauce by adding a cornstarch slurry to stir in and switch the heat to high. It will be slightly thickened and ready to devour in about 15 more minutes.

How to Cook Chop Suey in a Wok

A wok is one of the best ways to cook chop suey. You’ll prepare your meats, veggies, and sauce, then heat your wok over high heat. The trick is to get the wok to lightly smoke first before adding vegetable oil to it. You can then add your meat in a single layer and sear until brown and 80% cooked.

Remove the meat and set aside, then add your aromatics and veggies. Stir this in the hot wok for about 30 seconds, then add chop suey sauce. When the sauce simmers, you can add the meat back into the wok. The final step is a cornstarch slurry to help thicken the sauce.

How to Cook Chop Suey in an Air Fryer

You can even make chop suey in your air fryer for a quick meal. Make sure that any meats you use are cut in evenly sized pieces. Combine your meats, veggies, and chop suey sauce together and add them to your foil-lined air fryer basket. Cook at 400°F for 8 minutes, stirring at the halfway mark.

How to Cook Chop Suey in the Oven

When you’ve got guests coming for dinner, there’s nothing worse than sweating it out over the stove while keeping track of things going on in your wok. Good thing you can learn how to cook chop suey in the oven!

You’ll want to at least cook the meat in a skillet over medium heat to brown it first. Then, quickly stir in your aromatics and vegetables along with the sauce. Once combined, pour this into your prepared casserole dish and bake uncovered at 350°F for 30 to 45 minutes. If you’re using thick hunks of meat such as stew meat cuts, plan on cooking it a bit longer, up to an hour.