15 easy Chinese dishes to cook on weeknights

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Wave goodbye to those crumpled takeout menus and enjoy a world of flavors right in your own kitchen! These delicious home-cooked meals will satisfy your cravings for Chinese cuisine without the wait or the cost.

Closeup of crispy beef in a bowl with green onions and sesame seeds.
Mongolian Beef. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Instant Pot Orange Chicken

Plate of orange chicken in a metal bowl from the top.
Instant Pot Orange Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Say goodbye to your Panda Express loyalty card with this Instant Pot Orange Chicken that’s big on flavor and short on time. You’ll be dishing out a zesty, sticky, sweet-and-savory treat that’ll make you the emperor of your kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Orange Chicken

Sweet and Sour Chicken Egg Rolls

Chinese chicken egg rolls on a cutting board.
Sweet and Sour Chicken Egg Rolls. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Turn your kitchen into the best takeout joint in town with Sweet and Sour Chicken Egg Rolls straight from your air fryer. Wrap up that tangy chicken goodness in an egg roll wrapper, and watch them disappear.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Sour Chicken Egg Rolls

General Tso’s Chicken

General Tso's Chicken on a plate with broccoli and rice.
General Tso’s Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

General Tso’s Chicken just got a promotion to General of the Air Fryer, and it’s ready to serve in 20 minutes flat. You’ll be tossing crispy chicken bites in a sauce that’s the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and tangy, all without leaving your kitchen.
Get the Recipe: General Tso’s Chicken

Asian Spare Ribs

Two ribs on a tray with sesame seeds and sesame seeds.
Asian Spare Ribs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Let your slow cooker do the heavy lifting with these fall-off-the-bone Asian Spare Ribs that marinate themselves in a bath of spices and sauces. It’s the set-it-and-forget-it magic that turns dinner time into a savory celebration.
Get the Recipe: Asian Spare Ribs

Shrimp Egg Rolls

Egg rolls on a plate with dipping sauce.
Shrimp Egg Rolls. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Roll out the red carpet for these Air Fryer Shrimp Egg Rolls, the crispy crowd-pleasers packed with shrimp and veggies. Who needs a fortune cookie when you can predict a future full of compliments on your cooking?
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Egg Rolls

Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken

Honey garlic chicken with green onions on a blue and white plate.
Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Unleash the sticky, crispy, tender joy of Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken, and you’ll never look back at takeout the same way. This dish is a 20-minute ticket to flavor town that’s perfect for those nights when time isn’t on your side.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken

Mongolian Beef

Closeup of crispy beef in a bowl with green onions and sesame seeds.
Mongolian Beef. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Channel your inner chef with Mongolian Beef that’s ready faster than you can say “P.F. Chang’s who?” This air fryer delight coats crispy beef in a sweet and salty sauce, and it’s so kid-friendly, they might even volunteer to do the dishes.
Get the Recipe: Mongolian Beef

Air Fryer Crab Rangoon

Crab rangoon in the air fryer basket.
Air Fryer Crab Rangoon. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Whip up a batch of Air Fryer Crab Rangoon and serve elegance without the effort, all wrapped up in a crispy dumpling shell. They’re the proof that fancy doesn’t have to be fussy.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Crab Rangoon

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Eating sweet and sour chicken with chopsticks.
Sweet and Sour Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Bring the taste of takeout home with Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken that’s as crispy and juicy as it gets. Packed with pineapple and bell peppers, you’ll be serving up a tropical escape on a plate.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Sour Chicken

Crock Pot Ramen

Top view of slow cooker chicken ramen in the Crock Pot.
Crock Pot Ramen. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Enjoy Crock Pot Ramen, where all it takes is a toss of ingredients and a little patience for a soul-warming noodle bowl. Come home to a pot full of comfort that’s slurp-worthy and hassle-free.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Ramen

Homemade Egg Rolls

Egg roll cut in half and dipped into sweet chili sauce.
Homemade Egg Rolls. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Make homemade Egg Rolls, the air fryer sensation that’ll make you a legend in your own dining room. These crispy delights are stuffed with tasty pork and cabbage and have the crunch factor dialed up to ten.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Egg Rolls

Air Fryer Orange Chicken

Orange chicken in chopsticks with chicken, rice and orange slices in the background.
Air Fryer Orange Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Make Air Fryer Orange Chicken and watch your local takeout place start to miss you. This dish tosses crispy chicken in a tangy orange sauce for a homemade spin on a Chinese-American classic.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Orange Chicken

Air Fryer Spring Rolls

Closeup of crispy spring rolls cooked in air fryer.
Air Fryer Spring Rolls. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Air Fryer Spring Rolls are the perfect party trick when you want to roll up with something impressive but easy. These crispy bites are ready to be dunked in your favorite sauce and devoured. They’re the appetizer that’ll have your guests springing up for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Spring Rolls

Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken on wooden cutting board.
Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken is the saucy savior of your weeknight hustle, ready to plate up in about 30 minutes. Flavorful chicken thighs cook to perfection while you kick back and relax.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Air Fryer Tofu

Fried tofu on a plate with one bitten into and a bowl of dipping sauce.
Air Fryer Tofu. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Discover the crunch of Air Fryer Tofu nuggets, the vegetarian treat that’s ready in a snappy 15 minutes. Seasoned and air fried to perfection, this is healthy tofu with an indulgent twist.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Tofu

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