35+ Extensive Chinese Recipes From Savories To Sweets 2023

From savory dishes to sweets, here are more than 35 Chinese recipes to enrich your menu in the Asian cooking style. And you might improve your chopstick skills with these recipes.

Every Chinese dish conveys a different story. They can be a symbol of celebrations, or wishes, or luck. Plus, the Chinese have various ways to cook for the same ingredient, as they can deep-fry, stir-fry, steam, boil, or stew a fish to create tons of delicious meals.

So wait no further; let’s jump in and learn how diverse Chinese cuisine is with the following 36 delectable recipes.

36 Popular Chinese Recipes For Perfect Homemade Meals

You might have heard that Chinese people can eat many things like insects, snakes, animal intestines, etc. Still, in these 36 popular Chinese cooking ideas, I only use some typical ingredients like pork, chicken, beef, seafood, and vegetables.

With 2 main kinds of dishes as Savories and Sweets, here are 36 ideal Chinese recipes that you are looking for.

Recipes For Chinese Savories

Dim Sum

Siu Mai (Shumai)

Pork and Chive Dumplings

Spicy Beef Dumplings

Scallop and Shrimp Dumplings

Crab Rangoon

Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao)

Vegetarian Dumplings

Fried Chinese Dishes

Chow Mein

Shanghai Fried Noodle

Yangzhou Fried Rice (Chinese Egg Fried Rice)

Szechuan-Style Cabbage

Salted Egg Yolk Prawns

Chop Suey

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Kung Pao Chicken

Beef Stir Fry

Chinese Scallion Pancakes

Ants Climbing a Tree (Ma Yi Shang Shu)

One-Bowl Chinese Dishes

Chinese Congee

Chinese Noodle Soup

Wonton Soup

Egg Drop Soup

Chinese Chicken Meatball Soup

Braised Beef and Tendon

Hot and Sour Glass Noodle Soup (Suan La Fen)

More Chinese Savories

Mapo Tofu

Chinese Sticky Honey Ribs

Peking Duck

Recipes For Chinese Sweets

Chinese Bun

Steamed Custard Buns (Nao Wong Bao)

Red Bean Buns (Dou Sha Bao)

Chinese Steamed Buns (Mantou)

And More Chinese Sweets

Almond Tofu

Chinese Egg Tart

Mung Bean Cake

Chinese Banana Fritters

Black Sesame Cookies

All-Time Recipes For  Chinese Savory Dishes

There are 28 Chinese ideas for hearty and delectable savory foods in this section. Keep rolling down, I will show you how to create them quickly and easily with simple store-bought Asian ingredients.

Chinese Dim Sum Recipes – Steamed/Fried Bite-Size Treats

These tiny dim sums are one of the characteristics that distinguish Chinese cuisine. Made of chopped pork, beef, seafood, or vegetables, they will be wrapped in dumpling wrappers to create a small and cute dim sum.

1. Siu Mai (Shumai)

Siu mai is one of the most basic dim sums that you can see in all Chinese restaurants. They are steamed dumplings made of pork and prawn, with wonton or egg wrappers.

Siu mai can be seen as a snack or main dish, depending on the quantity you could eat. And it is always served with a sauce that usually includes soy sauce and chili.

Let’s make these siu mai from scratch and enjoy dimsum right in your house. You can see this video to know more:

2. Pork And Chive Dumplings

You can see the main ingredients to make these dumplings right from its title. With ground pork and chives wrapped by dumpling wrappers, these are fluffy and juicy treats that everyone devours.

Plus, the recipe is very flexible as you can replace pork with chicken, beef, and shrimp to make different variations based on your preference.

3. Spicy Beef Dumplings

If you like ground beef, this dumpling recipe makes the cut. These spicy beef dumplings truly heat your meal up with various flavors and textures.

The chewy dumpling wrapper and the salty-juicy beef filling complement each other perfectly. And in this recipe, you can make wrappers at home if you want to upgrade your cooking skills.

4. Scallop And Shrimp Dumplings

These fried or steamed scallop and shrimp dumplings are both delicious. Also, there are 2 ways for shaping these seafood dumplings. You can make them into a conventional dumpling shape like the above recipes.

Or turn them into a small ‘money bag’ to resemble a bag to keep gold in ancient China. That’s why these ‘money bag’ dumplings are usually used to celebrate Chinese New Year with a meaning of prosperity.

5. Crab Rangoon

Crab rangoon is one of the most well-known appetizers in many Chinese meals. They are filled with crab and cream cheese to create a perfect combo of seafood and cream cheese flavors.

Plus, with the golden brown and crispy cover, every bite of crab rangoon is so exciting. They are best served with sweet and sour sauce, so do not forget this part.

6. Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao)

Little heads-up: the soup within the dumpling is sometimes too hot for you, so be careful when you eat them. They are, however, another juicy and delicious dumpling that you should not overlook.

Folding the wrappers might be pretty challenging for you. Still, I’d like to introduce an easy way to make it that even starters can successfully do in this recipe.

7. Vegetarian Dumplings

Even non-vegan eaters would enjoy this vegan dumpling. With chopped veggies, tofu, herbs, spices, and sauces, every component in this filling flawlessly blends, making them so tasty and unforgettable.

Fried Food – Another Special Characteristic In Chinese Recipes

Chinese people prefer to prepare their food by deep-frying, stir-frying, or any cuisine that requires oil. So with these 9 recipes, you might expect greasy yet so tasty meals.

8. Chow Mein

Chow mein is a popular Chinese dish that requires no effort to make. They are a combo of egg noodles and veggies and are cooked in just one pan. Both vegan and non-vegan versions are available for this chow mein.

So just based on how and what ingredients you want to add to this dish, chow mein is a versatile recipe with sweet and salty flavors that make you want to learn how to use chopsticks.

9. Shanghai Fried Noodle

In fact, this Shanghai fried noodles recipe is quite similar to chow mein. The difference here is I will use Shanghai noodles – thick and soft noodles that can be found in any Asian store.

If you cannot find it, substituting regular thin noodles is acceptable. Other important ingredients are chicken, mushroom, and bok choy to make a great balance in flavors for the overall dish.

10. Yangzhou Fried Rice (Chinese Egg Fried Rice)

Like chow mein, fried rice is a typical dish in China. But now, I’d like to present a basic version of fried rice with eggs in Yangzhou style.

They are so colorful with cubed carrots, peas, onion, eggs, and shrimp, and they taste so delicious as well. No-fuss and no-muss, this egg-fried rice is ready to serve in 10 minutes.

11. Szechuan-Style Cabbage

Are you a fan of spiciness? If you answered yes, this spicy Szechuan cabbage stir fry will fill you up and make you happy. All you need to prepare is cabbage, dried chili pepper, soy sauce, and seasoning.

For optimum seasoning absorption, cabbage leaves should be ripped by hand and cut into small pieces. And do not overcook as the cabbage will be too soft at this point.

12. Salted Egg Yolk Prawns

Have you heard of salted egg yolk before? If not, you are going to find out one of the masterpieces in cooking recipes. When salted egg yolk is combined with prawns and fried in oil, the result is a crispy and salty meal that makes it difficult to forget.

Moreover, the juicy prawn meat inside is also a highlight of this dish. So if you have salted egg yolk on hand, try to cook this dish once.

13. Chop Suey (Chicken Stir Fry)

With a long history, chop suey is another classic Chinese dish that provides endless sweet-and-salty flavors from many kinds of veggies and meat. Pork or chicken are 2 popular types of meat to cook chop suey. You can serve them with rice or noodles for the most fulfilling dinner.

Super tasty and juicy chop suey with chicken and vegetables. You can see this video to know more:

14. Sweet And Sour Chicken

The sweet and sour chicken recipe here will make you chow down till the last piece. The chicken will be rolled in cornstarch, flour, and egg to have a crispy texture after being fried.

Combine chicken with sweet-and-sour sauce, pineapple, and bell pepper; you do not even need food coloring to make this dish so appealing and appetizing.

15. Kung Pao Chicken

Kung pao chicken is everyone’s favorite takeout that combines every best flavor into 1 dish. Salty, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors are all melted on your tongue.

With around 1 hour to prepare and cook, kung pao chicken can be a high-class dish in any Chinese restaurant. Packed full of flavor and protein from chicken, this recipe should be bookmarked in your menu for a hearty dinner.

16. Beef Stir Fry

Beef stir fry is an easy dish that is popular in China and many Asian countries. In China, they can be stirred with egg noodles or served with steamed rice or fried rice.

To make your stir-fried beef more delicious, you should use flank steak or sirloin as they are more tender than other parts. Cut them thin and long so the beef could be marinated better.

17. Chinese Scallion Pancakes

The traditional Chinese scallion pancakes require patience and time as you have to make the dough. But here, this is the quickest way to make Chinese scallion pancakes but still keep the best flavor and quality as the traditional ones. With a few ingredients, they are a low-carb dish that only takes around 30 minutes to finish.

18. Ants Climbing A Tree (Ma Yi Shang Shu)

Why ‘ants climbing a tree’? Well, it has this name because when you see the ground meat clinging to glass noodles in this dish, it looks like ants are climbing a tree.

Plus, this recipe is versatile to replace any kind of ground meat that you like. Making it into a vegetarian version is perfectly fine. Simple ingredients full of flavors, all are in a plate of ‘ants climbing a tree’.

Hot One-Bowl Chinese Recipes To Calm Your Nerves

Some parts of China are very cold in the winter. That’s why there are so many wonderful soups and stew dishes that have been created. In this part, I have selected 7 special dishes that come in one hot bowl to present to you.

19. Chinese Congee (Chinese Rice Porridge)

Chinese congee is the best comforting dish that I have ever tried. With cooked white rice and stock, they are so light and delicate to enjoy in the morning. Plus, with a hint of warm ginger, there is nothing better than a hot bowl of congee on a winter day.

20. Chinese Noodle Soup

Chicken noodle soup is a low-budget dish that everyone can cook. First of all, do not let the store-bought chicken broth fail you down; make them by yourself instead. With garlic, ginger, Chinese cooking wine, and soy sauce, they will add flavor to your plain chicken broth.

The preparation part for noodles and veggies is super easy, so there are no worries left. Top with shredded chicken and green onion before serving.

21. Wonton Soup

Wonton soup always has a place in my heart as it is tasty and comforting. There are various versions for wonton, like chicken, pork, or beef wonton, but the most common one is pork wonton.

Ground pork will be seasoned and covered by wonton wrappers. They are then cooked and served with noodles and veggies. You can dip the wonton with spice sauce to add some heat to the dish.

22. Egg Drop Soup

This warm and light soup is a perfect idea for your low-carb recipes. Also, egg drop soup only requires 15 minutes to cook, so if you already have some stock and eggs on hand, there is no reason that you should not make them. And do not forget to add cornstarch to make the soup get thicker.

Nothing can challenge you to make this delicious egg drop soup. You can see this video to know more:

23. Chinese Chicken Meatball Soup

If your kids love meatballs, let’s try this chicken meatball soup in Chinese style. Similar to other soup recipes, you can make this soup effortlessly. With seasoned ground chicken and veggies, every ingredient is cooked in broth for 10 minutes, then served hot with a little bit of green onion on top.

24. Braised Beef And Tendon

There are so many different textures in 1 bowl of braised beef and tendon. However, you would find it hard to get tendons in the supermarket. Try to find in Asian butchers; they might have it.

But in China, the tendon can be a perfect ingredient in many dishes. And this braised beef and tendon dish will show you why. Packed with sweet-savory flavors and a little bit gooey from the meat, they totally deserve a try.

25. Hot And Sour Glass Noodle Soup (Suan La Fen)

Suan la fen – a hot and sour glass noodle soup, is a favorite soup with rich and bursting flavors. To make spicy and sour flavors for the soup, you mix soy sauce, vinegar, pepper, and some Chinese seasonings into one bowl, then add cooked noodles and stock into it.

Glass noodles, which are made of sweet potato, are used to make this dish. It is quite slippery and silky, so if you are not familiar with using chopsticks, use a fork instead.

More Chinese Savory Recipes That Deserve A Shot

Here are some more Chinese recipes ranging from the basic to restaurant-quality levels. So if you want to impress someone, choose one recipe and make it today.

26. Mapo Tofu

Szechuan mapo tofu is a dish that goes well with steamed rice. In this recipe, doubanjiang is a bean paste that determines the tofu dish’s spicy, aromatic, and salty flavor. If you cannot find it in an Asian grocery store, try ordering online.

Along with doubanjiang, Szechuan peppercorn, chili oil, and five-spice powder also play key parts in making this tofu so unique.

27. Chinese Sticky Honey Ribs

Chinese sticky honey spareribs would definitely become your family’s go-to recipe. With honey, soy sauce, and spices, now you will coat an eye-catching amber color to your ribs that look so irresistible. A little tip to minimize the cooking time: ribs should be chopped into small pieces.

By using sauces and spices, this Chinese sticky honey rib looks like a restaurant-style dish. You can see this video to know more:

28. Peking Duck

Peking duck is a Beijing specialty (Beijing is pronounced as Peking – a big city in China). They were served in the Chinese imperial period; that’s why you can spot them in many Chinese fine-dining restaurants nowadays.

Peking duck with pancakes, indeed, is a piece of art. Crispy duck skin with tender and juicy meat, combined with soft pancake, all dipped in a sweet-and-salty sauce, will bring you various levels of goodness.

Awesome Chinese Sweets Recipes For Your Sweet Tooth

Chinese sweets come in a range of shapes, sizes, and ingredients, but each one is distinct and meaningful. To improve your dessert (or snack) ideas, look at how the Chinese make their sweets through buns (or bao) and various sweets.

Indulgent Sweet Chinese Bun Recipes With/Without Filling

Bun (bao, or baozi) is a Chinese bun with fillings or without fillings. They are so soft and fluffy that I am sure you will want more than one. Let’s check these 3 authentic sweet bun recipes and find out why I say that.

29. Steamed Custard Buns (Nao Wong Bao)

Honestly, whether these steamed custard buns are served as a snack or a dessert makes no difference. They are so wonderful that I will order them first whenever I see them in a Chinese restaurant.

I love these buns so much that I have to try them at home. It turns out they are simple to make, but it might take a little time to make the dough. The custard filling is super easy as they are just a mixture of egg, cream, milk, and other sweet ingredients.

30. Red Bean Buns (Dou Sha Bao)

Instead of custard filling, now try red bean filling with these steamed red bean buns. They can be your perfect breakfast or dessert with a smooth and sweet filling. With simple ingredients like bean paste, flour, sugar, salt, and milk, you can easily make red bean buns at home as well.

31. Chinese Steamed Buns (Mantou)

Mantou – Chinese steamed buns without filling is also a good option if you just want to enjoy a lightly sweet bun. They are popular in the North of China and can be seen as a staple food there.

Moreover, you can spot them in many Asian grocery stores in your area. But nothing can beat the homemade mantou as their recipe is straightforward. They can also be a perfect companion for many meaty meals, for example, Kung pao chicken.

Let’s see how a native makes this cute mantou here. They are easy and quick to make with only a few ingredients. You can see this video to know more:

And Other Well-Loved Chinese Sweet Recipes

These recipes are perfect for a snack or dessert to boost your mood excellently. Some of them go well with tea, while others are delicious on their own.

32. Almond Tofu

This recipe is incredibly fast to make. In less than 10 minutes, you can prepare a simple yet convenient dessert with 2 main ingredients: milk and almond extract. If you want to improve the nutritional profile of the dessert, feel free to top it with some wholesome fruits from China.

All components are simply mixed and boiled on the stovetop for a few minutes. Then let them rest at room temperature or in the fridge for the best cold and smooth dessert.

33. Chinese Egg Tart

Chinese egg tarts are baked pies with a pastry cover. Crispy, flaky, and slightly sweet, these tarts are ideal for a snack and very convenient to bring along to a picnic or campfire. Remember to avoid over-baking them; otherwise, the egg custard will end up too dried and less tasty.

34. Mung Bean Cake

Mung bean cake (mung bean paste) is a traditional Chinese dessert with smooth mung bean paste filling. There are various colors, shapes, and tastes for mung bean cakes in China. The common color of this cake is yellow.

But you can add a little matcha for a light green color and delicate matcha taste with sweet bean filling. For easier preparation and smoother paste texture, choose peeled mung beans rather than unpeeled beans.

35. Chinese Banana Fritters

Once again, the Chinese 5 spices will be a star to highlight the flavor of these banana fritters in Chinese style. First, you have to choose ripe yet still firm bananas to make these fritters.

Toss them with flour and other spices, then cook them on a pan for a few minutes until they turn golden brown. That’s it. Now you have Chinese-inspired juicy banana fritters.

36. Black Sesame Cookies

Here are other sweets that can be spotted during the Chinese New Year holiday. In Chinese culture, cookies are a sign of happiness and wealth, and sesame cookies are no exception.

They bring much joy to eat with a buttery flavor and crunchy texture. Enjoying these delicious cookies with hot Chinese tea is what many locals love to do in the morning.

Explore China By These Chinese Food Highlights

Aside from the numerous gorgeous sites to view, the cuisine also influences how you remember a country. And Chinese cuisine has proven this statement.

There are still many unique Chinese recipes, but it is preferable to have them prepared by natives. However, some of the 36 recipes here could become your new favorite homemade dinners because they require no special materials or cooking abilities.

So if you agree with me, give these ideas a try. Also, if you have Chinese friends, prepare your favorite Chinese recipes and ask locals to rate the deliciousness. I’m sure you can do it. And do not forget to give this recipe list a like and share. I would appreciate your support. See you in the next cuisine article.