Authentic Pancit Recipe - Filipino Noodles with Chicken | A Healthy Makeover (2024)

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Pancit – authentic Filipino-style fried noodles recipe made with protein and vegetables. My family favorite meal is perfect for a special occasion but easy enough for any weeknight!

My Pancit Recipe is one of my most favorite meals. And the best part is that it’s a quick recipe! In fact, when asked “What would you choose for your last meal?” Hands down, some of my mama’s Filipino recipes like lumpia, adobo, fried rice and most definitely Pancit (which is pronounced Pon Sit)!

Authentic Pinoy Recipe

Pancit is a classic Filipino recipe and popular dish in the Philippines; sometimes served as street food.

As you may know by now, I’m half Filipino; my Pinoy Mama is an amazing cook and she taught me my love for cooking, for food, and all things delicious. She also taught me how food should be enjoyed. When cooking for us she always kept ingredients pretty simple.

Often in Filipino culture, the pancit bihon dish is served at special occasions like family gatherings and birthday celebrations.

Authentic Pancit Recipe - Filipino Noodles with Chicken | A Healthy Makeover (1)

What is Pancit?

Pancit is a popular Filipino food. A traditional Filipino noodle dish and is usually made with meat like pork, chicken, turkey and even beef, and veggies. It is typically made with rice noodles. When people ask me, I always say it is similar to Chinese Lo Mein, but with thinner noodles. The savory sauce is very simple: I use soy sauce and chicken broth, and my secret ingredient, see below.

Basically it’s like stir fry: you toss lots of great veggies and the protein of your choice, the noodles and sauce into a large pot. The entire dish can be made in one

Classic Pancit Recipe with Chicken

One time I was experimenting with her pancit bihon recipe and it turned out pretty well and she literally said, “This is the best pancit I’ve ever had – you make it better than I do!”

And now when she makes it, she makes it my way.A compliment on my ‘Pino food from a true ‘Pino??! That’s how you know this Pancit Bihon recipe is legit, friends! A super quick and easy recipe.

Authentic Pancit Recipe - Filipino Noodles with Chicken | A Healthy Makeover (2)

Which Ingredients are in Filipino Stir Fried Noodles?

The secret ingredient in my Pancit recipe is a little bit of dry soup mix and chicken stock. It adds a ton of flavor! In traditional Filipino cooking, this may not be an ingredient, but I use it each and every time.

I also like to make things even easier by using shredded slaw mix because I hate having to buy a big head of cabbage when I only need a few cups.

Other veggies to include are onions, celery and carrots. These are the basic ingredients and traditional veggies in Pancit, but feel free to use broccoli, cauliflower, bean sprouts, snap peas or green beans. You can also use any variety of veggies you like.

Another way to make this recipe easy is to use leftover chicken or precooked chicken chicken breast. A rotisserie chicken is perfect.

Vegetarian Pancit Recipe

Make it vegetarian by leaving out the meat or adding tofu instead. Vegetable options include: green cabbage, onions, celery and carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, bean sprouts, snap peas, snow peas, bok choy, green beans.

Traditionally Pancit is made with whatever you’ve got in the house – so use up those leftovers! There are so many different versions of this authentic recipe. It is really such a simple dish made with simple ingredients and lots of great flavor.

Substitutions

Instead of chicken, use turkey, sliced pork, steak, fresh shrimp. Some people even like to add Chinese sausages.

Authentic Pancit Recipe - Filipino Noodles with Chicken | A Healthy Makeover (3)

How to Store Pancit and How Long Will it Keep?

Store any leftover Pancit in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Freeze: Once your Pancit is cooked, store any leftovers in an airtight freezer bag for up to 30 days. To thaw, just place in your fridge for 12 hours. To reheat, just microwave or heat in a skillet until warmed through.

Additional Questions

Q: Do you have to soak rice noodles in warm water? No; the noodles are thin and cook quickly in the chicken broth that has been heated over medium heat.

Q: Can I use fish sauce or oyster sauce? Absolutely; these add great flavors and I would add them to the sauce mixture.

Q: What is the difference between Pancit Bihon and Pancit Canton? These recipes are similar except the noodles are different. Pancit Bihon uses the thin rice noodles, and Pancit Canton uses the thicker noodles made with egg or wheat.

Q: Can you find these thin noodles in your local store? Yes; head to the Asian aisle of your store and look for rice noodles, rice vermicelli, rice sticks, bihon noodles, pancit noodles, cellophane noodles, etc. If you have Asian Markets in your area, even better.

How to Make Pancit

This Filipino cuisine recipe comes together so easily. Here are some great tips to make Pancit:

  • Slice your veggies thinly
  • Slice your chicken/protein into thin strips
  • Heat oil in a large heavy skillet.
  • Keep the pan hot in order to flash fry the meat and veggies – medium-high heat is great
  • If you’d like to add fresh cloves garlic, or garlic powder do this when you add your veggies
  • Sauté your veggies, then remove to a dish while you cook the chicken/protein unless using precooked
  • Cook the chicken/protein, then remove to the veggie dish while you cook the noodles
  • Make the sauce and add it to the pan to heat
  • Add and saute noodles; these will cook quickly and absorb the sauce
  • Once the noodles are cooked (just a few minutes), add in the veggies and chicken/protein and stir
  • You can even top it with green onion or a splash of lemon juice or lime juice for added citrus flavor when serving
  • I like to add red pepper flakes for some spice
Authentic Pancit Recipe - Filipino Noodles with Chicken | A Healthy Makeover (4)

Let’s get to it – I really think you’re going to love this recipe – from my family to yours!

This recipe was updated on June 2, 2022

Authentic Pancit Recipe - Filipino Noodles with Chicken | A Healthy Makeover (5)

Pancit - Authentic Filipino Noodles with Chicken

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Pancit Canton - This is the easy pancit (Filipino Noodles) recipe you've been looking for!

Ingredients

  • 8 oz Vermicelli Rice Noodles, They need to be made of rice - they come really thin up to the thickness of linguine
  • 2 tsp Sesame Oil or Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 10 oz Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, sliced or diced (I used tenders, then chopped after cooking); you can also use precooked or leftover chicken
  • 1 cup Carrots, sliced
  • 1 Med Celery, sliced
  • 1 tsp Minced Garlic
  • 2 cups Cabbage, shredded; I use slaw mix for ease
  • 3 cups Chicken Broth
  • 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
  • 2 Tbsp Dry Soup Mix, Like Onion or Herb; I just measure 2Tbsp out of the packet.

Instructions

  1. This is what the rice noodles look like. I prefer the thin vermicelli
  2. In a wok or large skillet with higher sides, heat oil until nice and hot – sizzly, if you will.
  3. Place the chicken in and brown it on both sides until it’s no longer pink. Remove and set aside. Skip this step if using precooked chicken.
  4. In the still hot pan, add carrots and celery and sauté for about 6 minutes until beginning to get soft but still firm.
  5. Add the minced garlic to the veggies and sauté for about 30 seconds.
  6. Add the cabbage mix and stir everything together…heating through…you don’t want to cook the cabbage too much; it should be a little bit crunchy. Then, remove everything from the pan.
  7. In the still hot pan (see a trend? Keep that pan nice and HOT!) add the chicken broth, Worcestershire, soy sauce and dry soup mix. Heat through.
  8. Add the dry noodles to the pan and let the liquid get absorbed. It will happen, just wait for it…wait for it…see? It happens pretty quickly.
  9. As soon as the noodles have almost absorbed all of the liquid and they are easily stirrable (pretty sure that’s a word), add the veggies and chicken back in and mix everything together; heating through. It’s easier at this point to use tongs to mix.
  10. That’s it! I like to add hot chili paste to mine afterwards. YUM!!

Notes

Substitutions:

You can easily make these vegetarian by leaving out the chicken and using veggie broth.

Another variation is to use pork strips, my second favorite addition to this delicious noodle dish.

Use shrimp or steak, too!

Storing/Freezing:

Store any leftover Pancit in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Freeze: Once your Pancit is cooked, store any leftovers in an airtight freezer bag for up to 30 days. To thaw, just place in your fridge for 12 hours. To reheat, just microwave or heat in a skillet until warmed through.

Nutrition Information

Yield 6 servingsServing Size 1 grams
Amount Per ServingCalories 382Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 7gCholesterol 58mgSodium 947mgCarbohydrates 45gFiber 4gSugar 7gProtein 26g

Nutrition calculation is offered as a courtesy and no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. The data provided are a product of online nutrition calculators and should be considered an estimate only. I am not a registered dietician nor a certified nutritionist. For more accurate information, or if you have dietary restrictions, please consult a trusted professional. A Healthy Makeover strongly supports Intuitive Eating, body trust, and Health at Every Size.

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Authentic Pancit Recipe - Filipino Noodles with Chicken | A Healthy Makeover (6)

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FAQs

What is traditional pancit in the Philippines? ›

Pancit Canton

The most common noodle dish found in Filipino homes and restaurants. This dish has egg noodles that are stir fried usually with vegetables like carrots, green beans, shitake mushrooms and cabbage, together with slices of pork. Sometimes, pork liver and sliced fish balls are added too.

What is the most popular type of pancit? ›

Pancit
Pancit canton, the most popular type of pancit
Alternative namesPansít
TypeNoodle
Place of originPhilippines
Media: Pansit

How do you keep pancit from spoiling? ›

If you made Pancit more than what is needed, transfer the leftovers to a container with lid and place in the fridge. It should last for a couple of days. Never cover while still warm or it will spoil faster.

What are the interesting facts about pancit? ›

Truly, pancit is a storied dish most likely brought to the shores by Chinese merchants. Pancit is actually a poor man's dish. “Pancit comes from the [Hokkien] word pian-e-sit, which literally means food that is convenient to cook,” shares Carmelea Ang See, Director of Bahay Tsinoy Museum in Intramuros, Manila.

What do Filipinos believe about pancit? ›

Aside from its flavours and easy preparation, pancit holds some cultural value among Filipinos, who believe that serving the dish at birthday parties brings a long and prosperous life for the celebrant.

What does pancit mean in Filipino? ›

Pancit doesn't just refer to one particular type of noodle because there are several. According to Foodicles, the word can refer to egg, wheat, or rice noodles, all of which can be cooked up in many different ways. Pancit can be egg noodles stir-fried with soy sauce before it is tossed with seafood and vegetables.

What kind of noodles are used in pancit? ›

There are two styles of Pancit-Pancit Canton and Pancit Bihon. The main difference is the noodle type. While Pancit Canton uses a lo mein style noodle made of wheat flour, Pancit Bihon favors use of thin rice noodles, sometimes called rick stick or rice vermicelli.

Where is pancit originally from? ›

Pancit: influence of the Chinese in Philippine noodles. Pancit (or spelled as pansit) is a Filipino version of a noodle dish that was contributed by the Chinese traders during the pre-Hispanic times of the Philippines. Every part of the Philippine archipelago has its own version of pancit.

What ethnicity is pancit? ›

Pancit Bihon: Filipino Rice Noodle Dish

Sauté onions and garlic until onions become translucent. Cut chicken into bite size pieces and brown with onions and garlic. After chicken is cooked, add vegetables and 1 cup of chicken stock. Bring to a boil and add pancit noodles.

What is the harmful substance in Pancit Canton? ›

Pancit Canton has been found with low levels of ethylene oxide, a sterilizing agent that is also used as a pesticide.

Can I cook pancit the night before? ›

Make-Ahead and Storage

Pancit bihon can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

How many days is pancit good for? ›

How to Store Pancit and How Long Will it Keep? Store any leftover Pancit in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Freeze: Once your Pancit is cooked, store any leftovers in an airtight freezer bag for up to 30 days. To thaw, just place in your fridge for 12 hours.

Who brought pancit in the Philippines? ›

It is common throughout the country yet unique across the regions, reflective of each locale's topography, lifestyle, and history. Pancit has been around since pre-colonial times, brought over by early Chinese traders centuries before the Spaniards arrived in 1521.

Why do we eat pancit on birthday? ›

In our tradition, we had to eat it on our birthday every year because, as my Nanay would say, "You'll live to be over 100 years old if you do." And so, we ate ancit instead of cake. At every birthday, pancit was and still is the centerpiece of our dinner table.

How healthy is pancit? ›

With essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, Pancit promotes overall well-being, aids in digestion, and supports heart health, making it a flavorful and wholesome addition to your diet.

What is the tradition of pancit? ›

Notable Traditions

Many Filipino foods have rich traditions surrounding them, and pancit is no exception. Among the biggest tradition is that partygoers should eat the dish when celebrating a loved one's birthday. This tradition that has its origins in Chinese culture.

What is the Filipino dish pancit made of? ›

Pancit is a Filipino dish. There are many different types of pancit, but it always features rice noodles and vegetables (and often meat, such as pork or chicken).

What are the two types of pancit? ›

Pancit Noodles. There are two styles of Pancit-Pancit Canton and Pancit Bihon. The main difference is the noodle type. While Pancit Canton uses a lo mein style noodle made of wheat flour, Pancit Bihon favors use of thin rice noodles, sometimes called rick stick or rice vermicelli.

What are the different types of pancit? ›

Here are some of the popular types!
  • Pancit Canton. Pancit canton noodles are egg-based, so they have a yellow appearance. ...
  • Pancit Bihon. Pancit bihon noodles, also called rice stick noodles, are made from rice flour, cornstarch, and water. ...
  • Pancit Lomi. Lomi noodles are also egg-based, like canton. ...
  • Pancit Misua.
Mar 18, 2022

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