Quick 20-minute Moo Shu Chicken (use leftover chicken)

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Last Updated on December 17, 2023

Why order Moo Shu if you can make it at home and have it both healthy and flavorsome? Check out my 20-minute Moo Shu Chicken/Pork recipe that everyone loves!

moo shu chicken

When I moved to Portland, I soon discovered a Chinese restaurant a couple blocks from my apartment.   I would make the jaunt every week or so for their delicious Moo Shu Chicken (and their stiff drinks, woah. I’m amazed my liver made it through that year).

This first time I ordered it, I had all kinds of questions like what is Moo Shu chicken? In a nutshell, it’s a stir-fry made of savory vegetables, typically shiitake mushroom and cabbage and green onions and eggs all piled into a wrap.

When you order it in a restaurant, it’s typically served in a moo sho pancake but you can easily use a flour tortilla, lettuce leaf or coconut wraps as I have shown in my photos.

All of us have a couple of homemade recipes for meals that are so much better than their restaurant version, sometimes even better than takeout! My latest recipe addition to my list is better than Chinese takeout –– can you imagine? It’s the Moo Shu Chicken dish!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ordered it, whether for takeout or in a Chinese restaurant, but ever since I tried making my own version, and got my recipe right, I never ordered it again.  Next on my list to tackle is my favorite Chicken Jalfrezi Recipe.

My eyes just wholly eliminate it from the menu whenever I’m out or ordering in. It easily tops the list of my dinner recipes now! 

I never expected Moo Shu Chicken to be this easy to make –– not to mention, quick! In just around a total time of 30 minutes, you’ll taste the deliciously sweet and savory combination that it uniquely brings to the table. Let’s jump into the recipe!


Time to Set Aside

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 4-6 servings

Calories: 349 calories from fat


moo shu chicken

Anyhow, I could not get enough of them – I was addicted and then I had to give it all up when I went Paleo.

Well at least I thought so.

This recipe is crazy simple and the best part is that it used precooked chicken to make it (pst, you can prep a bunch of chicken when you make this Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Recipe).

Moo Shu Chicken Recipe/Moo Shu Pork Recipe

Before we get started, let me share with you some steps that’ll save you prep time if you’re in a hurry, not a kitchen fanatic, or you’re a slow cooker (which is completely fine). However, feel free to do whatever makes sense for you!

  • Some food offering ideas are just life-savers. Did you know that bags of shredded green and purple cabbage exist? After I had been spending the longest time chopping green cabbage alone and purple cabbage alone and then mixing them with some carrots, I came across that innovation by accident. So, get yourself a bag! 
  • Okay, this isn’t a new one. But instead of having to chop the mushrooms, it’s best to get a package of shiitake mushrooms, the thinly-sliced ones. And by the way, if you can’t seem to find shiitakes, white button or baby-Bella ones will do the job too. I’ve skipped mushrooms in my recipe because my husband hates them.
  • Mexican flour tortillas are the closest you’ll come to the Mandarin pancakes we’re obsessed with at Chinese restaurants! 
  • Using pre-cooked chicken or pork makes this a super-fast recipe since you don’t have to wait for anything to marinate.

Alternative recipe using raw chicken/pork

Don’t have leftover chicken? Follow these simple instructions to marinate the meat:

Marinade Ingredients:

  • ½ cup of hoisin sauce
  • ¼ cup of rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • Black pepper
  • 6 cloves of minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce

Chicken Moo Shu/Pork Moo Shu Ingredients:

  • For the chicken: 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast sliced into thin strips, or for pork: 1 pound of boneless pork chops sliced into thin strips
  • Marinade

Instructions:

1. Prepare some marinade by mixing its components (listed above) in a mixing bowl until they’re perfectly blended.  

2. Divide the marinade into two. Add the chicken or pork, depending on the recipe you’re choosing to follow, to half of it, and set aside the rest; we’ll use it later. Leave the chicken or pork for around 5 minutes.

3. In a skillet, melt 1 tsp of coconut oil and then add in the chicken. Cook until no longer pink and remove from the pan. Follow the instructions from the recipe below to finish.

Now, it’s time to start the super simple recipe!

paleo mu shu chicken
Yield: 4

Quick 20-minute Moo Shu Chicken (use leftover chicken)

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

it's easy to make Moo Shu Chicken or Pork at home with some simple ingredients.

Ingredients

Wraps - You can use tortillas or lettuce wraps also

  • Pure Wraps

Filling

Instructions

In a skillet add the coconut oil, ginger, and garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

Next, add in the cabbage and cook until wilted, roughly 5 minutes.

Then add in the sesame oil, fish sauce, coconut aminos or soy sauce, maple syrup and cooked chicken and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

Make a well in the center of your pan and add in the whisked eggs and scramble.

Once the eggs are cooked, mix in with the other ingredients.

To serve, take a wrap and spoon 1/3 cup of filling and sprinkle with chopped green onions.

Ta-da! You’re done! See how simple the Moo Shu Chicken/Pork recipe is? It’s basically a set of stir-fry instructions to follow!

Next, I serve it in flour tortillas or lettuce cups to give it some final touches. My mom loves to serve it over a bed of rice or quinoa, so do whatever you want! Also, if you're going to have side dishes, go ahead and prepare them. 

For toppings, I’m a little extra when it comes to hoisin, so I add some more sauce (1 teaspoon maybe). Only then do I start eating this mouth-watering, comfort-food, Chinese dish that also happens to be a healthy one completely rich in vegetables and protein!

Enjoy your Pork/Chicken Moo Shu and let me know when you try it! If you have different recipes for the same dish, I’d love to hear them out as well! 

Notes

Don't have leftover chicken? Follow these simple instructions to marinate the meat:


Marinade Ingredients:

  • ½ cup of hoisin sauce
  • ¼ cup of rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • Black pepper
  • 6 cloves of minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce

Chicken Moo Shu/Pork Moo Shu Ingredients:

  • For the chicken: 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast sliced into thin strips, or for pork: 1 pound of boneless pork chops sliced into thin strips
  • Marinade

Instructions:

1. Prepare some marinade by mixing its components (listed above) in a mixing bowl until they’re perfectly blended.  

2. Divide the marinade into two. Add the chicken or pork, depending on the recipe you’re choosing to follow, to half of it, and set aside the rest; we’ll use it later. Leave the chicken or pork for around 5 minutes.

3. In a skillet, melt 1 tsp of coconut oil and then add in the chicken. Cook until no longer pink and remove from the pan. Follow the instructions from the recipe above to finish.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 353Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 169mgSodium: 401mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 3gSugar: 8gProtein: 32g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Check out some of my other favorite leftover chicken recipes:

Chicken Enchiladas

13 thoughts on “Quick 20-minute Moo Shu Chicken (use leftover chicken)”

  1. I made this for dinner tonight, and it was delicious! I did not have any fish sauce, so I used just a smidge more sesame oil for flavor. Also didn’t have any of those delicious looking wraps, so I served it with jasmine rice. My husband and I LOVED it. Better than take out!

    Reply
  2. Ooh I can’t wait to try these, they are definitely going on the menu for next week! Love how quick and easy they are 🙂

    Reply

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