Easy Chinese Food Recipes for an Air Fryer, Instant Pot, or Slow Cooker

Just because restaurant prices continue to soar doesn’t mean you have to miss out on great Chinese food. We’ve rounded up some of the most well-reviewed and easy Chinese food recipes — from appetizers and sides to meat, seafood, and vegetarian entrees — that will find you recreating some of your favorite takeout dishes in your own kitchen. With the help of an air fryer, Instant Pot, or slow cooker you can also save plenty of time and hassle with these set-it-and-forget-it dishes.

Related: 21 Takeout Meals Made Cheaper at Home

What’s a Chinese meal without an egg roll, right? This pork egg roll recipe — which guarantees “it’s impossible to eat just one” — features easy prep thanks to packaged coleslaw mix. A touch of fresh ginger and Chinese 5-spice kick things up a notch. 

Recipe: The Pioneer Woman

Related: 40 Air Fryer Recipes to Cut Calories Not Flavor

This veggie spin on egg rolls, ideal as an appetizer, snack, or quick lunch, takes just nine minutes to make. Ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and black pepper add a zip of flavor, and the recipe creator notes protein, from tofu to shrimp to chicken, can be added for those who prefer.

Recipe: Sustainable Cooks

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Deep flavors and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness are the signs of a satisfying spare rib. This recipe, which earned 4.4 out of 5 stars from nearly 350 reviewers, promises just that. Keep in mind, though, the “delicious, finger-licking sticky glaze” is billed as the star of this slow cooker favorite.

Recipe: Butter Your Biscuit

A bowl of hot soup on a chilly evening never fails to satisfy. This recipe for the Chinese classic comes together in 20 minutes thanks to the Instant Pot and frozen wontons. Fresh spinach adds flavor, while a splash of rice vinegar adds an unexpected tang.

Recipe: Tasty Oven

A platter of shrimp starts any meal off in style. This recipe offers air-fried shrimp that rely on a savory marinade for a unique finish. And that twist — the majority of air-fryer shrimp recipes seem to rely on breaded methods — makes for an unexpected treat.

Recipe: Craving Tasty

This recipe notes that when peanut butter, sesame, and noodles come together, “life is good.” We have to agree, and further appreciate that this instant pot version of an all-time favorite Chinese dish is equally tasty when served hot or cold.

Recipe: Pressure Luck Cooking

The description of this dish notes that it’s beloved for the signature contrast between the crispy exterior (wonton wrappers) and the soft interior (a combo of cheese and crabmeat). Crab Rangoon is said to trace its roots back to the fabled Polynesian-themed restaurants known as Trader Vic’s, founded in the 1930s, so your home kitchen will not only be turning out something tasty but also something historic.

Recipe: Food Network

Whether or not you're watching the big game, chicken wings are always a crowd-pleaser. The classic party snack or appetizer gets a gluten-free spin with this recipe that yields a sweet and spicy sensation.

Recipe: InstantPot.com

Sure, you can just pop some frozen dumplings into the air fryer and be done with it. This recipe, though, offers a truly hands-on approach, as you create the dumplings from scratch — and it’s easier than you might think thanks to dumpling (or egg roll) wrappers from the grocery store.

Recipe: Fork to Spoon

Said to be an Asian “superfood,” loaded with nutrients, fiber, minerals, and protein, bok choy is also just plain tasty. Here, garlic and ginger root give this vegetarian- and vegan-friendly interpretation a dash of spice, as well.

Recipe: Corrie Cooks

Forget soggy, overcooked string beans with this recipe. Instead, expect bright green beans crisped in the air fryer and then tossed with a sticky garlic sauce with a hint of sweetness. Fresh garlic yields the most flavorful result, with brown sugar (or honey) adding that sweet note.

Recipe: Get On My Plate

Not in the mood for another kale salad? Take the ubiquitous vegetable on a trip to China with this recipe that gains depth from a bit of oyster sauce.

Recipe: Dad Cooks Dinner

A favorite during Lunar New Year celebrations, Chinese mushroom dishes are certainly welcome at the table any time of year. This recipe leans into the authentic side, using dried Chinese mushrooms, but you can certainly expect one-of-a-kind results for your efforts.

Recipe: Nomss.com

General Tso’s Chicken is a crowd-pleasing dish, and this incarnation seems to follow suit as it was rated 4.5 out of 5 stars by more than 550 reviewers. Said to offer the “perfect balance of sweet and tangy,” the recipe produces a homemade meal in less than 30 minutes.

Recipe: Jo Cooks

The sauce of this classic Chinese beef dish is said to be “insanely addictive,” thanks to ingredients that include brown sugar, garlic, and soy sauce. A prep tip? Make sure the beef is thinly sliced for the best results.

Recipe: Adventures of a Nurse

Don’t mock it until you’ve tried it. The sauce of this dish features not only sugar, rice vinegar, and soy sauce but also ketchup. You’ll prepare the sauce separately, and then add your air-fried pork to it for the best results.

Recipe: Allrecipes

Crispy. Honey. Sesame. Shrimp. Um, we think that kind of says it all … but if you’re still unsure, know that this recipe uses Panko breadcrumbs for a definitive crunch (though its creator does offer some alternatives).

Recipe: Recipe Magik

Billed as a “healthier” take on the traditional stir fry preparation, this shrimp and broccoli dish makes it to the table in less than 20 minutes, making it an ideal option for those busy weeknights. Of note, reviewers also gave it 4.9 out of 5 stars.

Recipe: Little Sunny Kitchen

This recipe directs you to air fry the beef to “crispy perfection” and simmer it in a “to-die-for” Asian sauce. We’re listening … and will take its creator’s advice and serve it over rice and top it with toasted sesame seeds.

Recipe: Just A Pinch Recipes

Pulled pork isn’t just for barbecue joints. This homemade dish is said to be savory and slightly smoky, creating flavorful pork that can be served over rice, in noodle bowls, as a sandwich, or over a salad. The recipe can also be adjusted for gluten-free prep, too.

Recipe: Omnivore’s Cookbook

To those who think tofu is bland and flavorless, this recipe may just change your minds for good. It features crispy tofu cubes that are “tossed with spicy chile peppers, crispy garlic, and a sprinkling of flavorful spices” for a dish sure to impress.

Recipe: All Ways Delicious

Extra-firm tofu gives substance to this dish, which is designed as a vegan and vegetarian entrée. A ginger-chile sauce keeps things from just another routine recipe.

Recipe: InstantPot.com

Sometimes, easy is the way to go. This recipe features tofu, vegetables (think onion, mini corn, and broccoli), and instant ramen noodles that combine for a memorable-yet-simple meal. Cilantro, sesame seeds, and Sriracha add the finishing touches.

Recipe: Noble Veggies

This recipe seems designed to impress. After all, can you imagine making something as elegant as shrimp with lobster sauce at home? With the help of an Instant Pot, you can, and we bet your guests will be amazed that this iconic Chinese restaurant dish, complete with “large shrimp loaded with peas in a rich, egg ribbon and lobster cream sauce” was not only made at home but by you!

Recipe: Pressure Luck Cooking

This is a straightforward Chinese dish that’s been pleasing diners for decades. So it’s no surprise that this interpretation is said to be a “go-to” recipe designed for getting a family-pleasing meal on the table with ease. Must be a keeper as it’s been shared nearly 60,000 times.

Recipe: The Belly Rules the Mind

This is a budget-friendly dish that takes advantage of leftovers; you can customize the vegetables and/or protein depending on what’s on hand. Prep note: If you don’t mix the fried rice during the cooking stage, you’ll get crunchy rice on top (which, admittedly, some might prefer).

Recipe: Recipes From a Pantry

Perhaps not the most elegant recipe name, but this recipe is billed as “an easy dump-and-go recipe.” This is a quick spin that offers countless variations. Home chefs will note that fettuccine, linguine, or spaghetti is suggested instead of lo mein noodles, as the Italian options hold up better during Instant Pot cooking.

Recipe: 365 Days of Slow + Pressure Cooking

Cooked egg noodles, mushrooms, carrots, and soybeans (for protein) are among the ingredients in this oil-free recipe that can be adjusted for vegans by subbing in whole-wheat noodles.

Recipe: Hungry Healthy Happy

The description of this dish has us ready to dive in: “The rich and savory sticky rice is seasoned with soy sauce and mixed with sweet Chinese sausage and crunchy water chestnuts.” It’s certainly not your everyday one-pot meal.

Recipe: Omnivore’s Cookbook

Hands up if you’ve ever lost count of how many of those pillowy “donuts” served at your favorite Chinese buffet restaurant you’ve eaten. Whether you enjoy them before, during, or after your main course, they certainly add a sweet note to the meal. Aided by an air fryer, you can make your own version at home — just think of them as sugar buns crafted out of a tube of buttermilk biscuits.

Recipe: Fork to Spoon