5 Quick and Delicious Family-Style Chinese Dishes

We've all been there – it's late, you forgot to defrost anything for dinner, and time is running out. Your only choices seem to be cereal or ordering take-out. Luckily, your favorite Chinese restaurant is just a phone call away, and you know the menu by heart.

Since Chinese immigrants first introduced wok-cooked meals to Western miners and railroad workers in the 19th century, Asian cuisine has been widely popular in the United States. Although Chinese food in the U.S. was adapted to suit local tastes, it still preserves many of its authentic flavors and ingredients that remain beloved today.

It's time to move beyond your local Chinese restaurant, because preparing Chinese dishes at home is just as simple and offers a wonderful way to provide healthy meals for your family. Whether you're a novice with the fortune cookie or a wok master, these five easy-to-make family-style Chinese recipes are sure to excite your taste buds.

5: Almond Chicken

Almond chicken is a popular dish you'll often find at Chinese restaurants across the U.S. Start by making your sauce, which combines sherry, soy sauce, corn starch, and chicken bouillon. This flavorful sauce forms the base of your dish, enhanced by bamboo shoots, stir-fried almonds, carrots, and ginger. Add in onions and celery, and finish with chicken cut into small cubes. This recipe will guide you step by step.

4: Apricot-Chicken Pot Stickers

A hallmark of great Chinese cuisine is a tempting appetizer to whet the appetite. Believe it or not, making pot stickers is easier than you might think, and they add a touch of flair to any family-style Chinese meal. The trick is using pre-made wonton wrappers. As for the filling, the possibilities are endless. In this recipe, we use cabbage, ginger, chicken, and an apricot fruit spread. Just stuff the wonton wrappers, seal them, and steam them for a quick, delicious dish.

3: Chinese Cabbage Salad

Amazing Chinese food doesn't always require a wok. Here's a simple recipe for a refreshing salad. Start with pre-shredded cabbage, fresh ginger, red apples, golden raisins, and green onions. Add some cider vinegar, sesame oil, and cilantro to balance the flavors. For a boost of protein, sauté cubed chicken in soy sauce and sesame oil, chill it in the fridge, and use it as a topping.

2: Chinese-style Fried Brown Rice

Fried rice is a classic in Chinese-American cuisine, found on nearly every take-out menu nationwide. The problem with traditional fried rice is that it's typically made with enriched white rice, which isn't the healthiest option. To make a healthier version for your family, try swapping the white rice for brown rice.

Fried rice is simple to make, especially if you prepare the rice in advance and refrigerate it. Cold rice cooks better in the wok than freshly cooked, hot rice. Add soy sauce, scrambled eggs, peas, carrots, and onions, and you're almost there. This recipe calls for diced smoked ham for added flavor, but you can swap it with chicken, pork, or even leave out the meat altogether for a vegetarian option.

1: Five-spice Beef Stir-fry

For this dish, traditional Chinese five-spice powder is the secret to the flavor. This spice blend consists of cinnamon, clove, fennel seed, anise, and Szechuan peppercorns. You should be able to find these at your local grocery store in the spice aisle or ethnic food section. The recipe uses sirloin beef, cooked stir-fry style with carrots, onions, and red and yellow peppers. Soy sauce, red pepper, and brown sugar bring a sweet and spicy kick, perfect for serving over white or brown rice.