Pancit canton recipe that helps you make this favourite Filipino dish at home with ingredients that are readily available in your local supermarket.
(Looking for other Filipino recipes? Try this sopas recipe, the ultimate Filipino comfort food. Or this no-fail creamy leche flan recipe, a favourite Filipino dessert.)
Whenever people find out I’m from the Philippines, I almost always get asked: do you have a pancit recipe (pronounced pan-sit)? They always walk away disappointed because I’d always say no.
Well not anymore! Now I have a fabulous pancit canton recipe and the best part is, the recipe uses ingredients readily available here while still keeping that traditional pancit canton taste. Win-win!
What is pancit?
Filipinos grew up eating pancit but even non-Filipinos love it (they also love lumpia – I’m still working on that lol). But what is it?
You take some noodles, stir-fry it with soy sauce, some vegetables like snow peas and meat like chicken breast. Add some Chinese sausages or Chinese chorizo then serve it as a main or side.
So in a way it’s very similar to chow mein. But also very different.
What is canton noodle?
This recipe uses canton which is a type of egg flour noodle. You can find rounded ones like spaghetti or flat ones like fettuccini.
They’ve been dried and precooked so it doesn’t take long to fully cook them. A few quick minutes is all it takes.
What are the different types of pancit?
There are different kinds of noodles you can use for pancit, like pancit bihon, pancit habhab, etc. Each one looks and tastes different though the preparation is for the most part the same.
What is common is that it’s a staple in any Filipino gathering because pancit signifies long life. I’m not sure why that is, though it’s a common belief among Filipinos that noodles = luck and abundance.
So if not pancit, sweet and salty Filipino spaghetti would most likely be on the menu instead.
How to cook pancit canton recipe
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First you stir fry your vegetables in a tablespoon of oil on medium/high heat. We like using a wok but any deep large skillet will do.
Remove the vegetables from the pan and set aside.
Using the same pan (yes, everything happens in 1 pan so less clean-up!) cook your garlic and onions until the onions are soft and translucent. Then add your chicken and cook until lightly browned.
You want to add your fish balls now then your Chinese sausage
. Watch your meat so they don’t get burned. Lower the heat if needed.
At this point add your chicken broth, season and bring to a boil. Then add your canton noodles and stir just until it absorbs all that tasty liquid. Add the black fungus
(also called dried black wood ear mushrooms) then remove from heat.
Add back the vegetables you cooked earlier, sprinkle some chopped green onions and drizzle with sesame oil. You’re done!
Ingredients for pancit canton
Don’t be intimidated by the list of ingredients. The key to this pancit canton recipe is mis en place. Once you have everything ready, cooking is a breeze.
Speaking of ingredients, we buy all these in our local supermarket. Just look in the Asian or International aisle for things like flour stick noodles (apparently that’s what canton noodle is in English, who knew?), Chinese sausage or chorizo and soy sauce. The rest are easy.
If your local store doesn’t carry some of these items, you are certainly going to find them in an Asian supermarket. Or there’s always amazon!
Tools you need to cook pancit canton
The tools you need to cook pancit are pretty basic too.
Apart from the wok or the large, deep skillet, it would help to have a mandoline or a food processor
for all that chopping.
That’s it, pancit. Plus other Filipino recipes
So go ahead, take the plunge and make pancit today. It’s easier than you think. Plus, it’s delicious and remember, it brings good luck!
For other Filipino recipes, you might try filipino turon for a snack. Top it with vanilla ice cream, drizzle it with salted caramel sauce and you’re golden.
If you’re in a baking mood, why not try this easy, traditional pandesal recipe? It will not only make your kitchen smell wonderful, it would also give you a batch of the softest, fluffiest bread rolls ever.

Pancit Canton Recipe (Filipino Stir-Fried Noodles)
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil divided
- ¾ cup julienned red bell pepper
- ¾ cup julienned carrots
- 1 cup snap peas
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- ½ cup chopped onions
- ½ cup sliced chicken breast
- 1 cup fish balls sliced in half
- ½ cup sliced Chinese sausage also known as Chinese chorizo
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- 1 16oz pack canton or flour stick noodles
- ¼ cup dried black fungus see note
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- ½ cup chopped green onions divided
Instructions
- Add 1 tbsp vegetable oil to a wok or a deep, large skillet on med/high heat. Add 3/4 cup red bell pepper, 3/4 cup carrots and 1 cup snap peas. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Add another tbsp of oil to the pan and sauté 2 tbsp garlic with 1/2 cup onions until the onions are soft and translucent. Stir in 1/2 cup chicken and cook until lightly browned.
- Add 1 cup fish balls and cook for 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup Chinese sausage and cook for a minute more. Be careful not to overcook or burn the meats. Lower your heat if necessary.
- Pour 3 cups chicken broth. Season with 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp oyster sauce, salt and pepper to taste. Stir then allow the mixture to boil.
- Carefully add the canton noodles and stir until it absorbs all the liquid. Add chopped black fungus then remove from heat.
- Add back your cooked vegetables, half of your chopped green onions and 1 tsp of sesame oil. Stir until combined.
- Sprinkle the rest of your green onions before serving. Best served warm.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information are estimates only.
Happy cooking!
Did you make this pancit canton recipe? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
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Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Peas with Ham Hock - Grumpy's Honeybunch
Sunday 22nd of December 2019
[…] delicious noodle recipe is this Pancit Canton Recipe (Filipino Stir Fried Noodles. These noodles are packed with goodies that nobody can […]
Joedl
Monday 5th of August 2019
I don't usually cook so I followed this recipes and directions to the letter (I just added chopped cabbage and used fish sauce instead of salt). My daughter who can identify ingredients by taste, my wife who is a gourmet eater, and my sons who like to eat love this pancit canton. Even my 4-yr old grandson keeps on asking "more pancit lolo." So much so that they just left a small bowl for me. That pancit was gone in a jiffy. Many thanks Jolina and may God always bless your gift of cooking.
Jolina
Thursday 8th of August 2019
That's awesome Joedl! I'm so happy everybody liked it :) Lolo of the year!
Cheryl
Thursday 14th of June 2018
This looks so yum! I love it when I can put so much veggies in this noodles, a way to make the kid eat more vegetables. Can't wait to try this recipe. Thank you for sharing!
Dawn
Saturday 2nd of June 2018
Hey Jolina! This looks AMAZING! I've never had this before, but clearly I've been missing out cause this has my name written allllll over it....see it, lol ?? Seriously, though, gotta get this one on the menu. I know hubby would love too. Extra green onion for me please! Hope you have an awesome weekend and send some of that sun along, will ya ;)
Tiffany D
Thursday 31st of May 2018
Yummmmm! I LOVE Pancit. I have Filipino family members and whenever there's a big gathering it's on the menu along with lechon! Your recipe looks delicious so I'll definitely give it a try!
Jolina
Sunday 3rd of June 2018
Mmmm now I want lechon lol!