When you need a colorful, nutritious meal that’s bursting with flavor and ready faster than you can say delivery, this Shrimp Chop Suey is your solution. This classic Chinese-American dish features tender shrimp and crisp vegetables swimming in a silky, savory sauce that clings to every ingredient perfectly. Unlike heavier stir-fries, chop suey keeps the vegetables beautifully crisp and fresh, creating a lighter dish that still satisfies completely. The combination of crunchy bean sprouts, sweet snow peas, crisp celery, and succulent shrimp creates a delightful variety of textures in every forkful. The glossy brown sauce ties everything together with hints of garlic, ginger, and umami richness that make this dish absolutely irresistible. Served over steamed rice or crispy noodles, this restaurant-quality meal comes together in your own kitchen in less than thirty minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you want something healthy, delicious, and satisfying.
Serving Quantity: 4 servings
Cooking Time: 25 minutes (15 minutes prep, 10 minutes cooking)
Nutritional Information per serving:
1. Calories: 245
2. Protein: 26g
3. Carbohydrates: 18g
4. Fat: 8g
5. Fiber: 4g
6. Sugar: 7g
7. Sodium: 895mg
Ingredients You Need:
For the Shrimp and Vegetables:
1. 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
2. 2 cups bean sprouts
3. 1 cup snow peas, trimmed
4. 1 cup sliced mushrooms
5. 1 cup celery, sliced diagonally
6. 1 red bell pepper, sliced
7. 1 medium onion, sliced
8. 1 cup cabbage, shredded
9. 4 garlic cloves, minced
10. 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
11. 3 green onions, cut into 1-inch pieces
12. 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
For the Sauce:
13. 1 cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
14. 3 tablespoons soy sauce
15. 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
16. 1 tablespoon cornstarch
17. 1 tablespoon sugar
18. 1 teaspoon sesame oil
19. 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
20. Steamed rice for serving
Prepare the Sauce
In a medium bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, soy sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, sugar, sesame oil, and white pepper until the cornstarch is completely dissolved with no lumps remaining. The cornstarch is what will thicken the sauce and give it that glossy, restaurant-quality appearance. Set this bowl near your stove because once you start cooking, everything moves quickly and you’ll need to add the sauce at exactly the right moment.
Prep All Your Vegetables
Chop suey is all about having crisp, fresh vegetables, so take time to prepare everything properly. Wash and drain the bean sprouts thoroughly and pat them dry. Trim the snow peas and remove any strings. Slice the mushrooms evenly. Cut the celery on a diagonal for a more attractive presentation. Slice the bell pepper and onion into strips. Shred the cabbage into thin pieces. Having everything cut and ready before you start cooking is essential because the actual cooking happens very quickly over high heat.
Prepare the Shrimp
Pat the shrimp completely dry with paper towels, which helps them sear properly and develop a nice golden color instead of steaming. If your shrimp are very large, you can cut them in half lengthwise for easier eating and to help them cook faster. Season the shrimp lightly with a pinch of salt and white pepper. Set them aside on a plate near your stove.
Sear the Shrimp
Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large wok or the biggest skillet you have over high heat. Once the oil is shimmering and almost smoking, add the shrimp in a single layer. Let them cook undisturbed for about 1 minute until the bottoms turn pink and golden. Flip each shrimp and cook for another minute on the other side. The shrimp should be just cooked through, pink all over, and slightly golden on the edges. Transfer the cooked shrimp to a clean plate and set aside. Don’t worry if they seem slightly undercooked because they’ll finish cooking when you add them back later.
Start the Vegetable Stir-Fry
Add another tablespoon of oil to the same wok over high heat. Add the sliced onion and celery first since they take the longest to cook. Stir-fry for about 1 minute, keeping everything moving constantly. The vegetables should start to soften slightly but still maintain their crunch. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger and stir-fry for about 30 seconds until incredibly fragrant. Be careful not to let the garlic burn or it will taste bitter.
Add Remaining Vegetables
Toss in the sliced mushrooms, bell pepper, and shredded cabbage. Continue stir-frying for about 2 minutes, keeping everything in constant motion. The vegetables should be heating through and beginning to soften around the edges while still maintaining their vibrant colors and crisp texture. This is what makes chop suey different from other stir-fries, the vegetables stay fresh and crunchy rather than becoming soft and wilted.
Add Delicate Vegetables
Add the snow peas and bean sprouts to the wok. These vegetables cook very quickly and you want them to stay especially crisp and fresh. Stir-fry for just 1 minute, tossing everything together constantly. The bean sprouts should stay white and crunchy, and the snow peas should be bright green and just barely tender. Add the green onion pieces and toss everything together one more time.
Create the Sauce
Give your sauce mixture a quick stir to make sure the cornstarch hasn’t settled to the bottom, then pour it over all the vegetables in the wok. Immediately start tossing and stirring to distribute the sauce evenly. The sauce will begin to thicken within about 30 seconds as the cornstarch activates from the heat. Continue stirring for about 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce has thickened to a glossy consistency that coats all the vegetables beautifully. The sauce should cling to the vegetables rather than pooling at the bottom of the pan.
Combine and Finish
Return the cooked shrimp to the wok along with any juices that accumulated on the plate. Toss everything together gently for about 1 minute until the shrimp are heated through and well coated with the sauce. Every ingredient should be glistening with that glossy brown sauce. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed, adding a splash more soy sauce if you want it saltier or a pinch of sugar if it needs more balance.
Serve Immediately
Transfer the shrimp chop suey to a large serving platter or individual plates. This dish is best served immediately while the vegetables are still crisp and everything is piping hot. Serve over steamed white rice or crispy fried noodles. The contrast between the saucy chop suey and the plain rice is perfect, with the rice soaking up all that delicious sauce.
Helpful Tips for Success:
1. Have all your ingredients prepped and ready before you start cooking because this recipe moves very quickly once you begin.
2. Keep the heat on high throughout the cooking process to get that authentic restaurant-style flavor and texture.
3. Don’t overcook the vegetables, they should remain crisp and colorful rather than soft and dull.
4. Use the freshest bean sprouts you can find and make sure they’re well drained so they don’t add excess water to the dish.
5. You can substitute chicken, beef, pork, or tofu for the shrimp if you prefer different proteins.
6. Add bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, or baby corn for additional texture and authentic flavor.
7. For a thicker sauce, add an extra teaspoon of cornstarch mixed with a tablespoon of water.
8. If you like heat, add sliced fresh chilies or a teaspoon of chili garlic sauce to the vegetables while cooking.
9. A carbon steel wok works best for this recipe but a large nonstick skillet is a perfectly fine substitute.
10. Don’t overcrowd the wok or the vegetables will steam instead of stir-fry, work in batches if necessary.
11. Keep your spatula or cooking utensil moving constantly to prevent anything from sticking or burning.
12. This dish doesn’t reheat as well as other stir-fries because the vegetables lose their crispness, so it’s best enjoyed fresh.
13. You can prep all the vegetables a few hours ahead and keep them refrigerated until cooking time.
14. For a lighter version, reduce the oil and use low-sodium soy sauce and broth.
15. Serve with crispy chow mein noodles on the side for an authentic Chinese-American restaurant experience.
