These make-ahead Chinese dishes save time without sacrificing flavor. They freeze well, reheat easily, scale up effortlessly, and take the stress out of cooking.
Pin this now to find it later!
Pin ItBusy days don’t mean you have to settle for bland or repetitive meals. With a bit of planning, you can enjoy satisfying Chinese dishes all week long. Whether you’re prepping lunch boxes, streamlining dinnertime, or planning a multi-dish gathering, these make-ahead recipes offer practical inspiration.
This collection features some of my favorite make-ahead recipes that don’t compromise on flavor. Some are perfect for freezing and quick cooking when needed, while others can be prepped in advance and reheated easily. Most of them also scale up easily, making them ideal for feeding a family or a crowd.
Chinese Beef Stew with Potatoes
Easily prepared but intensely flavoured, Chinese beef stew with potatoes tastes tender, succulent and aromatic. This recipe includes many cooking tips to ensure a great result.
Chinese Beef Stew with Potatoes (土豆炖牛肉)
Braised Pork Belly
Tender, gelatinous and aromatic, Chinese red braised pork belly is scrumptious and comforting. This recipe shows you how to cook it effortlessly.
Braised Pork Belly (Hong Shao Rou/红烧肉), an Easy Version
Lu Rou Fan (Taiwanese Pork Rice Bowl)
Cooked in a rich broth to a melt-in-your-mouth texture, Taiwanese Lu Rou Fan is a heavenly scrumptious way to enjoy pork in an all-in-one rice bowl dish.
Lu Rou Fan (Taiwanese Pork Rice Bowl, 卤肉饭)
Chinese Pork Rib Soup
A nourishing dish that’s simple to prepare and lightly seasoned, Chinese pork rib soup warms both your body and heart.
Pork Rib Soup (排骨汤)
Scallion Chicken Chops
Tender chicken coated in a thick, aromatic sauce, scallion chicken chops are a quick dish that delivers the comforting warmth of classic Chinese cuisine.
Scallion Chicken Chops (葱烧鸡腿)
Three-cup Chicken
Quick to cook and super aromatic, three cup chicken is a crowd-pleasing dish that you must try! Follow the tips to make it to perfection.
Three Cup Chicken (San Bei Ji, 三杯鸡)
Ginger Chicken
A delicious combination of two common ingredients, Chinese ginger chicken delivers complex aroma and flavour, yet is amazingly simple to cook.
Ginger Chicken (老姜鸡)
Soy Sauce Chicken
Flavourful, appetizing & comforting, soy sauce chicken is a classic dish that can be served in many delicious ways. This recipe introduces an approachable, less labour-intensive method to cook it at home.
Soy Sauce Chicken (See Yao Gai, 豉油鸡)
Mapo Tofu
Tender tofu cooked in an umami and spicy sauce, accompanied by minced meat, Mapo tofu is one of the tastiest ways to prepare this healthy ingredient.
Mapo Tofu, the Authentic Way (麻婆豆腐)
Wonton Noodle Soup
A popular all-in-one dish, Cantonese wonton noodle soup has everything you need for a comforting, flavorful meal. Learn how to make it at home!
Wonton Noodle Soup (云吞面)
Zha Jiang Mian
Chewy noodles served with an irresistible pork sauce and crunchy vegetable toppings, Zha Jiang Mian is a signature Beijing dish that’s perfect for weekday dinners.
Zha Jiang Mian (炸酱面)
Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup
An umami-rich, all-in-one dish made with simple ingredients, Chinese chicken noodle soup is easy to make and tastes delectable. This recipe also includes customizing ideas.
Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup (鸡汤面)
Chinese Dumplings
Making Chinese dumplings from scratch can be easy and fun! Follow this guide to learn about the dough, filling, folding techniques, cooking methods, dipping sauces and more. A tutorial video is included.
Chinese Dumplings, an Ultimate How-to Guide
Steamed Bao Buns
Tasty, juicy filling with soft, fluffy wrappers, homemade bao buns are super comforting! This guide offers tips and tricks to ensure a fail-proof cooking experience.
Steamed bao buns (包子), a complete guide
Looking for more dinner ideas? Check out other recipe collections on the blog. such as Best Weeknight Recipes, Top Takeout Recipes, or Easy Chinese Recipes for Beginners. Happy cooking!
By the way, I’d love to hear your feedback! Did the dish turn out as expected? Have you added your own twists? Any suggestion to improve the recipe? Please leave a rating and comment below or tag me @red.house.spice on Instagram!
These make-ahead meals are fantastic – really spoiled for choice! Thank you.
My pleasure to share!