Looking for ways to celebrate Chinese New Year? This list of Recipes For Chinese New Year is filled with Asian recipes to help you ring in the Year of the Horse.
For more, check out all of our recipe posts.
The first two times I went to Japan, I had such a hard time eating anything. I’m so picky, so I didn’t venture out too much. No fish, nothing with eyeballs looking at me.
The last time I went, our family friend and I were talking. “What Japanese food do you eat?” he asked.
“I love gyoza,” I said. He told me that’s Chinese. “I love yakimeshi too,” I said. He told me that’s Chinese too.
Well, turns out all the food I like is Chinese so I was born into the wrong Asian nationality, as far as my taste buds are concerned. Because of that, I like Chinese New Year and all the food that comes along with it.
This year, Chinese New Year is January 29, 2025. Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is the beginning of the Lunar calendar. You can read all about it here.
This is the Year of the Snake, which is the sixth sign in the Chinese zodiac.
The snake symbolizes passion, energy, and transformation, making this coming year a huge one for personal growth. So get ready for changes.
But, if you just want an excuse to eat Chinese food, that’s cool too. We collected a bunch of Asian and Chinese recipes for Chinese New Year.
Asian Recipes For Chinese New Year
As we add delicious recipes with Asian flavors to Drugstore Divas, we’ll be updating this list. So bookmark it and come back from time to time to see what’s new.
Side Dishes
Yakimeshi (Chinese Fried Rice)
This Authentic Chinese Fried Rice recipe (known as Yakimeshi in Japanese and Chahan in Chinese) is so good and will be your go-to fried rice recipe from now on.
It doesn’t have the peas and carrots that you get in American Chinese take out restaurants. Instead, it has Cantonese barbecue pork (called char siu) and a few other ingredients.
If you can’t find char siu, you can use ham trimmings, which are much more accessible in American grocery stores.
Air Fryer Crab Rangoon
Crab Rangoon are such a popular Chinese side dish or appetizer. They’re actually wonton wrappers filled with cream cheese and crab meat. They’re served with the same dipping sauce as sweet and sour chicken.
And, they’re so easy to make at home.
You can make them with or without the crab meat, depending on what your family likes. Either way, they’re delicious.
Spicy Kani Salad
Imitation crab is the star of this spicy kani salad, which is crunchy vegetables mixed with shredded crab meat and topped with a spicy mayo dressing.
It’s often served as an appetizer at sushi restaurants in America. In Japan, you’ll find kani salad but without the spice.
Spicy Air Fryer Imitation Crab Bites
These imitation crab bites are the perfect sweet and spicy starter for your Asian meal. They have a nice flavor from the Thai-style sweet chili sauce and a crunch from the air fryer.
What’s great is you use imitation crab sticks, which are super affordable, so it’s a budget-friendly recipe for a crowd.
Main Dishes
Egg Roll In A Bowl
Egg Roll In A Bowl is all your favorite parts about the inside of an egg roll, but served in dinner form.
It’s cabbage, carrots, and ground meat, plus all the seasoning, served over rice. If you wanted, you could pick up some egg roll wrappers and actually stuff egg rolls with this, but we just eat it as is.
Yakitori (Japanese Grilled Chicken Skewers)
This recipe is Japanese, not Chinese, but I think it’s still a good idea for Chinese New Year — especially if you live somewhere warm.
These grilled chicken skewers are made on a grill, which is not a way you want to cook in February unless it’s nice out.
Yaki-Udon Recipe (Udon Stir Fry)
Udon is a Japanese noodle, but since people associate noodles with Chinese food (because of lo mein), this recipe still works for Chinese New Year, especially because eating longevity noodles, which symbolize long life, are a traditional Chinese New Year food.
This recipe and its flavors are reminiscent to a traditional lo mein that you get at an American Chinese take out restaurant.
Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki
Teriyaki is a Japanese dish, so not exactly traditional for Chinese New Year. But, chicken teriyaki is a really familiar flavor for Americans, so if you want to celebrate with Asian flavors, this is a good recipe — even if it’s really coming from the wrong Asian country.
Plus, this version is made in the slow cooker, which makes it so easy for you to make for dinner.
Pan-Seared Tuna Teriyaki
If you want another teriyaki recipe, try this pan-seared tuna teriyaki.
You make your own teriyaki sauce (although, if you use store-bought, we won’t tell), and marinade the fish for 20 to 30 minutes. You cook it for less than three minutes, so this comes together in just about a half hour.
Perfect if Chinese New Year is on a weekday.
Miso Ramen
Miso is a Japanese recipe, however, it traditionally uses a Chinese noodle, so it’s a bit of a hybrid. So it works for Chinese New Year.
This version is inspired by the Miso Ramen served at Chaplin’s, one of our favorite restaurants in Washington, DC. This is a pretty traditional ramen recipe, and it’s bound to be your new go to when you’re looking for an Asian soup dish.
Sweet Treat
Banana And Nutella Croffle
A Croffle isn’t Chinese, but it is Korean, which is how it ended up on our list.
This traditional Korean street food is usually rolled in sugar and then baked on a waffle iron. Our version is stuffed with banana and Nutella (or another nut butter, if you prefer) and then baked. So, so good. And the perfect dessert for Chinese New Year.
Celebrate Chinese New Year 2025
There are a couple Chinese restaurants that are celebrating Chinese New Year this year. Learn about their promotions below.
Panda Express
Panda Express is having an Instant Win Game, now until February 16. Visit here for a chance to win free food, free upgrades, and more.
The restaurant also has a free interactive online program — Let’s Explore!: Lunar New Year — for educators to teach about Chinese New Year.
PF Chang’s
If you dine in from January 29 to February 12, you’ll get a limited-edition red envelope with a special surprise offer.
Which of these recipes for Chinese New Year are you going to make first? Be sure to let us know in the comments.
ohmummymia
Wednesday 22nd of January 2020
Some of them looks so delicious. To be honest I try Chinese food few times maybe I will need to do it more often
Janay
Tuesday 21st of January 2020
Omg this is a great list compiled of great recipes. I’m always looking for new meal ideas
Alvern Success Unscrambled
Tuesday 21st of January 2020
My birthday will be in a few days and I have been asked to choose a restaurant for my treat and my shortlist includes Chinese and Thai. Maybe I should look at adding a Japanese restaurant to my shortlist just for fun. A great list of recipes by the way.
Amarajakobsen
Tuesday 21st of January 2020
Omg! I’m so excited about these recipes , I cannot wait to try them all. Thank you so much.
Nyxie
Tuesday 21st of January 2020
I love Chinese food, especially when it's homemade! I'd love to get stuck into making some of these :D