Let's be real, Chinese New Year (or lunar new year) is all about the food. We have rounded up our 50 best and most popular Chinese New Year recipes from main course dishes, noodles and rice, side dishes and dim sum, and everything in between. So if you’re wondering what to make for Chinese New Year, then you have come to the right place! You will find some classics as well as some new favourites to try this year.

What is Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year falls on the Lunar New Year and is the celebration of the new year in accordance with the traditional lunar calendar. It is the biggest holiday in China with celebrations lasting for weeks. Some of the traditions that fall during the new year are enjoying delicious food with family and friends, gifting red pockets (money in red paper envelopes), and lighting firecrackers. The Lunar New Year is celebrated in many other Asian countries as well.

Chinese New Year Main Course Recipes

Black Cod with Black Bean Sauce

Flaky, oily, and tender air fryer cod with black bean sauce is bursting with flavour and takes less than 20 minutes to make. The perfect Chinese New Year dinner.

Char Siu (Chinese BBQ) Chicken

Sweet sticky and savoury Char Siu (Chinese BBQ) chicken is a delicious dinner packed with classic Asian flavours with incredible flavour.

Tigers Prawns in Garlic Ginger Soy Sauce

10-minute tiger prawns in garlic ginger soy sauce is juicy, tender and immersed in incredible Asian flavours. It's the perfect weeknight meal.

Asian Five-Spice Roast Turkey

Asian five-spice roast turkey is tender and juicy, marinated with a delicious flavourful Asian rub and has a crispy brown skin. The perfect holiday dinner.

Honey Glazed Roast Pork

Easy one pan honey glazed roast pork is moist, tender, and juicy, coated with an irresistible honey glaze and packed with potatoes, green beans and apples.

Ginger and Scallion Dungeness Crab

Ginger and scallion Dungeness crab is the ultimate Asian seafood experience stir-fried to perfection and coated with intense flavours.

Healthy Lemon Chicken

Better than takeout, healthy lemon chicken is a delicious, sticky chicken stir fry coated in a flavourful, sweet and tangy sauce. The best weeknight dinner.

Air Fryer Jumbo Shrimp

10-minute air fryer jumbo shrimp is juicy and tender on the inside, and crispy on the outside. It's so flavourful and garlicky with Asian seasonings.

Spicy Cumin Lamb

Juicy and tender, Xinjiang spicy cumin lamb skewers with a bold cumin and cayenne marinade, are so flavourful and easy to make on the grill or air fryer.

Seared Scallops

Garlicky, buttery, and perfectly seared scallops take less than 10 minutes to prep and cook. It's the easiest fancy, restaurant-grade meal to make at home.

Glazed Honey Balsamic Pork Chops

Quick and easy, glazed honey balsamic pork chops are tender and juicy, seared in thyme and coated with a honey balsamic sauce. Make it in under 30 minutes.

Coconut Lamb Curry

Hearty coconut lamb curry is an easy one pot meal that is packed with flavour. Make it on the stovetop or in the slow cooker and freeze leftovers for later.

Baked Sesame Chicken

Better than takeout, baked sesame chicken with vegetables is delicious, flavourful, sticky and saucy. This healthier Chinese dish is quick and easy to make.

Air Fryer Lamb Chops

Juicy, tender, and delicious 18-minute air fryer lamb chops is marinated in a dijon sauce and will change the way you cook lamb forever.

Orange Chicken Skewers

Flame-kissed, sticky and saucy, grilled orange chicken skewers with a rich, citrus-based marinade are delicious, juicy and so tender. Best weeknight dinner.

Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb

This delicious garlic and herb-crusted rack of lamb is tender, juicy, and flavourful. It is surprisingly quick and easy to make at home in about 30 minutes.

Coconut Curry Beef Stew

Warm and cozy, easy one pot coconut curry beef stew is hearty yet creamy, packed with tender beef chunks, potatoes and carrots, and creamy coconut milk.

Pan-fried Garlic Prawns with Soy Sauce

Quick and easy, pan-fried garlic prawns with soy sauce, garlic, and green onions is a simple but flavourful Chinese stir-fry made in under 15 minutes.

Noodles and Rice Recipes

Vegetarian Fried Rice

Make flavourful, Chinese restaurant-style vegetarian fried rice at home in 10 minutes, with fully customizable ingredients, and say good-bye to take-out!

Shanghai Style Fried Noodles

Better than take-out, flavourful and authentic Shanghai fried noodles with chicken, mushrooms, and bok choy is made in just 10 minutes - the easiest dinner!

Spicy Dan Dan Noodles

Toss thin wheat noodles in a spicy chili oil sauce and top with seasoned ground beef to make numbing, spicy Sichuan Dan Dan noodles in under 15 minutes.

Seafood Fried Rice

Quick and easy, one-pan, 10-minute seafood fried rice with tiger prawns is so much healthier, tastier and better than takeout. It's the easiest weeknight meal.

Spicy Cumin Lamb Noodles

Better than takeout, flavourful stir-fried spicy cumin lamb noodles is packed with marinated lamb, noodles, and crisp bean sprouts. Make it in 15 minutes.

Hand-Pulled Noodles

Hand-pulled noodles (la mian 拉面) are springy, chewy and delicious traditional homemade noodles that are rolled and stretched into long strips.

Stir-Fried Rice Cakes with Shrimp

Better than takeout, stir-fried rice cakes with shrimp, bok choy, and bean sprouts in a delicious Peanut Butter Sauce is a quick 10-minute one pan meal.

Turkey Fried Rice

Leftover turkey fried rice with turkey, fluffy rice, scrambled eggs, vegetables, and classic Asian seasonings is a one skillet meal made in just 10 minutes.

Stir-fried Rice Noodle Rolls with Peanut Butter Sauce

Better than takeout, quick and easy one pan stir-fried rice noodle rolls with peanut butter sauce is the best weeknight stir fry, ready in under 10 minutes.

Cold Noodles with Peanut Butter Sauce

Easy vegan Shanghai style cold noodles tossed in peanut butter sauce with fresh vegetables and Asian seasonings, are flavourful and ready in 10 minutes.

Zongzi Sticky Rice Dumplings

Zongzi Chinese tamales (粽子) or sticky rice dumplings are stuffed with sticky rice, pork belly, and shiitake mushrooms, wrapped inside reed or bamboo leaves.

Scallion Oil Noodles

Shanghai scallion oil noodles (葱油拌面) is a flavourful, simple noodle dish that is easy to make homemade with 6 ingredients in under 10 minutes.

15-Minute Lo Mein

Say goodbye to take-out and make easy 15-minute lo mein at home using fresh and healthy ingredients.

Curry Chicken Fried Rice

Flavourful curry chicken fried rice with chicken, mushrooms, peas, rice, and curry flavours is so easy to ma