This pancit bihon recipe with bacon is a little different from the usual ones I’ve made. To switch things up, I added bacon and mixed in some chicken. Instead of boiling the vegetables, I stir-fried them for extra flavor and texture. The only thing I boiled here was the bihon noodles. I was simply in the mood to try something new and a bit inventive.

A Staple in Every Filipino Table

There’s a popular Filipino belief that pancit brings long life, which is why it’s always present on special occasions. Whether it’s Christmas, New Year, or birthdays, pancit is a must-have dish on the table. It’s great on its own, delicious as a sandwich filling, and pairs perfectly with cassava cake on the side.

Easy to Make Even Abroad

The good news for Filipinos living abroad is that the ingredients for pancit are fairly easy to find. So whenever the craving hits, it’s not too hard to whip up a batch. The only thing that’s a bit tricky to find is calamansi—but even without it, for me, this dish still tastes great especially, with the bacon.

I didn’t stick to all the traditional ingredients either, since there are some I personally don’t prefer. But feel free to customize this recipe with your favorite ingredients to make it even more flavorful and to suit your taste.

A Celebration Dish Wherever You Are

Filipino pancit is perfect for any celebration…doesn’t matter if you’re in the Philippines or abroad. It’s always a hit on the table.

Ingredients

1 package pancit bihon (rice noodles)
3 slices bacon, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 cups chicken breast or thigh, thinly sliced

Vegetables:

1/2 cup carrots, julienned
1 cup green beans, French cut
1/2 head of cabbage, sliced thinly

Sauce Base:

4 cups water
1/3 cup soy sauce
3 chicken bouillon cubes
2 beef bouillon cubes

Aromatics:

1 small onion, diced
1 tsp garlic, minced

Instructions

1. Prepare the Noodles:
Soak the pancit bihon in cold water for 10 minutes. Rinse and gently break them into shorter strands using your hands. Soak again for another 10 minutes, then rinse and drain well. Set aside.

2. Cook the Bacon:
In a nonstick pan over medium heat, lightly fry the bacon until just cooked but not too crisp. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

3. Saute the Chicken:
In the same pan with the remaining bacon grease, saute the sliced chicken until lightly browned. Remove from the pan and set aside.

4. Stir Fry the Vegetables:
If there’s not enough bacon grease left, add a bit of butter or cooking oil. Saute the onion and garlic for 2 minutes. Then, stir fry the carrots and green beans for 3 minutes then add the cabbage and stir fry again altogether for 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

5. Make the Broth:
In the same pan, pour in 4 cups of water. Add the chicken and beef bouillon cubes. Stir well and bring to a boil, making sure the cubes are fully dissolved.

6. Cook the Noodles
Add the softened pancit bihon to the boiling broth. Gently press and stir to make sure all the noodles soak up the sauce evenly. Cover and cook for about 2 minutes.

7. Combine Everything:
Remove the cover and lower the heat. Add the cooked chicken, bacon, and stir-fried vegetables back into the pan. Toss everything together until well combined and the flavors are evenly distributed.

8. Serve and Enjoy:
Serve warm, either on its own or with a side of calamansi or lemon for extra brightness. Enjoy your pancit with chicken, bacon, and vibrant stir-fried vegetables!

Helpful Tips and Variations

If you have beef or chicken stock on hand, you can use that instead of water for a richer flavor. Just reduce the number of bouillon cubes accordingly. Before adding the bihon after the broth boils, taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Leftovers Make a Great Breakfast

I had some leftovers, so I stored them in the fridge and reheated them the next day. I stuffed them into a slice of bread and paired it with coffee for breakfast. It was filling which is perfect for a morning meal. I suggest to consume the leftover pancit after 2-3 days.

Step-by-Step Photo Instructions:

Meat and vegetable ingredients for pancit bihon — Bacon, chicken, cabbage, carrots and green beans slices

French cut green beans for pancit bihon recipe — French-cut green beans

Fried Bacon for Pancit Bihon — Fried bacon

Fried Chicken Strips for Pancit Bihon — Fried chicken strips

Sauteing the onions and stir-frying the vegetables — Stir-frying the aromatics and veggie

Stir-fry vegetables for pancit bihon — Stir-frying the vegetables

Stir-fried vegetables recipe — Stir-fried vegetables

Cooking the bihon — Cooking the pancit bihon

Filipino pancit bihon — The final outcome