We all have our go-to favorite Chinese takeout recipes. This Chicken Lo Mein recipe packed with vegetables and creamy Asian-style noodles is mine. Packed with veggies and quick and easy-to-make lo mein noodle sauce, it comes together in about 30 minutes in one skillet.
And if you are a fan of weeknight Asian dinner recipes, be sure to also check out my Sesame Chicken Salad, Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry recipe as well.
Ingredients:
This homemade lo mein noodle recipe has 3 sets of ingredients:
- Quick Lo Mein Sauce: Made by mixing soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, and honey.
- Chicken Marinade: Made by marinating pieces of chicken thighs in a sauce made by mixing soy sauce, fresh garlic and fresh chicken.
- Chinese Style Egg Noodles: While the authentic recipe is made with chow mein or lo mein noodles, you can use any noodles you have on hand. We will cover this in detail more below.
- Vegetables: Shredded cabbage and broccoli
The Noodles: What Kind of Noodles Should I Use?
Truth be told, if you are not a stickler for the authentic chicken lo mein recipe, you can use any noodles you have on hand (including spaghetti and linguini). However, if you want to make the “real” thing, then go with Asian-style egg noodles like lo mein, chow mein, and ramen noodles.
You can find different kinds of egg noodles in the Asian section of your supermarket. They come in various thickness levels. I find that the best noodles for lo mein are the super-thin egg noodles (almost like Angel hair pasta) as they cook quicker than most other ones.
If you want you can order the noodles that I used here (affiliate link).
If you can get your hands on it, you can use fresh egg noodles as well.
With all this being said, as I mentioned earlier, any noodles you can get your hands on would work for this Chinese chicken noodles recipe.
Substitutions:
- Chicken: I used thighs as I find them more flavorful. However, you can also use chicken breast in this recipe.
- Toppings: I topped my lo mein with scallions, sesame seeds, and fresh cilantro. However, you can also use snow peas, snap peas, and red peppers. I also like to serve it with lightly sauteed baby bok choy if I have some on hand.
- Cabbage: I used green cabbage but Napa cabbage can also be used
- Soy Sauce: Light soy sauce can also be used
How To Make It Like Chinese Restaurants
This Chinese lo mein recipe has 4 folds.
- Make the magical sauce
- Marinate the Chicken
- Cook the Vegetables and Noodles
- Assemble it all together
I know it sounds like too many steps, but once you have the ingredients out, it comes together in no time. Let’s look into every step one by one:
How To Make The Sauce
If you ask me, the best part of this easy chicken lo mein recipe is the sauce. It has all the characteristics of Chinese flavors and comes together in 2 minutes.
Lo Mein Noodle Sauce Ingredients:
If you are someone who cooks Asian meals regularly, you probably already have all the ingredients already in your fridge. If not, you can easily find them in the Asian section of your supermarket.
To make the lo mein sauce, simply mix all the ingredients below in a mason jar or a bowl.
- Soy sauce
- Honey (or brown sugar)
- Hoisin sauce
- Sesame Oil
Give it a good shake and set it aside. You’ll use it at the very end.
Marinate The Chicken
In terms of the chicken, I used boneless and skinless chicken thighs. Simply cut them into small cubes and mix them with some fresh ginger, garlic, and soy sauce. I usually do this at first so that it will have a chance to marinate for a few minutes as I am working on the rest of the ingredients.
If you are wondering how to cook noodles for this stir fry dish, I am going to have to refer you to the package instructions as it depends on the kind you are using. The one I used cooked in less than 5 minutes.
To cook the chicken lo mein, heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or large wok over medium-high heat. Add in onion and bell pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, for 4-5 minutes. Add in the chicken and cook until it starts to brown for 4-5 minutes.
Stir in the green cabbage, cooked noodles, and broccoli, and stir in the prepared sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes while gently tossing everything around using tongs.
Vegetables and The Assembly
The best part of this easy chicken recipe is that it is so versatile, especially when it comes to vegetables. In terms of vegetables, I used cabbage, broccoli, onion, and bell peppers. However, you can use whatever vegetable you have on hand. Other veggies like carrots, bean sprouts, and even mushrooms would also work.
As you can see in the recipe card video below, I precooked the broccoli for a few minutes with the noodles so that they will be soft when mixed in with the rest of the vegetables. If you are using a similar vegetable, feel free to use the same method.
The rest of the recipe is pretty straightforward. If you need a visual of how I made it be sure to watch the quick how-to video I made in the recipe card.
What to do with leftovers?
- Storage: I doubt that you will have leftovers, but if you do they make the best lunch on the next day. Simply place your chicken and broccoli lo mein in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Freezing: I tried freezing some of this dish and it ended up being okay. However, I can’t say the same thing about the way it looked after it was thawed. It looked mushy. Unless you have to, I do not recommend freezing this dish.
A Few Helpful Tips:
Having been cooking this dish for years, I have wanted to provide you with a few tips for the best Chicken Lo Mein recipe:
- The Toppings: I topped my noodles with green onions, sesame seeds, and some chopped cilantro. You could certainly serve this dish without the toppings, but if you are like me, live for the toppings, go for it.
- To make this even quicker make the sauce in advance and store it in the fridge upto 3 days.
- Most chicken lo mein recipes use corn starch to thicken the sauce but the lo mein sauce I made here is thick enough so you do not need to use cornstarch.
There you have it. If you were wondering how to make lo mein like Chinese restaurants, now you know. Next time you crave Chinese food, give this recipe a try. Making this hearty one-pot meal at home is much healthier than its restaurant version, and with this recipe, it is now easier too.
FAQs
Lo mein stands for the Chinese dish made with egg noodles. It is usually served with some sort of meat (like shrimp, chicken, beef, or pork) and vegetables. It can also be served with only vegetables.
Some people also refer to it as Chinese noodles with chicken and vegetables. Simply put, chicken is marinated in a ginger-garlic sauce and then mixed with cooked noodles and a quick lo mein sauce made by mixing classic Chinese ingredients like sesame oil, hoisin, and soy sauce. Some recipes also use oyster sauce, but my version of the Chicken Lo Mein recipe is made without oyster sauce.
According to this site, essentially they are both egg noodles made from wheat. Which one you use is actually a personal preference as lo mein egg noodles uses soft noodles while chow mein uses crispy fried noodles. I made this recipe with both types of noodles and it was good both times.
No, you do not. But whichever pan you use, the trick is to make sure that the pan is not overcrowded and all the meat and veggies have enough space to cook thoroughly.
If you can’t get your hands on lo mein noodles, you can use linguine or spaghetti noodles as they can hold up better to the lo mein sauce. If you go with rice noodles I recommend using a thicker variety rather than the thin ones.
You Might Also Like:
Similar Weeknight Dinners You Might Like:
- Thai Lemongrass Chicken Recipe
- Spicy Orange Ginger Chicken
- Vegetarian Ramen Bowl
- Or check out all of my easy chicken recipes and pick one for dinner tonight.
Like Cabbage? Here Are A Few More Recipes Made with Cabbage:
If you try this Chicken Lo Mein recipe or any other recipe on Foolproof Living, please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them on Instagram using #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.
Chicken Lo Mein Recipe
Ingredients
For Sauce
- 3 tablespoons of soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
For Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken thighs, or breasts, cut into small cubes or strips
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
For Veggies and Noodles:
- 6 oz. egg noodles, chow-mein, lo-mein, or any other Asian style noodles
- 1 large head of broccoli, approximately 2 cups – broken into pieces
- 2 tablespoons vegetable, sesame, olive, or canola oil
- 1 medium sized onion, sliced thinly
- 1 bell pepper, cut into small pieces
- 1 ½ cups cabbage, sliced thinly
As Garnish:
- ¼ cup scallions, chopped
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
- sliced lime, optional
Instructions
- To make the sauce: Place all ingredients in a small bowl and give it a whisk. Set aside.
- To prep the chicken: Place chicken thighs, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic into a bowl. Give it a mix. Cover it with stretch film and set aside while you are prepping the veggies.
- To cook the noodles: Cook the noodles based on the packaging instructions. 2 minutes before the noodles are fully cooked add in the broccoli florets. Rinse and set aside.
- To cook the chicken lo mein: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add in onion and bell pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, for 4-5 minutes. Add in the chicken and cook until it starts to brown 4-5 minutes.
- Stir in the cabbage, cooked noodles and broccoli, and stir in the prepared sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes while gently tossing everything around using tongs.
- Garnish with scallions, sesame seeds and cilantro if using.
- Serve with a wedge of lime.
Video
Notes
- What to do with the leftovers: I doubt that you will have leftovers, but if you do they make the best lunch on the next day. Simply place your chicken lo mein in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge up to 2 days.
- Freezing Chicken Lo Mein: I tried freezing some of this dish and it ended up being okay. However, I can’t say the same thing about the way it looked after it was thawed. It looked mushy. Unless you have to, I do not recommend freezing this dish.
- The Toppings: I topped my noodles with scallions, sesame seeds, and some chopped cilantro. You could certainly serve this dish without the toppings, but if you are like me, live for the toppings, go for it.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love this! Anything with lots of vegetables is really appealing to me, especially with those flavors!
That makes me so happy. Thanks for coming by Chef Mimi.
This was a great recipe. Though I have to agree with the other people who commented. Noodles are the most important part of this recipe. I was able to get the same ones you used and it turned out pretty good. Next time I will try the fresh ramen from Whole Foods. I will let you know how it turns out.
Thanks for another great recipe.
Hi Barbara,
I am so happy to hear that you liked it. I love Whole Foods’ fresh ramen. I have not tried this recipe with ramen but after hearing so many people to do so I will be sure to pick some up next time I shop there. Thanks for coming by and taking the time to leave a rating.
Cheers!
Excellent! I am loving your recipes. We made it for dinner tonight and it was a hit.
Thanks.
I am thrilled to hear that Amy. Thanks for coming by.
Great recipe but the type of noodles you use is key to making it taste good. I tried making it with lo mein noodles, chow mien noodles, and cheap ramen noodles. My favorite one was the ramen noodles. I also made it with angel hair which was okay. I switch up the veggies with what I have on hand but I think shredded cabbage is the best vegetable to use.
The sauce is the best part. I can eat it with a spoon.
Good recipe overall.
Hi Mike,
I agree the type of noodles you use is very important for this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing your experience and taking the time to leave a review.
I have been making this every week for the last few months and my family loves it. The only thing I change is that I use oyster sauce instead of hoisin. Other than that, I follow the recipe.
Good to know Kate. Thank you!