There’s something irresistibly satisfying about twirling silky noodles around your fork, discovering tender chicken pieces and crisp vegetables in every delightful bite, all coated in a savory sauce that makes your taste buds sing. Chicken lo mein brings the beloved flavors of your favorite Chinese takeout restaurant directly to your own kitchen, but with fresher ingredients and the warm satisfaction of knowing you created this masterpiece yourself. This recipe transforms simple pantry staples into a restaurant-quality dish that’s ready in under thirty minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you want something impressive without spending hours cooking. Additionally, homemade lo mein beats delivery every single time because you control the sodium levels, ingredient quality, and sauce consistency to match your exact preferences. Next, the beauty of this dish lies in its incredible versatility—you can easily swap proteins, adjust vegetables based on what you have available, or modify the spice level to suit your family’s tastes. To top it all off, this is genuinely one of the easiest restaurant dishes to master at home, requiring no special skills or obscure ingredients.
Ingredients
This recipe yields 4 servings of delicious, satisfying chicken lo mein that will easily impress your family and friends.
- 12 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 8 ounces lo mein noodles or regular spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 2 medium bell peppers (any color), sliced into thin strips
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 2 medium carrots, julienned or thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds for garnish
- Salt and pepper to taste
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preparing Your Ingredients
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook your lo mein noodles according to package directions, usually about 8 to 10 minutes. However, drain them slightly before they reach complete tenderness since they’ll continue cooking when you combine them with the hot sauce and stir-fry. Next, rinse the noodles under cool water to stop the cooking process and prevent them from sticking together, then set aside in a large bowl.
While the noodles cook, slice your chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces about 1 inch in size, ensuring they’re relatively uniform for even cooking. Additionally, prepare all your vegetables by slicing the onion, bell peppers, and carrots according to the ingredient measurements. To save time during cooking, have your garlic and ginger minced and ready before you begin the actual stir-frying process.
Creating Your Sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and chicken broth until well combined. Next, sprinkle the cornstarch into this mixture and stir until completely dissolved, which will help thicken your sauce once it hits the hot pan. Set this sauce aside so it’s ready to add when you need it.
Cooking the Chicken
Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers and is just barely smoking. Add your diced chicken pieces to the hot oil and let them sit undisturbed for about 1 to 2 minutes, which allows them to develop a golden exterior. Stir the chicken and continue cooking for another 3 to 4 minutes until the pieces are no longer pink in the center and cooked through completely. Transfer the cooked chicken to a clean plate and set aside.
Stir-Frying the Vegetables
Add the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil to your wok and let it heat for just a few seconds until shimmering. First, add your sliced onion and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently until it becomes slightly softened and fragrant. Next, add the bell peppers and carrots, cooking for another 2 to 3 minutes while stirring constantly to maintain the vegetables’ crispness. Additionally, add your broccoli florets and continue cooking for about 2 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp but still maintain their vibrant color.
Building Your Lo Mein
Create a small well in the center of your vegetable mixture by pushing the vegetables to the sides of the wok. Pour your prepared sauce into this well and let it cook for about 30 to 45 seconds, stirring constantly as it thickens and bubbles. As the sauce thickens, begin stirring everything together, coating all the vegetables evenly. Now add your cooked noodles to the wok along with the minced garlic and ginger, tossing everything together continuously.
Return your cooked chicken to the wok and toss it together with the noodles, vegetables, and sauce for about 1 to 2 minutes, ensuring everything is heated through and evenly distributed. Taste your creation and adjust seasonings as needed—add more soy sauce for saltiness, a splash of sesame oil for richness, or red pepper flakes if you want additional heat.
Final Touches and Serving
Transfer your beautiful lo mein to a serving plate or individual bowls and immediately garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. The warmth of the noodles will release the aromatic qualities of these garnishes, adding wonderful flavor and visual appeal to each bite.
Serving and Storing Tips
How to Serve Your Chicken Lo Mein
Serve your homemade chicken lo mein immediately while it’s hot and the noodles are at their most tender and flavorful. First, you can enjoy it on its own as a complete meal since it contains protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates in perfect balance. Additionally, pair it with a simple side of steamed edamame, spring rolls, or a light cucumber salad for a more extensive meal. For beverages, consider serving it with jasmine tea, a crisp white wine, or simply ice water with lime to cut through the richness. Furthermore, this dish also works beautifully as part of a larger Chinese dinner spread alongside fried rice, dumplings, or other favorite dishes.
Storing Your Leftovers
Store cooled chicken lo mein in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, making it perfect for lunch prep throughout the week. However, note that the noodles will become slightly softer as they sit, which is completely normal and still delicious. Reheat portions in the microwave by placing them in a microwave-safe container and heating for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring halfway through. Alternatively, reheat on the stovetop over medium heat in a skillet with a splash of water or low-sodium broth, stirring frequently until everything is warmed through. Freezing is not recommended as the noodles and vegetables lose their optimal texture during the freezing process.
Helpful Notes
Ingredient Substitutions and Modifications
Substitute regular spaghetti or linguine if you can’t find lo mein noodles, as they work equally well and create a delicious fusion version. Alternatively, use rice noodles for a lighter feel, or swap in ramen noodles for a different texture that still works beautifully. For protein variations, try shrimp instead of chicken by reducing the cooking time to 2 to 3 minutes, or use thinly sliced beef for a heartier version. Additionally, you can make this completely vegetarian by omitting the chicken and adding extra vegetables like snap peas, water chestnuts, mushrooms, or baby corn.
If you don’t have oyster sauce, substitute with additional soy sauce plus a touch of brown sugar to mimic its sweet and savory profile. Furthermore, swap sesame oil with a small amount of chili oil if you prefer more heat, or use vegetable oil if you want a milder finished dish.
Time-Saving Tips and Tricks
Purchase pre-cut vegetables from your grocery store’s produce section to eliminate cutting time and get dinner on the table even faster. Next, cook your noodles ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator, then simply reheat them briefly in hot water before tossing with your stir-fry components. You can also prepare your sauce the night before, storing it in a jar in the refrigerator and shaking it vigorously before using. Additionally, slice your chicken and prepare your sauce while the water boils for the noodles, keeping your cooking process extremely streamlined.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid cooking the vegetables until they’re completely soft and mushy—lo mein is all about maintaining some texture and crunch in your vegetables. Furthermore, don’t skip dissolving the cornstarch in the sauce before adding it, as undissolved starch creates lumpy, unappetizing texture. Additionally, resist the urge to use low heat during the stir-frying process, as you need the high heat to develop flavor and cook the vegetables quickly while maintaining their crispness. Never overcrowd your wok or skillet, which drops the temperature and causes steaming instead of proper stir-frying—work in batches if necessary.
Chef Tips
The secret to authentic restaurant-quality lo mein lies in using high heat throughout the entire cooking process and not overcrowding your pan, which ensures proper searing and flavor development. Additionally, tossing everything together with confidence and speed creates the perfect coating and distribution—don’t be timid about using that wok!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen vegetables instead of fresh vegetables?
Frozen vegetables work acceptably well, though they’ll be softer than fresh; add them directly to the wok without thawing and reduce cooking time by about 1 minute to prevent mushiness.
What’s the difference between lo mein and chow mein?
Lo mein uses soft noodles with a sauce, while chow mein typically features crispier noodles, usually stir-fried until they have a slight crunchy exterior.
How can I make this lo mein less salty?
Reduce the soy sauce to 2 tablespoons and use low-sodium chicken broth, then taste and adjust seasonings at the end to your preference.
Can I make this dish ahead and reheat it later?
Yes, store cooled lo mein in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheat gently in a skillet with a splash of water or in the microwave until warmed through.
What can I serve with chicken lo mein for a complete meal?
Pair it with spring rolls, dumplings, steamed edamame, fried rice, or a simple cucumber and sesame salad for a complete Chinese-inspired dinner.
Conclusion
Chicken lo mein represents the perfect intersection of quick weeknight cooking and impressive restaurant-quality results that will make your family genuinely excited for dinner time. The combination of tender noodles, succulent chicken, crisp vegetables, and a savory sauce that coats everything beautifully creates an unforgettable meal that’s far superior to any takeout version. Additionally, the entire dish comes together in under thirty minutes, making it an ideal solution for busy families who refuse to sacrifice flavor for convenience. Moreover, knowing you can recreate your favorite Chinese restaurant dish at home empowers you to cook more often and spend less money on delivery services.
Next, the incredible versatility of this recipe means you can customize it endlessly based on your preferences, dietary restrictions, or whatever ingredients you have on hand. Whether you’re cooking for picky eaters who need mild versions, adventurous eaters who love extra spice, or anyone in between, this recipe adapts beautifully. Furthermore, the skills you learn making lo mein—stir-frying, sauce preparation, and timing multiple components—transfer directly to countless other Asian-inspired dishes you’ll want to master.
Start your lo mein adventure today and experience the joy of creating restaurant-quality meals in your own kitchen! If you loved making this Chicken Lo Mein, please save this recipe to your favorite recipe collection or bookmark it for quick access whenever you need an impressive dinner solution. Consider pinning it to your Pinterest board so you can find it instantly next time hunger strikes, and don’t forget to share it with friends and family who might enjoy this delicious, easy recipe. Your feedback means everything to us, so please leave a comment below sharing how your lo mein turned out and any creative variations you experimented with. We absolutely love hearing about your cooking adventures, and your support encourages us to keep creating more delicious recipes just like this one!
