Savory and sweet, this chicken lo mein is perfect for slurping. Get ready to swear off takeout for good (or at least tonight)!
This chicken lo mein recipe is 90% of the reason why I’ve decided to recycle my takeout menus. For so long, my family leaned on takeout to get us through hectic weeknights or weekends full of errands. But here’s the thing, snagging takeout didn’t even really save us that much time. Case in point with this chicken lo mein dish. It takes just 10 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cook time!
Obsessed with lo mein? Try our vegetable lo mein, beef lo mein, or shrimp lo mein whenever a craving for noodles is too strong to ignore.
The Difference Between Chow Mein & Lo Mein
For most, Chinese takeout means chow mein. But what about its lesser-known and just as delicious cousin lo mein? While the dishes are similar, they do have some key differences. Lo mein is a dish of soft egg noodles, protein, and veggies that are tossed in a thick, savory sauce. On the other hand, chow mein starts with the same components but calls for a longer frying time to turn the egg noodles slightly crispy.
An Easy Step-By-Step for Chicken Lo Mein
To kick the process off, first whisk the brown sugar, chicken broth, and soy sauce together. Then, set the sauce aside to give it time to marinate and develop its flavors.
- Prepare the Veggies & Chicken: Next, slice the carrots, broccoli, and onion. Then, slice the chicken breasts into similar-sized thin strips.
- Sauté the Chicken: In a wok, sauté the chicken with sesame oil. Remove it from the pan and set it aside.
- Sauté the Veggies: Next, sauté the onions in the chicken drippings and remove them from the pan. Add in the carrots, cooking them until they begin to soften. Add in the broccoli and sauté for a couple of more minutes. Press in the garlic and stir to combine.
- Add in the Chicken & Noodles: Add the chicken back in, pour the sauce in, and simmer for a couple of minutes. Finally, add in the cooked noodles and toss to combine. Grab your chopsticks and dig in!
Need a good wok recommendation? I’ve been using this one for years for everything from beef stir fry to japchae. If you don’t have a wok, simply use a large skillet.
3 Pro Tips for the BEST Chicken Lo Mein
Making these noodles isn’t rocket science, but a couple of key tips will help you nail it.
- Slice the veggies and chicken into similar-sized pieces. To promote even cooking, slice the veggies and chicken into similar-sized pieces.
- Cook the ingredients in heats. The key to a great lo mein is to cook the different components separately before bring them all together. This prevents overcooking and yields the best texture.
- Boil the noodles according to the package instructions. No matter which noodles you use, make sure you boil them according to the package instructions.
Need to control your salt intake? Use low sodium soy sauce and chicken broth instead. Now you’re really escaping the takeout trap!
Different Vegetables for Chicken Lo Mein
Chicken lo mein is a great dish to help you clear out your produce drawer. Below, find a couple of different produce options to inspire you.
- Red bell pepper
- Snow peas
- Mushrooms
- Ginger
- Bean sprouts
- Green onions
- Bok choy
Ideas for Serving Chicken Lo Mein
Chicken lo mein is filling enough to be eaten as a meal all on its own. Serve it on hectic weeknights when you’re low on time. Or, whip it up for your next dinner party and serve it alongside crispy crab puffs, Korean air fryer pork ribs, and spring rolls with salmon.
Storing & Reheating Tips
To keep lo mein on hand for up to a week, store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Avoid freezing the noodles, as they’ll turn to mush upon thawing. To reheat, place them back in a pan with a bit or sesame oil or microwave them for a couple of minutes until warmed through.
FAQ
What is lo mein sauce made of?
What gives lo mein sauce its signature taste is a balance of savory ingredients (chicken broth, soy sauce, and sesame oil) and brown sugar (a key ingredient in Chinese cooking that helps sauces thicken and caramelize).
What are lo mein noodles made of?
Lo mein noodles are made with egg and wheat flour. Typically, chow mein calls for the same exact noodles.
What is the smoky flavor in lo mein?
The smokey flavor of the lo mein comes from cooking the veggies and chicken over medium-high heat until golden brown. The crisp that forms on the ingredients adds smokiness.
Which is healthier chow mein or lo mein?
Chow mein requires a bit more oil than lo mein to make the noodles crispy. This likely makes it a bit unhealthier but not by much.
How can you make lo mein spicy?
To make your lo mein spicy, add in a couple of shakes of red pepper flakes or a squirt or two of sriracha.
More Tasty Asian-Inspired Dishes
- 30-Minute Korean Beef Stir Fry – Sweet and savory Korean stir fry
- Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon Recipe – Teriyaki-style salmon
- P.F. Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps (Copycat Recipe) – Low-carb chicken lettuce wraps
- Quick and Easy Wonton Soup Recipe – Asian-style meat dumpling soup
Recipe
Ingredients
Lo Mein Sauce
- 1/3 cup chicken broth
- 4 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp sesame oil
Lo Mein Ingredients
Instructions
- Whisk the brown sugar into the chicken broth until it's dissolved. Next, whisk the soy sauce in and set it aside.
- Slice the carrots, broccoli, and onion into 2-inch pieces. Slice the chicken into similar-sized strips.
- Preheat a wok with oil and sauté the chicken until it's golden brown. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
- In the same wok, sauté the onions in the chicken drippings and a bit more oil until golden brown. Remove the onions from the skillet and set aside. Next, sauté the carrots until softened, add in the broccoli, and sauté for an additional 3 minutes. Press the garlic into the wok.
- Add the cooked chicken back into the wok with the veggies. Pour the sauce over the ingredients and simmer for about 2 minutes.
- Add the cooked noodles, toss everything together, and enjoy!
My hubby is not a fan of Asian food but I was in the mood for lo mein and he was willing to try homemade. He loved it and ate 2 helpings! Definitely one to make again! Thank you so much!!!
Hi Donna, Homemade is always best! Glad you both enjoyed it!
Literally SO GOOD! 😋 my husband and I love spicy foods so I added crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce and also seasoned the chicken with them as well! We both don't like carrots, so I excluded those from the recipe. And my husband HATES onions ( I love them) but I was a good wife and also excluded them. I also added 1 red bell pepper, and 1 can of baby corn. I also used frozen (steam in a bag) broccoli to make the dinner easier but after they cooked threw them in the pan to kind of fry them up. I also used stir-fry rice noodles! This recipe is 100% a keeper. I loved it and so did my husband 😄 thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
Hi Sarah, Thanks for sharing your feedback! I'm glad it was a hit!
So I made this tonight but added way more veggies. And I don't have a wok so I just used a pan with raised edges. I first cut up all my veggies. I used garlic, zucchini, yellow squash, carrot, broccoli, snow peas, onion (white and green), bok choy and a pack of assorted mushrooms I found in my produce section it had shitake crimini and oyster mushrooms. Then I turned on my pan with a light coating of vegetable oil and let that heat up while I cut the chicken up. Once I had everything ready I threw a spoonful of minced garlic on it and the chicken added some salt pepper garlic powder and onion powder. After that cooked I took the chicken out of the pan and then cooked my veggies in the same pan with the chicken but more steamed then with some chicken broth I just mixed into it. I couldn't even tell u how much. I then brought some water to a boil and cooked my noodles. Once that was done I added the chicken to the veggies and noodles then put the sauce (I tripled the sauce cause I love saucey lol mein) into it and simmered for about 4 mins. It was truly an amazing dinner.
Hi Ashley, wow! you are quite the pro! I love how you really made this recipe your own! Thank you so much for sharing your process. I enjoyed reading it!
This is so good, thank you for the recipe! I used a white onion, added the whites from a green onion and garnished with the greens. I only had light brown sugar, so I subbed 1 teaspoon with molasses. It turned out so well and came together really fast.
Hi Mildred, I am so thrilled to hear this recipe was a success! Sounds like it turned out delicious! Thank you for sharing your experience. Enjoy!
What kind of noodles do you use.
Hi Otto - They are lo mein noodles! Hope this helps.
Do you add sesame oil to the sauce? It's listed in the ingredients, but no instructions say to add it to the sauce.
Yup! In Step 1 you whisk it right into the sauce. Hope this helps, Wendy.
Would you mind looking at the recipe again? I don’t see the sesame oil in the steps or directions anywhere. Thanks!
Hi Sony, thank you for reaching out. Here are the directions from the blog. "Sauté the Chicken: In a wok, sauté the chicken with sesame oil. Remove it from the pan and set it aside." I hope this helps.
I love your recipes and your mood, thank you very much.🌷🌷🌷🌷
Awwww - Thank you Adriana. So happy you enjoyed the chicken lo mein. It's a staple in our home. You're very welcome and I hope you find more goodies on our site to try. 🙂
This looks amazing. How many servings in your recipe? Planning to cook this for my family.
Hi Linda - There are 6 servings total. Hope this helps and so happy you are going to whip it up for your family.
Could you use spaghetti noodles?
Hi Mona - Thanks for your question. You can def use spaghetti noodles in a pinch. Let me know how it turns out. 🙂
What kind of chicken do you use?
Hi Amanda - Thanks for the question. We use chicken breast or chicken thighs. 🙂
When do you add the onions back in?
Hi Mooshki - You add all the veggies back in step #5. Hope this helps. 🙂
Easy, delicious, and tastes like restaurant quality! This recipe for Chicken Lo Mein is awesome!! <3
Thanks so much Betsy. Really happy you enjoyed the recipe. 🙂
Super easy and delicious! No more takeout for us, thank you!
Amazing - thanks for sharing Jan. Hope you have some leftovers to enjoy tomorrow. 🙂
Great dinner - my family loves when I make takeout at home!
Yay - that's so cool to hear Melissa. Really glad your fam loved this lo mein.