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20 Minute Chicken Lo Mein Recipe

Easy Chicken Lo Mein Recipe

Takeout is awesome and all, but sometimes you just crave something homemade. This craving led me on a quest for the perfect easy chicken lo mein recipe, and I’m happy to say that I finally did it. This dish is not only delicious, but it’s also relatively healthy and quick to make. So if you’re in the mood for some takeout-style noodles without actually leaving your house, read on for my easy chicken lo mein recipe. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you.

Chicken lo mein on a plate with lime wedges and bean sprouts.

What is Chicken Lo Mein?

Chicken lo mein is a classic Chinese dish that has been enjoyed for centuries. It is typically made with noodles, vegetables and chicken in a savory sauce. The main components of the dish are the noodles, which provide the base flavor and texture; vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, onion, bell pepper and mushrooms; chicken which adds protein and flavor; and a flavorful sauce which ties all of the ingredients together.

The vegetables are usually stir-fried in oil before being added to the noodles, while the chicken is typically cooked separately.

The vegetables add crunchy texture and provide a variety of flavors, while the chicken adds an additional layer of flavor as well as protein. A simple sauce, often made from soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil and vinegar, is added to the noodles for flavor.

Once all of the components are prepared, they are assembled in a single large pan or wok and stirred together until everything is heated through and combined.

Chicken lo mein can be garnished with green onions and sesame seeds for added flavor and texture. It can be served as a main course alongside other Chinese dishes, or it can be eaten as a standalone meal. Regardless of how it is served, chicken lo mein is sure to please any palate!

For more information, check out this Lo Mein article.

Why I Love This Recipe

Cooking chicken lo mein is a great way to enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal without spending too much time in the kitchen. It’s easier on your wallet too when compared to grabbing some Chinese takeout

I used rotisserie chicken for ease but you could easily add any leftover chicken. Next time you are making a chicken recipe, cook extra and save it for lo mein in order to make your weeknights that much easier.

This dish is also very easy to customize with different ingredients, such as adding vegetables like broccoli or peppers for extra color and flavor, or swapping out the chicken for beef or shrimp.

It is also a great way to use up any leftover ingredients in your fridge! Feel free to experiment and create the perfect chicken lo mein for you and your family.

Once you make chicken lo mein, it’s sure to become a family favorite for years to come. With its flavorful ingredients and simple preparation, it’s a great way to enjoy a delicious Chinese meal in the comfort of your own home.

Easy 20 Minute Chicken Lo Mein Recipe

Ingredients

  • cooking oil
  • onion or scallions
  • bell pepper
  • cole slaw mix
  • store-bought rotisserie chicken (or other leftover chicken)
  • al dente cooked noodles (fresh noodles or dried noodles)
  • grated ginger (may use ginger powder)
  • garlic powder (may use fresh garlic)
  • light or dark soy sauce
  • oyster sauce or hoisin sauce
  • sesame oil
  • white or brown sugar
  • sesame seeds
  • vinegar

OPTIONAL GARNISHES

lime wedges, bean sprouts, scallions, sesame seeds, chili oil

Lo mein sauce in a jar.

Cooking Instructions

Lo Mein in general has the same cooking method:

  1. Cook noodles according to package directions except remove them from the boiling water 2 minutes before they are finished cooking. Plunge in cold water to stop the cooking process.
  2. Time Saver: While the noodles are cooking, prep your veggies, shred your meat and make your sauce in a jar or measuring cup.
  3. Heat up a large pan like a dutch oven or wok over medium high heat. Add the denser veggies first such as bell peppers and onions, stir frequently and cook for 2 minutes.
  4. Add your Cole slaw mix, stirring frequently and cook for another 2 minutes.
  5. Add chicken, noodles and sauce. Cook stirring frequently until heated through, about 2-5 more minutes. Add some water to the bottom of the pan, a little at a time to keep the sauce from burning in the pan.
  6. Garnish and serve hot.
Easy 20 Minute Chicken Lo Mein Recipe

Cooking Tips

– When cooking chicken lo mein, it’s important to use a wok or deep pan with a high heat capacity to prevent burning.

– Make sure that all ingredients are prepped before starting the cooking process, as you’ll be adding them quickly and in succession.

Variations on the Recipe

– For a vegetarian version, replace chicken with tofu or mushrooms.

– To make it spicier, add chili peppers to the sauce or garnish with chili flakes.

– For a sweeter version, add in some sugar while cooking the vegetables and chicken.

– To make chicken lo mein gluten-free, use rice noodles or gluten-free ramen.

– For an alternative to chicken, try using pork or turkey.

Make it Healthier!

Adding more vegetables to chicken lo mein is a great way to make it even healthier. For example, adding in some green beans can help increase the fiber and vitamin content of the dish, while adding in some shredded bok choy can provide extra vitamins A and C. Other great vegetables to add are bean sprouts, which are high in vitamin C, and cabbage, which is high in fiber.

Using buckwheat noodles, like Soba noodles, will decrease the glycemic index of this dish and add more fiber.

Chicken lo mein on a plate with lime wedges and bean sprouts.

FAQ

What is the best chicken for chicken lo mein?

Leftover chicken is the best, especially skin-on/bone-in for the most flavor. Shred into bite sized pieces.

Can you freeze chicken lo mein?

Yes. Use a freezer bag or other airtight container and try to get most of the air out of the bag. Be sure to let the food cool completely first in order to prevent ice crystals from forming. When reheating, defrost first then stir fry in a skillet. It also microwaves well too.

How can you make this dish more spicy?

You can make this dish more spicy by adding some heat such as black pepper, chili oil, red pepper flakes or fresh chilies.

What if I don’t have rotisserie chicken?

You can use any leftover chicken or cook chicken from scratch. You have a choice of boiling, baking or frying. Baking is my preferred method because it really develops the flavor. I prefer chicken thighs with skin-on and bone-in but you could use chicken breast too. If you boil the chicken, use boneless/skinless chicken breast or thighs. When it cools, shred into small pieces.

What type of noodles are lo mein noodles?

For Lo Mein, people usually use wheat-based egg noodles. You can find these noodles in the store, but they might be more expensive than regular pasta.

For more information Asian Wheat Noodles 101 is a great reference.

You can also use pasta for Lo Mein. Some good choices include fettuccine, tagliatelle, pappardelle, bucatini, linguine and spaghetti. These types of pasta are made with wheat and eggs, so they have a similar texture to Lo Mein noodles. And you might already have some of these pastas in your pantry!

What is chicken lo mein sauce made of?

There are many different types of seasonings and sauces that can be used to cook lo mein. Some of the most popular options include soy sauce, oyster sauce, and hoisin sauce. However, there are many other possibilities as well.

Traditional lo mein dishes usually include soy sauce for a salty flavor that goes well with the noodles and vegetables. Another popular choice is oyster sauce because it can add a rich and savory flavor to the dish.

Hoisin sauce is a good option for lo mein because it makes the dish taste slightly sweet and spicy.

It is up to you what kind of sauce you want to use. If you do not want to make your own sauce, you can buy pre-made Asian stir-fry sauce from your local market.

Just choose 2-6 ingredients and mix them together. You will need 1-2 tablespoons of sauce per person. Be careful with the salty ingredients. You might only want to use one or two of those ingredients.

Chicken lo mein on a plate with lime wedges and bean sprouts.

There you have it – my easy chicken lo mein recipe. This dish is sure to satisfy your cravings for takeout without ever leaving your home. Give it a try and let me know how it turns out!

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Chicken lo mein on a plate with lime wedges and bean sprouts.

Easy 20 Minute Lo Mein Recipe

Yield: 10 cups
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

A quick, easy weeknight meal for busy people. Chicken Lo Mein is a classic Chinese dish that will help you clean out leftover veggies and chicken.

Ingredients

  • 8 oz of wheat noodles or pasta (may use soba noodles too)
  • 1 lb of rotisserie or leftover chicken
  • 2 TBS cooking oil such as canola, grapeseed, vegetable
  • 1 cup onion, thinly sliced (any type, may sub green onions)
  • 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 4 cups of Cole slaw mix (without the dressing)
  • SAUCE
  • 2 Tbs dark soy sauce
  • 1 Tbs toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 3 Tbs oyster sauce
  • 1 Tbs ginger, grated
  • 1 Tbs sesame seeds
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 3 Tbs vinegar (not balsamic)

Instructions

  1. Cook 8-10 oz of noodles or pasta of choice according to package directions. Take the noodles out 2 minutes early, you will need al dente noodles. Plunge them in cold water in order to stop the cooking.
  2. While noodles or pasta are cooking, thinly slice onions and bell peppers. Shred the chicken. Set aside.
  3. Pour all sauce ingredients into a bowl or jar, shake or stir. Set aside.
  4. Heat dutch oven or wok over medium-high heat, add oil, onions and bell pepper. Stir frequently for two minutes.
  5. Add cole slaw mix, continue cooking for two more minutes, stirring frequently.
  6. Add chicken, noodles and sauce. Stir frequently and cook until heated through. Add a little water at a time to the bottom, center of pot in order to prevent the sauce from burning.
  7. Garnish as desired and serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 561Total Fat: 39gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 30gCholesterol: 104mgSodium: 1165mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 6gSugar: 18gProtein: 24g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Lesley

Thursday 8th of December 2022

I love recipes where I can clean out my fridge. This is great! Thanks for this recipe, going to make this next week.

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