The Best Chicken Lo Mein (2024)

Our best chicken lo mein recipe that's ready in 15 minutes! Made with fresh Chinese egg noodles, tender chicken & tossed in a savory lo mein sauce! Easy & delicious!

Why you’ll love this recipe

• It's fast and easy to make! It's ready in less time than it takes to get takeout and it's even better than the restaurant version! It makes a perfect weeknight meal.
• The fresh egg noodles add a wonderful chewy texture to this dish. If you can't find it, you can absolutely use spaghetti noodles or fettuccine. Just be sure to cook them al dente for the right texture.
• This dish is super versatile - swap out the vegetables and protein for what you have on hand. It's a great way to use up extra ingredients in your fridge.
• The lo mein sauce is amazing! It's a deep, rich color from the dark soy sauce with a subtle hint of sweetness from the brown sugar. The oyster sauce gives it a savory, umami flavor while the sesame oil adds a toasty, nutty flavor that brings it all together.

Ingredients you’ll need

For the stir fry:

• Fresh egg noodles - The ones pictured are Chinese egg noodles that are sold in the refrigerated section in Asian grocery stores. They're a beautiful yellow color, made of wheat flour and eggs, and have a chewy, al dente texture. The ones I used are pre-cooked so they don't require boiling. Just rinse them under hot water to separate the strands. Be sure to check the label for cooking instructions if they are still raw. For substitutions: use spaghetti or fettuccine noodles. They work great in this recipe! Cook them one minute shy of their package instructions for al dente noodles.
• Chicken breast - I used boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into small bite size pieces.
• Vegetables - I used shiitake mushrooms, red bell pepper, snow peas, carrots, and onion. Mix and match whatever vegetables you have on hand. It should total 2 to 3 cups of vegetables.
• Garnish - chopped scallions and sesame seeds

For the sauce:

• Dark soy sauce - a thicker, slightly sweeter version of regular soy sauce that adds a rich, dark color to the sauce.
• Oyster sauce - adds umami and a subtle sweetness to the sauce.
• Chicken stock - use low sodium if possible to control the saltiness
• Cornstarch - slightly thickens the sauce

Step by step instructions

• Mix the ingredients for the sauce in a medium size bowl and stir until the sugar dissolves.

• Add a tablespoon of the sauce to the chicken to act as a marinade. Prepare the vegetables while the chicken marinates.

• Cut the vegetables and boil water to cook the noodles (if using raw or dried noodles).
• If you're using fresh uncooked egg noodles: boil it for 2 minutes or until al dente. Drain and rinse the noodles under running water then drizzle on a small amount of oil to prevent them from sticking together.
• If you're using dried noodles: like dried lo mein, spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine, boil the noodles until they're al dente. An easy way is to do this is to boil it one minute less than the package instructions state. Rinse the noodles and drizzle a small amount of oil to prevent sticking.

• Heat a wok or pan over medium high heat and add the marinated chicken breast. Cook it fully and then remove it from the pan and set it aside.

• Next add the julienned vegetables and stir fry them for 2 to 3 minutes.

• Add the egg noodles and the sauce and toss them to combine. The sauce should thicken up and turn glossy and shiny. It should coat the noodles nicely. This takes about 1 minute.

• Add the cooked chicken and scallions and toss one more time to combine.

• Garnish with sesame seeds and serve.

Storing & reheating leftovers

Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freeze: Store leftovers in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to one month.

Reheat: Warm up in the microwave on medium high setting one minute at a time until heated through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ingredient substitutions & variations

• Sauce substitutions: if you don't have oyster sauce, you can use hoisin. Tamari and coconut aminos can be used instead of soy sauce.
• Vegetables: broccoli, zucchini, green beans, edamame, spinach
• Protein: shrimp, beef, pork, fried tofu
• Make it spicy: add a teaspoon of red pepper flakes or chili sauce to the sauce

More noodle recipes:

• Yaki Udon - Stir Fried Udon Noodles
• Easy Japchae - Korean Glass Noodle Stir Fry
• Spicy Szechuan Noodles with Garlic Chili Oil
• Chicken Chow Mein with Vegetables – Better than Takeout!
• 15 Minute Asian Chicken Noodle Soup
• 15 Minute Thai Vegan Peanut Noodles
• Pad See Ew Noodles

More stir fry recipes:

• Stir Fried Shanghai Rice Cakes
• Thai Basil Tofu Stir Fry
• Panda Express Kung Pao Chicken
• Panda Express String Bean Chicken
• Chinese Style Dry Fried Green Beans
• Panda Express Mushroom Chicken

Recipe