The 30-Minute Ultimate Chicken Lo Mein Recipe (With Pictures) (2024)

Here I have used a method of velveting chicken / tenderizing the chicken by marinating it with a little bit ofsoy sauceandcornstarch. That makes the chicken when stir-fried very soft and juicy.

Most Chinese cooking techniques use baking soda to be used for velveting chicken.

This chicken lo mein copycat recipe is closest to the lo mein served in most Asian restaurants, where the noodles are boiled and then tossed along with chicken or any otherproteinof your choice, further adding invegetablesand finally sauce.

What is the difference between Lo Mein and Chow mein?

I have found two differences between thesedishes. Whenever I ordered and ate either Lo Mein or Chow mein, chow mein is mostly cooked with thin and fried noodles; in Lo Mein, the noodles are slightly thick and chewy.

Another difference is that in Lo Mein the noodles are cooked/boiled in water and then tossed along withvegetables, proteins, and sauce, whereas in Chow mein the noodles are stir-fried, along withveggiesand proteins in the sauce, with noodles being slightly crunchy.

But in both dishes, there areEgg Noodles. So that is the similarity.

I have usedEgg Noodleshere too but the noodles that I found in the store close by were thin and not round or thick. But the noodles didn't matter as the sauce was spot on!

Best Noodles For Authentic Lo Mein:

The noodles that work for any lo mein recipe are egg noodles. These noodles are easily available in any Asian store near you.

These egg noodles are available in stores as either cooked or uncooked. Cooked noodles are easy to handle, as you can wash them with hot water and cook them.

With uncooked noodles, first, you will have to cook noodles and rinse them well with cold water. Drain the noodles thoroughly.

Chicken Lo Mein Sauce:

The sauce that goes in to make this best chicken lo mein recipe is made withSesame Oil,Ginger,Garlic,Oyster Sauce(if you do not like this then instead useHoisin Sauce, I love Hoisin too), Sriracha for the heat, Light and DarkSoy Sauces.

Chicken Lo Mein Ingredients

Lo MeinEgg Noodles:Use the round, chewy thickEgg Noodlesyou will find in Asian stores for this recipe. Even if you can't get it, do not worry - even Ramen Noodles go well as the sauce is the important part.

Chicken: I have usedtenderChicken Breastmeat in the recipe. That contains less fat but tends to get dry too fast but you can also use thigh meat also. That is juicier.

Sauce Mix: The sauce mix is an important part of this recipe. I have made the sauce a little spicier to adjust to mytastebut you can go ahead and make it spicier or less by increasing or decreasing the Sriracha quantity in the sauce mix.

Vegetablesof Choice: I have used Cabbage, Carrot, and Bell peppersalong with Scallions but you can try adding morevegetablesof your choice to make it healthier.

How to make Chicken Lo Mein?

Step 1:Cook noodles as per package instructions and keep them aside.the Chicken pieces withsoy sauce, salt, andcornstarch. Keep this aside for a few minutes.

Step 2: Next in a large pan/large skillet/wok, addsesame oiland add the chicken pieces. There should be not much of any marinade left but if there is Do NOT use that as that will make thisdishmessy.

Just use a fork or pair of tongs and drop the chicken pieces in thepanand immediately stir-fry the chicken.

Once done keep the chicken pieces aside.

Step 3: In a mixing bowl add all the ingredients for the sauce mix. Stir well and keep aside.

What variations of this chicken lo mein copycat recipe are possible?

Shrimp Lo Mein: Cook cleanedShrimpby marinating it withsaltandpepperpowder. Finally, toss everything together to make this amazingdish.

Try adding scrambledeggsto this along withshrimptoo.

VegetableLo Mein: Addvegetablesof your choice tossed insalt, and pepperpowder in this sauce mix along withegg noodles.

What are the bestvegetablesto go in a restaurant-style authenticchicken lo mein recipe?

You can add the followingvegetables:

Red and Green Bell Peppers

Broccoli

Snow Peas

Sliced Onions

Sliced Carrots

Sliced Cabbage

Zucchini

Tips for Spicy Chicken Lo Mein

• When adding the chicken to thewokto fry, do not add the marinade to thepan, Use tongs or a fork to pick chicken pieces and fry them. If the marinade is added then the wholedishwill get messy.

• To get the smoky restaurantflavorfor thedishuse toss noodles on medium to high heat which gives a niceflavorto the finaldish.

• Do not overcook theveggiesor make them very soft, keep them crunchy to get the combination of chicken andvegetablestogether in thedish.

• Serve thedishimmediately after preparing, reheating works well too but a freshdishgives the best flavor.

• If you like more spice in lo mein then increase the sriracha quantity too.

• Uselow-sodium soy sauce.

• Addbeans,bean sprouts,zucchini,bell peppers,bok choy,snow peas,green onions, or evenmushroomsas per your choice.

• You can useskinless chicken thighsinstead ofchicken breastmeat.

More Chinese Recipes for you:

You can try some of my easy Chinese food recipes :

• Sesame Chicken

• Sweet Fire Chicken Breast

• Black Pepper Chicken

• Kung Pao Chicken

• Hot and Sour soup

• Cashew Chicken

• Chicken Chow Mein

• Vegetable Lo Mein

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