Comfort food comes in many different forms across the globe. But, one form that we all know and love, from America to Italy, all the way to China, is pasta. While we all have our own ways of dressing it up, China really has done amazing things to it. Prime example -- Chicken Lo Mein.
This is an easy recipe for making lo mein with chicken at home and it features pan-seared boneless, skinless chicken thighs, pasta, vegetables, and simple lo mein sauce! Love Chinese food? Add Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry, Chicken Chow Mein, and Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken to your dinnertime lineup!
CHICKEN LO MEIN INGREDIENTS
You could use either Asian wheat noodles or just plain ol' spaghetti noodles for lo mein. I always have spaghetti noodles in the pantry so that's what I used. And if you don't mind me saying so, they were spectacular.
For this lo mein recipe, boneless, skinless chicken thighs are sliced into thin strips and coated with salt, pepper, and a little ginger, and pan-seared until cooked through. It is perfection. The vegetable mixture for lo mein consists of mushrooms, snow peas (don't forget to string 'em), red bell pepper, sliced green cabbage, and yellow onion. To. Die. For.
LO MEIN SAUCE INGREDIENTS
Hoisin sauce in combination with soy sauce will serve as the base of our lo mein sauce.
Hoisin has this sticky/savory/sweet quality to it and helps the sauce to coat the noodle. That and a little honey. In addition to this, a sprinkle of sesame oil adds a nice authentic touch, as well as depth of flavor. And, to round it all out, garlic powder and a pinch of salt, plus some cayenne pepper for a little heat.
HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN LO MEIN AT HOME
The chicken strips are added to a large sauté pan until cooked through. The chicken gets out, and the veggies go in. All of them. This is going to look like a lot of veggies, but no worries, they cook down. Typically I wouldn't condone crowding a pan, but we are essentially going to be stir-frying, which means they will be moving a lot, allowing them to cook evenly.
Ok, truth be told, I didn't stand over the pan and stir for ten straight minutes. No thanks. I just made sure to give the vegetables a couple of good turns every minute or so, and they turned out perfect.
The vegetables, the chicken, and the noodles all go into a big bowl, get doused with some sauce, and together, they all go for the ride of their lives, all thanks to a handy-dandy pair of kitchen tongs. Time to eat.
MORE INTERNATIONAL RECIPES TO TRY
France - Classic French Macarons
India - Chicken Biryani
India - Orange Honey Lassi
Italy - Suppli di Riso {Fried Risotto} with fresh Marinara
Korea -Korean Beef Tacos (Bulgogi)
Sweden -Swedish Chocolate Balls
Lo Mein Chicken
Ingredients
For the Lo Mein Sauce:
- 3 ½ tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¼ teaspoon sesame oil
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- Pinch of Kosher salt
For the Chicken Lo Mein:
- 12 ounces spaghetti (about ¾ of a package)
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tablespoons canola oil, separated
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (6 ounce) package of snow peas, snipped and strings removed
- 1 (8 ounce) package of sliced white button (or cremini) mushrooms
- 1 heaping cup shredded green cabbage
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into ¼" strips
- 1 yellow onion, quartered and sliced into ¼" strips
Instructions
For the Lo Mein Sauce:
- Add the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, sesame oil, garlic powder, cayenne, and salt to a small mixing bowl, and whisk to combine. Set aside until ready to use.
For the Chicken Lo Mein:
- Place a large pot of heavily salted water over high heat, and bring to a roaring boil. Add the noodles and cook according to package directions. In the meantime, prepare the chicken.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and transfer to a cutting board. Cutting against the grain, slice into ¼" strips. Drizzle the chicken with 1 tablespoon canola oil, and sprinkle with salt, ginger, and pepper. Massage oil and spices into the chicken and set aside until ready to use.
- Add 2 tablespoons of canola oil to a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear for 4 minutes. Turn, and sear for 3-4 minutes, until golden-brown and cooked through.
- Remove the chicken from the pan, and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add in all of the vegetables, and stir to coat with oil. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring a few times every minute or so. Once the vegetables have softened and cooked through, add them to the bowl with the chicken.
- Add the strained pasta to the bowl, and pour over the sauce. Using a pair of tongs, toss the ingredients until well-combined. Serve and enjoy.
Nutrition
Tara says
I love chicken li mein! This looks so good with that crispy chicken!!
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you so much, Tara!
Tina says
Yum! I needed this inspiration today. Dinner sorted. Thanks!
Claudia Lamascolo says
I love everything in this bowl and what a bonus that it is easy to make . This just may be dinner tonight!
Dannii says
So much better than ordering a takeaway and such a good way to pack a meal full of veggies.
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you, Dannii! Totally agree! This one is truly veggie packed!
Linda says
Lo Mein is one of my favorite Chinese dishes and I love making it at home. Your explanation and steps were so easy to follow and great for someone who wants to give Chinese dishes a try. You added all my favorites and the hoisin, honey, soy sauce is the perfect touch. Can't wait to make this again!
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you dearly, Linda! I love hoisin sauce so much!!!
Jaclyn Anne says
I have been ordering chicken lo mein since I was a little girl everytime we have Chinese takeout. Now I can finally make the dish myself - thanks for the great recipe!
Kelly Anthony says
Hi Jaclyn! You are so very welcome!!!
Jessie says
I love Lo Mein and always wanted to know how to make this at home. This looks amazing!
Alyssa | Flaxseeds & Fairytales says
Looks great! I love how fast and easy this recipe is. Perfect for weekday dinners! 🙂
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you, Alyssa! It definitely comes together pretty quickly!
Sherri @ Watch Learn Eat says
I seriously can almost taste this lo mein! Those snow peas and mushrooms...OMG! Love how all these flavors come together. Totally drooling! 🙂
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you, Sherri! It's pretty yummy 😉
Anne says
I have not made lo mein in a long time! After seeing your recipe, that's going to change real soon. It looks and sounds delicious!
Veena Azmanov says
Now there is a wholesome bowl of goodness. I love everything about this dish. Especially that it is so easy to make. Quick dinners are always my kind of thing. Saving this for later.
Nicolas Hortense says
Yep, I remember tasting fish sauce on its own too. Definitely regretted that decision. And I also put hoisin sauce in these kinds of dishes. When I make fried rice or stir-fried noodles, I love to toss it in hoisin sauce and tahini. Will definitely have to try lo mein sometime! Oh, and you're clearly killing it with this blog Kelly! Keep up the awesome work (:
Dominique | Perchance to Cook says
Forget about takeout! I want this chicken lo mein! It looks so flavorful, full of texture, and yummy. Give me a big bowl of this!
Holly says
This looks sooo good! I'm loving all the veggies in this - I can't wait to make it for my family!
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you, Holly! 🙂
Elaine says
I made a mistake once having tried fish sauce on its own. I wish I have stumbled upon your recipe earlier 🙂 Anyway, great recipe!
Jessica Pinney says
I've been trying to make all of our dinners at home instead of doing takeout and this looks like a lovely addition to the rotation. Thanks for sharing!
Kim @ Berly's Kitchen says
This lo mein looks absolutely delicious. I love that you've packed it with tons of veggies, too. We've been searching for a good lo main recipe and can't wait to give yours a try!
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you, Kim!! That's so nice 🙂
Nicoletta Sugarlovespices says
Veggie-packed and loaded with amazing flavors. Easy to make and well balanced. Great meal option.
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you so much, Nicoletta!
Veronika's Kitchen says
I like Chicken Lo Mein but never tried to make it myself... It sounds like it is quite easy to make and I should definitely try it)
Kelly Anthony says
It really is! Thank you, Veronika!
Chelsey says
Love the crispy chicken and wide variety of veggies in this dish!! Asian food is one of my favs, I will definitely have to give this recipe a go!
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you, Chelsey! Mine too 🙂