Vegetable Lo Mein Recipe (2024)

By Laura

Posted Aug 10, 2022, Updated Feb 16, 2024

5 from 18 votes

6 Comments

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This vegetable lo mein recipe is better than takeout and easy to make in 15 minutes! Veggies and noodles are stir-fried in a delicious lo mein sauce for an easy and healthy dinner you’ll make on repeat.

When I’m short on time and craving veggies (which is always), I whip up this vegetable lo mein recipe. It’s even better than takeout and is easy to make in 15 minutes!

Your favorite veggies are stir-fried with noodles and the most delicious lo mein sauce for a meal even skeptical kids love. Because they may scoff when I make plain old stir fry vegetables, but add noodles and viola – instant favorite.

Vegetable Lo Mein Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions

Note: I included my favorite vegetable varieties in this recipe. You can substitute your favorites. Some suggestions include: zucchini, baby corn, fresh bean sprouts, water chestnuts, snap peas, etc.

Stir fry noodles. My favorite are the already-cooked stir fry noodles (like these stir fry noodles). I find them at my local grocery store in the “Asian Foods” aisle (near the soy sauce, etc.). You can also purchase dried noodles such a lo mein noodles, ramen noodles, udon noodles, soba noodles, etc. then cook them and use them in this recipe .
Sesame Oil. A staple in all Asian dishes on my site. Peanut oil, olive oil, or avocado oil are ok replacements for sesame oil, although the dish will lack the authentic take-out flavor without sesame oil it will still be delicious.
Minced Garlic. freshly minced or jarred (my preference) garlic both work well.
Onion. I prefer a sweet, white onion. Red, yellow, and green onions taste great in this recipe.
Bell Peppers. choose your favorite variety – red, green, orange, yellow – or a combination.
Carrots. I prefer whole carrots chopped finely for the best taste. You can purchase shredded carrots to cut out the chopping step (which is time consuming).
Broccoli. If you don’t prefer broccoli, you can substitute it with your favorite vegetable.
Soy Sauce. regular or low sodium soy sauce both work great. Or use coconut aminos for a soy-free version.
Hoisin Sauce. No substitute here, this is a must-have ingredient.
Ground Ginger. Fresh minced ginger can be used in place of ground.
Honey. brown sugar is an easy substitute for honey.

How to Make Lo Mein

Let’s walk through how to make lo mein step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.

Cook the Lo Mein Noodles

If necessary, cook the dried noodles according to package instructions. This is not necessary if you are using the pre-made stir fry noodles mentioned above and in the recipe card.

Make the Lo Mein Sauce

Then, whisk together the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl and set it aside to use later. It’s important to have the sauce ready to go before you begin cooking the vegetables.

Cook the Vegetables

Next, cook the vegetables for the lo mein. Heat the sesame oil in a large fry pan or wok. Then add the onion and garlic and cook on over high heat until onion is soft (2-5 minutes).

Then, add the rest of the vegetables and additional sesame oil. Cover and cook until the vegetables are browned and soft, stirring occasionally.

Once the vegetables are co*ked, add the noodles and sauce and stir.

Serve

Finally, serve this vegetable lo mein immediately with your favorite Asian dishes – or as a main dish all on it’s own. I like to pair it with teriyaki chicken (which is made in the slow cooker), fresh spring rolls and peanut sauce, cashew chicken stir fry, or these asian chicken lettuce wraps.

Store

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Vegetable Lo Mein Recipe FAQs

What are the best noodles for lo mein?

There are many noodle options that taste great in lo mein. Here are some suggestions:
Stir fry noodles). I find them at my local grocery store in the “Asian Foods” aisle (near the soy sauce, etc.). My favorite option.
Lo mein noodles
Ramen noodles
Udon noodles
Soba noodles

Vegetable Lo Mein Recipe

Laura

5 from 18 votes

Course dinner, Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine asian

Equipment

Ingredients

▢ 14 ounces stir fy noodles*
▢ 2 Tablespoons sesame oil or peanut, canola, olive, etc, divided
▢ 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
▢ ½ onion finely sliced
▢ 2 bell peppers red and green, finely sliced
▢ 2 carrots cut into thin matchsticks
▢ 4 cups broccoli 2 medium crowns

Lo mein sauce

▢ 4 Tablespoons soy sauce
▢ 2 Tablespoons hoisin sauce
▢ ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
▢ 2 teaspoons honey
▢ 4 Tablespoons sesame oil

Instructions

If necessary, cook noodles according to package instructions (see notes)

Make the Sauce

In a small bowl, whisk together sauce ingredients. Set aside.

Cook the Lo Mein

Heat 1 Tablespoon sesame oil in a large fry pan or wok.
Add onion and garlic and cook on over high heat until onion is soft (2-5 minutes)
Add the rest of the vegetables and additional 1 TBS sesame oil.
Cover and cook until browned and soft, stirring occasionally.
Add noodles and sauce and stir.
Serve warm.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Noodles: I use these stir fry noodles. I use the both packs which is a total of 14 oz of noodles. They are already cooked so you just add them to the veggies and sauce straight from the package.
Alternatively, you can cook 4oz dry ramen noodles, or 4 oz Asian noodles like udon, lo mein, etc. according to the package instructions. Then drain and do not rinse, and use in this recipe.
Minced Garlic. freshly minced or jarred (my preference) garlic both work well.
Onion. I prefer a sweet, white onion. Red, yellow, and green onions taste great in this recipe.
Bell Peppers. choose your favorite variety – red, green, orange, yellow – or a combination.
Carrots. I prefer whole carrots chopped finely for the best taste. You can purchase shredded carrots to cut out the chopping step (which is time consuming).
Soy Sauce. regular or low sodium soy sauce both work great. Or use coconut aminos for a soy-free version.
Ground Ginger. Fresh minced ginger can be used in place of ground.
Honey. brown sugar is an easy substitute for honey.

Store

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

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FAQs

What is the sauce in lo mein made of? ›

Most commonly, lo mein involves chicken, beef, pork, turkey, shrimp or tofu. Sauce components: Lo mein sauce is mainly composed of sesame oil, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, garlic, ginger, oyster sauce and a dash of sugar. If you like your noodles to have a little heat, you can sprinkle in some red pepper flakes.

Get More Info ›

How to make bland lo mein taste better? ›

If you find your lo mein noodles to be bland and want to add more flavor, here are some ways to spice them up: I bring a quart of unsalted chicken stock to a boil, I add soy sauce , a dash of fish sauce and just a bit of sambal bajec.

See Details ›

What makes lo mein taste like lo mein? ›

Lo mein sauce

The sauce is what makes this dish so addictive. It's a simple umami filled mix of light and dark soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, sugar, and a hint of ginger. It's super easy to make a batch of lo mein sauce and keep it in the fridge so you can easily make lo mein whenever the craving hits.

What is the difference between vegetable chow mein and vegetable lo mein? ›

The biggest difference between chow mein and lo mein lies in the translations of their names: chow mein is fried, and lo mein is tossed. The experience is somewhat different between the two. Lo mein tends to be saucier and more toothsome, with a texture some describe as “slippery” because of the noodles' softness.

What is a good substitute for lo mein noodles? ›

Some options include:

Spiralized vegetables: You can use a spiralizer to turn vegetables like zucchini, carrots, or sweet potatoes into noodles. ...
Cabbage: Thinly sliced cabbage makes a good substitute for lo mein noodles and adds a crunchy texture to your dish.

More items...

Jan 1, 2023

What is vegetable lo mein made of? ›

Lo mein is also made of various stir fried veggies, fresh garlic and ginger for lots of flavor, and a simple sauce made with soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar and sriracha for spice!

Is vegetable lo mein good for you? ›

This vegetable lo mein recipe is much healthier than takeout. One bowl is only 335 calories with 16 grams of protein and 12 grams of fiber. Plus, it's a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals from all the veggies.

Get More Info Here ›

Can spaghetti be used for lo mein? ›

15 Minute Lo Mein! Made with just soy sauce, sesame oil, a pinch of sugar, ramen noodles or spaghetti noodles, and any veggies or protein you like. SO YUMMY!

What is the brown sauce in Chinese food called? ›

There are many Chinese sauces that are brown just a few most common, soy sause, oyster sauce, sweet bean, Hoisin…

View Details ›

What is the difference between chow mein and lo mein sauce? ›

Meanwhile, vegetables and meat or seafood are stir-fried, then everything gets tossed together with a sauce before serving. (That's another distinction between chow mein and lo mein: Lo mein is a saucy dish, while chow mein is typically drier or less liquid-y.)

See Details ›

What sauce do Chinese restaurants use? ›

In this blog post, we'll explore some of the most popular types of Chinese sauces, including soy sauce, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, and more. From sweet and tangy to rich and savory, Chinese sauces are a crucial component of many dishes, and can completely transform the taste of a meal.