Easy Homemade Beef Lo Mein Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy to learn more.
This Easy Homemade Beef Lo Mein Recipe is made with tender beef, vegetables, noodles, and a savory homemade lo mein sauce that coats every bite. It is quick enough for a weeknight dinner and gives you that takeout-style flavor without ordering in.
Recipe Overview: Easy Homemade Beef Lo Mein Recipe
- ⏱ Prep Time: 15 minutes
- 👩🏻🍳 Cook Time: 12 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 27 minutes
- 🍞 Serving: 4
- ⚡ Calories: 574 calories per serving
- 🍂 Flavor Profile: Savory, slightly sweet, and umami-rich with tender beef, crisp vegetables, and noodles coated in a homemade lo mein sauce.
- 👌 Difficulty: Medium easy. This recipe moves quickly once the pan is hot, so slice the beef, chop the vegetables, and whisk the sauce before you start cooking.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS RECIPE ON
This Easy Homemade Beef Lo Mein Recipe is made with tender strips of beef, crisp vegetables, noodles, and a savory homemade sauce that coats every bite. The sauce is rich, slightly sweet, and full of flavor, soaking into the noodles while keeping the vegetables fresh and tender-crisp.
If you love saucy, takeout-style dinners, try my 30-Minute Chicken Pad Thai or Chicken and Shrimp Fried Rice next. They both have that same satisfying mix of noodles, rice, protein, vegetables, and big flavor. For something a little brighter and fresh, my Sweet Chili Chicken Mango Bowls are another flavorful dinner to add to your meal plan.
Jump to:
Why You’ll Love This Beef Lo Mein
• Ready in under 30 minutes: This beef lo mein comes together quickly once the beef, vegetables, noodles, and sauce are prepped.
• Saucy and full of flavor: The homemade lo mein sauce is savory, slightly sweet, and coats the noodles without making them heavy.
• Easy to customize: Use the vegetables you already have on hand, or swap the beef for chicken, shrimp, or another protein.
• Made in one large pan: Everything comes together in a skillet or wok, so you do not need any special equipment.
• Great for leftovers: Store extra beef lo mein in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days for an easy lunch or dinner later.
Key Ingredients
Beef: Flank steak or sirloin both work well for beef lo mein. Slice the beef thinly against the grain so it cooks quickly and stays tender in the hot skillet.
Noodles: Chinese-style lo mein noodles are best, but spaghetti or another long noodle can work in a pinch. Cook the noodles just until tender so they do not turn mushy when tossed with the sauce.
Vegetables: Broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, and green onions add color, texture, and freshness. You can use what you have on hand, but try to keep the pieces thin so everything cooks evenly.
Soy Sauce: This gives the sauce its salty, savory flavor. If using low-sodium soy sauce, taste the finished noodles and adjust as needed.
Sesame Oil: Sesame oil adds richness and that classic takeout-style flavor. Since the sauce already has plenty of flavor, a little goes a long way.
Honey or Brown Sugar: A small amount of sweetness balances the salty soy sauce and tangy rice vinegar.
Garlic and Ginger: These add the bold, fresh flavor that keeps the sauce from tasting flat. Fresh garlic and ginger are best if you have them.
Get the full list of ingredients and measurements on the printable recipe card below.
How to Make Beef Lo Mein
Step 1: Cook the noodles
Cook the noodles according to the package directions until just al dente. Drain, rinse briefly under cold water to prevent sticking, and set aside.
Step 2: Make the sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, honey or brown sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, pepper, and cornstarch. Set aside.
Step 3: Cook the beef
Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the sliced beef and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes, until browned and just cooked through. Remove the beef from the pan and set aside.
Step 4: Stir-fry the vegetables
In the same pan, add a little more oil if needed. Stir-fry the carrots and broccoli first for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the bell peppers and green onions. Cook until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
Step 5: Combine everything
Add the cooked noodles and beef back into the pan. Pour the sauce over the top and toss until everything is evenly coated.
Step 6: Finish and serve
Stir-fry for another 1 to 2 minutes, until the sauce slightly thickens and coats the noodles. Garnish with extra green onions and serve hot.
Step 7: Store leftovers
Store leftover beef lo mein in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave until warmed through.
Homemade Beef Lo Mein FAQs
Yes. Fresh or dried lo mein noodles give the best texture, but spaghetti, ramen, or other long pasta work well as substitutes.
Definitely. Just skip the beef and add more vegetables or tofu. Ingredients like napa cabbage, snap peas, or shredded carrots are great additions.
Let the noodles cool, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently with a splash of water to keep them from drying out.
You can, although the texture is best fresh. Freeze in a sealed container for up to 2–3 months, then thaw in the fridge before reheating.
Check the refrigerated section near tofu or egg roll wrappers, or look in the international aisle for dried versions. Asian grocery stores are also a great place to find them.
For tender beef lo mein, slice the steak very thinly against the grain and avoid overcooking it. Stir-fry the beef quickly over medium-high heat just until browned, then remove it from the pan while the vegetables cook. Add it back at the end with the noodles and sauce so it stays juicy instead of turning tough.
More Dinner Ideas
Looking for more dinner inspiration? Try one of these:
If you tried this Easy Homemade Beef Lo Mein or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
Easy Homemade Beef Lo Mein Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Small bowl
- 1 large pan
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
- ⅓ cup regular or light soy sauce
- ¼ cup toasted sesame oil
- ¼ cup honey or brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- ¼ teaspoon black or white pepper
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
For the Lo Mein:
- 8 to 10 ounces uncooked lo mein noodles egg noodles, or long pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- ¾ to 1 pound flank steak or sirloin thinly sliced across the grain
- 1 cup thinly sliced carrots
- 1 cup small broccoli florets
- 1 red bell pepper thinly sliced
- 2 to 3 green onions sliced, plus extra for garnish
- Optional: snap peas snow peas, bok choy, baby corn, or napa cabbage
Instructions
- Cook the noodles according to the package directions until just al dente. Drain, rinse briefly under cold water to prevent sticking, and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, honey or brown sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, pepper, and cornstarch. Set aside.
- Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the sliced beef and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes, until browned and just cooked through. Remove the beef from the pan and set aside.
- In the same pan, add a little more oil if needed. Stir-fry the carrots and broccoli first for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the bell peppers and green onions. Cook until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
- Add the cooked noodles and beef back into the pan. Pour the sauce over the top and toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Stir-fry for another 1 to 2 minutes, until the sauce slightly thickens and coats the noodles. Garnish with extra green onions and serve hot.
- Store leftover beef lo mein in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Notes
- Slice the beef thinly against the grain so it cooks quickly and stays tender.
- Have the noodles, sauce, beef, and vegetables prepped before you start cooking. This recipe moves fast once the pan is hot.
- Cook the noodles just until al dente. They will soften a little more when tossed with the sauce.
- Do not overcook the vegetables. They should be tender but still have a little bite.
- If the noodles seem dry, add a small splash of water or extra soy sauce while tossing everything together.
I hadn't thought of beef lo mein before, so good! Thanks.
I didn’t even bother finishing my first serving. I had to leave a 5 star review. Definitely going into rotation around here!
This recipe is a 10/10. I’m a big Chinese food lover and this one is one of my favorite ones I’ve ever made . So flavorful and will be making it again.