Beef Lo Mein

Packed with healthy veggies, this Beef Lo Mein recipe is a flavorful 30-minute meal perfect for a busy weeknight!

When we get Chinese food take-out, we almost always get Lo Mein noodles. It's one of the few dishes that our whole family truly loves. But did you know how simple this takeout classic is to make at home?

We've shared the simple Shrimp Lo Mein noodles before. This recipe for Beef Lo Mein is simply as quick and yummy!

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🥡 Why you'll love this dish

This tasty Chinese dish is awesome to make at home for so many reasons.

It's versatile: you can use almost any protein and mix of your fave veggies.
You can make this simple meal in 30 minutes or less, making this a perfect weeknight dinner recipe.
Made with fresh, simple ingredients you can find at your local grocery store
This better-than-takeout homemade beef lo mein means no waiting for it to be delivered from your favorite Chinese restaurants!

🥩 Ingredient notes

Ramen noodles – To make this a super fast, one-pan recipe, We cheat a little and use ramen noodles. Yes, the kind that cost less than a dollar each. The kind your mom probably sent to you in Costco-sized portions in college care packages. So simple!

Fresh veggies – baby corn, red bell peppers, broccoli, celery, and carrots are some of the favorite vegetables to add flavor and crunch to this dish. You could also use snow peas, zucchini, potatoes, cauliflower, mushrooms, or eggplant.

Flank steak – is the preferred cut of beef for beef lo mein. It's leaner than other cuts, and comes from the belly of the cow, so it's full of beef flavor. But since it can be a bit tough (it is simple to overcook it). So cut it into thin slices and/or small pieces, which makes it great for stir fry and noodles.

Instead of flank steak, you could also use skirt steak. Skirt steak is the most similar to flank steak: it's also long and thin, and full of beef flavor. Sirloin steak or rump steak are also good options for this dish. Simply be sure you slice the meat thinly.

✅ Step-by-step instructions

Exact measurements of ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this post. Here are some helpful tips to guide you as you make this simple beef lo mein recipe.

1. To make the lo mein sauce, stir together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, and ground ginger in a small bowl.

2. Cook noodles according to package directions, then drain and set aside.

3. Heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a wok or large skillet. Add the savory sauce mixture and sliced beef, and incorporate cornstarch into the sauce.

4. Cook the beef about 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly. Use tongs or a slotted spoon to remove the tender beef strips and set meat aside in a bowl. Leave any remaining liquid in the pan.

5. Add the vegetables and fresh garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly until vegetables are slightly softened. Toss in the cooked noodles and stir with vegetables.

6. Return the beef to the wok/skillet, and combine.

7. Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or green onions. Serve immediately and enjoy your tasty beef lo mein!

👩🏽‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

What is the difference between lo mein and chow mein?

Both lo mein and chow mein are usually made with egg noodles. The main difference is in the cooking preparation.

Lo mein refers to noodles that are stirred or tossed with sauce. Whereas, chow mein refers to fried noodles. So when you order chow mein noodles, you're usually getting a crunchy dish in which the noodles were stir-fried separately and then added to the dish. Lo mein noodles are cooked in the sauce with the veggies and meat at the end, tossed, and served. So the lo mein noodles are softer and sauced.

What is the best cut of beef to use in beef lo mein?

We use flank steak because it's full of beef flavor, but you could also use skirt steak. It's the most similar to flank steak. Sirloin steak or rump steak are also good options for this dish. Simply be sure you slice the meat thinly.

How do We store leftover lo mein?

Leftover lo mein will keep for up to 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. For best results, reheat in a wok or pan with some oil.

🥢 Kitchen tools and equipment

To start, you'll need a wok. We love the daTerra Cucina 13″ wok. It's non-stick and heats quickly and evenly, which makes it ideal for stir-fries like this.

If you don't have a wok, you could use a non-stick skillet with high sides.

🥂 What wine pairs with Beef Lo Mein?

A classic wine pairing for beef lo mein would be a crisp Sauvignon Blanc. However, We recently enjoyed this particular recipe with an off-dry Riesling and it was amazing together!

The hint of sweetness and bright acidity in an off-dry Riesling balances the salty sweetness of the sauce for these noodles.

More tasty noodle recipes

Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you truly loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

Simple Beef Lo Mein

By Marlynn Schotland Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 20 mins Total Time: 30 mins Servings: 4 people This hearty Beef Lo Mein takes less than 30 minutes to make and is a tasty lunch or dinner!

Ingredients

Sauce

2 tbsp Soy Sauce
2 tsp Hoisin Sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
½ tsp ground ginger

Lo Mein

2 packages uncooked ramen noodles (discard spice packet that comes with it)
2 tbsp vegetable oil
½ lb beef, cubed
1 tablespoon cornstarch
½ cup julienned (thinly sliced) carrots
1 cup broccoli, chopped
½ cup red pepper, de-stemmed, seeded, chopped
1 cup baby corn, cut into 2" pieces
1 garlic clove, minced
optional garnish: sliced chives or green onions, chopped parsley

Instructions

Make the sauce

In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, and ground ginger. Set aside.

Cook the Noodles

Cook noodles according to package directions. When cooked, drain and set aside.

Stir-fry the meat and vegetables

In a wok or large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add the sauce, beef, and cornstarch, and combine until the cornstarch is incorporated into the sauce. Cook the beef until fully cooked, stirring constantly, about 3-4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the beef and place in a bowl or plate; set aside. Leave any remaining liquid in the pan.
Add the vegetables and garlic, and stir constantly until vegetables are slightly softened, about 2-3 minutes. Toss in the cooked noodles stir together until the noodles and veggies are well coated. Return the beef to the wok/skillet, and combine.
Garnish with fresh herbs. Serve immediately.

Notes

It's important not to overcook the beef. To help prevent this, cut it into thin slices first. If you find it's starting to get tough while cooking, remove the beef from the pan and continue cooking the veggies until softened. Then add the beef back to the pan. Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for about 2-3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 497 kcal, Carbohydrates: 48 g, Protein: 18 g, Fat: 27 g, Saturated Fat: 9 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 10 g, Trans Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 40 mg, Sodium: 1459 mg, Potassium: 556 mg, Fiber: 4 g, Sugar: 6 g, Vitamin A: 3568 IU, Vitamin C: 49 mg, Calcium: 46 mg, Iron: 4 mg

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