Nothing beats the savory, comforting flavors of a homemade Beef Lo Mein Recipe. This dish brings tender slices of beef, crisp veggies, and perfectly sauced noodles together in a way that always satisfies. Trust me, once you try this, you’ll want to make it again and again.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Beef Lo Mein Recipe is one of my go-to comfort dinners because it’s both easy to make and full of flavor. The balance of juicy beef, fresh veggies, and that sauce that just clings to every noodle? It’s magic.
- Simple yet flavorful: You’re layering savory broth, soy sauce, and bursts of garlic and ginger that make the sauce outstanding.
- Customizable stir-fry: You get to pick your favorite veggies and proteins to fit your mood or pantry perfectly.
- One-pan wonder: Less cleanup without sacrificing taste, which I’m sure you appreciate after a busy day.
- Great for leftovers: It reheats beautifully and keeps that comforting flavor intact.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Every ingredient in this Beef Lo Mein Recipe plays a role in building layers of flavor and texture — from the tender beef to the crunchy vegetables and that perfectly glossy sauce. Here’s why I love each one:
- Beef (top sirloin or flank): Easily tenderized, it soaks up marinade and cooks quickly, giving you that satisfying meaty bite.
- Beef broth & chicken broth: Using both adds a deeper, richer flavor than just one type of broth alone, making your sauce taste complex and balanced.
- Soy sauce: Brings salty umami that’s essential for any lo mein dish.
- Brown sugar or honey: Just the right touch of sweetness to balance the savory elements.
- Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce so it clings perfectly to your noodles and beef.
- Garlic and ground ginger: Give the dish its classic aromatic foundation.
- Hot sauce: Just a little kick that you can adjust depending on how spicy you like it.
- Toasted sesame oil: Adds that distinctive nutty aroma that instantly says "Asian stir-fry!"
- Peanut oil: Great for high-heat cooking; it helps sear the beef beautifully without smoking.
- Dry white wine: Used to deglaze the pan, lifting all those fond bits and adding brightness to your sauce.
- Broccoli, onion, bell pepper, carrots: A colorful veggie mix that provides crisp texture and fresh flavor contrast.
- Lo Mein noodles: They’re perfect for absorbing sauce—if you can’t find them, spaghetti works in a pinch.
- Green onions (garnish): Adds a fresh bite and pretty finishing touch.
Make It Your Way
I love how adaptable this Beef Lo Mein Recipe is—you can easily swap in different veggies or proteins to suit your taste or what’s in your fridge. That flexibility lets you make it truly your own.
- Variation: When I want a bit more richness, I sometimes stir in a spoonful of peanut butter into the sauce—it gives a lovely subtle nuttiness without overpowering the dish.
- Vegetarian twist: Try replacing beef with extra-firm tofu and use all vegetable broth. I’ve done this, and it’s surprisingly satisfying.
- Spice it up: Add extra red pepper flakes or sriracha if you like a fiery kick—just how I do it on lazy weeknights.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Beef Lo Mein Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Sauce and Beef
First, mix all your sauce ingredients in a big measuring cup. I like to reserve about a quarter cup of this sauce to marinate the beef. Next, I pound the steak a bit under plastic wrap—this tenderizes it nicely. Slice the beef against the grain into bite-sized strips, then season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder before tossing it into the reserved sauce. Let that sit while you prep your veggies and start boiling the noodles—marinating really amps up the flavor!
Step 2: Sear the Beef and Deglaze
Heat peanut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add your beef in one layer. Resist the temptation to stir for the first 2-3 minutes—it’s important to get a good sear, which locks in flavor. Toss and cook the other sides for another couple of minutes until just done, then set aside. Turn off the heat, pour in the white wine, and scrape the bottom of the pan to lift all that caramelized goodness. Let it simmer down by half; this step adds layers of flavor to your sauce.
Step 3: Noodles and Veggies Come Next
Boil your lo mein noodles for just one minute shy of al dente—important to avoid mushy results later. Drain and toss with a little oil so they don’t stick together. Meanwhile, toss your veggies into the skillet with the wine reduction. A quick 3 minutes softens them just enough while keeping their crunch intact, which I always appreciate.
Step 4: Bring It All Together
Add the reserved sauce to the skillet and bring to a boil so the cornstarch thickens everything up. Turn to low heat and gradually add your noodles, tossing to coat evenly. The noodles will soak up the sauce’s flavor and reach the perfect texture after sitting for a few minutes. Lastly, add your beef back in with any juices and warm everything through for 1-2 minutes. Don’t forget the green onions for that fresh finish!
Top Tip
From years of making this Beef Lo Mein Recipe, I’ve learned a few tricks to get it just right without stress. These tips will help you nail the flavors and textures every time.
- Marinate the beef: Even a quick 10-15 minutes makes a huge difference in tenderness and flavor.
- Don’t skip the wine deglaze: It lifts all those tasty browned bits from the pan and deepens the sauce.
- Boil noodles just shy of al dente: They’ll finish cooking in the sauce so you avoid mushy noodles.
- Use high heat for stir-frying: Quickly cooking the beef and veggies keeps them juicy and crisp, not soggy.
How to Serve Beef Lo Mein Recipe
Garnishes
I always sprinkle plenty of chopped green onions on top—they add freshness and a little crunch that’s just delightful. Sometimes I toss on crushed peanuts or crunchy chow mein noodles for extra texture, especially when serving guests.
Side Dishes
I like keeping it simple with some steamed dumplings or quick cucumber salad on the side. If you want to go all out, a small bowl of hot and sour soup complements the flavors beautifully.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, I sometimes serve this dish in individual mini bowls garnished with edible flowers or sesame seeds. It looks fancy but takes almost no extra effort—perfect for impressing friends without stress!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftovers keep very well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I’ve found the flavors even deepen overnight, making next-day meals just as good—if not better!
Freezing
This dish freezes beautifully too. Just portion it into freezer-safe containers, and it’ll stay good for about 3 months. When you thaw it, give it a quick stir-fry in a hot pan to freshen the texture.
Reheating
My go-to is reheating in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce. This helps prevent dryness and keeps the noodles nice and saucy, just like fresh.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! While top sirloin is great, flank, skirt, or strip steak all work well too. Just be sure to slice against the grain for tenderness.
You can substitute spaghetti or thin egg noodles if you can’t find lo mein noodles. Just adjust the cooking time according to the package directions.
Yes! Swap the beef for tofu or more veggies, and use vegetable broth instead of beef broth. The sauce will be just as flavorful.
It has just a hint of heat from optional red pepper flakes and hot sauce, but you can easily adjust for more or less spice based on your preference.
Final Thoughts
This Beef Lo Mein Recipe is a dish I've returned to time and again because it’s simple, delicious, and endlessly comforting. It’s like a warm hug on a plate—a recipe I genuinely enjoy making and sharing with friends. I’m excited for you to try it and make it your own!
Print
Beef Lo Mein Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Chinese
Description
This Beef Lo Mein recipe combines tender strips of sirloin steak with fresh vegetables and a flavorful homemade sauce, all tossed together with perfectly cooked Lo Mein noodles for a classic, delicious Chinese-inspired stir fry.
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- ¼ teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
Stir Fry
- 1 lb top sirloin steak
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons peanut oil
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 2 cups broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 yellow onion, cut into chunks
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
- ½ cup carrots, julienned
- 8 oz Lo Mein noodles
- Green onions, to garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: Combine all sauce ingredients in a large measuring cup with a spout; then transfer ¼ cup of the sauce mixture to a medium bowl and set the remainder aside.
- Tenderize and slice the beef: Cover the beef with plastic wrap and pound each side with a meat tenderizer. Trim any large areas of fat, then slice against the grain into 1.5-inch strips.
- Marinate beef: Season beef strips with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Toss the beef in the reserved ¼ cup of sauce and let it marinate while preparing vegetables and boiling water for noodles.
- Sear the beef: Heat peanut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes to sear, then toss and cook for an additional 2 minutes until cooked through. Remove beef and set aside.
- Deglaze the pan: Turn heat to off, pour in the white wine, then set heat back to medium. Use a silicone spatula to scrape the skillet’s bottom and sides to release browned bits. Let wine reduce by half, about 4 minutes.
- Cook noodles: Boil Lo Mein noodles for 1 minute less than package instructions for al dente. Drain and optionally toss with a drizzle of oil to prevent sticking.
- Sauté vegetables: Add broccoli, onion, red pepper, and carrots to the skillet with wine and cook for about 3 minutes to soften slightly.
- Thicken sauce: Pour the reserved sauce mixture into the skillet and bring to a boil to activate cornstarch. Once sauce thickens, reduce heat to low.
- Toss noodles with sauce: Gradually add cooked noodles to skillet, tossing to evenly coat with sauce until desired noodle-to-sauce ratio is achieved.
- Combine beef and heat through: Return beef and any accumulated juices to the skillet. Toss everything together and heat through for 1-2 minutes.
- Garnish and serve: Finish by garnishing with sliced green onions and serve hot.
Notes
- Great beef cuts include strip steak, skirt steak, flank steak, or sirloin.
- Use Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio as white wine; substitute equal chicken broth if avoiding alcohol.
- Lo Mein noodles cook quickly, about 4 minutes; spaghetti noodles are a suitable substitute.
- Mixing chicken and beef broth adds extra depth; can use all chicken broth if preferred.
- Add a tablespoon of peanut butter to sauce for extra peanut flavor, optional.
- Optional vegetables include mushrooms, celery, green beans, and edamame.
- Toppings like peanuts, cashews, or crunchy chow mein noodles add texture.
- Also try versions with chicken or shrimp as variations.
- Store leftovers in airtight container; refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.
- Reheat carefully; avoid overcooking noodles by using a timer during initial cook.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
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