Get ready to elevate your weeknight dinners with our quick and delicious vegetable lo mein recipe, starting with everyone’s favorite – ramen noodles! This easy dish is packed with fresh, colorful veggies and a savory sauce that will have you ditching takeout in no time. Perfect for a busy night, this vegetable lo mein brings together the convenience of ramen noodles with the vibrant flavors of a classic stir-fry.
Searching for more weeknight dinner recipes that are fast and easy? Be sure to try my Easy Chicken Enchiladas, Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets, Ground Beef Cheesesteak Sliders, and Homemade Alfredo Sauce!
Why You’ll Love This Veggie Lo Mein
- Quick and Easy Dinner Recipe: This chinese dish is ready in just 20 minutes, making it a go-to for busy weeknights.
- Easy to Customize: While it is delicious as written, you can take this vegetarian dish and add some protein with chicken, beef or pork!
- Better than takeout: We LOVE this recipe. Picky eater approved and simple to toss almost any vegetables into.
When you’re searching for a light weekday dinner, or lunch, this veggie lo mein is a winner. Easy to load with veggies for a meat free option, or easy to customize with your favorite protein. It really is loaded with flavor and most importantly, kid and picky eater approved! Easily the best lo mein recipe.
If you didn’t know, lo mein is a chinese dish that is made with fresh vegetables, egg noodles, and occasionally protein like beef, chicken, or pork. I kept it extra simple by using a bag of veggie slaw, but you can pack it with fresh vegetables! Use whatever you have on hand or whatever sounds good to you.
Want even more dinner inspiration? Try my Easy French Bread Pizza, Air Fryer Cheeseburger, or Taco Stuffed Peppers!
Vegetable Lo Mein Ingredients
I chose a simple veggie slaw with a broccoli base for ease and simplicity in this vegetable lo mein recipe, but the beauty of this dish is that you really can use any vegetable combination. Try mixing things up with some peppers, onions, mushrooms… Anything your little heart desires is a welcome addition or substitution.
- Sauces and Vingers: For this recipe, you’ll use a combination of soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and chili sauce as the base to your sauce. Most of these are fairly inexpensive and even come in smaller portions, if you don’t feel you will use them all.
- Sugar: Brown sugar is key to giving a little depth to the sauce flavor.
- Spices: A combination of chinese five spice, ginger, garlic take this from good to great.
- Cornstarch: Just a touch of thickener to help the sauce reach that perfect consistency. It will coat every noodle perfectly.
- Vegetables: I like broccoli slaw. The shaved pieces hide in with the noodles which mean even vegetable haters will love this dish! It’s so good they won’t even realize how many vegetables you have packed in!
- Noodles: I use ramen noodles, but you can also opt for Chinese egg noodles.
A quick tip for when you have got a hungry bunch at home ready to eat… I recommend using one of those pre-cut/shredded veggie bags you can find at the store. This shortcut can save you time and tastes just as delicious!
Veggie Lo Mein Recipe
Serve with a side of easy fried rice and chopsticks for a fun family experience and watch your kiddos slurp down veggies quicker than you’ve ever seen before.
- PREP: Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Strain and set aside. DO NOT USE THE SEASONING.
- SAUCE: Start building your sauce by combining the soy sauce, wine vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, five spice powder, ginger, garlic, sriracha, and cornstarch in a small saucepan
- SIMMER: Turn the heat on to medium and bring the sauce mixture just to a boil. Remove from the burner and set aside for later.
- VEGGIES: Add 2 teaspoons of cooking oil to a large skillet. Turn the heat to medium and allow to heat slightly. Add the broccoli slaw, or vegetables of choice, into the pan and saute until they begin to tender, about 3 minutes.
- TOSS: Stir the cooked noodles, sauce, and green onion into the pan. Toss to coat and serve warm.
Expert Recipe Tips:
- Use Fresh Vegetables: For the best flavor and texture, use a variety of fresh vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, snap peas, and broccoli. Cut them into thin, uniform pieces for even cooking.
- Cook Noodles Al Dente: Cook the ramen noodles just until al dente, as they will continue to cook when you stir-fry them with the vegetables and sauce. Overcooked noodles can become mushy.
- Prep Everything First: Have all your ingredients prepped and ready before you start cooking. Stir-frying is a fast process, and having everything ready to go will ensure smooth cooking.
- Sauce Balance: Adjust the sauce to your taste. If you prefer a stronger flavor, add a bit more soy sauce or hoisin sauce. For a touch of sweetness, a little honey or brown sugar works well.
- Customize with Protein: Add tofu, chicken, shrimp, or beef to make the dish more filling. Cook the protein separately and add it in during the final stir-fry step.
Recipe FAQs
Fresh vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, snap peas, broccoli, mushrooms, and baby corn work wonderfully. You can customize the veggies based on your preference or what you have on hand.
Absolutely! You can add tofu, chicken, shrimp, beef, or pork. Cook the protein separately and add it during the final stir-fry step.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave, adding a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce if needed.
Yes, you can use frozen vegetables. Thaw them first and pat them dry to avoid excess moisture in the stir-fry. Stir-fry the thawed vegetables just until heated through.
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Vegetable Lo Mein
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 Tablesppon rice vinegar
- 2 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
- 1/4 teaspoonground ginger or 1 teaspoon fresh grated
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon Sriracha hot chili sauce
- 2 t.easspoons cornstarch
- 2 teaspoon oil
- 3 cups broccoli slaw or diced veggies of choice
- 1/4 cup sliced green onion
- 6 oz ramen noodles cooked WITHOUT the seasoning and drained
Instructions
- Combine the soy sauce, wine vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, five spice powder, ginger, garlic, sriracha, and cornstarch in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Bring to just a boil. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Set a large skillet over medium heat with the oil. Toss in the broccoli slaw (or veggies of choice) and saute until the veggies are tender. Combine the noodles, sauce, and green onion. Toss to coat and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
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Comments & Reviews
Marilyn says
YUMMY…my daughter absolutely LOVES lo mein!
Barrie says
I just made this and it was a big hit!!! I loved it too! And so easy to make! Thanks for a great recipe!!!
Michelle@yagottahaveahobby says
Its funny that your post started with you talking about your photography, because I was scrolling through tatertots n jello’s linky party and saw your pic, and THAT is what made me click on over here! The photo literally made my stomach growl. I’m gonna have to try this recipe. Yum. Thanks!
Jesseca says
Thank you Michelle! That’s so nice! I have a blog friend that talks up my food pics all of the time, and it puts on SO much pressure! It’s nice to get such a compliment from a reader :0)