Instant Pot Chicken Lo Mein

Ready for a flavor-packed dinner that is ready in 15 minutes? Instant Pot Chicken Lo Mein is loaded with all your favorite Asian flavors, juicy chicken, and yummy fresh vegetables. This easy meal is perfect for a busy weeknight meal and so much healthier than take-out! Don’t have an Instant Pot? No worries because I’ve included recipes for stove top preparation as well!

If you have never tried making lo mein noodles at home, this is a great way to try it for the first time. Come on…who doesn’t love a crazy good one pot meal you can make faster than your favorite Chinese restaurants can deliver it to your home? And let’s be honest…we can’t take another night of drive-thru chicken tenders and french fries for dinner!

The world is constantly on the hunt for easy Instant Pot recipes so grab yours out of your pantry and let’s getting dinner ready together.

And if you don’t love chicken, or want to make it without the Instant Pot, or only have spaghetti noodles on hand, scroll on down for the best way to handle each of those variations. I’ve got you my friend! Don’t be afraid to be a little different than the original recipe 🙂

Instant Pot Chicken Lo Mein FAQs

Can I use any type of egg noodle for this recipe?

For the most authentic and best results, I do suggest using Chinese egg noodles since we are making Chinese food. And if you are blessed to be able to find fresh Chinese egg noodles somewhere by you, go for those first!

An authentic Asian noodle has a denser, chewier texture than spaghetti. But if you can’t find Asian noodles or don’t want to pay the higher price, any medium sized noodle will work just fine for this recipe.

No matter which noodle you choose, the key to lo mein success is to not overcook the noodles. Just like in Italian pasta, you want the finished noodles to be al dente, or “to the tooth.” Simple put, you want a little bit of firmness and resistance when you bite into it.

What if I don’t have an Instant Pot?

If you are unaware of the Instant Pot craze, this easy recipe can still be made without one. An Instant Pot is simple a pressure cooker that uses high pressure to greatly reduce cooking time and with the magic quick release button, which releases the pressure fast, there’s no waiting around for the pot to cool.

If you don’t own an Instant Pot, simply follow these steps instead:

1. Prepare the noodles according to package directions. Do not rinse them once they are cooked.
2. Eliminate the chicken stock from the recipe
3. Cook the chicken in a hot pan with a dash of oil until cooked. Remove.
4. Add the vegetables to the hot pan and sauté until tender.
5. Add the chicken, noodles, and sauce into the pan. Toss to combine.

How long will Instant Pot Chicken Lo Mein leftovers last?

If you are lucky enough to have leftovers of this amazing one pot dinner, simply store them in an airtight container in the fridge. It will be good for at least 5 days. To reheat the next time you are ready to eat, toss the noodles in a hot pan with a dash or two of water, or simply use your microwave.

Can I skip the sauté step?

Technically, yes you could but it would mess with the finished texture and flavor of your dish. Sautéing the chicken and veggies on the bottom of the pot before adding everything else allows those ingredients to build some flavor and get a head start on the cooking process. If you just dump it all in uncooked, your noodles will finish cooking before everything else is ready.

What is the difference between Lo Mein and Chow Mein noodles?

“Mein” simply means noodles so it is easy to get the two confused. The difference lies in how they are prepared. Lo mein are tossed noodles while chow mein are stir-fried.

Both preparations of noodles calls for similar ingredients, which makes it easy to mix up, but the cooking methods are completely different. Chow mein noodles are first soaked in water before stir frying in oil until fully cooked and they tend to be crunchier. Lo Mein noodles are cooked completely in hot water before being added to the rest of protein, vegetables, and sauce at the end.

Recipe Variation Suggestions

Since we all are unique and love different ingredients, I always encourage my readers to take my recipe and try different variations to make it perfect for their families using simple ingredients to change it up a bit.

• Use a different protein. This recipe calls for chicken breast meat but feel free to use chicken thighs, pork loin, steak, shrimp, or even ground proteins.
• Use your favorite veggies: carrots, green bell peppers, sugar snap peas or snow peas, mushrooms, bean sprouts, broccoli, red peppers, cabbage, and spinach all work great.
• Play around with the sauce. Requirements for your base are soy sauce and sesame oil, but have fun creating your own signature sauce using any or all of the following: hoisin sauce, rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, peanut butter, sriracha, red pepper flakes, oyster sauce.
• Think about what you can add to the top of the noodles. A sprinkle of green onions, sesame seeds, peanuts, or fresh lime juice would be amazing over the finished dish.

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