Beef Lo Mein (Takeaway Style Noodles with Beef and Vegetables)
Soft, glossy noodles tossed with tender beef, crunchy vegetables and garlicky sauce in one pan.
Made with All purpose stir fry sauce. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time30 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.24 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Cook the noodles in boiling water following the packet, usually 3 to 4 minutes, then drain, rinse under cold water and toss with a drizzle of the oil so they do not stick.
4 min - 2
Slice the steak against the grain into thin strips. Pat dry with kitchen paper so it browns instead of steaming.
- 3
Heat a wok or large frying pan until very hot. Add the oil, then the beef, and fry for 2 minutes until browned. Lift it out onto a plate.
2 min - 4
Add the carrots, pepper and sugar snap peas to the pan and stir fry for 3 to 4 minutes until bright and just tender.
3 min 30 s - 5
Return the beef with any juices, add the noodles and pour in 100 ml of your ready made all purpose stir fry sauce (see the base recipe). Toss for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce is glossy and everything is hot.
1 min 30 s - 6
Scatter over the spring onions and serve straight away.
Tips
- Cut the beef across the grain as thinly as you can. Chilling the steak for 20 minutes in the freezer makes slicing much easier.
- Do not overload the pan. Cook the beef in two batches if your pan is small so it fries and does not stew.
- Lo mein is tossed noodles, not crispy noodles. Add a splash of water if the sauce has thickened too much in the pan.
Storing and freezing
Keeps 1 day in the fridge in a covered tub. Cool within 1 hour of cooking and reheat in a hot pan or microwave until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
What is the difference between lo mein and chow mein?
Lo mein noodles are boiled and then tossed with sauce, so they are soft and saucy. Chow mein noodles are usually fried until they have crisp edges. This recipe is a soft, saucy lo mein.
Can I make beef lo mein gluten free?
Yes. Swap the wheat noodles for rice noodles or gluten free noodles and check the packet. The all purpose stir fry sauce is already gluten free when made with gluten free tamari.
Which noodles are best for lo mein?
Fresh or dried Chinese wheat noodles are ideal. Spaghetti cooked a minute under is a reasonable store cupboard swap if you cannot find them.
More made with all purpose stir fry sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.