How to Make Shrimp Lo Mein

Craving a fast and simple meal that tastes like it took hours? You'll love this easy Chinese Shrimp Lo Mein recipe with the option of learning how to make homemade teriyaki sauce instead of store bought.

Crazy easy—crazy good. And in my opinion, Chinese shrimp lo mein is the perfect way to eat shrimp.

I love making recipes at home instead of ordering out. There's just something so freeing knowing that I can make most recipes and save a ton of money doing so.

But not a lot of people think the way that I do. And I always find this super interesting. If I can make a dish homemade, I'm going to do it every time. It also saves me from doing my hair and getting out of my leggings, but that's another story for another day!

If you're ready to have the perfect chinese shrimp lo mein recipe that will take everyone on a truly enjoyable ride, it's time to give this easy shrimp lo mein recipe a try. It's fast. It's simple. Honestly? It's literal perfection.

What is Shrimp Lo Mein?

Lo mein is traditionally a Chinese dish with egg noodles, vegetables and frequently meat or seafood, although animal protein is not a requirement.

The term "lo mein" means "stirred noodles" in Cantonese. Lo mein noodles are made of thin flour and egg noodles with an elastic kind of texture. In North America, lo mein is a popular Chinese dish at restaurants and is thought of like chow mein.

Shrimp and Broccoli Lo Mein

This chinese shrimp lo mein is super versatile and you can include any vegetable you desire or need to use. Our handy Stir Fry Vegetable Timing Chart can easily assist you in adding vegetables you would like to include.

I use broccoli most frequently because shrimp and broccoli lo mein is definitely my favorite.

Besides broccoli, there are many vegetables to choose from and honestly I enjoy using them all. My husband is more of a picky eater as far as vegetables are concerned so I don't have the flexibility with him.

I just hate removing the vegetables he doesn't like to eat like broccoli if you can believe it.

When I make shrimp and broccoli lo mein I end up adding other vegetables as well and for the most part I end up with all of the broccoli or it's split between my son and myself.

Luckily, I enjoy broccoli and my husband is happy with the other vegetables I included.

Chicken and Shrimp Lo Mein

However, my husband prefers more of a "house" lo mein, which involves more than one protein. Think pork, beef or chicken!

His favorite version of this easy shrimp lo mein recipe uses chicken and shrimp.

He loves chicken and shrimp lo mein and believes the chicken complements the shrimp, and everyone should put it on their bucket list. Don't get it wrong, he LOVES this easy shrimp lo mein with pork and beef as well. He just prefers his lo mein with chicken and shrimp.

We have made this wonderfully easy weeknight dinner with almost every protein imaginable, including lobster, crab and pork belly. I urge you to have some and try to include different protein combinations to see which is your favorite.

Simply stir fry your protein to make sure it is cooked before adding it to your stir fry. You will be glad you did.

How to make Shrimp Lo Mein

Want to know a little secret? Making Lo Mein with Shrimp isn't hard to do at all!

If you can follow directions, you CAN easily make this dish!

With a prep time of just 10 minutes and a cook time of only 15 minutes, there's no reason that you can't make this simple shrimp meal for the family fast.

Ingredients Needed To Make This Easy Shrimp Lo Mein Recipe

• Peeled and deveined shrimp
• Orange or red peppers (sliced)
• Cloves garlic minced
• Shredded carrots
• Lo mein noodles
• Chicken broth
• Chopped green onion
• Teriyaki sauce (store bought or homemade)

We make this easy shrimp lo mein recipe regularly and always try to make teriyaki sauce homemade if time permits. We always enjoy the results so much more (as you might expect).

I LOVE our teriyaki sauce and have made this recipe so often I know exactly how we like it. The exact amount of sweet, garlic and ginger. Be sure when you make teriyaki sauce that you taste it until you get it the flavor exactly to where you want it to be.

You'll be glad you did.

That being said, bottled teriyaki sauce works great in a pinch so don't hesitate to use it if you want. I just wanted to be sure that if anyone was interested in trying to make teriyaki sauce at home, they would have our recipe right in front of them.

So here it is.

Make Teriyaki Sauce

• 1 cup soy sauce
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2-4 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• ¼ cup mirin, a Japanese rice wine
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

In a small saucepan combine soy sauce, sugar, ginger, and garlic.

In a small bowl combine mirin and cornstarch. Stir until cornstarch is dissolved.

Next, add to soy mixture. Bring sauce to boil over medium high heat, stirring occasionally.

Then reduce your heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce is reduced and becomes syrupy, between 6 and 7 minutes.
Add honey and stir.

Taste mixture to see if you want to add more honey. My husband prefers a sweeter teriyaki sauce than I do! Add more honey if you prefer when you make teriyaki sauce in your own home!

Cover and set aside until needed.

What is the difference between shrimp lo mein and shrimp chow mein?

They are very similar dishes but lo mein is boiled noodles and chow mein uses fried noodles. Besides that, the flavors and taste are typically very similar to one another. (They're both egg noodles as well.)

Is lo mein or chow mein better?

This really all comes down to your personal preference. Some people prefer the softer noodles while others like the harder ones. I would recommend trying them both ways and seeing which way you prefer!

Can I use spaghetti noodles for lo mein?

If you're in a pinch, you can use any type of long noodles that you have at home. It won't be as realistic a texture but it will give you a similar option and still taste great!

Feel free to check out our ASIAN NOODLE GUIDE for some other noodle options, if desired.

Is lo mein Japanese or Chinese?

It's actually a traditional Chinese dish! Many people eat Chinese shrimp lo mein with meat or veggies and can easily alter it to fit their tastes and needs. This is just one of the reasons that I love this easy lo mein recipe. It's so versatile!

How do you reheat lo mein?

Reheating the noodles isn't hard at all! If you're lucky enough to have enough leftover to enjoy again, just make certain that you reheat low and slow in the microwave so that you don't overcook the noodles.

I also add in a bit more liquid when I'm reheating so that the noodles don't stick together and become mushy. This can be done by using a sauce or even a tad bit of butter into the pan.

Is Chinese shrimp lo mein a spicy dish?

It can be! If you want to add a bit of heat, there are plenty of spices and options that you can use. Top with chili oil, chili powder, fresh jalapenos, or even just some hot sauce for flavor.

I love to add heat to my dishes and the shrimp really does a great job of absorbing it and really enhancing that spicy flavor. Just be certain that if no one else in your family likes the heat that you're only adding it to your bowl!

Can you freeze lo mein noodles?

No, I wouldn't recommend it. Freezing any type of noodles that are already cooked is never really going to work out. This is because they're cooked and soft and once you freeze them, it's going to create a unique texture that just won't work. There's a very high possibility that when you unthaw the noodles, they'll be mush.

Fun toppings to put on lo mein dishes

Toppings are always the best part of the meal! If you're a fan of putting toppings on your food, this shrimp dish isn't going to disappoint. Some simple topping ideas include:

• Chives
• Fresh cilantro
• Crushed peanuts
• Chopped onions
• Diced carrots
• Parmesan or shredded cheese
• Soy sauce
• A dab of wasabi

And those are just a few fun toppings to consider! Whatever you'd like to top it with, go for it! Chicken and shrimp lo mein is also a really great combination for this recipe and the toppings above work well with it, too! (If you don't want meat, consider shrimp and broccoli lo mein!)

What To Serve With Shrimp

This dish is quite delish and really doesn't need a side to be served with it. But just in case you want to serve it with something, check out our tasty what to serve with shrimp list!

Tips for Cooking Shrimp Lo Mein

This recipe isn't hard but there are a few tips to keep in mind when you're making this stir fry dish.

Pay close attention to the cooking time of the noodles. These noodles are a bit more forgiving than other types but you still want to be careful to not overcook them. You don't want to cook the noodles incorrectly.

The teriyaki sauce is an awesome flavor but it can be an optional one if you're not a fan. You can add in soy sauce or any other type of seasoning that you might enjoy better. Oyster sauce can also be a good choice! (Sesame oil, too!)

Let the dish cool down a bit before eating as the flavors are enhanced more when it's not so hot. This is actually a tip that I use for all my dishes.

Change up each bowl of this lo mein dish that you eat! One you can make spicy, the other a bit sweeter. That way it doesn't get "old" when you're trying to eat up all the leftovers!

You can also swap out the chicken broth and use beef broth or vegetable broth, too. I also like to use a lower sodium broth and that tends to work really well.

What other veggies can you add to this easy shrimp lo mein dish?

If you're wanting to increase your veggies, add in some more! Mushrooms and bean sprouts are a great addition and the more red bell peppers the better! Snow peas, too!

Have fun making up Chinese shrimp lo mein. It's a fast and easy way to get a good and hearty meal on the table fast!

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