Healthy Chicken Lo Mein

This easy and healthy Chicken Lo Mein has all the flavor you expect without all the extra calories and fat! This veggie packed meal will quickly become a favorite.

366 CAL 57g CARBS 11g FAT 28g PROTEIN
4 Comments

This healthy Chicken Lo Mein comes together in less time than it takes to order take-out and is full of flavor. It makes a great dinner or side dish. If you love Asian noodles as much as we do, you will want to try these Spinach and Mushroom Lo Mein or Healthier Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein as well!

Who doesn't love lo mein? All that delicious pasta, drenched in yummy oil and sauce and sugar and salt? I mean, it TASTES absolutely divine. It's just not so great for the old waistline. 

I'm all for moderation, and if you want to eat more than half of your daily caloric intake in one meal, I guess who am I to judge? But just know that one serving of takeout chicken lo mein can pack in more than 900 calories and 50 grams of fat!

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So while lo mein will always remain a love of mine, I end up avoiding it when ordering out and opt for steamed veggies instead, which makes me kind of sad, I'm not going to lie.

Luckily, I can be happy at home, where I can make my own version of lo mein and significantly cut the calories and fat. And, I can add all kinds of veggies to make it more nutritious or adapt it to however I see fit for that particular meal. I consider that a win-win.

Healthy lo mein with chicken, broccoli, carrots, and noodles.

Side Dishes to Serve with Chicken Lo Mein

Although this lo mein is really a meal within itself, if you want to add a side dish, I can understand that. My suggestions would be to add veggies as a side, like:

  • Wanting even more veggies? Consider making these Crispy Asian Brussel Sprouts on the side.
  • If you are looking to recreate a restaurant style meal, consider making some of these Sesame Soy Edamame.
  • Sesame Soy Broccoli pairs so well with lo mein, and keeps the Asian theme going strong.
  • A simple side salad will do just fine with this dish, as well.
  • If you want something other than veggies or salad, consider adding a cup of miso soup.

Ideas for Customizing Chicken Lo Mein

The great thing about this dish is that it is completely customizable. For example:

  • If the thought of oyster sauce weirds you out, you can try fish sauce, teriyaki, or skip it altogether. However, remember that most oyster sauce doesn't actually contain any oyster at all. 
  • You can double up the veggies you like, and skip the ones you don't.
  • Cut asparagus, green beans, and summer squashes work well in this lo mein.
  • You can swap out the chicken for lean slices of sirloin.
  • You could use sesame oil instead of vegetable oil if you prefer (I don't recommend olive oil, though because most brands have a very low smoke point, and for most Asian dishes made in a skillet or wok, you'll be cooking them at high heat).
  • Although I prefer spaghetti, you can use any longer, thinner pasta you like for this recipe.
  • If you can't find high-fiber pasta, try whole wheat.
  • Add in water chestnuts or crushed peanuts for a little bit of a crunch texture to your lo mein.
  • Make the lo mein spicy by adding in chili peppers, red pepper flakes, Sriracha, or another hot sauce you like.
  • Serve the lo mein in lettuce cups — it's fun and yummy!

What Kind of Sauce Is Used in Lo Mein?

For this lo mein, I used vegetable oil, oyster sauce, low sodium soy sauce, and chicken broth to make my sauce. A lot of lo mein recipes will also use sesame oil as well. My recommendation is to make it how a recipe suggests the first time around, then tweak it to your tastes the next time you make it.

Chicken lo mein in a bowl with vegetables.

What Is the Difference Between Lo Mein and Chow Mein?

Lo mein noodles are made according to package directions, then added to the sauce/stir-fry at the end.

Chow mein noodles are first boiled and then fried with the rest of the ingredients to create a more crispy, chewy texture to the noodle in the dish. They are often bigger and flatter (like egg noodles) as well.

What Other Protein Sources Can I Use in Lo Mein?

If you are not a fan of chicken, you can try:

  • Add tofu to your lo mein (cook it ahead of time like the chicken and add it in at the end).
  • Shrimp makes a great addition to lo mein.
  • Thinly sliced pork or steak work well with this dish too.
  • Make this completely vegetarian by adding tofu (or another non-mean, plant-protein source) and swapping out the chicken broth for vegetable broth.
The Recipe
Healthy chicken lo mien with broccoli on a white plate with soy sauce.

Healthy Chicken Lo Mein

366 CAL 57g CARBS 11g FAT 28g PROTEIN
PREP TIME: 15 Min
COOK TIME: 15 Min
TOTAL TIME: 30 Min
4 Comments
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Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 8 oz. high fiber pasta
  • 3 tsp. vegetable oil, divided
  • 2/3 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into thin strips
  • 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, peeled and chopped
  • 2 cups broccoli florets
  • 2 cups snow peas
  • 1 cup bean sprouts
  • 2 tbsp. oyster sauce
  • 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth

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Instructions

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1

Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Set aside.

2

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add half the oil to a wok or skillet over high heat. Add the chicken and cook until no longer pink. Set aside.

3

Add remaining oil along with the carrots and celery. Cook for 3-4 minutes. Add the remaining vegetables and 1-2 tablespoons of water if burning. Cook for 3-4 minutes until tender.

4

Add the chicken, spaghetti, oyster sauce, soy sauce, and chicken broth. Cook for 1 minute.

Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 2 cups
Amount Per Serving
Calories 366
Calories from Fat 93
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 11g
15%
Saturated Fat 0g
1%
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 37mg
12%
Sodium 863mg
38%
Total Carbohydrate 57g
19%
Dietary Fiber 11g
42%
Sugars 8g
Protein 28g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

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About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
4 Comments
On Healthy Chicken Lo Mein
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Kevin Beatty
November 3, 2022 - 10:55
You should incorporate the velveting of the meat in this recipe. Velveting technique makes the meat so much softer and easier to consume.
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Jennifer
August 30, 2021 - 19:18
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5
Enjoyed this recipe so much! So easy and quick! My 3 year old left no crumbs!
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Joyce
December 3, 2018 - 23:42
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5
Excellent! I did double the broth as I know the noodles will soak up the xtra. I will share the recipe and will make it again. I did add a little bit of red pepper flakes.
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Jill Doying
February 6, 2016 - 17:11
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5
Love, love, love this dish! My husband and I were so surprised at how delicious and busting with flavor this is. It's a favorite!
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