Easy Beef Lo Mein (Better Than Takeout!)
So I threw together this lo mein and—oh my gosh—it was better than our usual Chinese place. My 14-year-old actually said, “Mom, this is really good,” which is basically a five-star review coming from her. Even my husband went back for seconds, and he’s usually not big on my “experimental” cooking.
The wild part? It took me less time than takeout, cost maybe $8 total, and we didn’t have to deal with delivery fees or cold food. Now it’s our go-to when we’re craving Chinese but don’t want to blow the grocery budget.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Budget-friendly: Feeds 5 for under $10
Quick: Ready in about 25–30 minutes
Customizable: Use whatever meat or veggies you’ve got
Kid-approved: Crunchy veggies, no mystery ingredients
Leftovers? Even better the next day.
What You’ll Need
For the noodles:
8 oz lo mein noodles (or just use spaghetti)
1 tsp sesame oil
Tip: Sesame oil gives it that “real” takeout flavor and lasts forever in the pantry.
For the sauce:
1/4 cup hot water
1 tbsp Better Than Bouillon (beef base)
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar
Just 3 ingredients—no fancy bottles or hard-to-find stuff.
For everything else:
1 lb beef, thinly sliced or ground
2 tbsp oil
1 onion, sliced
2 carrots, cut into matchsticks
2 cups broccoli, cut into small pieces
4 garlic cloves, chopped
How to Make Easy Beef Lo Mein
Boil the noodles. Cook according to the package. Drain and toss with sesame oil to keep them from sticking.
Make the sauce. Mix hot water with Better Than Bouillon until dissolved. Stir in soy sauce and brown sugar. Done.
Cook the beef. Heat oil in a large skillet or wok. Add beef and let it sear for 2–3 minutes without stirring, then remove and set aside.
Sauté the vegetables. Start with onions (about 3 minutes), then carrots (2 minutes), then broccoli (2 more minutes).
Add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Don’t let it burn!
Bring it all together. Return the beef to the pan. Pour in your sauce and simmer for 2 minutes.
Add noodles. Toss everything together until well coated. Serve hot!
Tips from My Kitchen
Use what you’ve got: No lo mein noodles? Use spaghetti.
Ground beef works great: Cheap, easy, and still super flavorful.
Prep first: Chop everything before you start. This moves fast!
Double the sauce: Especially if your family likes it extra saucy.
Make It Your Own
Picky eaters? Stick to onions and carrots at first.
Vegetarian? Swap the beef for tofu or add more veggies.
Spicy? Add sriracha, chili crisp, or red pepper flakes.
Saving money? Use frozen veggies and whatever beef’s on sale.
Leftovers = Lunch Goals
This reheats beautifully and tastes even better the next day. Just add a splash of water when reheating to keep the noodles from drying out. My kids literally fight over the leftovers—always a good sign.
Real Talk
Is this exactly like your favorite Chinese takeout? Not quite. But it’s really close—and a whole lot cheaper, faster, and made with ingredients I actually recognize. This has become one of those recipes I can throw together without even thinking about it. It’s our “we almost ordered takeout but didn’t” dinner hero.