Quick & Easy Weeknight Instant Pot Chicken Lo Mein Recipe
on Oct 04, 2023, Updated Oct 27, 2023
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If you’re looking for a quick and delicious meal that’s a breeze to make, look no further than our Instant Pot Chicken Lo Mein recipe. With the magic of the Instant Pot, you can have a mouthwatering dish featuring tender chicken, lots of veggies, and perfectly cooked noodles on your table in no time.
Cooking from scratch at home is generally healthier and saves you money over eating out. Some people are think cooking at home takes too long. Well, let me help you say goodbye to long cooking hours and hello to a satisfying and family-friendly meal that will have everyone asking for seconds!
Let’s dive right in and learn how to make this delightful Instant Pot Chicken Lo Mein!
Table of contents
Weeknight Wonder: Instant Pot Chicken Lo Mein in a Flash
The Instant Pot has become an indispensable kitchen appliance for busy families, and it’s easy to see why. It’s one of my favorite time-saving kitchen heros, allowing families to put wholesome, homemade meals on the table in a fraction of the time it would typically take.
Whether you want a hearty stew, tender pot roast, or a flavorful Asian dish like our Chicken Lo Mein, pressure cookers are amazing at reducing cooking times and also intensifying flavors.
This easy chicken lo mein recipe is very similar to our shrimp lo mein recipe, full of delicious, simple ingredients. However, we’ve simplified the cooking experience by making it in the instant pot. If you don’t have an instant pot, you can definitely make this recipe on the stovetop – it just won’t be a one pot meal as you’ll have to get multiple pots and pans dirty to make this recipe, but it will still be a delicious dish full of veggies and stir-fried noodles!
Essential Ingredients for Instant Pot Chicken Lo Mein
Skip the Chinese restaurants – it’s easy to make your favorite Chinese food right at home! Here’s a breakdown of the key ingredients used to create a flavorful and satisfying Instant Pot Chicken Lo Mein.
For the Stir-fry Veggies & Chicken
- Spaghetti Noodles: Classic type of noodles that’s very easy to find provides the base for the dish.
- Chicken breast: The chicken adds a savory and meaty element to the dish. You can use either skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs in this recipe.
- Red Peppers: We love red bell peppers. They add a pop of color and a slight sweetness to balance the savory flavors. They also provide healthy Vitamin C and antioxidants.
- Baby Bok Choy: This leafy green vegetable adds a fresh and crisp element to the dish. It offers a mild, slightly bitter taste but is packed with essential nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and calcium.
- Carrots: Carrots bring a subtle sweetness and a vibrant orange hue to the dish. They also provide a good source of Vitamin A and dietary fiber.
- Yellow Onion: The onion adds a savory and slightly sweet flavor to the dish. It helps build a flavorful base and provides a touch of depth to the overall taste.
- Garlic: The minced garlic infuses the dish with its aromatic and pungent flavor. It adds a rich and bold taste to the sauce and offers potential health benefits like boosting the immune system. Garlic is one of our favorite easy vegetables to grow in the garden too!
Homemade Savory Asian Marinade Ingredients
- Dark Soy Sauce: This soy sauce variety has a deep, rich flavor and adds a distinctive umami taste to the dish. I
- Light Soy Sauce: Light soy sauce has a milder flavor and helps balance the saltiness of the dark soy sauce.
- Hoisin Sauce: Hoisin sauce brings a touch of sweetness and tanginess to the dish.
- Sesame Oil: A small amount of sesame oil goes a long way in adding a delightful nutty aroma and enhancing the overall taste of the dish.
- Mirin: This sweet rice wine contributes a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor to the sauce.
Pro Tip: For a gluten free alternative to the soy sauce, substitute an equal amount of tamari sauce or coconut aminos. You can also use low-sodium soy sauce if you prefer.
Variations on this Easy Chicken Lo Mein Recipe
There are a lot of possible variations to make this recipe your own. You can swap out protein – instead of chicken use shrimp, beef, or pork. Make it vegetarian by using tofu.
Feel free to also swap out or omit vegetables you may not like. Instead of bok choy, for instance, use Chinese cabbage or napa cabbage. Broccoli florets, snap peas, mushrooms, water chestnuts, and bean sprouts are all delicious vegetable alternatives.
If you’d like to swap out the spaghetti noodles, you can use traditional lo mein noodles, chinese egg noodles, whole wheat, or gluten-free spaghetti if you prefer. Just adjust the cooking time according to package directions.
How to Store and Reheat this Easy Chicken Lo Mein Recipe
It’s easy to storing and reheat Chicken Lo Mein so make sure to save your leftovers for lunch or a quick meal another day!
To store, place any remaining Lo Mein in an airtight container and refrigerate it promptly. It can typically stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
You have a few reheating options. If you have a microwave use it for a quick reheat. Make sure to cover the Lo Mein with a damp paper towel to prevent drying out.
If you don’t have a microwave (I actually do not!) reheat it in a pan on the stovetop. Just add a splash of water or chicken broth to help the lo mein maintain its moisture. Then stir-fry it until heated through.
What to Serve with Instant Pot Chicken Lo Mein
Curious what to serve with lo mein? A few of our favorite complementary side dishes include homemade eggrolls, cucumber salad, or rainbow fruit salad. Chicken fried rice and fortune cookies are also nice additions to this one-pot meal.
More Easy Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love
Scrumptious Tahini Chicken Thighs Instant Pot or Air Fryer Recipe
Instant Pot Beef with Garlic Sauce and Vegetables
Instant Pot Pulled Pork Asian Rice Bowls
The Only Beef and Broccoli Instant Pot Recipe You’ll Ever Need
Quick & Easy Weeknight Instant Pot Chicken Lo Mein Recipe
A mouthwatering dish featuring tender chicken, flavorful veggies, and perfectly cooked noodles all seasoned to perfection. Skip the takeout and make this instead!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti noodles
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 2 cups water
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 pound baby bok choy
- 2 small carrots
- 1 yellow onion
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 3 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp Mirin
- Oil of your choice (vegetable oil, canola oil)
- Salt, optional
- Pepper, optional
- Sesame seeds, optional
- Sliced green onion, optional
Instructions
Cut the chicken in small pieces and marinate with half of the dark soy sauce and sesame oil and mix until well combined.
Turn on the Sauté setting on high on the Instant Pot. Add 1 tablespoon oil and let the oil get hot. Add chicken and marinade and sauté until it’s golden brown. Remove the meat from the pan and set aside.
Slice onions, Bok choy, carrots and red bell pepper and mince garlic. Set aside.
Add the minced garlic to the instant pot and let it get golden-brown for about 30 seconds.
Add the water to the instant pot and deglaze the bottom by scraping it clean with a spatula.
Break the spaghetti in half and put them down in a criss-cross pattern to prevent sticking to each other. Do not stir the noodles after you’ve created the criss cross pattern. Gently push the spaghetti down, so it is under the liquid.
Close the Instant Pot with the lid, seal the valve, and pressure cook on high for 4 minutes.
Once the Instant Pot beeps, immediately do a quick release of the pressure by opening up the natural pressure release valve, and let the noodles rest for an additional 4 minutes.
In a small bowl, combine the remaining dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and mirin.
After those 4 rest minutes, open the pot add the sauce and stir the noodles.
Then turn on the sauté setting on high and add the sliced Bok choy, red bell pepper, onions, carrots, and chicken. Stir fry the veggies and chicken for another 5-8 minutes. Longer time will result in softer vegetables.
Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions, and season to your liking.
Enjoy!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 450Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 138mgSodium: 1682mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 5gSugar: 8gProtein: 36g
Nutritional data is not always correct.