This 20 Minute Shrimp Lo Mein is a fast, simple and delicious recipe! One of the most popular dishes at Chinese restaurants. It is full of plump juicy shrimp, a savory lo mein sauce, and tender crisp veggies. You will get rave reviews everytime you make this dish!
This Lumpia is the perfect side for these stir fried noodles! You can also spice things up with this Chili Oil. Since you love shrimp dishes, be sure to check out this shrimp cocktail recipe too!
These Asian stir fry noodles are one of our most favorite things to order when we get Chinese takeout. They are a super popular dish in the mall food courts too! Now we love to make them at home whenever we get a craving for Chinese takeout!
Why you will love this lo mein recipe
Quick and Easy! You can officially make a Chinese restaurants style dish in well under 30 minutes. This shrimp lo mein recipe is just that simple!
Inexpensive! You probably have most of these ingredients in your pantry already. Add some large shrimp, maybe a sprinkle of napa cabbage or bok choy into some chinese egg noodles along with a stir fry sauce- and dinner is served!
Customizable! If shrimp is not your favorite, you can easily make this into a chicken lo mein, or beef stir fry. You can even cut out the meat altogether to make this a vegetarian dish.
What is Shrimp Lo Mein
Lo mein is a traditional Chinese noodle dish. It is made with a base of chinese egg noodles, or even fresh egg noodles. You can add different vegetables into the noodles, along with shrimp, chicken, or whichever protein you choose.
Once you add everything into a skillet, you will toss it together and stir fry it until it is all combined.
Ingredients you need
Noodles: Grab some Chinese egg noodles, which you can find in the Asian food isle in grocery stores. Usually in a package named Lo Mein Noodles. Sometimes the fresh egg noodles will be in the refrigerated section of your store.
Sauce: For the stir fry sauce you will need dark soy sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce or fish sauce, rice wine vinegar, hoisin sauce, and seasonings.
Vegetables: For this recipe we added snap peas, bell pepper, carrots, and water chestnuts. Keep reading to get other variation ideas.
Shrimp: It is important to use colossal shrimp, jumbo shrimp, or large shrimp for this recipe.Shrimp with shrivel up when it cooks. You want to have large supple pieces in your stir fry dish.
How to Make Easy Shrimp Lo Mein
You want to start by cooking fresh noodles. Bring a pot of cold water to a rapid boil over medium heat. Add your noodles into the water and boil for about 3- minutes (or according to package instructions). Do not overcook them because they will continue to cook when added to the stir fry.
While the noodles are boiling, clean and peel your shrimp. Run them under cold water to get any debri off of them. Add the shrimp into a small bowl and season until fully coated.
Make your lo mein sauce
Now to make your lo mein sauce, combine your dark soy sauce, hoisin sauce, oyster sauce (or fish sauce), sesame oil in a small bowl. You will use about 1 tablespoon of each. Set this to the side.
Once the noodles have cooked, drain the water and set them to the side. Chop up all of your vegetables into bite size pieces. Pour some vegetable oil into a wok or a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add your vegetables into the skillet and saute them for about 1 minute. You want them to be tender crisp. Remove the veggies and add your seasoned shrimp to the skillet.
Saute the shrimp on each side for at 2 minutes, just until a crust begins to form. Do not overcook the shrimp! Remove it from the wok immediately and set it aside in a clean small bowl.
Now add your lo mein noodles directly into the hot skillet with the remaining oil. Now you want to toss them around just until they are loosened up a bit. Add your vegetables back in with the noodles.
Pour your sauce into the skillet and use your tongs to make sure everything gets coated with the lo mein stir fry sauce. Add your shrimp back in and toss it around until incorporated, and it's time to serve!
Best Veggies for Lo Mein Recipe
One of the best parts about stir fry dishes is that you can customize them to your taste. For this recipe we added sugar snap peas, water chestnuts, carrots, and green onions. Some other popular options for shrimp lo mein include:
- Bok choy
- Nappa cabbage
- Red bell pepper
- Green beans
I highly recommend that you add any fresh ingredients that you have on hand at the time. They all taste amazing in this noodle dish!
Lo mein noodles to use
One of our favorite brands of lo mein noodles are these Wel Pac brand. There are other variations that you can find in your local grocery stores as well.
Some Asian markets have fresh lo mein noodles, which are an amazing option for stir fry. Just cook your noodles according to the package directions. Pay attention to the cook time because you don't want to overcook them.
The Lo mein Sauce for Stir Fry Noodles
Stir fry noodles are all about the sauce! It is a savory, salty, slightly tangy sauce that is packed with flavor. You will want at least 1 cup of sauce. Here is what you will need:
- Soy sauce
- Oyster sauce or fish sauce
- Rice wine vinegar
- Sesame oil
If you want to add some spice to your sauce, add 1 teaspoon or so of crushed red peppers, or sriracha sauce.
Variations and Substitutions
FAQ
What is the difference between Lo Mein and Chow Mein Noodles?
Even though chow mein and lo mein are Asian noodle dishes, they differ in the method they are cooked. The texture is also slightly different. You will notice that traditional lo mein is made with fresh noodles.
Lo mein noodles are tossed in a sauce and have a slightly chewy texture. Whereas chow mein noodles may have more of tender crisp texture once they are stir fried.
How do I store and reheat shrimp lo mein leftovers?
If you happen to have leftovers, place them in an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to three days.
When you are ready to reheat them, add them to a microwave safe bowl. Take the shrimp out of the noodles and set it aside. Warm-up the noodles for about 1 minute. Then add the shrimp back in and heat it up for another 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Can I use spaghetti noodles as lo mein noodles?
In a pinch, you can use spaghetti noodles in place of lomein noodles. Although they are made with different ingredients, and used for different dishes, you can still use them!
Cook them according to the package directions, and follow the recipe card below for the additional steps.
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 package Dry Lo Mein Noodles
- 12 ounces Jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined
- 2 teaspoons Seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon Black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Vegetable or olive oil for sauteing
- ½ cup Carrot chopped or grated
- ½ cup Sugar snap peas rough chopped
- 1 can Water chestnuts drained and chopped
- 4 sprigs Green onion chopped
Stir Fry Sauce
- ¼ cup Soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon Rice wine vinegar optional but recommended
- 2 teaspoons Oyster sauce or fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon Sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon Ginger paste or freshly grated
- 1 teaspoon Garlic minced or paste
Instructions
- Bring a pot of cold water to a rapid boil over medium-high heat. Add your noodles directly into the boiling water, and cook them for about 3-5 minutes (or according to package instructions). Drain the noodles and set them aside.
- Peel and devein your shrimp and add it into a small bowl. Sprinkle the seasoned salt and black pepper over your shrimp and make sure each piece is fully coated. Set the shrimp to the side.
- Add your oil into a wok or a skillet and heat it up over medium high heat. Once the oil is heated, add your chopped carrots, sugar snap peas, water chestnuts, and green onions. Saute the veggies for about 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly so they do not burn.
- Remove the veggies from the skillet and set them aside. Add another splash (about 1 teaspoon of oil), into the skillet if needed. Place your shrimp into the hot skillet in one single layer.
- Cook the shrimp on each side for about 1-2 minutes. Do not overcook the shrimp! Slightly undercooked is better because it will continue cooking when added to the noodles.
- Remove the shrimp and set it aside in a small bowl while you make your stir fry sauce.
- Make your sauce: add the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice wine vinegar, oyster or fish sauce, sesame oil, ginger paste, and garlic into a small bowl. Stir everything up until it is fully combined.
- Add another teaspoon or so of oil back into the skillet over medium high heat. Genlty toss in your cooked lo mein noodles. Add your vegetables back into the noodles, and use tongs to toss everything until it is combined.
- Now gently pour your sauce directly into the skillet and mix it up until everthing is fully coated. Add your shrimp into the lo mein noodles, stir until combined, and remove it from the heat.
- Sprinkle with more green onion if desired, and enjoy!
Sarah says
Absolutely delicious. Although I found out we were out of sesame oil as I was putting the recipe together so I used a splash of shaoxing wine. Obviously not the same flavor profile but it was overall a great recipe. Next time I make this I’ll have to make sure to use the sesame oil as outlined.
Tamara J. says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it!
Gina says
Yum