Okay, so last Tuesday I was staring at an empty fridge thinking “great, another $35 takeout night” when I remembered I had some beef in the freezer and noodles in the pantry. My kids were already asking what’s for dinner and honestly? I was just too tired to deal with ordering food and waiting around.
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 crazy part? It took me less time than takeout would have, cost maybe $8 total, and I didn’t have to deal with delivery fees or cold food. Now it’s become our go-to when we’re craving Chinese but don’t want to blow the grocery budget.
Why This Recipe Actually Works for Real Life
Look, I’m not gonna lie and say this is some fancy restaurant-quality masterpiece. But it’s really, really good. And more importantly, it’s the kind of recipe that actually fits into a normal Tuesday night when you’ve got soccer practice at 7 and homework battles ahead.
The sauce is simple – just a few ingredients you probably have anyway. The vegetables stay crunchy (my kids hate mushy vegetables), and you can totally customize it based on what you have or what your family will actually eat.
Plus, my grocery bill has thanked me. We used to order Chinese maybe twice a month, and that was easily $70+ with tips and fees. This feeds all five of us for under $10, and there’s usually leftovers for someone’s lunch.
What You Actually Need (No Weird Ingredients!)
For the noodles: I use lo mein noodles when I can find them, but honestly? Regular spaghetti works just fine. I’ve tried both and my family can’t tell the difference.
Beef: Whatever’s on sale. I’ve used everything from fancy flank steak to just regular ground beef when money’s tight. It all tastes good in this sauce.
The sauce magic: This is where it gets good. Better Than Bouillon (the beef kind), soy sauce, and brown sugar. That’s it. But somehow it tastes like you spent hours making some complicated sauce.
Vegetables: I do onions, carrots, and broccoli because that’s what my kids will eat. But I’ve thrown in bell peppers, mushrooms, whatever needs to get used up. The sauce makes everything taste good.
Sesame oil: Okay this one might be new for some people, but you can get it at any grocery store and it lasts forever. It’s what makes it taste like “real” Chinese food instead of just pasta with soy sauce.
How I Make It (Without Losing My Mind)
First, get the noodles going. Boil water, throw in the noodles. While they’re cooking, I mix up the sauce in a little bowl. Hot water, that beef bouillon paste, soy sauce, brown sugar. Stir it up and you’re done.
Cook the beef. I heat up my biggest pan (or wok if I’m feeling fancy) and cook the beef until it’s nice and brown. Don’t stir it too much – just let it get crispy. Takes maybe 3-4 minutes.
Vegetables next. I take the beef out and cook the onions first until they smell amazing. Then carrots – they take a bit longer. Broccoli goes in last because it cooks super fast and I don’t want it getting all mushy.
Put it all together. Garlic goes in for like a minute (don’t burn it!), then the beef goes back in, then that sauce. Let it bubble for a couple minutes, then add the noodles and toss everything around.
Seriously, that’s it. The whole thing takes maybe 25 minutes, and most of that is just waiting for water to boil.
Things I’ve Learned Making This a Million Times
The beef thing: If you’re using sliced beef, put it in the freezer for like 15 minutes before you cut it. Makes it way easier to slice thin. But honestly? Ground beef is easier and tastes just as good.
Don’t overcook the vegetables. They should still have some crunch. Mushy vegetables are gross and my kids will revolt.
Make extra sauce. I usually double the sauce recipe because my family likes it saucy. Leftover sauce keeps in the fridge and you can use it for quick stir-fries later.
Prep everything first. Once you start cooking, it goes fast. Have everything chopped and ready or you’ll be scrambling.
Ways to Make It Work for Your Family
Picky kids? Start with just onions and carrots. Add more vegetables gradually. My youngest finally started eating broccoli after I made this a few times.
Want it spicier? Add some sriracha or red pepper flakes. I usually put hot sauce on the table so people can add their own.
Vegetarian family? Skip the beef and add more vegetables or some tofu. The sauce is so good it doesn’t really matter.
Trying to save money? Use ground beef instead of steak, frozen vegetables instead of fresh, and bulk it up with extra noodles.
Leftovers Are Actually Better
This is one of those recipes that tastes even better the next day. The noodles soak up all that sauce and it’s just… chef’s kiss. I pack it for lunches and it reheats perfectly in the microwave.
To reheat, just add a splash of water so it doesn’t dry out. My kids actually fight over the leftovers, which never happens with anything else I make.
Real Talk About This Recipe
Is it exactly like your favorite Chinese restaurant? No. But it’s really close, and it’s so much better than some of the takeout we’ve gotten lately. Plus, I know exactly what’s in it, it doesn’t cost a fortune, and my family actually likes it.
I’ve been making this for about six months now, and it’s become one of those recipes I can make without even thinking about it. Which is exactly what I need on busy weeknights when I’m trying to feed everyone something decent without ordering pizza again.
Easy Beef Lo Mein
Ingredients
Noodles:
- 8 oz lo mein noodles or just use spaghetti
- 1 tsp sesame oil
The Sauce:
- 1/4 cup hot water
- 1 tbsp Better Than Bouillon beef base
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
Everything Else:
- 1 lb beef sliced thin (or ground beef)
- 2 tbsp oil for cooking
- 1 onion sliced up
- 2 carrots cut into sticks
- 2 cups broccoli pieces
- 4 garlic cloves chopped
Instructions
- Start the noodles – Get water boiling and cook the noodles like the package says. When they’re done, drain and toss with that sesame oil so they don’t stick together.
- Make the sauce – Mix the beef base into the hot water until it dissolves. Add soy sauce and brown sugar. Stir and set aside.
- Cook the beef – Heat oil in your biggest pan over high heat. Add beef and let it cook for 2-3 minutes without stirring. You want it golden brown. Take it out and set aside.
- Cook vegetables – Same pan, cook onions for about 3 minutes until they’re golden. Add carrots, cook 2 minutes. Add broccoli, cook 2 more minutes.
- Add garlic – Throw in the garlic and cook for just 1 minute until it smells good.
- Bring it together – Put the beef back in. Pour in your sauce and let it simmer for 2 minutes.
- Add noodles – Toss in the cooked noodles and mix everything until the noodles are coated with sauce.
- Eat it! – Serve while it’s hot.
Notes
- Can’t find lo mein noodles? Spaghetti works fine
- Want more sauce? Double the sauce recipe
- Ground beef is cheaper and easier than sliced beef
- This tastes even better as leftovers
- Add vegetables your family will actually eat
Did you try this? Let me know how it turned out! I’m always curious what changes people make to fit their families.
