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The best healthy chicken lo mein recipe (237 calories)! It’s easy, quick, and so good you won’t need to order Chinese takeout!
There are three things that I start to crave if I go too long without eating them: cheeseburgers, pizza, and Chinese food. I’m wishing upon finishing that last sentence that at least one of those foods had been interesting.
The cheeseburger craving always gets knocked out with a shack stack at Shake Shack. (Don’t ever tell me Five Guys is better; it’s not and never will be). The pizza craving is almost too easy—come up on any street corner in New York City and you’re sure to find a good slice. Sad that I know this? Maybe. True? Yes.But the Chinese food craving…this one is more of a challenge to satisfy. It has to be eaten with Daniel and it has to be at a buffet.
When I met Daniel twelve years ago, I quickly learned that his favorite food in the entire world was Chinese. And he quickly learned not to order it with me, because I’d eat all the lo mein and all the crab rangoon. My tastes are very, very refined.
Today, we’re kind-of sort-of obsessed with Chinese buffets. Like, in-a-strip-mall, rethink-those-button-pantsbuffets. Where else can you get bottomless lo mein, crab rangoon, a mysterious yet delightful“banana” pudding, andcrack open your fortune at the end? Nowhere.
But there’s no fooling ourselves at buffets. Even the vegetables are saucy and oily and sticky-sweet. So we own it: it’s a gut-buster. But every once in a while–like once every month or two–that’s so, so better than fine. Any more often than that, and we know we’re turning a good thing bad.
Tokeep me feeling satisfied between jaunts to our favorite Chinese spots, I make a healthier—but seriouslydelicious—version at home. The sauce is salty-sweet withjust a touch of smokiness from toasted sesame oil and, shhh, a little barbecue sauce. To keep things light and low in calories, I loaded it with veggies and swapped traditional noodles for Shirataki noodles, which have so few calories you would be shocked (20 calories for a whole package!). If you’re not interested in trying these tofu noodles, or you’ve had them and they just weren’t for you, try spiralizing a summer squash or zucchini for just as few calories.
Friends, I hope you try this. I’m telling you, it will notdisappoint :)
Print Recipe
The best healthy chicken lo mein recipe (237 calories)! It's easy, quick, and so good you won't need to order takeout!
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Total Time20 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: easy chicken stir fry, healthy chinese chicken recipe, healthy lo mein recipe
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 237kcal
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoons barbecue sauce
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 1 garlic clove minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1 teaspoon packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch optional, but it does aid in thickening the sauce
- 2 8- ounce packages House Foods Shirataki spaghetti noodles or 2 large zucchini, spiralized
- 3 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1 pound chicken breast cut into thin strips
- 3 stalks celery very thinly sliced on the diagonal
- 1 medium red bell pepper very thinly sliced
- 5 scallions sliced on the diagonal
Instructions
Make the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk the soy sauce, barbecue sauce, sesame oil, clove of garlic, brown sugar, and corn starch. Set aside.
Rinse and drain the Shirataki noodles well. Press them dry with a paper towel to get as much moisture out as possible. This will help to ensure the sauce sticks to them and doesn’t slip off.
In a large nonstick skillet, heat 2 teaspoons of the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a clean plate and wipe out the pan with paper towels.
Return the pan to medium-high heat (turning it down if it begins to smoke) and add the remaining teaspoon of oil. Add the celery, bell pepper, and scallions, and cook, stirring frequently, until tender-crisp, about 3 minutes. Return the cooked chicken to the pan. Add the Shirataki noodles and the soy sauce mixture, tossing to coat all ingredients well, and let the pan cook until the sauce has thickened, about 2 minutes.
Nutrition
Calories: 237kcal | Protein: 27g | Fat: 9g | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g
FAQs
The favorite choice for the term "Lo Mein" is 1 cup of Lo Mein which has about 310 calories.
How many calories are in lo mein with chicken? ›
Lo mein, with chicken contains 260 calories per 200 g serving. This serving contains 6.3 g of fat, 18 g of protein and 32 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 4.2 g sugar and 2 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate. Lo mein, with chicken contains 1.4 g of saturated fat and 44 mg of cholesterol per serving.
Is chicken lo mein good for you? ›
Worst: Lo Mein
The noodles are made from white flour, which raises your blood sugar faster than fiber-rich whole grains. Plus, they're cooked with oil and soy sauce, so you get extra fat and sodium. Can't pass it up? Order the vegetable version, and only have half the order.
How many calories are in 2 cups of Chicken Lo Mein? ›
There are 556 calories in 2 cups of Chicken Lo Mein.
How many calories are in PF Chang's Chicken Lo Mein? ›
Pf Chang's Main Menu Signature Lo Mein Chicken (1 serving) contains 110g total carbs, 103g net carbs, 21g fat, 49g protein, and 830 calories.
What is healthier fried rice or lo mein? ›
Lo Mein is a healthier option than Fried Rice for a variety of reasons. For starters, it can be a good source of protein, especially when combined with lean proteins like chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu. Protein is necessary for muscle building and repair, as well as for keeping you full for longer periods of time.
How many calories are in lo mein without meat? ›
Nutrition Facts
There are 897 calories in a 1 order (741.000g) serving size of Restaurant, Chinese, vegetable lo mein, without meat. The calorie breakdown is 17% fat, 67% carbs, and 16% protein.
What is the lowest calorie Chinese takeout? ›
Final Thoughts on Low Calorie Chinese Takeaway
For individuals seeking healthier options, dishes like steamed dumplings, stir-fried vegetables, or steamed fish make for excellent choices.
What Chinese food is lowest in calories? ›
10 Asian Dishes Low in Calories and High in Flavor
- Chinese Chicken Salad | 393 Calories. ...
- Chinese Pepper Steak | 312 Calories. ...
- Chinese Take-Out Shrimp with Garlic | 227 Calories. ...
- Chinese Pork Tenderloin | 222 Calories. ...
- Chinese Steamed Fish | 379 Calories. ...
- Black Pepper Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry | 280 Calories.
Lo mein typically consists of fully cooked noodles that are tossed with a variety of vegetables, proteins, such as chicken, beef, pork, seafood or tofu and a flavorful sauce. The key to a delicious lo mein dish is the combination of textures and flavors from the fresh ingredients.
"Vegetable-based pastas, such as zucchini noodles or hearts of palm noodles, tend to be lowest in carbs and calories," says Sassos. "They are also packed with nutrient-dense vitamins and minerals and are naturally gluten-free. Shirataki noodles and kelp noodles are also quite low in carbs and calories."
What type of rice is lowest in calories? ›
The calorie content of 1 cup of cooked rice varies from a high of 241.8 kcals for medium-or short-grain white rice, to 218.4 kcals for medium-grain brown rice, 216.5 kcals for long-grain brown rice, 205.4 kcals for regular long-grain white rice, to a low of 165.6 kcals for 'wild rice'.
What pasta sauce is low in calories? ›
Prego Lower Calorie Traditional Italian Pasta Sauce allows you to enjoy the delicious tomato taste you'd expect from Prego tomato sauce, but with just 45 calories per serving. This lower calorie spaghetti sauce is perfect for special diets and health-conscious pasta lovers.
How many calories are in Chinese restaurant lo mein? ›
The calories in a pint, or 2 cups, of vegetable lo mein will vary based on the recipe. A typical Chinese restaurant version of this dish contains between 330 and 390 calories in each pint. Ask the chef to use broth instead of oil when preparing your lo mein.
How many calories in a plate of lo mein? ›
Nutrition Facts
There are 897 calories in a 1 order (741.000g) serving size of Restaurant, Chinese, vegetable lo mein, without meat. The calorie breakdown is 17% fat, 67% carbs, and 16% protein.
Is lo mein high in calories? ›
The calorie content of lo mein can vary depending on the ingredients used and the portion size. On average, a serving of vegetable lo mein contains approximately 250-300 calories, while a serving of chicken or beef lo mein can range from 350-500 calories.
Does lo mein have more calories than rice? ›
Lo Mein has fewer calories than Fried Rice. This is because it typically contains fewer sauces and less sugar than dishes such as Sweet and Sour Pork, General Tso's Chicken, and Orange Chicken. These dishes are frequently laden with sauces and added sugars, making them high in calories.
