Need dinner on the table fast without blowing the grocery budget? This simple Lo Mein Ramen turns one package of chicken ramen, a pound of chicken breast strips, and a handful of vegetables into a quick skillet meal that eats like takeout for a fraction of the price.
The original method keeps it easy: brown the chicken with oil, soy sauce, and part of the ramen seasoning, cook the noodles, then toss everything together until the vegetables are tender and the noodles soak up the flavor. It is plain, practical, and exactly the kind of recipe that saves supper when the fridge looks a little bare.
Maya in Illinois
- 🍜 Ingredients
- 👩🍳 Instructions
- 💡 Tips
- 🥢 Serving Suggestions
- 🧊 Storage
- 💸 Price Breakdown
- 🛒 Walmart Grocery List
- ❓ FAQ
- 📌 Pin Recipe
- 🖨️ Printable Recipe Card
Ingredients for Lo Mein Ramen
- 1 package chicken ramen noodles
- 2 cups water
- 1 pound chicken breast strips
- 1/2 cup onions, sliced
- 1/2 cup green peppers, chopped
- 1/4 cup carrots, chopped
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
If you want to stretch this a little farther, serve it with extra steamed vegetables or alongside a simple salad. If you want a bigger ramen dinner rotation, take a look at Ramen Noodles Stir Fry or Spicy Thai Peanut Ramen Noodles.
How to Make Lo Mein Ramen
What to do:
- In a skillet mix oil, soy sauce and 1/2 seasoning packet.
- Add chicken and brown.
- Cook noodles according to package directions and drain.
- Add veggies to chicken and cook until tender.
- Add noodles and cook on medium for five minutes, stirring constantly.
For the safest finished dish, cook the chicken until it reaches 165F in the thickest piece. For leftovers, chill them promptly and use them within 3 to 4 days, which matches current USDA leftovers guidance.
Easy Tips for Better Ramen
- Use only half the ramen seasoning packet as written so the soy sauce can season the dish without turning it overly salty.
- Slice the chicken strips evenly so they brown quickly and finish cooking at the same time.
- Do not overcook the noodles. Drain them as soon as they are tender so they can finish in the skillet without going mushy.
- Keep the vegetables small and fairly uniform so the onions, peppers, and carrots soften in the same short cooking window.
- Stir constantly during the last five minutes so the noodles pick up the sauce instead of sticking to the pan.
Serving Suggestions for Lo Mein Ramen
Serve this hot straight from the skillet while the noodles are still glossy and the vegetables have a little bite left. It works well as a simple one-pan meal, but you can also plate it with steamed broccoli, a side of fruit, or a crisp cucumber salad if you want to round things out a bit.
If you like budget ramen dinners with a little more heat, Chili Chicken Ramen Noodles is another easy option to keep on standby.
Storage and Leftovers
Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container within 2 hours of cooking. A conservative shelf-life estimate for this chicken and noodle dish is 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.
For longer storage, freeze it in portion-sized airtight containers for up to 2 months for best quality. The noodles soften after thawing, so the texture is never quite as pretty, but it is still perfectly usable for a quick lunch.
Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm them in a skillet with a small splash of water to loosen the noodles. Heat until steaming hot all the way through.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Lo Mein Ramen
Ingredient |
Walmart Item |
Pkg Price |
Amount Used |
Cost Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicken ramen noodles |
$0.28 |
1 package ≈ 1 package/count = 3 oz = 85.049 g ≈ 0.654 cup |
$0.28 |
|
Water |
– |
2 C. |
$0.01 |
|
Chicken breast strips |
$2.67 |
1 pound |
$2.67 |
|
Onions |
$2.44 |
1/2 C. ≈ 1 count ≈ 0.55 cup(s) |
$0.55 |
|
Green peppers |
$0.78 |
1/2 C. ≈ 1 count ≈ 1 cup(s) |
$0.39 |
|
Carrots |
$1.48 |
1/4 C. |
$0.05 |
|
Oil |
$3.36 |
1 T. |
$0.04 |
|
Soy sauce |
$1.42 |
1 T. |
$0.05 |
💸 |
Cost |
|---|---|
🧾 Total Batch Cost |
$4.04 |
👨👩👧👦 Cost Per Serving |
$2.02 |
📅 Walmart prices last verified August 26, 2026. Prices may vary by location and are subject to change. Learn how to calculate the cost of a recipe on your own!
🛒 Walmart Grocery List
- Chicken Ramen Noodles, 2.25 oz 6 pack
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, 3 lb
- Yellow Onions, 3 lb Bag
- Green Bell Pepper, 1 each
- Whole Carrots, 1 lb Bag
- Vegetable Oil, 48 fl oz
- Soy Sauce, 15 fl oz
Not sure exactly what this batch costs you per serving? Here’s how to break down the real cost of any recipe so you know before you shop.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lo Mein Ramen
You can, but chicken or soy-based flavors work best because they do not fight the soy sauce. If your packet is extra salty or spicy, start with less than half and adjust at the end so the finished skillet does not taste like a salt lick.
Yes, for this version you do. The noodles are cooked and drained before they hit the skillet, which keeps them from soaking up too much liquid and turning gummy while the chicken and vegetables finish cooking.
Use quick-cooking vegetables that can soften in a few minutes, such as cabbage, broccoli slaw, snap peas, mushrooms, or thin celery. Keep the pieces small so they finish in the same time as the onions, peppers, and carrots.
Absolutely. Use about 2 to 2 1/2 cups cooked chicken, add it after the vegetables start to soften, and just heat it through before stirring in the noodles so it does not dry out.
That usually happens when the noodles are boiled too long before draining or when they sit in the pan too long after they are added. Cook them only until tender, drain well, and keep the final skillet time close to the five minutes listed.
Yes, but use a large skillet or wok so the chicken browns instead of steaming. Double every ingredient and, if the pan looks crowded, cook the chicken in two batches for better flavor and texture.
A skillet works best because it warms the noodles more evenly and helps keep them from turning rubbery. Add a tablespoon or two of water, cover briefly, and stir just until everything is hot.
You can, and it is a smart shortcut. Add them straight from frozen, cook until the extra moisture evaporates, and wait to add the noodles until the vegetables are hot and tender so the pan does not get watery.
Cut the strips evenly and avoid blasting them on high heat forever. Brown them just until cooked through, then let the vegetables and noodles finish the dish so the chicken stays juicy instead of chalky.
Pair it with inexpensive sides that add bulk without much fuss, like steamed broccoli, cabbage slaw, cucumber slices, or fruit. If you need it to go farther, serving it with an egg roll or a bowl of soup makes it feel like a full takeout-style meal.
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🖨️ Print-Friendly Lo Mein Ramen
Lo Mein Ramen
Ingredients
- 1 package chicken ramen noodles
- 2 cups water
- 1 pound chicken breast strips
- ½ cup onions sliced
- ½ cup green peppers chopped
- ¼ cup carrots chopped
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
Equipment
Instructions
- In a skillet mix oil, soy sauce and 1/2 seasoning packet.
- Add chicken and brown.
- Cook noodles according to package directions and drain.
- Add veggies to chicken and cook until tender.
- Add noodles and cook on medium for five minutes, stirring constantly.
Recipe Size Alteration
💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.
Notes
Cook the chicken to 165F in the thickest piece.
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and use within 3 to 4 days.
Freeze leftovers up to 2 months for best quality.
yummy..i added 1 egg and mushroom
used celery instead of green peppers, omitted chicken and it still came out decent.
my son uses crab or imitation crab, peas and sometimes cabbage if we have any left over.
I would add 1 tsp Hoisen sauce, 1 tsp Oyster sauce, 1/4 tsp garlic powder and 1/2 tsp sesame oil.