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    Home » Recipes » Noodles

    Instant Pot Pork Lo Mein

    January 31, 2024 · Published: July 11, 2022 By: Asian Inspired Eats 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    This quick and easy Instant Pot Pork Lo Mein comes together in just 20 minutes. Featuring tender pieces of pork, crispy veggies, and a knock-out sauce, it's the perfect family meal for those busy weeknights!

    Pork Lo Mein in two black bowls with chopsticks and a green napkin on top of a white board.

    Pork Lo Mein is a staple at most Chinese restaurants. Typically made with dry noodles, lo mein can be made with various proteins like pork, beef, shrimp, chicken, and tofu, as well as crispy vegetables like carrots, cabbage, snow peas, and bell peppers. Don't order takeout! You can easily make this at home in your own kitchen!

    Ingredients in white bowls for Instant Pot Pork Lo Mein on a white board with an Instant Pot in the background

    I just love using my Instant Pot. It makes my life so much easier! You just throw all of your ingredients into the pot and your meal is ready in mere minutes, like this Pork Lo Mein recipe. Gotta say, the inventor of the Instant Pot is simply genius!

    Labeled ingredients for making Instant Pot pork lo mein on top of a white board.

    What ingredients are in pork lo mein?

    You may already have some of these veggies on hand, but feel free to use up what's in your fridge! Don't have pork? No worries! Use another protein, like chicken or steak. Here's what you'll need:

    • Lo Mein noodles (or thin spaghetti noodles)
    • Pork tenderloin
    • Red bell pepper (or yellow bell pepper)
    • Baby bok choy
    • Carrots
    • Onions

    [*See recipe card for exact quantities.]

    HELPFUL TIP! ➔ If you can't find lo mein noodles (dry or fresh), the next best thing is using dry spaghetti noodles!

    What's in the lo mein sauce?

    These Asian staple ingredients are probably already in your pantry! The richness from the hoisin sauce, the saltiness from the soy sauce, plus the nuttiness from the sesame oil makes this homemade lo mein sauce a winner! Here's what you'll need:

    • Dark soy sauce
    • Light soy sauce (reduced sodium)
    • Sesame oil
    • Hoisin sauce
    • Mirin

    [*See recipe card for exact quantities.]

    Pork chunks with marinade inside a white bowl with sauces in the background on top of a white board.
    Pork chunks marinating inside a white bowl with a spoon on top of a white board.

    Bite-sized pieces of pork tenderloin are marinated in a traditional lo mein sauce for incredible flavor in every bite!

    In This Article:
    • What ingredients are in pork lo mein?
    • What's in the lo mein sauce?
    • How to make instant pot pork lo mein
    • What to serve with pork lo mein
    • Variations
    • Recipe notes
    • Other tasty pork recipes
    • Instant Pot Pork Lo Mein

    How to make instant pot pork lo mein

    (These are abbreviated instructions. For complete details, refer to the recipe card below!)

    STEP ONE: Make the marinade and marinate the pork.

    1. In a small bowl, mix together the dark soy sauce, reduced-sodium soy sauce, and sesame oil.
    2. Toss in the pork, and marinate at room temperature while preparing the lo mein sauce.

    STEP TWO: Make the lo mein sauce.

    1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the remaining dark soy sauce and reduced-sodium soy sauce, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, mirin, and pepper until well-combined. Set aside until ready to use.
    Spaghetti noodles inside an Instant Pot ready to be cooked.
    Vegetables and chunks of pork inside an Instant Pot ready to be cooked on top of a white board.

    Break up the noodles and place them at the bottom of the Instant Pot. After pressure-cooking the noodles, add the lo mein sauce and place your chopped veggies and sautéed pork on top of the noodles. Sauté until veggies are cooked.

    STEP THREE: Cook in the Instant Pot.

    1. Add the marinated pork to the Instant Pot and let it sauté until golden brown on the outside. Remove the pork from the pan and set aside.
    2. Add the minced garlic to the pot and sauté until browned. Add in the water and deglaze the bottom of the pot by scraping it clean with a spatula.
    3. Place the noodles into the pot in a crisscross pattern. Gently push the spaghetti down into the liquid.
    4. Close the Instant Pot and pressure cook on high. When completed, release the natural pressure release valve, and let it rest.
    5. Stir the noodles around. Add the prepared lo mein sauce to the noodles and stir until well-combined.
    6. Add to the pot all of the vegetables and marinated pork. Stir often, depending on how tender you like your vegetables cooked.
    7. Garnish with sesame seeds.

    [*See recipe card for detailed instructions.]

    Pork Lo Mein in two black bowls with chopsticks and a green napkin on top of a white board.

    What to serve with pork lo mein

    Here are some recipes I recommend that would pair well with this noodle dish:

    • Smashed Cucumber Salad
    • Baby Bok Choy with Ginger and Garlic
    • Spicy Asian Brussels Sprouts
    • Avocado Edamame Kale Salad
    Pork Lo Mein in a black bowl with chopsticks and a green napkin on top of a white board.

    This pork lo mein dish is truly rave-worthy! Your family will think you've been slaving in the kitchen all day, but (shhhhh), they'll never know how easy it was! It's like Chinese takeout, but homemade!

    Variations

    • Want this dish to be vegetarian? Simply leave out the pork and either use just vegetables or add in blocks of extra-firm tofu.
    • Looking for a gluten-free version? Simply sub out the lo mein noodles for gluten-free spaghetti noodles, substitute the soy sauces for gluten-free soy sauce, and the hoisin sauce for gluten-free hoisin sauce.
    • Other great veggies for this dish would be cabbage, snow peas, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, bean sprouts, and green onions. The possibilities are endless!
    • For a deeper flavor, use chicken broth instead of water.
    • To make this lo mein dish spicier, add some red pepper flakes or a tablespoon of sambal oelek chili paste, or drizzle with chili oil before serving.

    Recipe notes

    • If you don't have an Instant Pot, you can always stir-fry this dish in a wok. Just cook the noodles al dente according to the package directions, sauté the veggies and toss everything into the wok with the sauce!
    • It's important to break the noodles in half and place them into the Instant Pot in a crisscross pattern so they don't stick together when cooking. You don't want clumpy noodles!
    • You can store any leftover pork lo mein in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to five days.

    Other tasty pork recipes

    If you liked this Instant Pot Pork Lo Mein, you're going to want these other pork recipes too!

    • Instant Pot Coconut Curry Pork
    • Instant Pot Korean-Inspired Pulled Pork
    • Gluten-Free Pulled Pork Ramen Bowls
    • Pork Tenderloin with Cilantro Mint Basil Sauce
    • Vietnamese Grilled Pork Tenderloin Skewers
    Print
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    Pork Lo Mein in a black bowl with chopsticks and a green napkin on top of a white board.

    Instant Pot Pork Lo Mein

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 2 reviews

    Print Recipe
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    This quick and easy Instant Pot Pork Lo Mein comes together in just 20 minutes. Featuring tender pieces of pork, crispy veggies, and a knock-out sauce, it's like Chinese takeout but made in your own kitchen!

    • Total Time: 20 min
    • Yield: 4 1x

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 8 ounces Lo Mein noodles (or thin spaghetti noodles)
    • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
    • 1 pound pork tenderloin, cut into ½-inch pieces
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 cups water
    • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced
    • 1 pound baby bok choy, chopped
    • 2 small carrots, sliced
    • 1 yellow onion, sliced

    For the Pork Marinade:

    • 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon sesame oil

    For the Lo Mein Sauce:

    • 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
    • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
    • 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
    • 1 tablespoon Mirin
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish

    Instructions

    Break the noodles in half and set aside until ready to use.

    MAKE THE PORK MARINADE:

    1. In a small bowl, mix together the dark soy sauce, reduced-sodium soy sauce, and sesame oil.
    2. Toss in the pork, and marinate at room temperature while preparing the lo mein sauce.

    MAKE THE LO MEIN SAUCE:

    1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the remaining dark soy sauce and reduced-sodium soy sauce, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, mirin, and pepper until well-combined.
    2. Set aside until ready to use.

    COOK:

    1. Turn on the “sauté” setting on high on your Instant Pot. Add in the vegetable oil and let the oil get hot.
    2. Add the marinated pork to the pot and let it sauté until golden brown on the outside (about 3 minutes). Remove the pork from the pan and set aside.
    3. Add the minced garlic to the Instant Pot and sauté until browned, for about 30 seconds. Turn off the “sauté” setting. Add in the water and deglaze the bottom of the pot by scraping it clean with a spatula.
    4. Place the noodles into the pot in a crisscross pattern. (This prevents them from sticking to each other.) Do not stir the noodles after placing them in the pot! Gently push the spaghetti down into the liquid.
    5. Close the Instant Pot with the lid, seal the valve, and pressure cook on high for 4 minutes. When completed, release the natural pressure release valve, and let it rest for an additional 4 minutes.
    6. Open the Instant Pot and stir the noodles around making sure to break up any that are stuck together. Add the prepared lo mein sauce to the noodles and stir until well-combined.
    7. Turn on the “sauté“ setting on high and add to the pot all of the vegetables and marinated pork. Stir often for about 5-8 minutes (depending on how tender you like your vegetables cooked).
    8. Garnish with sesame seeds.

    Notes

    • If you don't have an Instant Pot, you can always stir-fry this dish in a wok. Just cook the noodles al dente according to the package directions, sauté the veggies and toss everything into the wok with the sauce!
    • It's important to break the noodles in half and place them into the Instant Pot in a crisscross pattern so they don't stick together when cooking. You don't want clumpy noodles!
    • You can store any leftover pork lo mein in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to five days.
    • Author: Asian Caucasian
    • Prep Time: 8 min
    • Cook Time: 12 min
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Instant Pot
    • Cuisine: Chinese

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size:
    • Calories: 489
    • Sugar: 10.2 g
    • Sodium: 1384.9 mg
    • Fat: 11.6 g
    • Carbohydrates: 59.9 g
    • Protein: 35.9 g
    • Cholesterol: 73.8 mg

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @AsianCaucasianBlog on Instagram and hashtag #AsianCaucasianEats

    Pork Lo Mein in a black bowl with chopsticks and a green napkin on top of a white board and ingredients images on top. this recipe

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kym says

      December 15, 2022 at 12:05 pm

      My family loved this recipe! I will making this on the regular from now on! A+

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        December 19, 2022 at 8:49 am

        Thank you, Kym! This Pork Lo Mein recipe is always a family favorite in my house. So glad you enjoyed it! 😘

        Reply
    2. Karen Shapiro says

      July 11, 2022 at 8:42 am

      Lo mein is one of my all-time faves! Never thought to make it at home, I always just order takeout. 🙂 I'm so excited at how easy this recipe looks and am going to the store today to get these ingredients. Will let you know how it turns out!

      Reply
      • Asian Caucasian says

        July 11, 2022 at 8:43 am

        Yay! I love it too and you will love how easy it is to make in your own kitchen! Hope you enjoy as much as we do. Send along some pics of your completed lo mein dish and hashtag #asiancaucasianblog so I can share on my Insta feed!

        Reply

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    Pork Lo Mein in a black bowl with chopsticks.
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