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Home » Instant Pot » Instant Pot Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli

Instant Pot Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli

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Published: Sep 26, 2019 Updated: Oct 21, 2019 by Paint the Kitchen Red | 8 Comments

Instant Pot Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli in black bowl on straw mat with chopsticks laid across bowl Pinterest pin - Paint the Kitchen Red

This hearty Chinese-inspired Instant Pot Lo Mein noodles recipe features an umami-rich blend of oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and red chili flakes. The tender beef is tossed together with noodles and broccoli to make a healthy one-pot meal that’s quick and requires minimal cleanup!

Instant Pot Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli in black bowl on straw mat with chopsticks laid across bowl - Paint the Kitchen Red

This recipe for Instant Pot Lo Mein came about quite by accident. I was actually trying to cook Chinese beef broccoli in the Instant Pot but wasn’t too thrilled with how much liquid that the recipe ended up having.

So I had the bright idea to pressure cook noodles with the beef and broccoli recipe and ended up with Instant Pot Beef Lo Mein Noodles!

You might wonder why we’re using spaghetti for this recipe instead of lo mein noodles. In order to get the beef to cook perfectly and not have the noodles become mushy, I needed to find a pasta that could be pressure cooked for long enough so the beef would cook perfectly.

The lo mein noodles that I normally use would have been terribly overcooked, whereas the spaghetti’s cook time was approximately in the right range.

Chinese food in the Instant Pot is tricky because we’re used to Chinese dishes being stir-fried. This recipe, due to the addition of noodles is a great option when you’re in the mood for Chinese food and want something that’s an Instant Pot one-pot meal too.

Here are my popular Chinese rice recipes you might like to try out!
– Instant Pot Chinese Fried Rice
– Healthy Instant Pot Brown Fried Rice

Tips and Substitutions


BEEF CHUCK
Beef chuck does so well in the Instant Pot because it’s a fatty cut of beef. The cook time I recommend is 8 minutes. This is a fairly short amount of pressure cooking time for beef chuck and that’s because the recipe calls for beef that is sliced very thinly, approximately 1/4 inch thick. If the beef is thicker, it might not cook to be tender enough.

I recommend that you trim off as much extra fat as you can. This is a bit time-consuming, so be sure to leave enough time for this.

SUBSTITUTING CHICKEN
If you want to substitute chicken, cut boneless skinless chicken thighs into bite-size pieces. You can use a thinner spaghetti, like angel hair pasta or lo mein noodles and cook for about 4 minutes.

VEGETABLES
My family happens to like broccoli! You can substitute any vegetable of your choice: snow peas, carrots, bell peppers, zucchini, or water chestnuts.

RICE WINE
There are different kinds of rice wine. Chinese rice wine is called Shaoxing and Japanese rice wine is known as Mirin. Mirin is sweeter than Shaoxing, so if you use it, you might want to reduce the sugar quantity by a bit. Make sure you don’t confuse rice wine vinegar with rice wine!

SPAGHETTI / NOODLES
Since you need to cook the beef for about 8 minutes, the spaghetti you use must be able to withstand 8 minutes of pressure cooking. I use the Barilla Spaghetti No. 5, which has a stovetop cook time of 10 minutes. The Instant Pot cook time is about 6 minutes, but it’s just fine with 8 minutes of pressure cooking.

If you add the spaghetti altogether in one bunch, there’s a chance that the noodles will stick together after pressure cooking. By fanning the noodles out and layering in a criss-cross manner, your noodles have less of a chance of clumping.

To avoid the ‘Burn’ error message, don’t stir the noodles. Gently push down on it with a spatula until it’s submerged in the liquid. This might take about 20 to 30 seconds. Once the noodles are wet, the lid is ready to be closed and you can begin pressure cooking.

RELEASING PRESSURE
Doing a quick release (QR) of pressure when cooking pasta can result in food particles spewing out of the steam release valve. When releasing pressure, do it in bursts.

This means you release steam for 1 second and stop. Repeat multiple times until the steam coming out is less forceful. At that point, you can release the remaining pressure in a steady stream.

EXTRA LIQUID
Depending on the quantity of liquid that’s released from the meat and vegetables, it’s possible you might have some extra liquid in the inner pot after pressure cooking is complete. If you do, let the noodles rest for a few minutes and they should thicken up. If there’s still some liquid, turn on ‘Saute’ mode and allow the liquid to evaporate.

If you’re new to the Instant Pot and aren’t familiar with how to use it, please read the Instant Pot  DUO Beginner’s Quick Start Guide or the Instant Pot ULTRA Beginner’s Quick Start Guide first and then come back here to learn how to make this recipe for Instant Pot Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli.

Jump to Recipe

Instant Pot Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli – Ingredients

Instant Pot Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli Ingredients 1 - oil, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, white pepper, rice wine, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, oyster sauce, sesame seeds, brown sugar - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Oil
  • Ginger
  • Garlic
  • Soy Sauce
  • White Pepper
  • Rice wine
  • Sesame oil
  • Red Pepper flakes
  • Oyster Sauce
  • Sesame Seeds
  • Brown Sugar
Instant Pot Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli Ingredients 2 - beef, broccoli, spaghetti, broth, mushrooms - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Beef
  • Broccoli
  • Spaghetti
  • Broth
  • Mushrooms

How to Make Instant Pot Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli (Step by Step Instructions)

  1. Saute beef and remove.
  2. Saute vegetables and remove.
  3. Saute ginger and garlic.
  4. Stir in broth, beef, mushrooms, and spices.
  5. Add noodles in layers.
  6. Pressure cook for 8 minutes.
  7. Do a quick release in bursts.
  8. Add back reserved broccoli.
  9. Stir in sesame seeds.

Turn on ‘Saute’ Mode

Instant Pot Ultra Duo Saute Function collage - arrows pointing to Saute in Duo and Ultra - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Instant Pot DUO:  Select the ‘Saute’ function.
  • Instant Pot ULTRA:  Select the ‘Saute’ function and press ‘Start’.

Saute Beef and Remove from Heat

Instant Pot Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli Instructions collage - oil in inner pot, beef, remove beef - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Once the inner pot has heated up, add 1 tablespoon of oil.
  • Saute the beef until browned.
  • Use a slotted spoon to transfer beef to a bowl and set aside.

TIP: To prevent overcrowding, saute the beef in batches if necessary.

Saute Vegetables and Remove from Heat

Instant Pot Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli Instructions collage - broccoli, soy sauce, remove broccoli - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Add a teaspoon of oil to the inner pot.
  • Saute the broccoli, stirring frequently. The liquid from the vegetables should deglaze the inner pot; scrape the brown bits so nothing is stuck to the bottom.
  • Add 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce to the broccoli and stir until crisp-tender.
  • Use a slotted spoon to transfer the broccoli to a bowl and set aside.
  • Select ‘Cancel’. The ginger and garlic will cook in the residual heat.

Saute Ginger and Garlic

Instant Pot Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli Instructions collage - oil, ginger, and garlic, stirring - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Add the remaining oil to the inner pot.
  • Add the ginger and garlic to the inner pot.
  • Stir constantly for 30 seconds to a minute, until fragrant.

Stir in Broth, Beef, Mushrooms, and Spices.

Instant Pot Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli Instructions collage - broth, mushrooms, spices -- Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Add a few tablespoons of broth to deglaze the inner pot, scraping up any brown bits until they come loose.
  • Stir in broth, rice wine, sesame oil, remaining soy sauce, oyster sauce, white pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, brown sugar, mushrooms, and reserved beef.

Add Noodles in Layers

Instant Pot Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli Instructions collage - spaghetti in one layer, more layers in crisscross pattern, push down with spatula - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Add the noodles in batches, alternating in a criss-cross pattern. (See video for more details).
  • Gently push down on the noodles with a spatula, pressing down until all the noodles are wet. This might take about 20 to 30 seconds.

Instant Pot Duo Pressure Cook 8 minutes

Instant Pot Duo Manual mode 8 minutes collage - close lid, press manual, press + -, display says 8 - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Close the lid and make sure steam release handle is in ‘Sealing’ position
  • Press ‘Manual’ (or ‘Pressure Cook’) and ‘+’ or ‘-‘ until the display reads ‘8′ (8 minutes).

Instant Pot Ultra Pressure Cook 8 minutes

Instant Pot Ultra pressure cook 8 minutes collage - close Instant Pot Ultra, set time to 00:08 and select Pressure Cook, press start - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Close the lid.
  • Select Pressure Cook mode and adjust the time to 8 minutes (00:08).
  • Press ‘Start’.

Pressure Cooking Process (Duo and Ultra)

Instant Pot Duo Pressure Cooking collage - display shows On, float valve is down, display shows L0:00 - Paint the Kitchen Red
Instant Pot Ultra pressure cooking collage - Ultra display shows On, float valve is up, display shows 00 00 - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Instant Pot display will change to ‘On’.
  • Once the Instant Pot is pressurized, the float valve will go up.
  • The display will count down to 0; it will then switch to ‘Keep Warm’ mode and display ‘L0:00’  or ’00 00′ and begin to count up the number of minutes since pressure cooking completed.

How to Quick Release Pressure (QR) on the DUO

Instant Pot Quick Release collage - move handle to venting, float valve down, lid propped open - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Move the steam release handle to ‘Venting’. Steam will come out of the steam release handle.
  • When your Instant Pot is depressurized, the float valve will be in the down position.
  • Press ‘Cancel’ and open the Instant Pot.

How to Quick Release Pressure (QR) on the ULTRA

Instant Pot Ultra Release Steam and Open collage - press steam release button, float valve in down position, Instant Pot Ultra is open - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Press down on the Steam Release Button until it locks into place, and steam begins to come out of the Steam Release Valve.
  • When your Instant Pot is depressurized, the float valve will be in the down position.
  • Press ‘Cancel’ and open the Instant Pot.

PRO TIP: For noodles, I find it helpful to release the steam in 1-second intervals.  Once the steam coming out is less forceful, I release the remaining pressure in a steady stream.

Add Reserved Broccoli

Instant Pot Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli Instructions collage - cooked spaghetti, stirred, close lid - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Stir the noodles, beef, and mushrooms, breaking up any clumps of noodles with a fork.
  • Add in the reserved broccoli.
  • If there is liquid left in the Instant Pot Lo Mein, let the noodles rest for 5 to 10 minutes. They should thicken up. I close the lid but you can also leave it open. *
  • You can also select ‘Saute’ and allow the liquid to evaporate.

Stir in Sesame Seeds

Instant Pot Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli Instructions opened lid, sesame seeds, stirred - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Open the lid.
  • Add sesame seeds to the Instant Pot Lo Mein Noodles.
  • Stir all ingredients.
Instant Pot Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli in black bowl on straw mat with chopsticks laid across bowl - Paint the Kitchen Red

Instant Pot Lo Mein Noodles with Beef and Broccoli

This hearty Chinese-inspired Instant Pot Lo Mein noodles recipe features an umami-rich blend of oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and red chili flakes. The tender beef is tossed together with noodles and broccoli to make a healthy one-pot meal that’s quick and requires minimal cleanup!
3.67 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
Keyword: beef lo mein, instant pot lo mein, instant pot lo mein noodles, lo mein, lo mein noodles
Main Ingredient: beef, pasta
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 426kcal
Author: Paint the Kitchen Red

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 lb. beef chuck sliced thinly, less than 1/4 inch thick.
  • 5 cups broccoli florets
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp ginger minced
  • 2 Tbsp garlic minced
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 2 Tbsp Chinese rice wine Shaoxing
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • 2 tsp oyster sauce
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper or to taste
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 cups mushrooms sliced
  • 8 oz dry spaghetti no. 5
  • 1 1/2 tsp sesame seeds toasted

Equipment

  • Instant Pot
  • Medium Bowl
  • Slotted Spoon

Instructions

  • In 'Saute' mode, heat Instant Pot. Once Instant Pot is hot, add 1 Tbsp vegetable oil. Saute beef until beef is browned on all sides. To prevent overcrowding, saute beef in batches if needed.
  • Transfer beef to a medium bowl and set aside.
  • Add 1 tsp of oil to the inner pot and saute the broccoli until crisp-tender. Add 1/2 tsp soy sauce to the broccoli, saute briefly and remove to a medium bowl.
  • Select 'Cancel' and turn off the Instant Pot.
  • Add remaining oil to the Instant Pot.
  • Add ginger and garlic; stir for 30 seconds.
  • Deglaze the inner pot by adding a tablespoon or two of broth to the hot inner pot, and scraping until the brown bits come loose.
  • Stir in broth, rice wine, sesame oil, remaining soy sauce, oyster sauce, white pepper, crushed red pepper, brown sugar, mushrooms and reserved beef.
  • Divide spaghetti into four batches. Add noodles to the inner pot in batches: add one-fourth of noodles into the broth, fanning it out. Repeat with remaining batches, in a criss-cross pattern (see blog post for step by step photos or watch the video).
  • Using a spatula, gently push down on the spaghetti until it's submerged in the broth. This might take 20 to 30 seconds.
  • Close the lid and pressure cook the noodles for 8 minutes on High Pressure.
  • Do a quick release, in small bursts. See Tips.
  • Open the lid and stir in the broccoli.
  • If there's too much liquid remaining in the inner pot, allow the noodles to rest for 5 to 10 minutes. The Instant Pot Lo Mein Noodles should thicken up. *
  • Select 'Cancel' and stir in sesame seeds.

Notes

  • Prep time does not include steps that are already accounted for in the ingredient list, e.g. sliced beef, cut vegetables, etc.
  • * If there’s, still liquid left, you can use the ‘Saute’ function to allow the liquid to evaporate.
  • See the blog post for more detailed recipe tips.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 426kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 1015mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g
Have you made this recipe?I love seeing your photos! Tag me on Instagram @PaintTheKitchenRed hashtag #paintthekitchenred

I am not a certified nutritionist.  I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers.  If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons,  I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.

If you loved this recipe, please give it a five ⭐ rating in the comment section below and please share it on social media using the social media share buttons at the top and bottom of this post. Thank you so much!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. razzy 7

    November 30, 2019 at 8:23 am

    Depending upon the beef used – I’ll try flat iron steak, I think 8 minutes would overcook the beef. Thus I’ll saute it until it’s just about fully cooked, remove it and add it back when the broccoli is stirred in – essentially just to warm it with the rest of the ingredients.

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red

      November 30, 2019 at 6:49 pm

      I hope you like the recipe. Let me know if you have any insights 🙂

      Reply
  2. Rachel

    October 08, 2019 at 8:34 am

    The meat was so tough I had to throw the whole thing out. Took a lot of time to make and followed the directions exactly. Would have tasted better without the meat.

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red

      October 08, 2019 at 11:17 am

      Rachel, I’m sorry you had trouble with the recipe. It’s a tricky balance because the meat needs to be sliced very thinly in order to cook it for the stated number of minutes without overcooking the noodles.

      Reply
  3. Liz Csordas

    October 07, 2019 at 5:28 am

    this is great recipe! will definitely make again!

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red

      October 08, 2019 at 11:17 am

      Thanks for your comment, Liz. I’m excited that you liked the recipe!

      Reply
  4. Colleen

    September 28, 2019 at 8:28 pm

    I love how you give so detailed info i. e. to vent in burts to avoid pasta from spewing out. Not all recipes has that.
    I will try this. Pls, more IP recipes.
    Thank you for sharing

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red

      September 30, 2019 at 3:36 pm

      Colleen, my pleasure! Hope you get to try out the other Instant Pot recipes on my site! Check out the Recipes menu option to search for other Instant Pot recipes.

      Reply

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Neena profile thumbnail - Paint the Kitchen RedHi there! I'm Neena and on this blog I share my favorite Instant Pot recipes, with step-by-step instructions and photographs to help you make delicious dishes in your Instant Pot. Read More →

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