Pad Thai

This amazing Pad Thai recipe is easy and approachable and can be made in under 30 minutes. It starts with fresh ingredients including rice noodles, chicken, shrimp, tofu, cilantro, bean sprouts, peanuts and scrambled eggs tossed in a delicious homemade pad thai sauce that is so good it tastes like it came from your favorite Thai restaurant.

I’ve not kept my love for Thai food a secret here (here are some of my favorite Thai recipes), but I really can’t believe it’s taken me so long to share a homemade pad thai recipe. Just see the recipe card for proof of how easy it is to make from home!

What is Pad Thai?

Pad Thai is stir-fry dish made with rice noodles, shrimp, chicken, or tofu, peanuts, a scrambled egg and bean sprouts. The ingredients are sautéed together in a wok and tossed in a delicious pad thai sauce. It’s common street food in Thailand and one of the most popular menu items at Thai restaurants around the country.

To make vegan or vegetarian pad thai, leave out the egg and substitute the fish sauce for more soy sauce.

How to make Pad Thai Sauce:

Traditional pad thai sauce includes fish sauce, vinegar, sugar and tamarind paste. Tamarind paste is not easily found at a regular grocery stores so I substituted rice vinegar. If you would like to use tamarind paste, substitute about 2 Tablespoons in place of the rice vinegar in this recipe. I also added a big scoop of peanut butter to my sauce, because I think it gives the whole dish an added creaminess and boost of flavor that I love.

Love Thai Food? Try these favorite recipes:

Thai Peanut Chicken Tacos

Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Thai Peanut Chicken Pasta

Thai Green Curry Meatballs

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5 from 5 votes

Pad Thai

Print RecipeSave to Meal Plan

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

30 mins

 

This amazing Pad Thai recipe is easy, approachable and can be made in under 30 minutes, fresh ingredients and a delicious homemade pad thai sauce.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Thai

Keyword: pad thai sauce

Servings: 4

Calories: 596 kcal

Author: Lauren Allen

Ingredients

• 8 ounces flat rice noodles
• 3 Tablespoons oil
• 3 cloves garlic , minced
• 8 ounces uncooked shrimp, chicken, or extra-firm tofu , cut into small pieces
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup fresh bean sprouts
• 1 red bell pepper , thinly sliced
• 3 green onions , chopped
• 1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts
• 2 limes
• 1/2 cup Fresh cilantro , chopped

For the Pad Thai sauce:

• 3 Tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 Tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
• 5 Tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar * see note
• 1 Tablespoon Sriracha hot sauce , or more, to taste
• 2 Tablespoons creamy peanut butter , optional

Instructions

1. Cook noodles according to package instructions, just until tender.  Rinse under cold water.

2. Mix the sauce ingredients together. Set aside.

3. Heat 1½ tablespoons of oil in a large saucepan or wok over medium-high heat.

4. Add the shrimp, chicken or tofu, garlic and bell pepper. The shrimp will cook quickly, about 1-2 minutes on each side, or until pink. If using chicken, cook until just cooked through, about 3-4 minutes, flipping only once.

5. Push everything to the side of the pan. Add a little more oil and add the beaten eggs. Scramble the eggs, breaking them into small pieces with a spatula as they cook.

6. Add noodles, sauce, bean sprouts and peanuts to the pan (reserving some peanuts for topping at the end). Toss everything to combine.

7. Top with green onions, extra peanuts, cilantro and lime wedges. Serve immediately!

Recipe Notes

To use tamarind paste in the sauce, substitute 2 Tablespoons in place of the vinegar.

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