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.
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Pad Thai
Video
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
- Cook noodles according to package instructions, just until tender. Rinse under cold water.
- Mix the sauce ingredients together. Set aside.
- Heat 1½ tablespoons of oil in a large saucepan or wok over medium-high heat.
- 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.
- 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.
- Add noodles, sauce, bean sprouts and peanuts to the pan (reserving some peanuts for topping at the end). Toss everything to combine.
- Top with green onions, extra peanuts, cilantro and lime wedges. Serve immediately!
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE this recipe and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
Andrew says
Wow! We’ve made this recipe 6 times now over the last year? Always delicious!
America G says
I don’t eat seafood, can I omit the fish sauce? Or sub it for something else?
Lauren Allen says
I would just leave it out.
Hillary S. says
Same. I left out and you couldn’t tell I had.
Jen says
No the fish sauce is essential to the recipe you can’t even taste it you don’t even know it’s there like anchovies in Caesar dressing. But if you’re allergic that’s a whole other story.
Guy Buddyton says
Fish sauce doesn’t taste like fish when used properly. Its a savory flavor that contributes much flavor to the dish, and without it, pad thai tastes like whitewashed bland noodle crap. Anyone who tells you that you can substitute it ( or leave it out) without it making a difference, has no idea what they’re talking about. It’s a key component of the dish.
James says
When a person says they don’t eat fish I can’t understand why people then say “you can’t even taste it” I also don’t eat fish. I don’t use fish sauce. I am sure fish sauce is delicious, but I also do not eat it and omit it. If the dish isn’t authentic, so be it. Did I mention I don’t eat fish?
Pay says
Tasty but the peanut butter was too much. It overtook the taste and turned the noodles dry/pasty. Next time I’d either omit or do half the amount.
Sarah says
I agree – leave out the peanut butter we found it too much.
Hillary S. says
Agreeeeeeed.
Nicole says
I use only this recipe, because it is always a winner!!
Denise says
Fabulous! Had 2 families for dinner and everyone loved it. The leftovers were amazing the next day! Will do it again soon!
Alice says
Lovely recipe! Always a family favorite and is so delicious.
Jewel says
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve made this by now, but it’s definitely in our biweekly rotation. We love it so much! Thank you, it’s better than our fave Thai restaurant!
Christine says
So glad I came across your recipes. We added to our “Good Luck” New Years Eve 2021 dinner – long noodles to represent longevity – turned out great, and hassle-free- need to add to regular meal cycles!
Thanks for sharing- Happy New Year!
Rich Stein says
Love this! This recipe is the closest to what we had from street vendors in Bangkok. Red bell peppers are more authentic but sometimes, I substitute snow peas in depending on what I have for veggies in the fridge.
Suyen says
I’ve tried a few pad Thai recipes and this is definitely the best! There aren’t fresh bean sprouts where I live so I just top with some shredded cabbage. My husband goes crazy every time I make this he LOVES it!
Janis Sandlin says
I’ve made this a few times and it’s delicious. Didn’t think my husband would like it but he does and is happy every time I make it. One of my sons lived in Thailand for a short time and he says it taste authentic. Thanks for the recipe!