Spicy Chicken Pad Thai - easy 30 minute recipe - A Gouda Life (2024)

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Spicy Chicken Pad Thai – authentic, one pot Thai food in under 30 minutes. Rice noodles, chicken, crisp vegetables and bean sprouts in a bold Thai sauce.

Spicy Chicken Pad Thai - easy 30 minute recipe - A Gouda Life (1)

Toss that faded menu from your local Thai restaurant. This easy Authentic pad thai recipe is better than take-out and ready in under 30 minutes.

Thai noodles, tender chicken, crisp vegetables and bean sprouts tossed in a spicy, flavorful sauce.

Add a sprinkle of fresh cilantro, a handful of chopped peanuts and a squeeze of fresh lime juice over the top for a burst of tangy flavor.

Spicy Chicken Pad Thai - easy 30 minute recipe - A Gouda Life (2)

Good pad thai makes a great weeknight meal that’s also ideal for your next Netflix – comfy pants night.

Easy spicy Chicken Pad Thai – a simple recipe from fresh ingredients that will rival your favorite Thai restaurants.

No need for a trip to the Asian market, all the ingredients can be found in the regular grocery store.

WHAT’S IN SPICY CHICKEN PAD THAI?

THE PAD THAI:

  • flat rice noodles
  • olive oil
  • boneless skinless chicken breasts cut in bite size pieces
  • red bell pepper
  • carrots cut in match sticks
  • bean sprouts
  • garlic cloves
  • egg
  • green onions
  • peanuts
  • cilantro

DELICIOUS PAD THAI SAUCE:

  • brown sugar
  • soy sauce
  • fish sauce
  • whole lime cut in wedges
  • white vinegar
  • smooth peanut butter
  • sriracha
  • ground ginger
  • black pepper

HOW TO MAKE SPICY CHICKEN PAD THAI:

Add all sauce ingredients to a small bowl then squeeze in one wedge of lime in (or to taste). Whisk to combine then set aside.

Spicy Chicken Pad Thai - easy 30 minute recipe - A Gouda Life (3)

Boil water then cook rice noodles according to package instructions (don’t overcook) gently separating noodles with tongs.

Spicy Chicken Pad Thai - easy 30 minute recipe - A Gouda Life (4)

Rinse in cold water, drain then drizzle one tablespoon of oil over the top.

Toss and set aside.

Spicy Chicken Pad Thai - easy 30 minute recipe - A Gouda Life (5)

In the same pot heat one tablespoon of oil then add bite size chicken.

Season with salt and pepper then cook 3-4 minutes over medium to medium-high heat until cooked through then remove from the pot.

Spicy Chicken Pad Thai - easy 30 minute recipe - A Gouda Life (6)

To the same pot, add another tablespoon of oil then drop in the bell peppers and carrots.

Season with salt and pepper then cook 2 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

Reduce heat to low, drop in the minced garlic and cook 1 minute stirring constantly so it doesn’t burn.

Spicy Chicken Pad Thai - easy 30 minute recipe - A Gouda Life (7)

Add the egg to a small bowl. Whisk to combine then pour over the vegetables cooking until completely scrambled.

Spicy Chicken Pad Thai - easy 30 minute recipe - A Gouda Life (8)

Return the noodles and chicken to the pot, add bean sprouts and cilantro then pour the sauce over the top.

Spicy Chicken Pad Thai - easy 30 minute recipe - A Gouda Life (9)

Stir to combine well over low heat for 1-2 minutes. Taste and adjust for seasoning.

Spicy Chicken Pad Thai - easy 30 minute recipe - A Gouda Life (10)

To serve, garnish with slivered green onions, chopped peanuts and lime wedges then serve right away.

WHAT TO DO WITH LEFTOVERS PAD THAI:

Leftover Pad Thai makes a tasty lunch the next day. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.

VARIATIONS:

  • Try different fresh vegetables like snow peas, green beans or mushrooms.
  • Add different proteins such as shrimp (for Shrimp Pad Thai), pork or beef.
  • This recipe is for medium heat level.Like it spicier? Add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
  • Thai Basil can be used in place of cilantro.
  • Use fresh ginger instead of ground.

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Spicy Chicken Pad Thai - easy 30 minute recipe - A Gouda Life (15)

Spicy Chicken Pad Thai

A Gouda Life

Spicy Chicken Pad Thai – one pot recipe in under 30 minutes. Rice noodles, chicken, crisp vegetables and bean sprouts in a spicy Thai sauce.

5 from 5 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Asian

Servings 4

Calories

Ingredients

Pad Thai Ingredients:

  • 4 ounces rice noodles
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut in bite size pieces
  • 1/2 large red bell pepper thinly sliced
  • 1 cup carrots cut in match sticks
  • 1 cup bean sprouts drained of any liquid
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 2 green onions sliced thin diagonally
  • 1/4 cup unsalted peanuts rough chopped
  • 3 tablespoons cilantro diced

Sauce Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar packed
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 whole lime cut in wedges
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha or more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Add all sauce ingredients to a small bowl squeezing 1 wedge of lime in (or to taste). Whisk to combine then set aside.

  • Boil water then cook rice noodles according to package instructions without overcooking, gently separating noodles with tongs. Rinse in cold water, drain then toss in one tablespoon of oil and set aside.

  • In the same pot heat one tablespoon of oil then add bite size pieces of chicken. Season with salt and pepper then cook 3-4 minutes over medium-medium-high heat until cooked through then remove from the pot.

  • To the same pot, add the remaining olive oil then drop in the bell peppers and carrots. Season with salt and pepper then cook 2 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

  • Reduce heat then drop in the minced garlic and cook 1 minute stirring constantly so it doesn't burn.

  • Add the egg to a small bowl. Whisk to combine then pour over the vegetables cooking until completely scrambled.

  • Return the noodles and chicken to the pot, add bean sprouts (drained of their can liquid) and 2 tablespoons of cilantro then pour the sauce over the top. Stir to combine well over low heat for 1-2 minutes. Taste and adjust for seasoning.

  • Garnish with slivered green onions, chopped peanuts, the rest of the cilantro and lime wedges then serve right away.

  • If you tried this recipe, don't forget to leave a COMMENT and STAR RATING!

Keyword pad thai, chicken pad thai, spicy chicken pad thai, easy pad thai

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Spicy Chicken Pad Thai - easy 30 minute recipe - A Gouda Life (2024)

FAQs

What makes pad thai spicy? ›

Meanwhile, ingredients like chili peppers, ginger, garlic, and peppercorn give Thai food the tingling spicy sensation that people love.

Why is my pad thai bland? ›

Add enough sauce: In addition to having a great pad Thai sauce, it's important to get the sauce to noodle ratio just right. Because no matter how good your sauce is, if you don't add enough of it, you're going to end up with bland noodles. And there's nothing worse than a bland pad Thai.

How healthy is pad thai? ›

It can definitely be a part of a balanced, well-rounded diet. While pad thai includes many nutritious ingredients, its sodium content is considerably high. You can reduce its sodium by requesting the eatery go easy on the sauce and salt-contributing condiments.

How do you spice up bland pad thai? ›

Use tofu, and substitute the fish sauce for more soy sauce. Peanut Butter: In my recipe, I add a big scoop of peanut butter to the sauce because I think it gives the whole dish an added creaminess and boost of flavor.

What gives Pad Thai its taste? ›

Pad Thai Sauce is made with fish sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar and tamarind. Tamarind is the ingredient that is the heart and soul of Pad Thai sauce, giving the sauce the sour flavour that Pad Thai is known for. It's an ingredient used in South East Asian cooking, like this Malaysian Beef Rendang.

What makes Pad Thai taste so good? ›

If it's only made of those ingredients, what then makes it so unique? A Pad Thai has tamarind, fish sauce, garlic, dried shrimp, palm sugar, and red chili pepper. These simple ingredients make Pad Thai a bowl of five tastes—salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami.

Why does Pad Thai hurt my stomach? ›

There are chilis in a lot of the food here so if your stomach is not used to that, it can cause a pretty good stomach ache. It is definitely not to the extent of getting food poisoning but can give you a run for your money.

Should Pad Thai be wet or dry? ›

Real pad thai should be:

Stir-fried in a hot wok, so the noodles come out dry with a little smokiness, not wet.

How do you thicken Pad Thai? ›

In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water until smooth to make a slurry (see note). Whisk the slurry into the tamarind sauce and reduce the heat to low. Simmer, whisking continuously, for 2 minutes. As the cornstarch cooks, it will thicken up the sauce.

What is unhealthy in Thai food? ›

Traditional Thai cuisine is quite healthy and largely based on vegetables, lean proteins, and fresh herbs and spices. Certain Thai dishes are high in refined carbs and may contain deep-fried foods, added sugar, or high amounts of salt.

Can I eat Pad Thai while losing weight? ›

Stir Fried Noodle and rice dishes: Most stir-fried noodle and rice dishes contain oil and simple carbohydrates which are bad for weight loss. And sorry for Pad Thai lovers, you have to cross it out from your favorite Thai food while trying to manage your weight loss diet.

What is the healthiest Thai dish to order? ›

Top 10 healthiest Thai food dishes you can order
  • PAPAYA SALAD. ...
  • CHICKEN SATAY SKEWERS. ...
  • TOFU GREEN CURRY WITH EXTRA VEGETABLES. ...
  • THAI BEEF SALAD. ...
  • RICE PAPER ROLLS. ...
  • TOM YUM SOUP. ...
  • JUNGLE CURRY. ...
  • STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES.
Jun 10, 2022

What can I use instead of tamarind paste in Pad Thai? ›

TAMARIND SUBSTITUTION

Although ketchup is a common replacement for tamarind paste, we prefer this tasty mixture: 1/4 cup (50 mL) tomato paste, 2 tbsp (30 mL) rice vinegar or freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice, 2 tbsp (30 mL) Worcestershire, 2 garlic cloves, minced, 1 tbsp (15 mL) brown sugar and 1 tbsp (15 mL) water.

What seasoning makes Thai food spicy? ›

Many of Thailand's most popular dishes contain one, if not several ingredients that make them spicy. This stinging, tingling sensation is most often caused by a combination of chili peppers, ginger, garlic, and peppercorn. Chili peppers are popular around the world.

What seasonings go in Thai? ›

Lemongrass, galangal, lime (rind and leaves), coriander leaves, sweet Thai basil leaves and garlic are used in one way or another is all Thai dishes. Other spices, including cardamom, nutmeg, cumin and coriander seeds are added to some pastes.

Is Pad Thai supposed to be spicy? ›

Here's the lowdown on everyone's favourite noodle dish, Pad Thai, which hits the perfect combination of flavour notes. Sweet and spicy with a hint of tangy tamarind, this noodle stir-fry may be Thailand's national dish but it's enjoyed enthusiastically all around the world.

Is Pad Thai usually spicy? ›

You can make it in different ways, and you'll find variations from restaurant to restaurant and cook to cook, as it is with a lot of Thai food. It isn't traditionally spicy, but I like to give my own spicy spin to the dish. The key to a good Pad Thai recipe, to me, is the fresh ingredients.

Why are Thai foods spicy? ›

This defining feature of Thai cuisine is achieved by the extensive use of chili peppers, which not only contribute a great deal of spiciness to dishes but also provide health benefits for the digestive system by decreasing parasites and bacteria.

Is Pad Thai supposed to be sweet or spicy? ›

A perfectly cooked pad Thai should have a balance of flavors — tangy, sweet, spicy and salty, Trang says. This comes from a blend of tamarind paste, palm sugar, crushed red chili peppers and fish sauce.

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