Name: Homemade Chicken Pad Thai
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: thai
Ingredients: 1 package of brown rice noodles – 4-6 ounces; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast; 1 large red bell pepper; 1 large green bell pepper; 1 cup thinly sliced or shredded carrots; 1/2 purple onion – thinly sliced; 1/2 cup chopped scallions; 3 cloves of garlic – minced; 1 tablespoon fresh ginger – minced; 2-3 large eggs; 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce; 1/4 cup light brown sugar; 2 tablespoons rice vinegar; 1 tablespoon sesame oil; 1 tablespoon fish sauce; 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice (optional); Limes; Cilantro; Dry roasted peanuts – chopped; Toasted sesame seeds

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This easy homemade Chicken Pad Thai is the perfect date night or weekday family meal that everyone will go crazy for. No need for Thai take-out with this recipe. Vibrant, crisp veggies, tender, juicy chicken and soft rice noodles all mixed in a luscious salty and sweet pad thai sauce. Gluten-Free and ready in under 30 minutes.

Cooked chicken pad thai in a serving bowl topped with lime wedges, chopped peanuts and cilantro.

I would much rather make my own Thai take-out meal then order from a restaurant since I know all of the ingredients. This homemade chicken pad thai has become a family staple and it was my mother-in-laws favorite meal.

This chicken pad thai recipe comes together quickly, in under 30 minutes, which makes it a win on busy weeknights. The wonderful combination of sautéed chicken breast, crunchy veggies, and tender rice noodles covered in a fast homemade pad thai sauce is everything! You can even change up the veggies and protein to suit everyones individual needs, which is great.

Make it lower carb by using these Butternut Squash Noodles or this Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash in place of the rice noodles in this recipe.

Why you’ll love this pad thai recipe

Loaded with healthy, nutrient-rich foods.
Perfect date-night in meal
Colorful and vibrant veggies mixed with protein packed chicken
Stores great and tastes even better the next day
Gluten-free and ready in less than 30 minutes

What is Pad Thai?

Pad Thai is a traditional thai noodle bowl mixed with veggies, some kind of protein like chicken, shrimp or tofu and mixed in with a pad thai sauce to pull it all together.

You can get pad Thai at most Thai restaurants and it is usually one of the most popular menu items. You can usually order a Vegetarian Pad Thai version or other versions like this Chicken Pad Thai. I have definitely ordered some version of pad Thai too many times to count and every time is was literally amazing.

Kitchen tongs in a pan of homemade pad thai.

Is this recipe a traditional pad thai?

This is not technically a traditional pad thai recipe but it is healthier, loaded with similar ingredients and an easy recipe that anyone can make.

I used less oil, swapped out a few non-pantry ingredients but still created a version that tastes very similar to the restaurant-style dish you would get for take-out.

What kind of protein can you use in Pad Thai?

I used chicken in this recipe but you could also use shrimp or pork. For a meat-free version you could use edamame or tofu as your protein.

Adding chopped peanuts and sesame seeds as a garnish will also bump up the protein in this dish.

Are there other vegetables I can use?

Yes, you can try adding in steamed broccoli, bok choy, snap peas, asparagus, or sliced green beans for even more veggies.

How to avoid soggy noodles

To avoid the noodles becoming soggy, I suggest cooking them 1-2 minutes less than the package instructions. Once the noodles are done, drain them and rinse them under cold water.

Ingredients needed

Ingredients for chicken pad thai with labels over each ingredient.

Boneless chicken breast – boneless skinless chicken breast works best in this recipe but boneless, skinless chicken thighs will also work.
Veggies – bell peppers, carrots, onion, scallions, carrots
Pad Thai noodles – we used pad thai noodles but brown rice noodles will also work fine.
Pad Thai sauce – soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, rice vinegar, fish sauce, lime juice.
Eggs – a few large eggs are used to add protein and creaminess to the pad thai.
Olive oil – extra virgin olive oil is used to cook the chicken and veggies.
Additional flavor enhancers – minced garlic, minced ginger, limes, cilantro, chopped peanuts and sesame seeds.

How to make this homemade chicken pad thai

Cook the noodles. Simply cook them according to the package instructions and set them aside. I used Thai Kitchen Brown Rice Noodles in this recipe.
Whip up the sauce. Add all ingredients (soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, sesame oil, fish sauce, lime) to a small mixing bowl and whisk well to combine. It is so tasty!
Cook the chicken. Heat a skillet or heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat with some olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken and cook until tender and cooked through. This takes about 6 minutes. Set aside.

4. Cook the veggies. Add the veggies to the same pan you cooked the chicken in, drizzle in a little bit more oil if needed and sauté the veggies until tender. Toss in the minced garlic and ginger and cook for 1- 2 minutes.

5. Cook the eggs. Make a well in the center of the veggies and pour in the eggs. Scramble until cooked, about 3 minutes. Then mix the eggs in with the veggies.

6. Add the chicken and noodles to the pan with the veggie and egg mixture.

Sliced bell peppers, carrots and garlic cooking in a pan.

Cooked eggs in the center of a pan with cooked veggies round it in the pan.

7. Pour the sauce in and mix it all together. Top with lime juice, chopped peanuts and freshly torn cilantro. So good!

Pour into bowls and serve with more chopped peanuts and cilantro. I also like to add in a little sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds for even more crunch.

Cooked veggie and chicken pad thai in a pan with toppings in bowls around it.

This pad Thai is a quick and easy take-out inspired recipe that is a fun weeknight meal everyone will go crazy for! Furthermore, the fact that it is loaded with veggies and protein is the extra added bonus of this amazing dish!

Make it even faster by buying pre-cut veggies in the produce section of your grocery store. It may cost you a little bit more money but it will certainly save you time.

Bowls filled with cooked pad thai with chicken topped with cilantro, chopped nuts and a lime wedge.

What to Serve with this chicken pad Thai

Looking for some healthy side dishes to serve with this recipe? Here are some additions that I am loving right now.

Add in more veggies. Such as this Easy Oven Roasted Broccoli, Roasted Butternut Squash, these Roasted Carrots, or some Garlic Green Beans
Have it with some crunchy side dishes. Such as these Baked Eggplant Fries, or these Oven Roasted chickpeas
Add a side salad. Like this Easy Kale Salad or this Simple Kale and Roasted Sweet Potato Salad.
Other Asian inspired dishes that work so great with this recipe. Such as these Easy Vegetarian Potstickers or these Veggie Egg Rolls With Crispy Tofu

Recipe Tips and Variations

To kick up the spice, add red pepper flake or minced Thai red chili peppers or a drizzle of chili sauce.
Switch up the protein and add in shrimp or sliced cooked pork.
Make this recipe vegetarian by swapping the chicken with crispy cooked tofu or tempeh. You can also check out this Easy Vegetarian Pad Thai.
Make this low-carb by leaving out the rice noodles and adding in some cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles. Butternut squash noodles would also be delicious in this recipe.
To store this recipe. Keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for 60-90 seconds or over low heat on the stove.