Description
A quick and flavorful homemade Pad Thai recipe made with rice noodles, fresh vegetables, and your choice of chicken or shrimp. The sweet, savory, and tangy sauce ties it all together for a satisfying dinner in just 35 minutes.
Ingredients
- 10 oz Thai rice noodles
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, or 1 lb extra large shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup packed dark-brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 Tbsp lime juice
- 1 Tbsp fish sauce (or soy sauce substitute)
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
- 1 1/2 cups matchstick carrots
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 5 green onions (whites minced, greens sliced into 1-inch pieces)
- 2 cups bean sprouts
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup unsalted peanuts, chopped
- 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
- Red pepper flakes and sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Cook rice noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In a bowl, whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, and fish sauce. Set aside.
- Heat vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 6 minutes until done, or cook shrimp 1 1/2 minutes per side until opaque. Transfer to a plate.
- In the same pan, sauté red bell pepper and carrots for 1–2 minutes. Add garlic, green onions, and bean sprouts, cooking 1 more minute.
- Push veggies to one side, crack in eggs, and scramble until set.
- Add cooked noodles, chicken or shrimp, and sauce. Toss well to combine and cook for 1–2 minutes.
- Serve topped with chopped peanuts, cilantro, and optional red pepper flakes or sesame seeds.
Notes
- Swap chicken or shrimp with crispy tofu for a vegetarian version.
- Stir in sriracha or chili garlic sauce for extra spice.
- Add zucchini noodles or shredded cabbage for more veggies.
- Use tamarind paste instead of vinegar and lime for authentic flavor.
- For gluten-free, use gluten-free soy sauce and rice noodles.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stir-Frying
- Cuisine: Thai-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 880mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 56g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
