Best Pad Thai Recipe (30 Minutes)

ByCheryl Avrich
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The family loved it! Pad Thai is one of our favorites, but I have never been able to make it at home before finding this recipe… I rate it one of the top 10 things I have ever made a home. Karen

Think of the best pad Thai recipe as perfect Asian comfort food. The flavors and textures in this sweet, salty, umami noodle stir fry are simply delicious. Way better than take out. Make it vegetarian or not.

pad thai on black plate with chop sticks

I combined four highly-rated recipes to create this one. My goal for every recipe is to simplify to the greatest extent possible while still achieving maximum deliciousness. This one is a winner. If you love Thai food, it’s definitely worth a try.

What to expect

The recipe is a blend of authentic and western styles. It includes the 5 tastes – sweet, sour, salty, bitter and savory/umami – but replaces a few of the ingredients you would typically use to make an authentic version.

The first time you make this recipe, it will take a little longer (all recipes do the first time). The next time, I promise it will be quick and easy. I make pad Thai every week!

So skip the takeout and make the best pad Thai recipe (in our humble opinion). This easy recipe really delivers. You’ll be asking why you didn’t try it sooner.

Ingredients – tailored to your taste

Rice noodles, eggs, lime, bean sprouts, cilantro, julienne carrots/peppers, sriracha, rice vinegar, soy sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar, garlic, peanuts, peanut butter, oil, green onion, bean sprouts.
  • Noodles: If at all possible, buy rice noodles – fairly thin, less than 1/4 inch (2-3cm). Wheat noodles like spaghetti just aren’t the same in this dish, but use them in a pinch.
  • Sauce: The sauce is the main flavor of the dish. We use sriracha, rice vinegar, soy sauce, fish sauce, peanut butter and brown sugar.
  • Fish Sauce: Fish sauce is made of fermented fish and shellfish mixed with salt. When added to dishes, it does not taste like fish and it’s a staple in Thai and Vietnamese dishes. I know that fish sauce freaks some people out. I was one of those, but I’m now a convert. If you can’t eat it or don’t want to, we have listed several substitutes in the recipe notes, including for vegans and vegetarians.
  • Optional Protein: Traditional pad Thai recipes include firm tofu. Nowadays, Thai restaurants serve chicken pad Thai and shrimp pad Thai. Vegetarians will stick to the tofu of course or just veggies. Otherwise, include whatever you prefer. Even beef, BBQ shrimp (grilled) or grilled chicken.
  • Garnish: I like to use chopped peanuts, bean sprouts, extra cilantro and lime wedges.

Substitutes:

  • No bean sprouts? Leave them out or use shredded nappa cabbage
  • No red bell pepper or carrots? Leave them out or just use more of what you have. (I just use whatever veggies I have in the fridge)
  • No peanuts? Use crushed roasted almonds in a pinch. Peanuts are better though.
  • No peanut butter? Leave it out, but it does add a nice richness and flavor
  • No sriracha? Use red pepper flakes instead.
  • Need a vegetarian version: Use tofu as the protein and one of the substitutes for fish sauce.
  • We use rice vinegar, but if you have tamarind, use it – about half the amount – as it’s a key ingredient in authentic pad Thai. I sometimes use Shaoxing wine.

Step by step instructions

rice noodles reconstituted in colander
Soak noodles in warm water until soft. Drain.
pad thai sauce ingredients in measuring cup
Mix sauce ingredients together. Set aside.
peppers, carrots, green onions, garlic in pan
Sauté carrots/peppers, garlic and onions in non stick pan or wok.
scrambled egg in pan with peppers and onion
Cook beaten eggs on
all pad thai ingredients in pan with sauce on top
Add noodles, chopped cooked chicken (or tofu or shrimp), half the bean sprouts and cilantro. Pour over sauce and toss all together.
close up of pad Thai on dish
Add a squeeze of lime juice and more cilantro if you like.

What to serve with pad Thai

Although this Thai noodle recipe is a complete meal on its own, you can round it out with one of these simple side dishes: a cucumber salad with everyone’s favorite Japanese salad dressing (carrot ginger), rice paper rolls (with a twist), or a Thai mango salad.

Shortcuts

  • A really great shortcut is using cooked rotisserie or leftover chicken – instead of pan-frying fresh chicken. I do this all the time.
  • You can also buy cooked shrimp.

Make Ahead options

  1. Hour ahead: The finished Pad Thai dish is best fresh off the stove, but if necessary, you can make it up to an hour ahead then warm it up. I find the best way to reheat it is in the microwave for a minute or two. Alternatively, heat it in the skillet or wok on the stove, adding a tablespoon or two of water.
  2. Day ahead: The pad Thai sauce and any proteins you are going to use can be made a day or two ahead.
  3. Freezer option: Freeze pad Thai in a sealed container after it’s cooled. Reheat in the microwave with a splash of water.

Is this an authentic pad Thai recipe?

Partly. I wanted to make this recipe accessible to the busy home cook and with ingredients easily found at a regular grocery store. And I figured most of you don’t have ground dried shrimp, tamarind or preserved salted radishes in your cupboard 🙂

In the comparative lists below, you can see that most of the core ingredients are the same. Unless you’re a purist, I’m pretty confident you will love this Thai noodle dish.

Authentic Pad Thai

  • Rice stick noodles
  • Fish Sauce
  • Soy sauce (Thai)
  • Crushed peanuts
  • Bean sprouts
  • Egg
  • Tofu, chicken and/or shrimp
  • Other ingredients
    • Tamarind
    • Garlic chives
    • Chilis
    • Ground dried shrimp
    • Preserved salted radishes

Best Pad Thai Recipe

  • Rice stick noodles
  • Fish Sauce
  • Soy sauce (low sodium)
  • Crushed peanuts
  • Bean sprouts
  • Egg
  • Tofu, chicken and/or shrimp
  • Other ingredients
    • Rice vinegar
    • Scallions & garlic
    • Sriracha
    • Carrots and/or peppers
    • Peanut butter and cilantro (optional)
assembled pad thai in pan p1
Garnish with remaining bean sprouts, cilantro, crushed peanuts and lime wedges.

Other Thai recipes you might like

Please leave a 5 star rating ***** with a comment in the recipe card below if you like the recipe, Thanks so much!

pad thai on black plate with chop sticks
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4.95 from 54 votes

Best Pad Thai Recipe (30 Minutes)

Think of the best pad Thai recipe as perfect Asian comfort food. The flavors and textures in this sweet, salty, umami noodle stir fry are simply delicious. Way better than take out. Make it vegetarian or not.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Thai
Servings: 3
Author: Cheryl Avrich

Equipment

  • non stick skillet or wok

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces flat rice noodles less than 1/4 inch (2-3 mm) wide
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil, divided (or 1/2 tbsp if using tofu or pre-cooked shrimp, chicken)
  • 8 ounces tofu, shrimp or chicken, Note 1 Shortcut: use cubed leftover or rotisserie chicken or plain uncooked tofu.
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced (3 tsp)
  • 3 green onions, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 1/2 cup julienned carrots or red bell pepper or combination about 1/2 pepper, 1 medium carrot
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup bean sprouts

Pad Thai Sauce

  • 2 tablespoon fish sauce Note 2
  • 2 tablespoon soy sauce, low sodium
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoon rice vinegar (or 1 1/2 tbsp tamarind paste)
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha for mild-medium spicy
  • 2 tablespoon smooth peanut butter

Garnish

  • lime wedges
  • 1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts, crushed
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (or parsley)
US Measures – Metric

Instructions

  • SOFTEN/COOK NOODLES: Make noodles according to package instructions. Typically, place in bowl with hot water for 5-7 minutes or until soft. Drain and rinse under cold water if not using right away to keep them from sticking.
  • MAKE PAD THAI SAUCE: While the noodles are soaking, whisk all sauce ingredients together is a small bowl or measuring cup. Set aside.
    2 tablespoon fish sauce Note 2, 2 tablespoon soy sauce, low sodium, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon sriracha, 2 tablespoon smooth peanut butter, 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • COOK SHRIMP, TOFU OR CHICKEN (if needed): If using fresh chicken or shrimp and/or tofu, see Note 1 for cooking instructions. Tofu doesn't need to be cooked (up to you). You can use leftover, rotisserie or precooked chicken or shrimp. Just cut into small pieces – and skip this step.
  • SAUTE VEGGIES: Heat pan to medium-high heat and add 1/2 tablespoon oil. Add green onions, carrots and peppers. Saute 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds.
  • COOK EGGS: Move veggies to one side of pan. Crack eggs into pan. As they cook, break them up and scramble them with a spatula or wooden spoon into little pieces, about 1 minute.
  • ASSEMBLE PAD THAI: Add protein (chicken, shrimp or tofu), half of bean sprouts, cooked noodles (I run them under hot tap water to warm them up and sometimes cut them in half for easier stirring), half of cilantro and sauce. Toss with tongs to coat everything with sauce and heat through. If too dry, add 1-2 tbsp water. Transfer to platter and garnish with remaining bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, cilantro and lime wedges. Serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

  1. To cook protein (tofu, shrimp, chicken).
    • You can add one, two or all 3 proteins. If adding more than one, use less than 8 ounces (225g) of each to ensure adequate sauciness of pad Thai. Shortcut: use cooked chicken or shrimp, or just more veggies.
    • Tofu – traditional and vegetarian option
      • Squeeze water out of tofu, cut into small rectangles. Set aside if using uncooked which is fine. To pan fry, dust with salt and cornstarch, pan fry for a few minutes to crisp up. Set aside. 
    • Chicken
      • Easiest way: chop up a rotisserie or leftover chicken breast or thighs. 
      • For fresh chicken, slice into thin slices, sprinkle with salt and pepper, heat oil in pan to medium high and stir fry for 2-3 minutes. Set aside. 
    • Shrimp
      • For shortcut, buy cooked shrimp and cut into pieces
      • For fresh shrimp, pat dry, sprinkle with salt and pepper, heat oil in pan to medium high, and stir fry for 2-3 minutes just until they turn opaque. Set aside. 
  2. Fish Sauce substitutes
    • If you can’t eat it or don’t want to use fish sauce, here are some substitutes you can use:
      • Soy sauce or tamari (but it won’t have the same depth of taste).
      • Worcestershire (note this has anchovies in it). Use half the amount.
      • Recipe for Vegan Fish Sauce from Food52.
      • Recipe for Vegetarian Fish Sauce using mushrooms by Cook’s Illustrated.
  3. Other substitutes
    • bean sprouts: Leave them out or use shredded nappa cabbage
    • peanuts: Use crushed roasted almonds in a pinch. Peanuts are better though.
    • vegetarian version? Use tofu and eggs for protein and one of the fish sauce substitutes. 
    • peanut butter: leave it out, but it does add a nice richness and flavor
    • red pepper or carrots: Use whatever veggies you have e.g. bok choy, celery, baby spinach, zucchini, mushroooms.
  4. Make Ahead options
    1. Day ahead: The pad Thai sauce and any proteins you are going to use can be made a day or two ahead.
    2. Hour ahead: The finished Pad Thai dish is best fresh off the stove, but if necessary, you can make it up to an hour ahead then warm it up. I find the best way to reheat it is in the microwave for a minute or two. Alternatively, heat it in the skillet or wok on the stove, adding a tablespoon or two of water.
    3. Freezer option: Freeze pad Thai in a sealed container after it’s cooled. Reheat in the microwave with a splash of water.
 
Nutrition values are estimates and will depend on type of proteins used, vegetables, how much garnish, etc. 

Nutrition

Calories: 639kcal | Carbohydrates: 73g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 1815mg | Potassium: 690mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 11076IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 199mg | Iron: 4mg
Tried this recipe?We’d love you to rate it above under ‘rate this recipe’ or in the comment section below. Thanks!

This recipe was inspired by 4 others  – My Modern Cookery, Tastes Better from Scratch, Feasting at Home and Cooking Classy. 

 

4.95 from 54 votes (38 ratings without comment)

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33 Comments

  4. I made this last night and it was delicious! It’s restaurant quality and now that I know I can make a delicious Pad Thai, I will NOT be ordering take out. Thanks to the mom and daughter duo!

    Reply