Name: Healthy Chicken Pad Thai (with substitutions!)
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 lb chicken breast (or thighs, cut into thin strips); 6-8 oz rice noodles; 1-2 tbsp olive oil (for cooking the chicken); 2 large eggs (scrambled); 3 green onions chopped (save some for garnish); carrots (thinly sliced for garnish); 1/4 cup peanuts (chopped, save some for garnish); 1-2 tbsp fish sauce (*scroll up for substitutions ); 1-2 tbsp honey or brown sugar; 1 tbsp sesame oil; 3-4 tbsp low sodium soy sauce; 1 tbsp peanut butter (optional); 1 tsp ginger (optional); 1 tsp pepper; 3 garlic cloves (crushed)

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This healthy Pad Thai only takes 20 minutes and is packed with fresh veggies, lean protein, and rice noodles! It is full of flavor and perfect for busy weeknights! The ingredients are nourishing and are sure to leave you full and satisfied! I have included substitutions below so you can make this recipe even if you do not have an Asian market near you!

What is Pad Thai?

Pad Thai is a stir-fried noodle dish that is a part of traditional Thailand cuisine. Usually, the ingredients are combined in a wok to make sure all the flavors are incorporated. The dish tends to include scrambled eggs, rice noodles, fish sauce, and bean sprouts. In this recipe, I included chicken, but there are many variations that include shrimp, or even tofu. As you scroll, you will find various substitutions because I know many of these ingredients can not be found at your local grocery store and not everyone has an Asian market nearby. While this isn’t the most authentic Pad Thai recipe, it will be just as delicious with accessible ingredients.

Ingredients in Chicken Pad Thai

I love making quick and easy recipes that are also healthy and full of simple ingredients! I created this recipe to include kitchen staples you most likely already have at home and included various substitutions so you can make this dish taste exactly how you want it to! My family loves Thai food and we always order it when we go to a Thai restaurant so I decided to recreate a version that includes kitchen staples and is a fraction of the price! This one has become one of my family’s favorite recipes! You can find all the substitutions at your local grocery store. I have included everything you need to make this 20 minute healthy dinner recipe below!

Pad Thai Ingredients

Rice Noodles: First, we will use 6-8 ounce box of rice noodles for the base of this healthy Pad Thai. You could also use brown rice noodles.
Olive Oil: To cook the vegetables and chicken, add 1 Tablespoon of avocado oil to a frying pan.
Chicken breasts: We’ll be using 2 chicken breasts cut into thin strips. You could do chicken thighs also.
Eggs: We need 2 eggs for this 15 minute Pad Thai.
Carrot: Add in 1 cup of freshly grated carrots for extra veggies.
Green onion: Thinly slice 2 or 3 green onions.
Fresh cilantro: I used about 1/2 cup of freshly chopped cilantro for some extra flavor and for garnish.
Peanuts: Add in 1/4 cup of crushed peanuts. If you are nut free, just leave the peanuts out.

Sauce Ingredients

Fish Sauce: You will need about 1-2 tablespoons of fish sauce for this recipe. Traditional Pad Thai sauce includes fish sauce, however, you can also use oyster sauce, a 1:1 ratio of soy sauce and hoisin sauce, or some Worcestershire for a similar flavor and for that traditional sour component. Feel free to play around with it as well! This recipe can be customized to your liking.
Honey or Brown Sugar: Adjust the amount for your desired amount of sweetness.
Sesame Oil: Add a tablespoon of sesame oil or rice vinegar!
Pepper: I like to add some pepper but feel free to leave out!
Ginger: You can use fresh or ground!
Low-sodium soy sauce: I added 3-4 tablespoons of of low sodium soy sauce. You can use tamarind paste if you are gluten free. You can also use coconut aminos if you would like.
Fresh garlic: Just crush a few cloves into the sauce for a punch of extra flavor!
Low-Fat Peanut Butter(optional): I added a tablespoon for a smoother flavor but feel free to leave out!

Substitutions for Pad Thai

If you are missing a few ingredients, don’t worry! You can still make this healthy pad Thai! I included a list below of some substitutes you can use for your pad Thai!

Chicken: Swap out the chicken with another lean protein like shrimp or tofu.
Rice Noodles: You can also use ‘zoodles’, or zucchini noodles to make this low carb!
Sesame Oil: You could swap for olive oil or peanut oil or a splash of rice wine vinegar.
Fish Sauce: Use low sodium soy sauce, oyster sauce, or Worcestershire sauce for a similar flavor.
Peanuts: You can do cashews instead! If you have peanut allergies, you can just leave them out!
Make it Vegan: To make this vegan, omit the eggs, and use tofu and soy sauce in your pad Thai.
Make it Vegetarian: Remove the chicken and add more eggs or replace it with tofu. Also, swap the fish sauce with vegetarian Worcestershire sauce or add extra soy sauce. You can add more veggies like snow peas, bean sprouts or bell peppers. Add a splash of lime juice if you want also!

This easy chicken pad Thai recipe will have your whole family asking for more! Make sure you save these easy steps for next time, trust me, you will need them! While this isn’t a traditional pad Thai recipe, it is still delicious and highly customizable to fit everyone’s dietary needs and preferences and is a great way to add more veggies to your diet! Please leave a review below if you loved this recipe, and as always, poftă bună!