Chicken Pad Thai: A Weeknight Wonder with a Vegan Option

Pad Thai used to be a regular on our weekly menu. It’s quick to make, yet packs in so much flavor and nutrition. And thanks to this Chicken Pad Thai recipe. it’s back on rotation in our household. This is a very versatile version, so I’ve included easy options for vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free.

This Chicken Pad Thai recipe with photo was shared with us by my friend Kristina of Love & Zest. Kristina is a sports dietitian, food photographer, mom and NFL agent’s wife living in beautiful Central Florida. Her blog isn’t 100% dairy free, but it has many dairy-free recipes and tons of inspiration. You can also find Kristina on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Special Diet Notes: Chicken Pad Thai

By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, optionally gluten-free, and tree nut-free. I’ve also included a full vegan option.

For soy-free chicken pad thai, substitute coconut aminos for the soy sauce. Salt, to taste, if needed. The aminos are usually a little sweeter and quite a bit lower in salt than soy sauce or tamari.

For peanut-free chicken pad thai, substitute sunflower seed butter (or another peanut butter alternative of choice) for the peanut butter and omit the peanuts. If you don’t have one handy, whisk 2 teaspoons cold water, 1 teaspoon flavorful, preferably Asian-inspired oil (like sesame), and 1/2 teaspoon non-GMO cornstarch or arrowroot starch into the sauce until smooth. Bubble the sauce for a minute in a separate saucepan to slightly thicken before adding it to the rest of your ingredients.

Kristina LaRue RD of Love & Zest

Weeknight Chicken Pad Thai (with Vegan Option)

5 from 2 votes

This easy dinner is full of flavor! See the notes above this recipe for peanut-free and soy-free options, and the one below for a vegan option.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 295

Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast see below for Vegan Option
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¼ cup water
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce or gluten-free tamari
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce
• 1 medium zucchini spiralized or julienned (about 1 cup)
• 2 medium carrots spiralized or julienned (about 1 cup)
• 1 cup cooked pad thai stir-fry noodles
• 1 cup bean sprouts
• 1 cup thinly sliced cabbage
• ¼ cup unsalted peanuts crushed
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• 1 lime quartered

Method

 

1. Lightly season the chicken with salt and pepper.
2. Heat the oil in a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until it is fully cooked through and the juices are clear.
3. Remove the chicken from pan and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the water, vinegar, soy sauce, peanut butter, honey, and chili garlic sauce.
5. Return the sliced chicken to your skillet over low heat. Add the zucchini, carrots, and rice noodles. Pour the sauce over top and toss to coat. Add the bean sprouts and cabbage, and toss to coat.
6. Divide the pad thai between 4 plates and garnish each serving with crushed peanuts and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing on more flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 295kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 27gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 792mgFiber: 4gSugar: 9g

Notes

Vegan Option: This pad thai recipe is made without fish sauce, so it's easy to adapt for strictly vegan needs. Substitute 1 (16-ounce) package extra-firm tofu for the chicken. Dice it into 3/4-inch cubes before sauteing it in the olive oil until lightly golden on all sides. Also substitute agave nectar or your favorite vegan sweetener for the honey.

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