This Thai peanut chicken pasta salad recipe is packed with crunchy vegetables and refreshing flavors. It’s a quick and easy healthy dish that’s perfect for meal prep, customizable, and ready in less than 30 minutes!
Don’t miss out on my Thai peanut sauce and the super delicious peanut butter ramen if you love all things creamy and nutty!
Recipe highlights
- Light and refreshing: Perfect for summer, lunch, or a light dinner.
- Meal prep friendly: Ideal for prepping ahead and storing for tomorrow’s meal.
- Balanced flavors: Combines creamy, nutty, sweet, and savory.
- Quick and easy: Ready to serve in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.
- Customizable: Easily add your favorite veggies and pasta to suit your taste.
- Healthy: Packed with fresh vegetables and lean chicken, using honey as a healthy alternative to granulated sugar.
- Features the best creamy peanut dressing ever!
Ingredient Notes
You’ll find all the ingredients you need at your local Asian market or grocery store. For precise amounts, don’t forget to check the recipe card at the bottom of this post!
For the peanut dressing
- Peanut butter
- Water
- Honey
- Light soy sauce
- Fish sauce – A staple in Thai cuisine for its umami flavor. Get it on Amazon.
- Chile sauce – You can use store-bought sauce or use my recipe for making your own hot sauce.
For the pasta
- Roasted peanuts
- Sesame oil
- Chicken – You can use chicken breasts, rotisserie chicken, or even chicken thighs.
- Pasta – I used penne, but you can also try rotini, fusilli, or bowtie pasta.
- Vegetables – I used tomatoes, cucumber, and carrot. Feel free to customize this Thai chicken peanut pasta salad with your favorite vegetables like bell peppers, green onions, and red cabbage.
How to make Thai pasta salad
Step 1: In a saucepan over low heat, combine peanut butter, water, fish sauce, light soy sauce, honey, and chili sauce. Stir until everything is smooth and creamy, then turn off the heat.
Step 2: Cook the penne pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside.
Step 3: While the pasta cooks, grill the chicken cubes in a grill pan until fully cooked.
Step 4: Toss the drained pasta with sesame oil to coat evenly.
Step 5: Pour the peanut dressing over the pasta and toss until well combined.
Step 6: Finally, mix in the sliced vegetables, grilled chicken, and roasted peanuts. Garnish with freshly chopped coriander or any herbs you like. Serve and enjoy!
Storage and make ahead tips
- Storing: Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The vegetables will stay crunchy, and the flavors will continue to develop.
- Make ahead: This Thai peanut chicken pasta salad is perfect for meal prep! You can prepare everything ahead of time and store the salad and dressing separately to keep the veggies crisp. Just toss it all together before serving for the freshest flavor.
More Thai chicken salad recipes to try!
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Thai Peanut Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe
This Thai peanut chicken pasta salad recipe is loaded with crunchy vegetables, vibrant flavors, and a creamy peanut dressing that’s irresistible!
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In a saucepan over low heat, combine peanut butter, water, fish sauce, light soy sauce, honey, and chili sauce. Stir until everything is smooth and creamy, then turn off the heat.
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Cook the penne pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside.
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While the pasta cooks, grill the chicken cubes in a grill pan until fully cooked.
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Toss the drained pasta with sesame oil to coat evenly.
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Pour the peanut dressing over the pasta and toss until well combined.
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Finally, mix in the sliced vegetables, grilled chicken, and roasted peanuts. Garnish with freshly chopped coriander or any herbs you like. Serve and enjoy!
- Use the nutrition card in this recipe as a guideline.
- Chicken – You can use chicken breasts, rotisserie chicken, or even chicken thighs.
- Pasta – I used penne, but you can also try rotini, fusilli, or bowtie pasta.
Calories: 676kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 1472mg | Potassium: 685mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 5712IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 3mg