Easy Shrimp Pad Thai

Bold, flavorful, and packed with a nutty punch and just a kick of spice, Shrimp Pad Thai is one of the most popular Thai dishes around for a delicious reason. ​

Make it a take-out-at-home night, by pairing this sweet and savory noodle dish with homemade lettuce wraps and some Crispy Chicken Egg Rolls.

Easy Shrimp Pad Thai Recipe

This incredible dish has a tangy sauce that packs all five flavor profiles—sweet, salty, savory, sour, and umami—in one dish. This is your best option for those nights when you can’t quite decide what dish you want. 

What is Pad Thai? 

Pad Thai is a traditional street food in Thailand made with chewy rice noodles and soaked in a dreamy peanut sauce.

Fun Fact: This dish was brought to the United States after World War II when immigrants from Thailand started immigrating here! 

Ingredients For Shrimp Pad Thai

Fresh ingredients from your local Asian grocery stores, like H Mart, can take this from delicious to authentic. But no worries if you don’t have one nearby or can’t make it out for a special trip, this dish will make your mouth water no matter where your ingredients are from. 

Sauce Ingredients:

• Peanut Butter – smooth works best
• Soy Sauce – low sodium
• Water – To thin the sauce. 
• Sriracha – Spicy, garlicky, sweet, and found in almost every grocery store.

Pad Thai Ingredients:

• Sesame Oil – toasted
• Raw Shrimp – thawed, peeled and tails removed
• Garlic
• Ginger – freshly grated is best
• Green Onion: 
• Cilantro
• Peanuts – salted and chopped
• Lime Wedges
• Linguine pasta
• Broccoli
• Peas – frozen peas work best for this recipe

How to Make the Shrimp Pad Thai

Boil Water

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook noodles according to package directions. Cut broccoli into bite-size pieces, then place broccoli in peas in a large bowl and set aside.

Prepare Sauce

In a medium bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, hot water, and Sriracha until smooth. Set aside. 

Flash Cook Vegetables

Place a colander over your bowl of vegetables, then drain your pasta noodles into the colander. Let the veggies sit in the hot water as you continue the cooking process—this parboil-adjacent technique allows for the veggies to cook quickly and ensures a perfect texture in the final dish. 

Stir Fry

In a large wok or large nonstick pan, heat the sesame oil until shimmering. Add shrimp to the wok and cook for 2-3 minutes per side or until the shrimp turn pink and begin to curl. Stir in the garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant. Add the sauce, drained noodles, and vegetables to the pan, stirring quickly and coating everything with the Pad Thai sauce. 

PRO TIP: Preheat your pan so that it’s nice and hot before you add anything to it! The hotter the pan, the quicker the stir fry, and the happier the hungry family. Another tip? Use the side of the wok too! The beauty of such a large pan is the amount of surface area you have to evenly cook everything! 

Serve

Serve it hot with fresh chopped cilantro, green onions, chopped peanuts, and a lime wedge just like you’ll find at any common street food stall in Thailand! 

Mix It Up

Make this easy Shrimp Pad Thai recipe work for you by adding, subtracting (and even multiplying!) ingredients. Here are a few ideas for your own spin on this main dish. 

• Not a big fan of shrimp? Chicken and tofu soak up the flavor just as well while still giving plenty of protein. 
• Add a dash of fish sauce, tamarind paste, or rice vinegar to the sauce for depth. 
• Any fresh vegetable will do! Sliced red pepper, fresh bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, and carrots are all yummy when covered in peanut sauce. 

What if I Don’t Have Asian Markets Near Me? 

That’s totally okay! While Asian markets may have more authentic brands or ingredients, this recipe can be made with items found at any grocery store. 

Can I Make Shrimp Pad Thai Ahead of Time? 

​This dish is best served piping hot—just the way street vendors intended! Leftovers can last up to three days when stored in an airtight container. Add a little bit of water to the pan as you reheat it to keep the noodles from drying out. 

What to Serve With Shrimp Pad Thai 

I love a good homemade takeout night! Try these side dishes and let me know how it all turns out. 

• Crispy Chicken Egg Rolls
• Thai Cucumber Salad
• Thai Chicken Satay
• Teriyaki Chicken Wings

I can’t wait for you to give this Easy Shrimp Pad Thai Recipe a try. I know you’re going to love that creamy peanut sauce!

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5 from 7 votes

Easy Shrimp Pad Thai

This dish has a nutty sauce that is bold and flavorful, with just a kick of spice. You can completely customize the veg in it too, from snow peas to broccoli, and even some red bell peppers it all works.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time25 minutes mins

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Asian

Servings: 4

Calories: 530 kcal

Author: Shawn

Ingredients

• 8 oz linguine pasta
• 2 cups broccoli, cut into small pieces
• 1 cup peas, frozen, thawed

For The Sauce

• ¼ cup peanut butter, creamy
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• ¼ cup water, hot
• 1 tsp sriracha hot sauce, or more to kick up the heat

For The Pad Thai

• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 tsp garlic, minced
• 1 tsp ginger, minced
• 3 tbsp green onion, diced
• ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
• ¼ cup peanuts, finely chopped
• 4 lime wedges

Instructions

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook linguine noodles. Place the broccoli and peas in a large bowl and set aside.
• Prepare the sauce by adding peanut butter, soy sauce, hot water, and sriracha hot sauce in a bowl and whisk till smooth. Set aside for later.
• Place a colander over the bowl of broccoli and peas, then drain your pasta noodles into the colander, allowing the hot water to quickly cook the vegetables. Let sit in hot water until you're ready to add to the wok.
• In a large wok (or large skillet) heat up sesame oil on medium high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side or until they turn pink and curl in. Stir in the garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the sauce to the wok and stir quickly. Toss in the drained noodles and drained vegetables, making sure to coat everything with the peanut sauce.
• Serve warm and topped with fresh chopped cilantro, green onions, chopped peanuts, and a lime wedge.

Nutrition

Calories: 530kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 143mg | Sodium: 1194mg | Potassium: 730mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 888IU | Vitamin C: 62mg | Calcium: 137mg | Iron: 3mg

Keywords: broccoli, pad thai, peanuts, Peas, shrimp

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