Description
This Thai Peanut Chicken Pasta Salad is bursting with color, crunch, and bold flavor. Juicy chicken, tender noodles, crisp veggies, and a creamy peanut dressing come together in a chilled dish that’s perfect for meal prep, picnics, or light dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz bowtie pasta (or spaghetti, rice noodles, or your favorite pasta)
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup shredded purple cabbage
- ½ cup chopped cucumber
- ¼ cup chopped green onions
- ¼ cup chopped roasted peanuts (for garnish)
- Optional: chopped cilantro, lime wedges
For the Peanut Dressing:
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger (or ¼ tsp ground)
- Warm water, as needed to thin
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
- Make the Peanut Dressing: In a bowl or jar, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Add warm water a little at a time until the dressing reaches a pourable consistency.
- Combine: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, chicken, vegetables, and dressing. Toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Chill & Serve: Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. Top with chopped peanuts, green onions, and optional cilantro or lime wedges.
Notes
This salad holds up well in the fridge for up to 3 days. For a vegetarian version, swap chicken for edamame or tofu. Add chili garlic sauce to the dressing for a spicy kick.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad, Main Dish
- Method: Boiled, Chilled
- Cuisine: Thai-Inspired, Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1½ cups
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: thai chicken pasta salad, peanut noodle salad, cold chicken salad, meal prep salad, asian peanut pasta