Thai-inspired peanut chicken pasta (Printable Version)

Delightful balance of chicken, vegetables, and peanut-lime dressing with cold noodles for a refreshing meal.

# The Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Protein & Pasta

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded (approximately 10.5 oz)
02 - 10.5 oz spaghetti or rice noodles

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
04 - 1 cup shredded carrots
05 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
06 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
07 - 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
08 - 1 cucumber, julienned (optional)

→ Peanut Lime Dressing

09 - 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
10 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
11 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
12 - 2 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 lime)
13 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
14 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
15 - 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
16 - 1 clove garlic, minced
17 - 2 to 3 tablespoons warm water (to thin dressing as needed)
18 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes or Sriracha (optional)

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, honey or maple syrup, lime juice, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and chili flakes if used. Add warm water gradually until smooth and pourable.
03 - Add cooked noodles, shredded chicken, sliced bell pepper, shredded carrots, spring onions, and julienned cucumber if desired into the bowl with the dressing.
04 - Pour dressing over all ingredients and toss gently to ensure even coating.
05 - Sprinkle chopped cilantro and roasted peanuts on top.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to enhance flavors.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It comes together faster than ordering takeout, yet tastes like you labored over it for hours.
  • The peanut lime sauce is genuinely addictive, and you'll find yourself making extra to drizzle on everything.
  • Cold noodles mean you can prep this ahead and actually enjoy your guests instead of sweating in the kitchen.
02 -
  • The dressing will thicken slightly as it sits, so make it a touch looser than you think it should be; you can always add more peanut butter if it's too thin, but too thick is harder to fix.
  • Don't let this sit for more than a couple of hours or the noodles will start to absorb all the liquid and turn heavy; it's best served within two hours or you'll lose that light, refreshing quality.
03 -
  • Toast the peanuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for a few minutes before chopping them; it deepens their flavor and makes them taste more intentional.
  • Squeeze your lime juice and let it sit in the dressing while you prep everything else, as the acidity softens and mellows into something more nuanced than sharp.
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