This healthy Chicken Pad Thai isn’t like anything you’ve had before. Made with cashew butter for the creaminess, coconut aminos, and fish sauce for the umami flavor, and spaghetti squash for a gluten-free and low-carb twist, this recipe has become a fans’ favorite in the SKS community. See their Comments below! You will love it too!
Two plates of pad thai noodles garnished with bean sprouts, lime, and green onion. There are two pairs of chopsticks on the side.

What Makes this Chicken Pad Thai Authentic

Besides my Crockpot Thai Curry Chicken, one of our favorite dishes has to be this Chicken Pad Thai Noodles!

Tom and I were hooked ever since we were in Thailand for our honeymoon. I knew I had to find a way to make a healthy version of this without compromising any flavor.

Meet the best Whole30 Chicken Pad Thai recipe possible! I’m so excited to share it with you guys!

Authentic Pad Thai flavor comes from a few classic ingredients. A few of these ingredients include:

  1. Green onion
  2. Ginger
  3. Garlic
  4. Sesame oil
  5. Fish sauce (I used this fish sauce that is sugar-free and Whole30 friendly)

These ingredients will ensure that you have a strong foundation of authentic classic Pad Thai flavors. Then you can easily make substitutions to make a Whole30 or other healthy versions of this amazing dish.

Whole30 Pad Thai Noodles Ingredients 

There are carrots, bean sprouts, lean meat, red bell pepper, garlic ginger and green onion.

First, Instead of soy sauce for this recipe, I used coconut Aminos, which is a gluten-free, alternative to soy sauce that’s made from the fermented sap of coconut palm.

It is also much lower in sodium and has a lower glycemic index than soy sauce. 

Then, to keep this recipe Whole30 compliant, I used cashew butter for the sauce instead of peanut butter.

Cashew butter is able to provide a nutty, creamy element that is most similar to peanuts than any other nut.

Lastly, the other major Whole30 swap I made was using spaghetti squash noodles instead of the traditional rice noodles.

Check out my post on how to make spaghetti squash if you’re not sure how to prepare them. They are a great choice for this recipe because the flavor pairs nicely with cashews.

However, you could use zoodles (zucchini noodles) or sweet potato noodles as well. 

A pan of Pad thai noodles made with spaghetti Squash. There are a pair of chopsticks on the side of the pan.

The rest of the ingredients you will need for this dish are:

  1. Cashew butter
  2. Lime juice
  3. Chicken
  4. Egg
  5. Carrot
  6. Bean sprouts
  7. Red bell pepper (optional, for the color)

I always like to include the red bell pepper because it makes the dish look pretty, and in the meantime, adds great crunch and flavor!

Instructions for Chicken Pad Thai with Spaghetti Squash

Thin slice Chicken thighs or breast into strips. In a bowl, marinate the chicken with salt *, coconut aminos, ½ tsp ground ginger.
Let the chicken marinate for at least 20 minutes.
Heat 1 -2 tbsp oil in a non-stick skillet. Add chicken to the pan to saute.
Stir occasionally until the sides of the chicken are golden brown and the middle is cooked through.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in the same pan, and then add the beaten eggs.
Give it a few gentle stirs and remove it from the pan (while it is still runny on top as shown). Set aside.
Heat 1 – 2 tbsp of oil on medium to high heat. Once shimmering, turn the heat down to medium and add the white part of the chopped green onion and sauté for 20 – 30 seconds or until fragrant.
Add sliced carrots
Add sliced red bell pepper to the carrots and green onion.
Add minced garlic to the veggies and let it cook for a few minutes until slightly soft.
Add cooked chicken to the cooked veggies.
Add cooked eggs to the same pan.
Add the pad thai sauce into the same pan with vegetables and protein.
Use a spatula to break the egg into pieces and combine all the ingredients with the sauce together.
Remove the pan from heat and add in the prepared spaghetti squash.
Combine all the ingredients gently in the pan. Serve with fresh lime, cashews and green part of the chopped onion.

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How to Make the Best Chicken Pad Thai

A Whole30 friendly Healthy Pad Thai Noodles can taste like the original version too!

With these tips below, you are sure to nail that authentic flavor every time.

Tips to Make the Best Chicken Pad Thai 

1. thinly slice the chicken.

Chicken that is cut thin cooks faster and absorbs more flavor.

2. Add fresh ingredients to the equation.

Fresh lime and green onions sprinkled on top give it a perfect balance.

3. Make sure not to overcook the carrots and beansprouts

The vegetables provide a delicate crunch to the soft spaghetti squash (or whatever noodles you like to use).

4. Crush some cashews to add on top right before serving.

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Why I Love This authentic Pad Thai Recipe

A plate of Chicken Pad Thai Noodles with crushed cashews on top. There are some fresh lime on the side. A pair of chopsticks and another plate in the back.

Thai food always brings back memories of Tom and me on our honeymoon, so having a healthy, Whole30 go-to recipe allows me to indulge in this dish whenever I’d like.

Moreover, this dish is a great recipe for meal prep. Try double up the recipe (without the noodles) and you can freeze it.

Then you will have a delicious pad thai sauce waiting fo you to throw a healthy and delicious meal together quickly.

How to Store Pad Thai Noodles

If (and that’s a big if!) you have any leftovers, it’s best to store them in an air-tight container in the fridge.

For best results, do not mix in the spaghetti squash until you are ready to serve. This will prevent the spaghetti squash from getting too mushy. 

Let me know if you have any questions before cooking, or if you have tried it, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below!

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR CREATIONS! YOU CAN USE “TRIED IT” ON PINTEREST OR SHARE ON INSTAGRAM BY TAGGING #SHUANGYSEATS

A pair of chopsticks are holding up some spaghetti squash pad thai.

A pair of chopsticks are holding up some spaghetti squash pad thai.

Get the recipe:Chicken Pad Thai {Whole30}

This Whole30-friendly healthy Chicken Pad Thai recipe with spaghetti squash is loaded with authentic flavors. Not only is it Whole30 approved, but it’s paleo, gluten-free, and low carb as well.
4.53 stars (96 reviews)

Ingredients

Pad Thai and Noodles

  • 1 Spaghetti Squash
  • 1 lb chicken breast or chicken thighs, thinly sliced
  • 3 tbsp avocado oil, for sautéing
  • 2 green onions, scallion – (chopped, separate the white and green part)
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 2 eggs, whisked
  • 1 cup carrots, thinly sliced
  • 1/3 cup red bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced
  • 3 tbsp coconut aminos, marinate the chicken
  • Salt to taste *
  • A handful of bean sprouts, for garnish

Pad Thai Sauce

Garnish

  • 1/4 cup cashews, crushed
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges
  • the green part of the 2 green onion, scallion

Instructions 

  • Fork one whole cooked spaghetti squash into “noodles” and set aside. (See this post for “How to Make Spaghetti Squash”)
  • Thin slice Chicken thighs or breast into strips. In a bowl, marinate the chicken with salt *, coconut aminos, ½ tsp ground ginger.
    A bowl of chicken breast marinated in coconut aminos.
  • While the chicken marinates, make the Pad Thai sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients.
    Pad thai sauce whisked together in a mixing glass bowl.
  • Heat 1 -2 tbsp oil in a non-stick skillet, add chicken. Stir occasionally until cooked through – (For thinly cut chicken, this takes approx. 5 minutes). Remove chicken from the pan. Set aside.
  • In a bowl, beat up 2 eggs. Heat 1 tbsp oil in the same pan (wipe out first if there are chicken pieces stuck to the pan), and then add the beaten eggs. Give it a quick stir and remove from the pan (while it is still runny on top). Set aside.
  • Heat 1 – 2 tbsp oil on medium heat. Once shimmering, Add the white part of chopped green onion and sauté until slightly brown (~ 30 sec ). Add carrots, red pepper, ginger, and garlic. Cook for another minute.
  • Add chicken and egg back to the skillet*. Use a spatula to break up the eggs into small pieces. Add the Pad Thai sauce and cook for about 30 seconds. Stir to combine all the ingredients.
  • Remove from the heat. Add prepared spaghetti squash to the pan and gently mix together. **
  • Garnish with fresh lime, crushed cashews, the green part of the chopped green onions, bean sprouts and crushed red pepper flakes.

Notes

  1. *If you have salted the chicken enough, taste the pad thai mixture before adding more salt. Since the coconut aminos is salty itself, you will want to be gentle when adding extra salt.
  2. **You can also serve the spaghetti squash separately on a plate and add the Pad Thai Mixture on top.
  3. Store in air-tight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Serving: 1g, Calories: 426kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 34g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g, Cholesterol: 154mg, Sodium: 704mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 11g

The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe, which may vary.