Chicken Pad Thai Tacos: The Ultimate Fusion Recipe
If you’re a fan of bold, exciting fusion recipes that are both fun and incredibly flavorful, prepare to be amazed by these Chicken Pad Thai Tacos! This recipe takes all the beloved elements of classic Pad Thai – the savory-sweet sauce, tender chicken, and a vibrant mix of fresh vegetables – and cleverly wraps them in a warm tortilla for a delightful, easy-to-eat twist. Not only are these tacos bursting with authentic Thai-inspired flavors, but they’re also quick and easy to prepare, making them the perfect weeknight dinner solution. Get ready to elevate your taco game with this irresistible fusion creation!
Why You’ll Absolutely Love These Pad Thai Tacos
Let’s be honest, who doesn’t appreciate a fantastic fusion recipe? The magic of taking two distinct cuisines and merging them into something completely new, yet comfortably familiar, is an exciting way to spice things up in your kitchen. After creating my popular Chicken Caesar Smash Tacos, I felt inspired to explore even more innovative smash taco recipes, and that’s where the idea for these sensational Chicken Pad Thai Tacos was born!
After rigorous testing and recipe refinement, I can confidently say that you will adore this recipe, and here’s why:
- Explosive Flavor: The immediate reaction from my neighbors after they taste tested them was, “Wow, the flavor is incredible!”
- Effortless to Prepare: This tacos deliver big flavor without a complicated recipe. You can easily whip them up in 30 minutes.
- The Best of Both Worlds: The boldness of Pad Thai combined with the fun, handheld ease of tacos makes this an exciting meal, perfect for anyone bored of the same old dinners!
Key Ingredients for Authentic Pad Thai Tacos
Let’s dive into the essential ingredients that make these Pad Thai Tacos a culinary masterpiece. I’ll explain each ingredient’s role in the recipe, along with some fantastic substitution options to suit your preferences and dietary needs. For the complete list of ingredient measurements, be sure to check out the detailed recipe card at the end of this post.
- Ground Chicken: You can substitute with ground pork or ground turkey.
- Thai Seasoning: This homemade Thai seasoning mix is easy to mix up in 5 minutes and adds bold flavors. If you don’t have all of the ingredients for the seasoning on hand, you can simply use a combination of garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and red pepper flakes (if you want some heat) to season the chicken.
- Street Taco Flour Tortillas: You’ll want to pick up “street taco” tortillas that are 4.5 inches wide, or “fajita size” tortillas that are 6 inches wide. Both will work for this recipe, but you don’t want anything larger.
- Bean Sprouts, Green Onions, Shredded Carrots, Shredded Cabbage, and Red Bell Peppers: The combination of all of these vegetables gives the tacos a delicious and unique texture.
- Pad Thai Sauce (Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil, Peanut Butter, Brown Sugar, Lime Juice, Sriracha, and Thai Red Curry Paste): Combining these ingredients will create the incredible pad thai sauce.
- Fresh Cilantro and Chopped Peanuts: Finish by garnishing the tacos with bright flavors and more crunch.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Chicken Pad Thai Tacos
To ensure your success in recreating this recipe at home, I’ve included detailed step-by-step photos and clear instructions. For the complete, comprehensive recipe instructions, simply scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Let’s get cooking!
- Combine the Veggies: Add bean sprouts, diced green onions, shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, and sliced bell peppers to a large bowl. Toss the vegetables together to ensure an even distribution.
- Make the Pad Thai Sauce: In a small mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, sesame oil, peanut butter, brown sugar, lime juice, Sriracha, and red curry paste. You can either whisk all of the ingredients together thoroughly or shake them up in a mason jar for easy mixing and storage.
- Prep the Tacos: Combine ground chicken and Thai seasoning. Mix well to ensure the seasoning is evenly distributed throughout the chicken. Divide the mixture into 12 small balls.
- Cook the Tacos: Heat a non-stick pan or a griddle pan on the stove over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, carefully add each tortilla, meat-side down, to the pan. Press down on the tortilla with a spatula to ensure even contact with the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the tortilla is golden brown. Flip the tortilla and cook for another 1-2 minutes to crisp the tortilla. You may need to cook the tacos in 2 or 3 batches, depending on the size of your pan or griddle. Alternatively, you can use two pans simultaneously to expedite the cooking process.
- Assemble the Tacos: After you’ve cooked the tacos to perfection, remove them from the heat. Add a generous portion of the vegetable mixture to the middle of each taco, then drizzle the flavorful Pad Thai sauce over the vegetables. Finish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped cilantro and chopped peanuts for added freshness and crunch. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
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Chicken Pad Thai Tacos Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- ½ cup green onions, diced
- 1 cup shredded red cabbage
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup red bell peppers, julienned
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 tablespoon Thai seasoning, click link for the recipe, or see notes below
- 12 small tortillas, recommended: street taco size that are 4.5 inches wide
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro
- ¼ cup chopped peanuts
Pad Thai Sauce
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons lime juice, approximately 1 small lime
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha
- 1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste
Instructions
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Combine the bean sprouts, green onions, purple cabbage, carrots, and bell peppers in a bowl.
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In a separate bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the pad thai sauce. Set them both aside.
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Combine the ground chicken and Thai seasoning. Divide the mixture into 12 small balls.
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Use a fork to press a ball of ground chicken mixture on each tortilla.
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Heat a non-stick pan, like this griddle pan, on the stove over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, cook each tortilla meat-side down for 2-3 minutes, pressing down with a spatula.
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Flip and cook each taco for another 1-2 minutes.
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Remove from the heat and add the mixed veggies to each taco. Top with the pad thai sauce, fresh cilantro, and chopped peanuts.
Notes
- Thai seasoning: You can mix up my homemade seasoning in about 5 minutes. If you don’t have all of the ingredients, simply combine 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and (optional for spice) 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, to season the chicken before cooking.
- You can mix up the veggies and pad thai sauce up to 2 days in advance and store them in the refrigerator until you’re ready to make the tacos.
- This recipe makes 12 small tacos, I recommend 3 tacos per person for a meal.
- To make this recipe gluten free, use corn tortillas and gluten-free soy sauce.
- The pad Thai sauce has a nice kick of spice. If you’d like less spice, reduce the Sriracha from 1 tablespoon down to 1 teaspoon.