43 Thai Recipes You Need to Know
Updated: Feb. 08, 2024
Craving takeout? Learn to make Thai-inspired and traditional Thai recipes, like pad thai and pork satay, right at home.
Easy Pad Thai
Craving Thai recipes? Skip the takeout restaurant and give this easy pad thai recipe a try if you need an easy and quick meal. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Also check out these 15 essential Thai ingredients you need to know.
Pork Satay
Cilantro layers on the freshness, while the sesame oil and Thai chili sauce add Asian flavors that pair perfectly with peanut butter. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Thai Salad with Peanut Dressing
This Thai salad is very fresh and flavorful. The peanut garnish adds a satisfying crunch. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
Khao Soi Soup
Khao soi is an ever-popular North Thai dish—and for good reason! It’s a thick, curried soup that’s served over a bed of rice noodles with a handful of savory toppings like pickled mustard greens and chili paste.
Bubble Tea
Bubble tea, also known as boba tea, is a popular tea drink filled with tapioca balls. This sipper can be made with a variety of different types of tea, like jasmine, strawberry, mango and oolong.
Larb Gai
Larb gai (Thai chicken salad) is a dish made with ground chicken, chiles, mint and basil. Serve as a main dish or as an appetizer in lettuce cups. For a heartier version, serve it with rice. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Tom Kha Gai
Coconut milk makes this soup recipe sing (and gives it that creamy, velvety texture). Tom kha gai is a Thai coconut chicken soup recipe that boasts other aromatics like lemongrass and fish sauce. Serve over jasmine rice or rice noodles to make it a full meal.
Slow-Cooked Thai Drunken Noodles
I really love pad kee mao and was inspired to try my recipe in the slow cooker on a really busy day. It came out tasting great! I was so happy to have it ready to go when we got home. You can easily substitute chicken, turkey or beef for pork. —Lori McLain, Denton, Texas
Thai-Style Green Beans
Thai for two, anyone? Peanut butter, soy sauce and hoisin sauce flavor this quick, fabulous bean dish.—Candy McMenamin, Lexington, South Carolina
Thai Shrimp Soup
This tasty soup comes together in minutes, and it’s a crowd pleaser. The ingredients are available in my little Maine grocery store, too. —Jessie Grearson-Sapat, Falmouth, Maine
Vegetarian Pad Thai
This is a simple pad thai loaded with crisp vegetables and zesty flavor. It’s quick, simple, and fresh-tasting. —Colleen Doucette, Truro, Nova ScotiaCheck out more of our favorite Thai recipes!
Sesame Chicken with Creamy Satay Sauce
These skewers taste as if they came from your favorite takeout place, but they are surprisingly simple to make at home. The sesame dressing keeps the chicken juicy. —Kathi Jones-DelMonte, Rochester, New York
Thai-Style Brisket
Here's an unusual take on brisket that will have you hooked. Peanut butter, soy, crisp-tender veggies and zesty seasonings give it the authentic Thai flavor we crave. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
Thai Red Curry Chicken & Vegetables
The key to this curry chicken is getting complex flavors without heaviness. For the veggies, I like colorful pea pods, sweet red peppers and water chestnuts. —David Dahlman, Chatsworth, California
Thai Shrimp Salad for 2
Here’s a deliciously different salad that blends grilled shrimp, a lean source of protein, with the low-calorie crunch of cucumber and onion. It’s tossed and dressed with Thai flavors of sesame, cilantro, lime and refreshing mint.Annette Traverso – San Rafael, California
Rolled Ice Cream
Talk about a treat! Made of condensed milk, heavy cream and a flavor of your choosing—this recipe from Izzy Cooking uses Oreos—rolled ice cream is a Thai-style ice cream typically sold by street vendors. All three ingredients are mixed together, spread thinly and rolled.
Thai Iced Tea
Creamy Thai iced tea is a black tea wonderfully spiced with star anise, vanilla, cardamom, orange blossom and tamarind seed. Black tea is good for you, too! It boosts energy, keeps your arteries healthy and it may even decrease your risk of cancer.
Mango Sticky Rice
As a nice contrast to traditional desserts, this Thai mango sticky rice recipe is a refreshing treat with a sweet and simple sauce that perks up your post-dinner taste buds.—Monnie Norasing, Mansfield, Texas
Saucy Thai Beef Noodles
This stir-fry has been a family favorite for some time. I like to double the recipe and add extra vegetables. —Janelle Lee, Appleton, Wisconsin
Thai Shrimp Cakes
These Thai shrimp cakes from Simply Suwanee are an easy appetizer to make on the fly! These flavorful bites are seasoned with garlic, lemon, lime, cilantro and shallots. Enjoy them on their own or incorporate them into a simple salad recipe.
Veggie Thai Curry Soup
My go-to Thai restaurant inspired this curry soup. Shiitake mushrooms are my favorite, but any fresh mushroom will work. Fresh basil and lime add a burst of bright flavors. —Tre Balchowsky, Sausalito, California
Thai Basil Chicken
Thai basil chicken, also known as gai pad kra pao, is a light Thai dish that can be served at any time of day. Simply Suwanee swears that it makes for a delicious brunch main. This street food includes seasoned chicken served with jasmine rice, fried egg and green beans.
Thai Pasta with Spicy Peanut Sauce
We love how the whole wheat pasta and crisp, raw vegetables blend with the rich and creamy peanut sauce. The addition of fresh lime juice really brightens the flavor of the dish. Some eat it hot, but my husband and I prefer to wait until it's closer to room temperature. —Donna McCallie, Lake Park, Florida
Thai Coconut Beef
My husband and I love Thai food, but going out on weeknights can be challenging with busy schedules. I wanted to create a Thai-inspired dinner that could double as an easy lunch the following day. The beef is fantastic in this dish, but chicken or pork would be equally delicious! —Ashley Lecker, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Thai Chicken & Slaw
This recipe is foolproof and well worth the prep time. Kids love the sweetness of the honey, and I serve the slaw on the side so my vegetarian friends can enjoy it, too.—Karen Norris, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Shrimp Pad Thai Soup
Pad thai is one of my favorite dishes, but it is often loaded with extra calories. This soup is a healthier option that has all the flavor of traditional versions. —Julie Merriman, Seattle, Washington.
Thai Chicken Casserole
When my family goes out, I can count on someone ordering chicken pad thai. I decided to make an easy version at home. Top it with a sprinkle of peanuts and cilantro. —Sandra Dombek, Camillus, New York
Thai Shrimp Stir-Fry
Peanut butter gives this tasty blend of red peppers, snow peas and shrimp its Thai flavor, while ginger and red pepper flakes spice it up. Serve this colorful main dish over pasta. —Jeanne Fisher, Simi Valley, California.
Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup
For national soup month in January, I came up with a new recipe every day. This oneis my favorite! It’s so easy, with just a touch of special Thai flavors. For an even richer flavor, try using whole coconut milk. —Diane Nemitz, Ludington, Michigan
Thai Red Chicken Curry
I recreated a favorite red curry chicken dish from a restaurant, and now I cook it almost weekly for my family. On a busy night, frozen stir-fry veggies really speed things up. —Mary Shenk, DeKalb, Illinois
Slow-Cooker Pad Thai
I love pad thai, but I hate standing over a hot stir-fry—especially in the summer. This slow cooker version lets me keep my cool and enjoy pad thai, too. —Shawn Barto, Winter Garden, Florida
Thai Spinach Beef Salad
Here's a main-dish salad that's just plain fun to eat. It's crunchy, beefy and has a little kick. Best of all, it's good for you. —Janet Dingler, Cedartown, Georgia
Peanut Turkey Satay
I found this recipe years ago and immediately served it for a company dinner. It’s easy and fun and takes only minutes to cook, but it makes a fancy entree for special occasions. The peanut butter and soy sauce lend a nice Asian flavor. —Lisa Mahon Fluegeman, Cincinnati, Ohio
Thai Chicken Pasta Salad
I combined several recipes to come up with my healthier twist on traditional pad thai. My version has only one-third the sodium of frozen versions you find in the store. —Beth Dauenhauer, Pueblo, Colorado
Udon Noodles with Pineapple Vinaigrette
Thai cuisine has such wonderfully intense flavors, but the dishes can be heavy and time-consuming. My answer is a refreshing salad with mango, gingerroot and a pop of jalapeno. —Melanie Stevenson, Reading, Pennsylvania
Thai Chicken Thighs
These very tender and moist chicken thighs come with a tangy peanut butter sauce that is irresistible. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Thai Beef Stir-Fry
A distinctive peanut sauce complements this colorful combination of tender sirloin strips, cauliflower, carrots, broccoli and mushrooms. I like to dish it up over spaghetti, but you could use fried noodles instead. —Janice Fehr, Austin, Manitoba
Vegetable Pad Thai
Classic flavors of Thailand abound in this fragrant and flavorful dish featuring peanuts, tofu and noodles. New to tofu? It gives the entree its satisfying protein, for a delicious way to introduce it to your diet. —Sara Landry, Brookline, Massachusetts
Thai Salmon Brown Rice Bowls
This speedy salmon recipe couldn’t be any easier. The store-bought sesame ginger dressing saves time and adds extra flavor to this healthy dish. — Naylet LaRochelle, Miami, Florida
Thai Chicken Peanut Noodles
My husband loves the spicy flavors in these Thai chicken noodles and often breaks out the chopsticks for a more immersive experience. — Jennifer Fisher, Austin, Texas
Thai Pork Satay
I love this recipe since it can be made as a main dish or as an appetizer. For appetizer portions, use short skewers and half the amount of pork. —Stephanie Butz, Portland, Oregon
Coconut Mango Thai Beef Curry
My recipe provides a lot of sweet heat. The mango and coconut milk taste tropical while the curry paste adds a little fire. It’s a perfect dish to spice up the traditional offerings of the season. To make a milder dish, just reduce the amount of curry paste. —Terri Lynn Merritts, Nashville, Tennessee
Shrimp Pad Thai
You can make this yummy Thai classic in no time. Find fish sauce and chili garlic sauce in the Asian foods aisle of your grocery store. —Elise Ray, Shawnee, KansasOriginally Published: December 09, 2021
