This Instant Pot Chicken Pad Thai is a super quick and easy one pot dinner – the noodles cook alongside the other ingredients for minimal clean up!
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Ingredients in Pad Thai
This is such a delicious Pad Thai recipe, made easy thanks to your Instant Pot and pre-made Pad Thai sauce! Here's everything you need:
- chicken breasts
- garlic
- soy sauce or tamari
- jarred pad thai sauce
- rice noodles
- carrot matchsticks
- red and yellow pepper
- green onions
- chopped peanuts
- cilantro
Ingredient substitutions
Chicken – You can use frozen shrimp (make sure they are frozen so they don't overcook!) or you can mix chunks of tofu in after the fact. You can also add some scrambled eggs to the mix after the noodles are done cooking, just make sure to scramble them separately in a pan on the stove.
Rice noodles – Instead of thicker rice noodles, you can use vermicelli rice noodles. Unfortunately there are not many substitutions you can make here unless you cook the noodles separately. Spaghetti pasta tends to get stuck together if cooked in the Instant Pot but it is an option for you to cook separately while the chicken cooks. If you'd like to make this recipe low carb, you can turn the Instant Pot to saute mode after the chicken is cooked and toss in some zucchini noodles.
Pad Thai sauce – I use Thai Kitchen's Pad Thai sauce, but you can make your own! You can get the recipe from this Pad Thai post here.
How to make Pad Thai in the Instant Pot
This recipe is so easy to make and comes together in one pot for your convenience! Here's how to make it:
- Add olive oil, cut up chicken, garlic, soy sauce, pad thai sauce, water and rice noodles to Instant Pot. The key to getting the noodles to cook but not get mushy is to leave them floating slightly above the other ingredients – the liquid will rise up and cook them without leaving them overcooked or sticking to the bottom.
- Once your chicken and noodles are cooked, add the veggies and half of the peanuts, tossing carefully with tongs. Place the lid back on your Instant Pot and let it sit for 5 minutes (that's how the veggies will become tender)
- Remove the lid once more and serve, then top your Pad Thai with green onions, the remaining chopped peanuts and cilantro. Enjoy!
What type of sauce to use
I actually love Thai Kitchen's Pad Thai sauce (this is not a sponsored post, I just love this product), and I have made a version of homemade Pad Thai sauce that's relatively easy, but when you're looking to throw dinner together in a hurry sometimes you don't wanna haul like 5 to 10 sauces out of your pantry.
And really, tamarind is the secret ingredient to Pad Thai sauce and you can't always finds tamarind paste at the grocery store. But you can usually find Pad Thai sauce in the Asian and rice section. If you do want to try your hand at a homemade sauce though, you can always check out these Spiralized Pad Thai Meal Prep Bowls and add the ingredients to the Instant Pot instead!
Storing and reheating
You can store the leftovers of this recipe up to five days in the fridge. Sprinkle a little bit of water overtop before reheating, then microwave for 1-2 minutes until heated through. You can also reheat in the same manner in a pan on the stove for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh green onions and cilantro to keep the dish feeling fresh!
Can you freeze this recipe?
I have not tried freezing this recipe but based on the ingredients, I'd say it's worth a shot! To reheat, let it defrost in the fridge overnight and then sprinkle a tiny bit of water overtop to keep everything from drying out. From there, you can microwave or stir fry until heated through.
More easy Instant Pot recipes
Meal prep tools
- The Instant Pot DUO Plus 60
is the version I use in this recipe - I use these Thai Kitchen Rice Noodles, and buy this Pad Thai sauce
- I get grass-fed chicken from my monthly Butcher Box
is the version I use in this recipe
, and buy this 
Instant Pot Chicken Pad Thai
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 chicken breasts, diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
- 1/2 cup jarred pad thai sauce (I like Thai Kitchen brand)
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 7 oz rice noodles
- 1 cup Carrot matchsticks
- 1/2 each red and yellow pepper, sliced
- 4 green onions, sliced
- 1/3 cup chopped peanuts
- 1/3 cup fresh chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Add olive oil, chicken, garlic, soy sauce, pad thai sauce, water and rice noodles to Instant Pot in that order, leaving noodles floating slightly above other ingredients. Set to manual and pressure cook on high for 2 minutes. Instant Pot will take about 10 minutes to pre-heat and then 2 minutes to cook. When complete, press cancel and do a quick release of the steam, waiting until the pressure gauge drops back down and the lid is safe to open.
- Add carrot matchsticks, bell peppers and half of peanuts, tossing carefully with tongs. Place lid back on and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Remove lid and serve, then top with green onions, remaining chopped peanuts and cilantro. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Smilesxl says
I need to double, and though I have the 6 quart it will not fit with double noodles, so my question is: If I cook the noodles separate, should I use less water in the instant pot?
Taylor Stinson says
Unfortunately I haven’t tried doubling it and the liquid ratios are very sensitive so I can’t advise.
Mike says
Hey there, I’ve made this a few times now and the flavor is incredible. Definitely a favorite. I’m struggling a bit though with rice noodle selection. A couple of tries in now and the noodles are a giant delicious clump, but there is no amount of manipulation to get them to come apart so that everything can be mixed nicely.
What rice noodles are working the best?
Nicole says
I always had this problem too- but just discovered Thai kitchen that sells rice noodles in four separated dried disks- it worked so much better for mixing in all the toppings!
Smilesxl says
I had this problem until I started making it a peanut curry pad thai, I add a little peanut butter in the layers of noodles.
Amanda says
Fast and delicious! Thanks for a great recipe!
Phoebe says
SOOOO GOOD! Will be in my regular rotation. Easy to make and simply delicious!
SA says
Does the chicken go in raw?
Taylor Stinson says
Yes it does.
Jessamy says
Hi there, how is two minutes enough to cook raw chicken? I know it’s an instant pot but other recipes I see it takes at least 10 minutes
Taylor Stinson says
The chicken is diced up so it cooks much faster and the Instant Pot takes time to preheat before pressure cooking the 2 minutes. I cook frozen chicken in 10 minutes in the Instant Pot – I worry fresh chicken would be overcooked at that time!
Linda says
Thank you! Does this recipe double well? I have nine people in my family and we are Pad Thai fanatics. Should I double it or make two single recipes?
Taylor Stinson says
Hi Linda – I would definitely double it!
Alain says
If you double the recipe would you also need to double the time to cook? I’m new to the instant pot… Really looking forward to trying your recipe! Thank you so much!!!!
Taylor Stinson says
Hi Alain – as far as I’m aware you would not need to double the cook time but I have not tried it myself.
lois says
i have a 3 qt. I start pot….is that what this receipt is for?
Taylor Stinson says
This recipe is for a 6 quart and up. It *might* work in a 3 quart though! I just can’t say with absolute certainty
Ashley says
Hey! I also have a 3 qt pot. Just curious if you tried the full recipe and how it worked out for you..? I’d love any tips from your experience 🙂