Description
This Garlic Butter Chicken Pad Thai is a flavorful twist on the classic Thai noodle dish, featuring tender chicken breasts cooked in rich garlic butter and combined with fragrant rice noodles tossed in a tangy, savory sauce. Enhanced with peanuts, fresh cilantro, green onions, and an optional kick of chili flakes, this recipe offers a satisfying balance of textures and tastes perfect for a delicious and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Butter
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 tablespoons butter
Noodles and Sauce
- 8 ounces rice noodles
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
Garnishes
- 1/4 cup chopped peanuts
- 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 cup green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Melt the Butter: Melt the butter in a large skillet or wok over medium heat to create a rich, flavorful base for the chicken.
- Cook Chicken: Add the chicken breasts to the skillet and cook for about 6-7 minutes on each side until they are golden brown and fully cooked through, depending on thickness.
- Rest and Slice Chicken: Remove the chicken from the skillet and let it rest for a few minutes to retain juices, then slice into thin strips for easy mixing later.
- Prepare Garlic: In the same skillet, add olive oil over medium heat to sauté the minced garlic, cooking for about 1 minute until fragrant and aromatic.
- Cook Noodles: Meanwhile, prepare the rice noodles according to the package instructions, then drain and set them aside for tossing.
- Scramble Eggs: Push the garlic to the side of the skillet and crack the eggs into the empty space; scramble them until fully cooked to incorporate into the dish.
- Add Noodles: Add the cooked noodles into the skillet with the garlic and scrambled eggs, mixing to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Prepare Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together fish sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, soy sauce, sesame oil, and lime zest to create the classic Pad Thai sauce.
- Toss Sauce with Noodles: Pour the prepared sauce over the noodles in the skillet and toss everything well to ensure the noodles are thoroughly coated with the flavorful sauce.
- Incorporate Chicken: Add the sliced chicken back into the skillet and stir to combine all elements consistently.
- Add Chili Flakes: If desired, sprinkle in the chili flakes for a spicy kick and stir to distribute evenly.
- Garnish: Remove the skillet from heat and garnish the finished dish with chopped peanuts, fresh cilantro, and sliced green onions to add crunch and freshness.
- Serve: Serve the Garlic Butter Chicken Pad Thai immediately while hot for the best taste and texture experience.
Notes
- Adjust the chili flakes amount to control the spice level according to your preference.
- Be sure to rest the chicken before slicing to keep it juicy and tender.
- Rice noodles should be cooked just until tender to avoid becoming mushy when combined with the sauce.
- Use fresh lime juice and zest for the best flavor impact.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure soy sauce is gluten-free or substitute with tamari sauce.
- This recipe can be easily doubled for larger groups.
