10 Thai Recipes That Are Easy to Make at Home

Thai cuisine is often popular even with hesitant eaters, and with good reason. Flavorful sauces, fresh vegetables, bright herbs, scoops of steaming rice — what’s not to love?

Look closer and you’ll notice that popular Thai dishes typically contain a balance of flavors that’s uncommon in Western cuisine: sweet mango, sour and lightly bitter lime, salty soy sauce, and umami fish sauce, to name a few. Thai cuisine keeps things interesting with this flavor balance, not to mention the variety of textures you’ll often find: crunchy peanuts, crisp cucumber, creamy coconut milk — to name a few.

Here we’re sharing 10 of our easy Thai food recipes from the Cook Smarts meal plan service. Inspired by the flavors of Thai cuisine, we’ve got classics like a Tom Kha Soup recipe and Thai Larb, noodle dishes like Thai Red Curry Noodle Bowls and Thai Chicken Peanut Noodles, and more. These recipes strike a balance between ingredients that are easy to find outside of Southeast Asia, dishes that are quick to put together even on busy weeknights, a healthy balance of nutrients, and — of course — flavors that are absolutely delicious. 

These meals are a perfect starting point if you’re looking to get more mileage out of your printable Thai Pantry List — download that here if you haven’t yet! That way you’ll always be ready when the craving for Thai food strikes. And believe us, after making a few of the recipes on this list, you’ll be hooked!

1. Thai Red Curry Noodle Bowls

We kick off our list with these delicious, fragrant noodle bowls. Not quite a soup, but soupier than a dry noodle bowl, these bowls of rice noodles, zucchini, red bell pepper, and tofu will have you reminiscing about this dinner for weeks. The broth is flavored with Thai flavors including lemongrass, ginger, fish sauce, and coconut milk, with a rich, spicy kick from the red curry paste. The tofu is cubed and seared, then finished in an umami-rich glaze before topping the bowls.

2. Thai Marinated Chicken

This fresh, satisfying meal has you marinating chicken thighs in Thai flavors such as fish sauce, sesame oil, cilantro, and lime. Cook the chicken on the grill or stovetop and serve it alongside rice and a fresh, summery salad of mixed greens, crisp cucumber, sweet and sharp fresh mango, and buttery cashews. The Thai salad is dressed with a distinctively Thai peanut sauce, which puts the meal over the top in terms of delightful, craveable flavors. 

3. Tom Kha Gai Soup

A perennial favorite, this Tom Kha Soup recipe is easier than you might think to make at home! This coconut milk–based soup is flavored with fresh lemongrass, ginger, garlic, fish sauce, and more. Our version of Tom Kha is made with chicken (“gai”) and contains the veggies you’ll find in most restaurant versions of the soup: tomato, mushrooms, and zucchini. We’ll tell you how to adjust the flavors for perfect balance, and you’ll serve up steaming bowls with jalapeños, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice to finish.

4. Thai Peanut Chicken Curry

This simple Thai curry gets much of its flavor from spicy red curry paste, but peanut butter and sautéed peanuts also play an important (and tasty!) role. The curry contains cubed rutabaga and wilted baby spinach, which are simmered alongside chicken breast. Coconut milk adds extra creaminess, and additional Thai flavors add balance to the dish. The curry is served over quinoa for a hearty nutritional boost, with a sprinkle of cilantro and peanuts on top as well as a squeeze of lime.

5. Thai Larb Lettuce Cups with Mango and Cucumber Salsa

This colorful meal is simple, fresh, and spicy. Larb is traditionally made with finely chopped meat, seasonings, fresh herbs, and lime juice. Our version uses ground pork and quinoa, which are simmered with Thai flavors and mixed with finely chopped fresh mint and cilantro, then used to fill leaves of butterhead lettuce. Peanuts add crunch to the cups, and hot sauce gives them an authentic heat. You’ll serve a simple salsa on the side made of diced mango and cucumber tossed with a splash of rice vinegar for balance.

6. Thai Chicken Ramen with Butternut Squash and Soft-Boiled Eggs

Ramen: It’s not just for college students! Although ramen is a popular Japanese dish, this Thai twist on the classic bowl of noodle soup is not to be missed. Shiitake mushrooms, garlic, and miso paste give the soup great umami flavors, while curry paste adds depth and a bit of spice (as do the jalapeños you’ll add on top of your finished bowl). You’ll roast butternut squash and sauté cubed chicken breast, which are cooked simply to allow the fragrant stock to shine. Ramen noodles are cooked right in the stock, and you’ll top your bowl with a soft-boiled egg, a sprinkle of green onions, and a squeeze of lime.

7. Thai Sheet Pan Salmon with Sweet Chili Sauce

We love sweet Thai chili sauce as a dip for eggrolls and veggies. Turns out, it’s also fantastic on salmon! With this easy Thai sheet pan salmon recipe, you’ll make the sauce (nearly) from scratch out of chili garlic sauce and several common ingredients you probably have in your kitchen, and spoon it over salmon to bake. Green beans roast alongside the salmon while you boil sweet potatoes, which get mashed with a little butter and cream for a side that perfectly complements the flavors of the chili sauce. Add a squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of cilantro, and you’re ready to go! 

8. Thai Salad with Steak

This hearty, flavorful Thai salad contains tons of fresh ingredients common in Thai cuisine, including bell peppers, mango, and cilantro, and the flavors are beautifully balanced. The steak is sliced thin and sautéed with curry paste for a unique (and super easy to create!) flavor. You’ll pickle your own onions with rice vinegar, water, and sugar to lessen the bite. It’s all drizzled with a bright Thai lime dressing of ginger, soy sauce, lime, fish sauce, and more. Sprinkle with peanuts for a finishing touch with crunch!

9. Thai Chicken Peanut Noodles

A comfort food meal if ever there were one, these noodles coated in a dreamy Thai peanut sauce takes just 35 minutes to make and is surprisingly light and healthy! Thinly sliced red bell pepper and coleslaw mix add nutrients while letting the real star — the Thai peanut sauce — shine. The ingredients and method are simple, so most of the flavor comes from the sauce, which you’ll toss with everything before serving. Feel free to customize the sauce depending on how much lime, spice, salt, and pepper you prefer.

10. Red Curry Shrimp Skewers with Coconut Rice and Salad

Sweet and spicy shrimp get served over rich coconut rice with a mango and herb salad on the side. The shrimp is cooked either on the grill or in a pan in a simple glaze of curry paste, honey, and fish sauce. As is common for South Asian–style vinaigrettes, the dressing is light and thin, perfect for a hot day, with flavors including soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, fish sauce, lime juice, and red pepper flakes to complement the mango and mung bean sprouts as well as fresh basil. 

Want more Thai dishes to try at home and other great dinner ideas? Our meal plan service offers 4 meals per week with the choice of original, gluten-free, paleo, and vegetarian versions, as well as an extensive archive of past recipes. All of the recipes and techniques mentioned above are a part of the service. For more info and to get a taste test with a free 14-day trial, sign up here.