Instant Pot Chicken Pad Thai

Introduction

Instant Pot Chicken Pad Thai delivers all the sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors of your favorite Thai takeout—but lightning fast and in one pot. Perfect for busy weeknights or when craving something truly satisfying and customizable, this version keeps the prep simple while yielding restaurant-worthy results.

Ditch the long ingredient lists and fussy stovetop steps: you can make flavor-packed Pad Thai at home with pantry staples, minimal chopping, and the unbeatable convenience of the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart.

Why Make Chicken Pad Thai in the Instant Pot?

Using the Instant Pot means tender chicken, perfectly cooked rice noodles, and a sauce that clings to everything—without stirring or hovering over the stove. The closed environment enhances the tamarind-fish sauce base, and a quick pressure release ensures noodles don’t overcook.

This crowd-pleaser is also endlessly adaptable, allowing everyone to customize their toppings for the ultimate interactive dining experience.

Prepping Ingredients Efficiently

Gather your aromatics and veggies in advance for a smooth cooking process. Streamlining prep is simple with tools like the Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1, 8 Blade Vegetable Chopper, which makes quick work of red onions, bell peppers, and carrots—saving you precious time and guaranteeing even dices for consistent cooking.

Pre-slice chicken breasts on a sturdy Bamboo Cutting Boards for Kitchen, Set of 3 and keep all your ingredients tidy and orderly before pressure cooking starts.

Building the Ultimate Pad Thai Sauce

Classic Pad Thai relies on a harmonious balance of sweet, sour, and salty. Make your sauce with tamarind paste, fish sauce, brown sugar, and a splash of lime. For extra silkiness, pulse the sauce ingredients together in a high-powered Ninja BL610 Professional 72 Oz Countertop Blender, Black so everything emulsifies and delivers flavor to every bite.

Once you set the sauce aside, have rice noodles and garnishes ready to go.

Cooking and Serving Instant Pot Chicken Pad Thai

Layer chicken, aromatics, and sauce in your Instant Pot, top with softened noodles, and pressure cook briefly. When finished, toss everything and add bean sprouts, chopped peanuts, scallions, and fresh cilantro.

For the best leftovers, portion into airtight Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers, Set of 5 (3.2 Cup) so tomorrow’s lunch is just as delicious.

Nutritional Information & Portions

This recipe yields 4 heaping servings (each about 2 cups) of comforting, protein-packed Pad Thai. Every portion averages 490 calories, with a solid mix of lean protein, healthy fats, and craveable carbs. An occasional treat, this dish fuels your Thai-food cravings with less guilt—and fewer additives—than typical takeout.

Instant Pot Chicken Pad Thai (Recap)

With bold flavor, customizable toppings, and speed, Instant Pot Chicken Pad Thai is destined to become a staple in your dinner rotation. The streamlined method, with just one pot to clean, makes it as practical as it is delicious.

Instructions

1. Soak the rice noodles in warm water for 20–25 minutes until pliable but not fully soft. Drain and set aside.
2. Prep veggies efficiently using the Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1, 8 Blade Vegetable Chopper for quick, uniform dicing and slicing.
3. Combine all Pad Thai sauce ingredients in the Ninja BL610 Professional 72 Oz Countertop Blender, Black and blend until smooth. Set aside.
4. Set Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart to Sauté. Add oil, then onion and chicken. Sauté 2–3 minutes until chicken is partially cooked. Stir in garlic, carrots, and peppers; cook another minute.
5. Push veggies and meat to the side, crack in eggs, and scramble until just set.
6. Add soaked rice noodles and pour the Pad Thai sauce over everything. Top with 1 cup of bean sprouts. Do not stir. Secure the lid and set Instant Pot to Manual/Pressure Cook on High for 2 minutes.
7. Quick release and immediately toss everything so sauce coats evenly. Add half the peanuts, most of the green onions, cilantro, and remaining bean sprouts. Toss gently.
8. Serve steaming hot, garnished with lime wedges, extra peanuts, more scallions, and chili flakes if desired. Store leftovers in Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers, Set of 5 (3.2 Cup) for easy reheating.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Enjoy a speedy, flavor-packed meal that satisfies your Pad Thai cravings—faster and easier than takeout!