Low Carb Paleo Pad Thai Recipe (2024)

by Maya Last Updated on 13 Comments

Low Carb Paleo Pad Thai Recipe (1)

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Have you ever met someone that didn’t like Pad Thai? I think it’s just a universal thing to love these saucy tangy noodles. I’m switching things up today with this recipe for Low Carb Pad Thai but I promise you won’t miss the carbs!

Let me start off by saying that no, this recipe is in no way authentic. Not even close. BUT it totally tastes authentic!

Low Carb Paleo Pad Thai Recipe (2)

Traditional Pad Thai sauce has one too many speciality ingredients for it to be my weekly go-to recipe but this one is very similar in taste thanks to the fish sauce! Don’t be scared, fish sauce gives pad thai that traditional umami flavor that you just can’t replicate without it.

Also, I know what you’re thinking…HOW IS THIS LOW CARB AND PALEO??? Well, those noodles you see? Those are kelp noodles and they’re my new favorite obsession.

The texture is SPOT ON for normal rice vermicelli noodles. While the shape is different than the traditional flat rice noodles the taste, texture, everything is exactly the same. They’re practically zero carbs and pack a ton of iodine and trace minerals. LOVE.

Low Carb Paleo Pad Thai Recipe (3)

This meal comes together in just a few minutes as well. I will say though that you need to start soaking your kelp noodles right when you get started so they’ll be nice and soft by the time you need to mix them in with the sauce.

If you don’t they’ll be crunchy and no one likes crunchy pad thai.

RECIPE CARD

Low Carb Paleo Pad Thai Recipe (4)

4.5 from 4 votes

Low Carb Paleo Pad Thai

Let me start off by saying that no, this recipe is in no way authentic. Not even close. BUT it totally tastes authentic!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Author Maya Krampf from WickedSpatula.com

Servings 2

★ Review Print

Ingredients

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  • 12 oz kelp noodles (SOAKED)
  • 8 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast (cooked, thinly sliced)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup mushrooms (sliced)
  • 1/2 cup white onion (sliced)
  • 3 medium green onions (sliced into 1" pieces)-
  • 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil
  • cashews (crushed, for topping)
  • Limes (for serving)

Sauce

  • 1/4 cup paleo ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 2 tablespoons coconut aminos
  • 1 tablespoon sweetener of choice (coconut sugar for paleo or powdered erythritol for low carb)
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • 1 teaspoon almond butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 pinch sea salt

Click to convert between US & metric measurements:

Instructions

More TIPS about this paleo recipe in the post above!

  1. Prep all of your vegetables and sauce so you can move through the steps below quickly. Make sure to soak your kelp noodles the night before or for at least 10 minutes with a squeeze of lime to soften.

  2. Heat a large wok or skillet over medium high heat with the coconut oil. Cook the chicken until done. Remove and set aside.

  3. Add a bit more oil to the pan and scramble the eggs, remove and set aside on the plate with the chicken.

  4. Add the mushrooms and onions to the skillet and cook just until soft.

  5. Stir in the chicken and egg along with the green onions. Pour in the sauce and toss with the noodles.

  6. Top with crushed cashews and a squeeze of lime.

Recipe Notes

Note: This paleo pad Thai recipe originally included bean sprouts, which have been removed since they aren't paleo. They are still shown in the photos. Feel free to include them if they fit your dietary lifestyle.

© Copyright Wicked Spatula. We'd LOVE for you to share a link to this recipe, but please DO NOT COPY/PASTE the recipe instructions to social media or websites. You may share a photo with a link back instead.

Low Carb Paleo Pad Thai Recipe (6)

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Low Carb Paleo Pad Thai Recipe (7)

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    13 Comments

  1. Hildur

    Reply

    Super lovely stuff!
    Very tasty. Been trying to find a good recipe to use kelp noodles in it and i love pad thai! So its a good and healthy substitute .
    Thank you.
    I will be cooking this again.

  2. Ben

    Reply

    It’s very tasty, but I had to doctor the sauce a little because I agree with the ketchup comment. I added a little more garlic, doubled the red pepper flakes, and threw in a dash of soy sauce.

    Really good call on the kelp noodles, and thanks for the tasty recipe!

  3. Chelle

    Reply

    Thanks for the idea but I feel it’s my civic duty to say no to ketchup here. Tried this and all I could taste was that classic ketchup flavor (and smell) throughout the meal. IMHO the recipe could have less ketchup, like half, or none at all. Tamarind paste is the traditional flavor here and without that, you’d be better off with a simpler sauce: soy sauce/coconut aminos/etc, fish sauce, lime juice, and brown sugar/sugar alternative/etc.

  4. Siennah

    Reply

    Low Carb Paleo Pad Thai Recipe (8)
    The recipe was amazing!
    Delicious & will definitely be cooking again! Thank you!!

  5. Katie

    Reply

    Low Carb Paleo Pad Thai Recipe (9)
    I live in a small town, so of course no kelp noodles available. I used butternut squash noodles instead. I doubled the garlic in the sauce and also cooked the chicken in chili oil. I’ve made several pad Thai recipes and this one is the closest to the restaurant flavor that I’ve ever found. Delicious!!! I’ll absolutely be saving this one to make again and again.

  6. Julie

    Reply

    I made this tonight and it wasn’t absolutely incredible. I would say maybe even better than our normal take out place! The kelp noodles were so fun! We like a sweeter sauce so I added about 1/4 c honey to the sauce but seriously this isn brilliant! I got my kelp noodles on good ol Amazon!

    • Julie

      Reply

      WHat the heck is wrong with my typing! It IS amazing and IS brilliant!! Lol sorry!

  7. Stephanie

    Reply

    I made this tonight. Very tasty. Next time I think I’ll add more peanut butter. For everyone looking, I found the kelp noodles at Whole Foods.

  8. AK

    Reply

    I made this recipe on the Whole 30 using Tessamae’s BBQ sauce and leaving out the coconut sugar–DELICIOUS! My non-paleo husband loved it as well! Thanks so much!

  9. Dee Dee (My Midlife Kitchen)

    Reply

    I need to be on the look out for those noodles! I love Pad Thai, so that substitute could mean I see a lot more of it on my table! :o)

  10. Citra Kale @Citra's Home Diary

    Reply

    your low carb pad thai seems superb!

  11. Ashley - Forking Up

    Reply

    I need to find kelp noodles! I am dying to try this.

  12. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine

    Reply

    O yes! Love Thai food and of course love pad Thai! Such a classic!

Low Carb Paleo Pad Thai Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is pad thai healthy for weight loss? ›

Best: Pad Thai

Get it with shrimp, chicken, or tofu for lean protein, and extra veggies for fiber and vitamins. Just watch your portion: Pad thai clocks in at 300 to 400 calories a cup.

Is pad thai high in carbs? ›

Pad Thai and other noodle dishes are high on carbs and a lot of sugar is usually added too, not to mention oil. Fried rice is a no-no as is sticky rice which is possibly worse than white steamed rice for those with T2DM.

Why is pad thai so high in calories? ›

While the dish isn't usually the highest calorie option on a Thai menu, it does provide significant calories because it is stir-fried using oil, and because the dish includes peanuts. Pad Thai nutrition is sometimes called into question because of the sugar in the dish.

Can you use pho noodles for pad thai? ›

Made of rice flour and water, banh pho are the noodles used in pho, the ubiquitous Vietnamese soup, and in pad thai, the most popular dish on western Thai restaurant menus.

What is the least fattening Thai dish? ›

Choose from a variety of lower-fat options such as garlic shrimp, hot-and-sour soup, chicken satay, stir-fried noodles, scallops, bamboo shoots, sautéed ginger chicken, Thai salad, tom yum, Pad Thai, and green or red curry with lower fat content.

Which is healthier, Pad Thai or pad see ew? ›

While both these recipes are carb happy, Pad See Ew has fewer calories than Pad Thai. As it's also the less sweet of the two, Pad See Ew is considered slightly healthier.

Is Thai food OK on a keto diet? ›

Thai Dishes You Can Enjoy

Many appetizers — like lettuce wraps, for example — are OK on the keto diet with some minor adjustments, or curries with a few vegetable substitutes make for a great meal. Need places to eat in Hopatcong? You can't go wrong with Twist on Thai café — even if you're on the keto diet.

Will Pad Thai spike blood sugar? ›

In addition to being high in refined carbs, noodles are also low in protein and fibre. Therefore, they are easily broken down and cause a spike in glucose levels. Also, Pad Thai noodles have a sweet sauce dressing which adds to the spike. Consider reducing the portion of noodles and adding lots of vegetables to them.

What makes Pad Thai unhealthy? ›

While pad thai offers a wide range of essential nutrients, it's high in sodium. The three main high sodium ingredients in pad thai are fish sauce, soy sauce, and dried shrimp.

Which is healthier Pad Thai or lo mein? ›

Is Pad Thai or Lo Mein healthier? Pad Thai has 357 calories per cup whereas Lo Mein has 310 calories for the same serving. These calorie comparisons are based on the traditional ingredients in these noodle dishes. The calorie count may vary depending on the vegetables used as well as the protein that is added.

Is Pad Thai healthier than drunken noodles? ›

Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles both have a moderate calorie count, making them a good choice at a restaurant. On top of that, they're packed with veggies and protein. Pad Thai has roughly 357 calories in one cup. Drunk Noodles contain about 323 calories per cup.

What can you substitute for noodles in Pad Thai? ›

To replace traditional rice noodles, I went with carrot “noodles,” collard greens, thinly sliced bell pepper, and cabbage. Look at all those gorgeous plants you're going to eat!

What is a substitute for tamarind in Pad Thai? ›

The vinegar-sugar mix works well in dishes like pad thai chicken. If your recipe calls for 1 tablespoon tamarind paste, substitute with 1 tablespoon vinegar mixed with 1 tablespoon brown sugar. If using fresh lime juice, substitute 2 tablespoons lime juice for every 1 tablespoon tamarind paste.

What type of noodle is best for Pad Thai? ›

Pad Thai is a Thai noodle stir fry with a sweet-savoury-sour sauce scattered with crushed peanuts. It's made with thin, flat rice noodles, and almost always has bean sprouts, garlic chives, scrambled egg, firm tofu and a protein – the most popular being chicken or prawns/shrimp.

Can I eat Thai food and lose weight? ›

By speeding up our metabolism for 2 to 3 hours between dinner and sleeping, Thai food can help with weight control. We eat less – research has shown that when people are served spicy food, they tend to eat about 200 calories less per meal than when served bland food as the body feels satisfied more quickly.

Are rice noodles good for weight loss? ›

Noodles, spices, vegetables and protein are simmered together in a light broth. The mere fact that rice noodles are low-calorie and nutritious in their own right means it is easy to make weight loss recipes using them. Whether a soup, salad or stir fry, just combine vegetables, protein and spices for a tasty meal.

Can you make a healthy Pad Thai? ›

This chicken pad Thai recipe calls for simple, healthy ingredients you can buy at your local grocery store: brown rice noodles, red bell pepper, green onion, tamari (gluten-free soy sauce), chicken breasts, garlic, and a few others. The best part is that you don't need to go to a special Asian food store.

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