Thai Peanut Chicken Pasta Salad is loaded with grilled chicken, veggies, crunchy peanuts, cilantro and a flavorful Thai peanut sauce!

It's summer and we are loving all of the easy meals that can be eaten outside, including this delicious Thai Peanut Chicken Pasta Salad. It is loaded with soba noodles, chicken, tons of veggies, crunchy peanuts and dressed with an incredibly flavorful peanut sauce. Serve this up at your next picnic!

We recently took a trip to Cedar Point amusement park with my family and we prefer to bring our own meals (fried food does not sit well when riding roller coasters!). For lunch, I brought this Thai Peanut Chicken Pasta Salad and wow, was it delicious! The cilantro plus the peanut sauce really makes it so flavorful.

Ingredients for Thai Peanut Chicken Pasta Salad

Thai Peanut Chicken Pasta Salad Ingredients

Soba noodles or any noodle of choice- I like a whole-grain option for fiber
Grilled chicken (can also use any kind of cooked chicken or tofu for a vegetarian option)
Shredded carrots
Red cabbage
Cilantro
Green onion
Red pepper
Thai Peanut sauce- see below

Thai Peanut Sauce Ingredients

Peanut butter
Lime juice
Peanuts
Soy sauce
Olive oil
Honey

How to Make Thai Peanut Pasta Salad

First, cook the chicken and prepare the veggies. Then, cook the pasta according to directions. Whisk together all ingredients for the Thai peanut sauce. Make sure you melt the peanut butter in the microwave for a little bit to make it easier to pour and mix together. Then toss the noodles, chicken, veggies, peanuts and sauce together and stir well. You can enjoy it right away or store it in the fridge for later.

Thai Peanut Pasta Salad Nutrition

This Thai Peanut Chicken Pasta Salad is full of nutrients. It is high in protein from the chicken, peanuts, peanut butter and noodles. It is fiber-rich from all of the veggies, peanuts and pasta. It’s great for a healthy lunch or dinner. Plus, the leftovers taste great the next day.

Peanuts for Brain Health

Did you know that along with a healthy diet, eating peanuts and peanut butter gives you nutrients that support brain health? Some foods that are nutritious for your brain include salmon, blueberries, beans, nuts and seeds, dark leafy greens and more. Peanuts are a great choice as they have 19 vitamins and minerals, are affordable, delicious and can be used in a variety of ways. Peanuts have niacin and vitamin E which are known to protect against Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive decline.

Peanuts also have resveratrol which can help fight against Alzheimer's and other nerve degenerating diseases. They can also play a role in stress reduction because they have p-coumaric acid which helps reduce stress and anxiety.

**Check out The Peanut Institute for more peanut information on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

Thai Peanut Chicken Pasta Salad

Yield: serves 6 Author: Amanda Hernandez

Thai Peanut Chicken Pasta Salad

Thai Peanut Chicken Pasta Salad is loaded with grilled chicken, veggies, crunchy peanuts, cilantro and a flavorful Thai peanut sauce!

Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Total time: 40 mins

INGREDIENTS

16 ounces pasta of choice (I used buckwheat soba noodles)
1/3 cup chopped green onion
2 cups sliced grilled chicken
1 diced red pepper
2 cups chopped red cabbage
2 cups shredded carrots
1/3 cup chopped roasted peanuts
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
Thai Peanut Sauce
1 cup melted smooth peanut butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (or rice vinegar
1/4 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup water
Optional: Sliced limes

INSTRUCTIONS

Boil a large pot of water and cook the noodles according to directions. Drain and rinse to cool the noodles. Set aside.
Whisk together all of the ingredients for the Thai peanut sauce.
Toss together the noodles, chicken, vegetables, peanuts and Thai peanut sauce. Mix well and serve!

**Stores well in the fridge for up to 4 days. May need to add a little water to mix if the peanut butter thickens the noodles too much.

Enjoy!