Effortless 30-Minute Thai Peanut Chicken Fettuccine: Your New Weeknight Favorite

Say goodbye to heating up your kitchen with the oven! This incredibly flavorful Thai-inspired peanut sauce chicken and fettuccine dish is your new go-to for busy weeknights. Ready in a remarkable 30 minutes from start to finish, it combines tender chicken, vibrant bell peppers, and silky pasta with a rich, creamy, and irresistible peanut sauce that requires minimal effort. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just starting out, this recipe promises a delicious, satisfying meal that’s both quick and easy to prepare. To make future meal prep even faster, consider doubling the sauce recipe and freezing half for another delicious, stress-free dinner.

⏲️ Time Needed: Fast & Flavorful in Just 30 Minutes

One of the greatest advantages of this Thai Chicken Fettuccine is its impressive speed. You can have this delightful and hearty meal on your table in just 30 minutes. This includes all the prep work, cooking the chicken, simmering the sauce, and boiling the pasta. The secret to its efficiency lies in multitasking: the rich, aromatic peanut sauce cooks on low heat for about 15-20 minutes, while simultaneously, you can cook your pasta to al dente perfection and sauté the chicken and bell pepper. This streamlined approach means less time spent in the kitchen and more time enjoying a flavorful, home-cooked meal, making it an ideal choice for any busy evening.

🥘 Key Ingredients for Your Thai Peanut Chicken Fettuccine

Beyond the core components of boneless, skinless chicken, classic fettuccine pasta, and a crisp red bell pepper, the magic of this dish truly comes alive with its vibrant peanut sauce. Here’s a closer look at the simple yet powerful ingredients you’ll need to create this Thai-inspired delight:

• Salsa: This might seem like an unconventional addition for a Thai-inspired dish, but salsa brings a fantastic burst of tomato flavor, a hint of acidity, and a touch of mild spice to the peanut sauce, adding depth and complexity. Opt for a mild or medium salsa to control the heat level.
• Creamy Peanut Butter: The heart of our sauce! Creamy peanut butter provides the iconic nutty flavor and luscious, smooth texture. While creamy is recommended for a silky sauce, if you prefer a slight crunch, a natural crunchy peanut butter can also work, just ensure it’s well-stirred into the sauce.
• Orange Juice: Fresh orange juice adds a delightful citrusy sweetness that balances the richness of the peanut butter and the savory notes of the soy sauce. It brightens the overall flavor profile, giving the sauce a zesty lift.
• Honey: A natural sweetener that contributes a subtle floral note and helps to balance the savory and tangy elements of the sauce. You can adjust the amount to your sweetness preference or substitute with maple syrup or a touch of brown sugar.
• Soy Sauce: Essential for umami and a savory depth, soy sauce ties all the flavors together. For a gluten-free option, tamari works perfectly as a substitute without compromising on taste.
• Cilantro: Fresh cilantro is a must for garnish! Its bright, herbaceous notes provide a refreshing contrast to the rich peanut sauce, adding a pop of color and an authentic Thai-inspired aroma. Don’t skip it if you love cilantro!
• Boneless, Skinless Chicken: We recommend using chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces for quick cooking and even distribution throughout the pasta. This ensures every forkful is perfectly balanced.
• Fettuccine: The broad, flat noodles of fettuccine are ideal for clinging to the thick, creamy peanut sauce. However, feel free to substitute with other pasta shapes like linguine, spaghetti, or even rice noodles for a more traditional Thai noodle dish.
• Red Bell Pepper: Sliced into thin strips, red bell pepper adds a sweet crunch, vibrant color, and essential nutrients to the dish. It cooks quickly alongside the chicken, becoming tender-crisp.
• Oil: A neutral cooking oil, such as canola, vegetable, or a light olive oil, will be needed for sautéing the chicken and bell pepper.

📋 Step-by-Step Instructions for a Perfect Weeknight Meal

Crafting this delicious Thai Chicken Fettuccine is straightforward and designed for maximum efficiency. Follow these steps to create a memorable meal in no time:

Step 1: Prepare Your Irresistible Peanut Sauce
Begin by creating the flavorful peanut sauce. In a small saucepan, combine the salsa, creamy peanut butter, honey, soy sauce, and orange juice. Place the saucepan over low heat. Stir continuously, or at least very frequently, to ensure the peanut butter melts smoothly and all the ingredients blend into a homogenous, creamy sauce. This process typically takes about 15-20 minutes. Maintain low heat to prevent the sauce from burning or sticking to the bottom of the pan, and allow it to gently simmer, letting the flavors meld beautifully.

Step 2: Cook the Pasta Concurrently
While your peanut sauce is gently simmering and developing its rich flavors, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add your fettuccine pasta and cook according to package directions until it reaches an al dente texture – tender but still firm to the bite. Once cooked, drain the pasta thoroughly. You’ll want to either keep the fettuccine warm (e.g., by tossing with a tiny bit of oil or rinsing with hot water and draining well) until your chicken is ready, or, for optimal freshness, time it so that both the pasta and the chicken are ready at approximately the same moment. This ensures a hot, cohesive dish.

Step 3: Sauté the Chicken and Bell Pepper
As the sauce simmers and pasta boils, heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add a tablespoon or two of cooking oil (such as canola or vegetable oil). Once the oil is shimmering, add your bite-sized chicken pieces and the thin strips of red bell pepper. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and lightly browned on all sides, and the bell pepper has softened slightly but still retains a pleasant crunch, about 5-7 minutes. Ensure the skillet is large enough to comfortably accommodate the chicken, bell pepper, and later, the sauce, allowing for even cooking and easy mixing.

Step 4: Combine and Serve
Once the chicken is fully cooked and the bell pepper is tender-crisp, reduce the heat to low. Pour the prepared peanut sauce directly into the skillet with the chicken and bell pepper. Stir everything together thoroughly, coating every piece of chicken and every strip of bell pepper in the luscious sauce. Allow it to heat through gently for another minute or two, ensuring all components are warm and well-integrated. Serve this delightful chicken and peanut sauce mixture generously over the warm fettuccine. For an extra burst of freshness and authentic flavor, garnish with plenty of fresh cilantro before serving. This dish pairs wonderfully with a simple green salad for a complete and wholesome meal.

❄️ Freezer Instructions: Prep Ahead for Future Feasts

One of the fantastic features of this recipe is how well the peanut sauce freezes. This makes it an excellent candidate for meal prepping. We highly recommend doubling the sauce recipe! Prepare a larger batch of the peanut sauce, cool half of it completely, and then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. Be sure to label it clearly with the following information to ensure easy identification and perfect reheating:

“Thai Peanut Sauce: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or gently reheat from frozen over low heat on the stovetop, stirring frequently until smooth and warm. Serve with freshly sautéed chicken and red bell pepper over rice or fettuccine, and garnish generously with fresh cilantro for a quick and flavorful meal any day of the week.”

Having a stash of this homemade Thai peanut sauce in your freezer means you’re always just minutes away from a delicious, healthy, and satisfying meal, even on your busiest days.

Recipe

Thai Chicken Fettuccine

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Embrace the vibrant flavors of Thailand with this incredibly quick and easy Thai Chicken Fettuccine. This delicious recipe features tender chicken and crisp bell peppers coated in a rich, creamy peanut sauce, all served over perfectly cooked fettuccine. Forget the oven; this entire meal is ready on the stovetop in just 30 minutes, making it the ultimate weeknight dinner solution. Pair it with a simple green salad for a complete and satisfying experience.

AuthorAuthor: Mary Ann

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Thai

Servings 4 servings

Calories 413

Ingredients

  

• 1 C salsa (adds depth and a hint of spice to the sauce)
• ¼ C creamy peanut butter (for that rich, smooth Thai-inspired flavor)
• 2 tablespoon orange juice (adds bright citrus notes)
• 2 tablespoon honey (for natural sweetness; adjust to taste)
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce (for umami and savory depth; use tamari for GF)
• 1 lb chicken, boneless, skinless, cut into bite sized pieces (breasts or thighs work well)
• Oil as needed (canola, vegetable, or light olive oil for sautéing)
• 8 oz box fettuccine, cooked al dente and kept warm (or other pasta of choice)
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips (adds sweetness and crunch)
• Fresh cilantro, as desired (for garnish and fresh flavor)

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Instructions

• Prepare the Peanut Sauce: In a small saucepan, combine the salsa, creamy peanut butter, honey, soy sauce, and orange juice. Heat this mixture over low heat, stirring constantly, until the peanut butter completely melts and all ingredients are smoothly blended into a creamy sauce. This process should take approximately 15-20 minutes. Ensure the heat remains low to avoid scorching the sauce.
• Cook Chicken and Bell Pepper: While the sauce is simmering, heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat with a tablespoon or two of cooking oil. Add the bite-sized chicken pieces and the thinly sliced red bell pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is fully cooked through with no pink remaining, and the bell pepper strips are tender-crisp. This typically takes about 5-7 minutes.
• Cook and Warm the Pasta: Concurrently with steps 1 and 2, cook your fettuccine pasta according to package directions in a separate pot of boiling salted water until it is al dente. Drain the pasta well and keep it warm. You can achieve this by tossing it with a tiny bit of oil, or simply ensure your pasta finishes cooking just as your chicken and sauce are ready.
• Combine and Serve: Once the chicken and bell pepper are cooked, add the prepared peanut sauce directly to the skillet. Stir thoroughly to coat the chicken and bell pepper evenly. Let it gently heat through for another minute, ensuring all flavors are well incorporated. Serve this delicious Thai peanut chicken and bell pepper mixture immediately over the warm fettuccine. Garnish generously with fresh cilantro before serving for an extra touch of freshness and aroma.

Notes

For a different texture or to make the dish gluten-free, you can easily substitute rice noodles or even plain white or brown rice for the fettuccine.

The peanut sauce is wonderfully freezer-friendly. To save time on future busy nights, double the sauce recipe! Once cooked and cooled, transfer half of the sauce to a freezer-safe container and label it with “Thai Peanut Sauce: Thaw and reheat over medium heat. Serve with sautéed chicken and red bell pepper over rice or fettuccine and garnish with fresh cilantro.” This allows for incredibly quick meal assembly later on.

The estimated nutrition data for this recipe was calculated using 2 tablespoons of canola oil for cooking. Adjustments to oil type or quantity may slightly alter nutritional values.

Feel free to customize the spice level by adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce, or incorporate other vegetables like snow peas, broccoli florets, or shredded carrots for added nutrition and color.

Nutrition per serving

Calories: 413 calCarbohydrates: 33 gProtein: 18 gFat: 24 gSodium: 659 mgFiber: 3 gSugar: 15 g

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Loved this quick and flavorful Thai Peanut Chicken Fettuccine recipe? Don’t keep it a secret! Pin this recipe to your favorite Pinterest boards so you can easily find it whenever you need a fast, delicious, and oven-free weeknight meal. Share the joy of stress-free cooking with your friends and family!