This recipe is such a huge hit with so many delicious flavors. We always have to double or triple batch this every time we make it. Forget tiny, small portions, you are going to want a heaping helping of Spicy Thai Pasta Salad, whether for a large gathering or dinner at home. If you want to make this into a more hearty main dish, you can even add cooked cubed chicken, or shredded rotisserie chicken.
If you love tasty salads, try our amazing Cilantro-Lime Orzo Pasta Salad.
Why Our Recipe
- Not your typical pasta salad with a combination of flavors that bursts in your mouth!
- The perfect make-ahead side dish for potlucks and backyard barbecues and it’s always an absolute hit.
- Easy to scale up to larger portions for big gatherings.
I first tasted this recipe when a coworker brought it to a work party over twenty years ago. It has been a favorite of mine ever since and has been a crowd favorite wherever I take it. I love that it is different from all of the typical pasta salads that you see. This tasty combination of unique flavors is perfect for picnics, potlucks, and parties.
Ingredient Notes
- Bowtie Pasta: Don’t love bowtie pasta? You can use almost any small, shaped pasta instead: penne, rotini, etc.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: This tastes best with a good kick to it, but if you prefer a mild spice, use only 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
- Vegetable Oil: Can substitute with corn oil or olive oil.
- Sesame Oil: This is a must! It is where you get a lot of your flavor.
- Honey: Brings part of the essential main flavors.
- Soy Sauce: You can use low-sodium soy sauce if you are looking to lower the salt content.
- Salt: Up to you if you choose to add the additional salt.
- Chopped Cilantro: This is a staple flavor, but if you don’t love the flavor of cilantro then parsley is the go-to substitute.
- Honey Roasted Peanuts: We love the crunch of the peanuts, but if you don’t share that love, or have allergies, you can always omit the peanuts. You could regular peanuts, but honey roasted just brings extra flavor.
- Sliced Green Onions: This is not just to make the salad pretty. They also add flavor.
Allergy Warning
Make sure that if you do take this spicy salad to a potluck it is clearly marked as containing peanuts. I have never had any problems because the whole peanuts are so visible
Make Ahead
This dish is ideally made the day before serving. The secret to this delicious spicy Thai pasta salad is the infused oil and red pepper mixture. It sounds fancy, but infusing oils is actually really easy. The flavors continue to develop over time. So while the recipe says to make it at least 4 hours before, it is ideal to have overnight for the developments of these yummy flavors. Just add the cilantro, peanuts, and green onions right before serving. We know it’s difficult, but trust us, it will be worth the wait!
Storage Instructions
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Give it a stir before serving.
Yummy! Like another said they did, I also didn’t use a lot of red pepper flakes, and I chopped up the peanuts (I used regular dry roasted lightly salted peanuts). So so good!!!
Tasty Thai meal that we have served both chilled and warmed. Goes well with baked chicken and roasted salmon. I always use toasted sesame oil and tri colored rotini pasta.
One of our favorites to take to potlucks and season of the year.
Loved this recipe. Used only 1 tsp of the hot pepper flakes and that was plenty. Will definitely add to my pot luck ideas list.
Love this so much with additional fresh veggies added. I add shredded carrots, thin sliced broccoli and red bell pepper. Delicately shredded cabbage sometimes too.
My new favorite pasta dish.
My wife couldn’t get enough.
Can’t wait to take to fellowship potluck.
So, so good! We all gobbled this up like we had not eaten this week. Had a person who does not like cilantro so I served it alongside for people who did could add their own. I think toasted sesame oil is a must.
I haven’t tried this yet, but I am looking forward to trying it. What do you think about adding a little peanut butter (a natural one, so it wouldn’t be sweet) into the sauce to boost the peanut flavor?
You absolutely could.