11 Quick Thai Recipes for Lunch (under 30 minutes)

The best easy, delicious Thai Recipes for Lunch, mostly ready in 20 minutes; recipes based on the food I ate in Thailand during the 20+ years my father lived in Bangkok.

Using chopsticks to pick up some spicy Drunken Noodles.

20 minutes Pad Kra Pao (Thai Basil Pork)

A plate of authentic Thai Basil Pork Mince with rice and fried egg.

Pad Kra Pao is my favorite Thai dish! Ideally served with a Thai style fried egg (not sunny side as shown above but I was watching my calories.)

The only bad thing about it is it makes you eat more rice because the sauce is so delicious! For more Thai basil recipes, click here.

Thai Basil Pork Mince (Pad Kra Pao Moo)

This Thai Basil Pork Mince, or Pad Kra Pao Moo (Pad Gra Pao Pork), is an easy stir-fry but SO TASTY. It's one of favorite authentic Thai food recipes and I must have eaten this Asian street food dish at least 100s of times over the 20 years my Father lived in Bangkok.

Click here for the Thai pork recipe.

Stir fried Thai Basil Pork Pad Gra Pao and fried egg on white rice.

Drunken Noodles (20 min)

Less famous than Pad Thai but, in my opinion, this is the most delicious Thai noodle recipe!

If it's a different Asian noodle recipe you're after, click here.

Authentic Drunken Noodles Recipe (Pad Kee Mao)

This is an Authentic Drunken Noodles recipe, also known as Pad Kee Mao or Drunkard Noodles, that is on the table in 20 minutes, perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner! I show you how to make it with fresh and dried rice noodles. (If you can't take spice, I have tips on how to make this Thai food dish less spicy.)

Click here for the tasty Asian noodle recipe.

Thai Basil Fried Rice (Shrimp) (under 30 min)

Close-up of a plate of Thai fried rice with shrimp and a sunny side egg.

Everyone talks about pineapple fried rice, but have you tried Thai Basil fried rice? It's perfect for those who don't like their food too sweet!

For more Asian shrimp recipes, click here.

Thai Basil Fried Rice with Shrimp (Khao Pad Goong)

This Thai Basil Fried Rice with Shrimp (Khao Pad Goong) is quick easy and delicious: it's on the table in under 30 minutes if you have leftover rice. Plus making it at home means you can save money and custmise it to your desired spice level!

Click here for the spicy Thai fried rice.

A plate of Spicy Thai Basil Fried Rice with Shrimp and Egg.

Thai Basil Lettuce Wraps (20 min)

A pan full of Thai basil chicken stir fry and a bowl full of Romaine lettuce leaves.

Lettuce wraps are a great way of getting more veggies in your diet- don't forget to serve them with these lettuce wrap side dishes.

Thai Chicken Lettuce Wrap (20 min)

This Healthy Thai Chicken Lettuce Wrap is an easy appetiser, so flavourful, no dipping sauce is needed. One of my favorite Asian lettuce wraps thanks to the juicy chicken thighs (low carb) and fresh basil leaves. I show you how to make it spicy (or not)- better than pf Changs anyday!

Click here for the spicy Thai wraps.

3 Thai chicken lettuce wraps on a white plate.

Thai Noodle Salad

A plate of Thai vermicelli noodles amongst Chinese New Year decorations.

This cold noodle dish is one of my favorite abalone recipes, and great for hot days!

Thai Vermicelli Noodle Salad with Abalone

Tangy, sweet, spicy, and savory, this light Thai Vermicelli with Abalone Salad is a great make-ahead recipe for your Chinese New Year 2023 celebration dinner. It can even be a no-cook recipe, and is the perfect dish for beginner home chefs!

Click here for the cold noodle salad recipe.

Vermicelli glass noodles mixed with sliced abalone, coriander, peanuts and dried shrimp on a leaf-shaped plate.

Thai Drunken Spaghetti with Chicken (20 min)

Thai spaghetti noodles with sliced chicken thighs.

To make life easier for those who can't get their hands on rice noodles, I've made this Drunken noodles with spaghetti!

Click here for more Asian spaghetti & linguine dishes.

Stir Fry Thai Spaghetti Noodles with chicken

This easy Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao Gai), or Stir Fry Thai Spaghetti Noodles with chicken, is coated in a delicious spicy sauce. (20 min dinner recipe.)

Click here for the chicken noodles recipe.

Thai noodles with green vegetables on a white plate.

Thai Basil Chicken (20 min)

White rice and Thai-inspired chicken with Thai basil on a white plate.

Easy Thai Basil Chicken (20 minute)

This easy Thai Basil Chicken is a delicious dish on the dinner table in just 20 minutes! As it has capsicums in it, it's a complete meal with just a bowl of white rice. It is similar to but NOT Pad Gra Pao Gai (as that dish calls for Holy Basil, not Thai Basil, which is more difficult to get in the West.) I have made the recipe with easy-to-get ingredients in the US, but also included instructions for making an authentic Thai Chicken dish.

Click here for the quick and easy chicken recipe.

A spoonful of Thai Basil Chicken with capsicum, red chilies, and rice.

Vegetarian Thai Fried Rice (20 min)

Scooping up some dark Thai fried rice with basili, carrots and peas.

Thai Basil Fried Rice (Vegetarian) (20 min)

This Vegan/ Vegetarian Thai Basil Fried Rice is a deliciously easy dish on the dinner table in under 20 minutes. It's the ultimate Asian comfort food: sweet, salty, savory, and budget-friendly! (Not including rice cooking time, if not using leftover rice.)

Click here for the quick and easy fried rice.

A spoonful of vegetarian Thai fried rice with Thai basil, peas, carrots and chilies.

Spicy Tuna Fried Rice (30 min)

Scooping into a bowl of tinned tuna fried rice with egg.

One of my favorite ways to use up a can of tuna!

EASY Canned Tuna Fried rice (30 min)

This easy Canned Tuna Fried Rice recipe is simple, nutritious, and delicious. Done in 30 minutes, it's a great pantry meal for a quick weeknight dinner. (I also show you how to make it spicy, or non-spicy.)

Click here for the Thai seafood fried rice recipe.

Drunken Spaghetti with Tuna (under 30 min)

A plate of Thai Drunken Noodles Spaghetti next to chili and garlic.

Easy Drunken Noodles Recipe (Spaghetti)

This easy Drunken Noodles recipe, also known as Drunkard Noodles recipe (Pad Kee Mao), uses readily available ingredients, such as spaghetti and canned tuna, but also shares the steps and ingredients to make an authentic version. It's a deliciously quick weeknight dinner, on the dinner table in under 30 minutes! (Despite the name, there is no alcohol in the recipe- the spicy noodles do taste amazing with a cold beer though!)

Click here for the tuna spaghetti recipe.

Close-up of a plate of spicy Thai basil spaghetti.

Lemongrass Soup (25 min)

A bowl of soup with fishcake, shallot, white fish and tomatoes.

I have a confession: this is not an authentic Thai soup. Rather it's inspired by Tom Yum but is a non-spicy version!

Light and refreshing, it's perfect for spring!

EASY Lemongrass Soup (25 min)

A light but warming lemongrass soup, or coconut water chicken soup, that makes one feel warm and cozy in fall and winter. No sugar needed thanks to the natural sweetness of the young coconut. Plus, it's on the table in under 30 minutes, so perfect for a quick weeknight dinner!

Click here for the Thai inspired soup recipe.