Zesty Thai Noodle Bowl

Featured in Delicious Main Course Recipes for Every Occasion.

Bowties come to life with a punch of spicy, honey-soy sesame sauce. You warm oil, toss in some pepper flakes, and let that flavor cook in. Whisk in honey and soy so the base is sweet, salty, and totally tasty. Grab your cooked pasta, mix it all up, and throw it in the fridge for a bit. Pile on green onion, peanuts, and cilantro just before serving for a fresh, crunchy bite. Want it awesome? Keep it cold and load up on those toppings—it’ll steal the show at gatherings or as a cooling snack.

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Updated on Tue, 10 Jun 2025 18:55:32 GMT
A bowl filled with pasta, veggies, and nuts. Pin it
A bowl filled with pasta, veggies, and nuts. | homedeliciousrecipes.com

Whenever I want something bold and a bit fiery, I whip up this Spicy Thai Pasta Salad. It’s loaded with those big, punchy Thai flavors and always comes with that special crunch up top. It brings extra excitement to plain weeknight pasta and turns heads when you share it.

Back at a summer picnic, I first tried this out. Ever since, the way the saucy bits sink into every noodle has made this a total crowd-pleaser. It's my standby for potlucks or easy weekday meals.

Vibrant Ingredients

  • Sliced green onion: Bumps up color and sharpness. Use both ends for flavor
  • Honey roasted peanuts: Finish with crunch and a hit of sweetness. Go with a fresh pack for extra snap
  • Chopped fresh cilantro: Makes the salad pop visually and with herby brightness. Chop right before mixing in
  • Salt: Lifts all the flavors. Use clean-tasting sea salt if you can
  • Soy sauce: Adds a hit of salt and savoriness. Low-sodium is a good pick
  • Honey: Softens the spicy edge and brings gentle sweetness. Local is especially tasty
  • Sesame oil: Deep, nutty background flavor. Toasted is best
  • Vegetable oil: Helps boost the flavors from the chili. Pick one that’s neutral to let the other flavors shine
  • Crushed red pepper flakes: Where the heat lives. Fresh flakes are livelier
  • Bowtie pasta: Holds onto the tasty sauce and stays solid after cooling. Good quality pasta is worth it

Simple Steps

Finish With Toppings:
Toss in your cilantro, peanuts, and green onions right before serving for the brightest flavor and best crunch. Mix it up and dig in while it’s nice and cold
Let Chill:
Cover the pasta and let it hang out in the fridge for at least 4 hours (or overnight if you can). Flavors settle in and everything gets tastier
Sauce the Salad:
While things are still warm, pour your finished dressing over the drained pasta. Mix well so every piece gets coated in the spicy goodness
Shake Up the Dressing:
Take your warm oil and quickly add in honey, soy sauce, and salt. Move the pan off the stove and stir until the honey’s mixed in and everything looks smooth
Flavor the Oil:
Warm up both oils with the red chili flakes in a little pot, stirring a lot for about two minutes. Don’t wander off or let them burn. Burnt flakes = bitter oil
Cook up the Pasta:
Fill a big pot with salted water, get it bubbling, and boil your bowties till done but still with a bite. Drain them fast then dump into a big bowl to start cooling off
A bowl showing pasta with herbs and red pepper accents. Pin it
A bowl showing pasta with herbs and red pepper accents. | homedeliciousrecipes.com

That first hit of toasted sesame always makes me smile. I just love how the smell fills the place. Takes me right back to simple summer nights cooking up something new with the fam.

Keep It Fresh

Stick leftovers in the fridge with the lid on tight. You’ll get about three days while it stays fresh and crisp. The peanuts might get a little soft, so toss on a fresh handful if you want extra crunch each time you grab some.

Swap Outs

Not into spicy? Skip the chili flakes or use less. If peanuts are a no-go, roasted sunflower seeds work. If you want vegan, trade honey for agave. Tamari is a solid sub for soy sauce if you’re gluten-free.

Bowl loaded up with veggie-filled pasta. Pin it
Bowl loaded up with veggie-filled pasta. | homedeliciousrecipes.com

Ways to Serve

Plate this for lunch next to some cucumber slices or bring it to a cookout next to anything grilled on a stick. It’s tasty with tofu or shrimp if you need some protein. I sometimes throw in raw bell pepper strips for a blast of color and snap.

About the Dish

This salad riffs off classic Thai flavors—lots of kick, sweet notes, and green herbs—but does it with ingredients you’ve probably got at home. Thai versions usually use rice noodles and fish sauce. Here, it’s all about that crowd-pleasing vibe for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Which kind of noodles are best?

Bowties do a great job soaking up all that yummy sauce, but you can use penne or rotini if that's what you've got.

→ How do I make it more or less spicy?

Just add more or less red pepper flakes to the sauce. It's up to you—turn up the heat or keep it mild.

→ Should I eat it cold or warm?

Chill it before eating. The flavors really pop when it's nice and cool.

→ What if I can't do peanuts?

Try cashews or toasted almonds for a new crunch. Both work just as well!

→ How long is it good in the fridge?

Leftovers last up to three days in the fridge. Give it a good stir before eating again.

→ Is this okay for gluten-free folks?

Yep! Pick gluten-free pasta and make sure your soy sauce is gluten-free, too.

Zesty Thai Noodle Bowl

Cool pasta with a spicy sesame twist, peanuts, and cilantro. Great to share with friends.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
12 Minutes
Total Time
27 Minutes

Category: Main Dishes

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: inspired by Thai

Yield: 6 Servings (1 big salad bowl)

Dietary: Vegetarian, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

→ Toppings

01 120 milliliters honey roasted peanuts
02 120 milliliters sliced green onion
03 120 milliliters chopped fresh cilantro

→ Sauce

04 80 milliliters sesame oil
05 1 to 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
06 30 milliliters vegetable oil
07 60 milliliters honey
08 60 milliliters soy sauce
09 0.5 teaspoon salt

→ Noodles

10 340 grams bowtie pasta

Instructions

Step 01

Right before you want to eat, toss in the peanuts, cilantro, and green onions. Mix things up gently and serve cold.

Step 02

Wrap the bowl up tight and stick it in the fridge for at least four hours, or let it sit overnight if you want all the flavors to come together.

Step 03

Drizzle all that warm, yummy sauce over your pasta. Toss everything until every piece is covered.

Step 04

Take the pot off the heat and add honey, salt, and soy sauce right in. Whisk like crazy till it looks smooth.

Step 05

Heat up both oils in a saucepan over medium. Sprinkle in the red pepper flakes and let them cook for a couple of minutes but don’t let them brown.

Step 06

Get water bubbling in a big pot, toss in salt, and cook the bowtie pasta by the package’s directions. Once it’s done, drain and dump it into a big bowl.

Notes

  1. Letting the pasta sit in the fridge really cranks up the taste. Chopping up fresh herbs and adding nuts at the end gives your dish loads of crunch and awesome smell.

Tools You'll Need

  • Big pot
  • Saucepan
  • Mixing bowl
  • Plastic wrap

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Has peanuts
  • Has soy
  • Has wheat (gluten) from pasta