15 Plant-Based Spicy Peanut Recipes

If you’re looking for some creamy, peanut-flavored dishes with a kick, you’ve come to the right place. From spicy peanut soup to spicy peanut curry to spicy peanut noodles, we’ve got you covered in the spicy peanut department. You’re going to want to make each of these recipes many times over!

1. Spicy Peanut Noodles

Source: Spicy Peanut Noodles

We’ve been obsessed with knife-cut noodles since being introduced to them through social media. Maybe you’ve seen videos of chefs effortlessly slicing noodles off a big block of dough directly into a pot of boiling water. These famous Asian noodles are prized for their texture, which is chewy but soft. When shopping for them in markets or online, look for dao xiao mian, knife-cut noodles, or knife-shaved noodles. These Spicy Peanut Noodles by Tiffani Thompson and Larone Thompson are creamy, crispy, tangy, and spicy. In this case, the chili crisp is not optional! Swap the regular sesame oil for sesame chili oil if you want to dial up the heat even more.

Reprinted with permission from Noodle Worship by Tiffani & Larone Thompson. Page Street Publishing Co. 2022. Photo credit: Becky Winkler.

2. 30-Minute Spicy Peanut Soup

Source: 30-Minute Spicy Peanut Soup

This 30-Minute Spicy Peanut Soup by Kirsten Kaminski will be your new favorite. Hearty and creamy, it’s packed with tender butternut squash, collard greens, and tofu. So healthy and flavorful! This vegan peanut soup is perfect for freezing so you can have leftovers on busy days — it’s also a great way to stretch your dollar because it uses filling and affordable ingredients and can last longer by serving with grains.

3. Seitan Satay With Spicy Peanut Sauce

Source: Seitan Satay With Spicy Peanut Sauce

This Seitan Satay With Spicy Peanut Sauce by Johanne Rosenthal is a delectable veganized version of chicken satay that far surpasses the stuff you would get out of a grubby paper delivery bag. The homemade seitan is smokey, moist, and delicious and the spicy peanut sauce is creamy and delicious – plus it doubles as a marinade for the seitan so there’s less work for you.

4. Thai Veggie Wraps With Spicy Peanut Sauce

Source: Thai Veggie Wraps With Spicy Peanut Sauce

These Thai Veggie Wraps With Spicy Peanut Sauce by Rene Barker make a simple and delicious lunch, snack, or dinner. Crisp broccoli slaw, fresh spinach, sweet bell peppers, and fresh cilantro are packed into a wrap and served with a side of creamy, spicy peanut sauce. Perfect for school or lunch!

5. Easy Spicy Peanut Tofu Bites

Source: Easy Spicy Peanut Tofu Bites

People who don’t like tofu have never tried these Easy Spicy Peanut Tofu Bites by Robin. Seriously, these are addictive in the best way possible. You can throw these in pretty much any dish and make it ten times better. Or eat them alone! Whatever suits your fancy. Nothing is wrong when it comes to eating these – crispy on the outside, softer on the inside, and exploding with melting peanut flavor.

6. Raw Twisted Pad Thai With Spicy Peanut Sauce

Source: Raw Twisted Pad Thai With Spicy Peanut Sauce

Some people might call this a salad, but this is on a different level of yumminess. Love preparing veggies in a not-salad way and you DO NOT need a spiralizer. Julienned veggies work or just spend a bit more time cutting slim strips. It makes eating it a bit more fun. The peanut sauce is tangy, just like the pad thai you order for takeout. This Raw Twisted Pad Thai With Spicy Peanut Sauce by Sara Alisson will have you feeling satisfied but not nearly as lethargic as its cooked counterpart. Rawesome.

7. Lentil Ball Wraps With Spicy Peanut Sauce

Source: Lentil Ball Wraps With Spicy Peanut Sauce

These Lentil Ball Wraps With Spicy Peanut Sauce by Tiana Haines make the perfect light lunch and will last you throughout the week. The lentil balls are elegantly spiced, tender on the inside, and crispy on the outside, and the peanut sauce gives them just the right amount of kick.

8. Thai Meatballs With Spicy Peanut Sauce

Source: Thai Meatballs With Spicy Peanut Sauce

These Thai Meatballs With Spicy Peanut Sauce by Ashley Smyczek are packed with a unique and complex blend of Thai spices and chickpeas and served with a spicy peanut sauce for dipping. Plus, you can make this recipe in a flash so it’s perfect for unexpected guests.

9. Thai Pizza With Cauliflower Leeks Tofu and Spicy Peanut Sauce

Source: Thai Pizza With Cauliflower Leeks Tofu and Spicy Peanut Sauce

Is there any better night than pizza night? This Thai Pizza With Cauliflower Leeks Tofu and Spicy Peanut Sauce by Travis Piper is guaranteed to blow the roof right off your home. It’s loaded with Thai-inspired ingredients and flavors like bell pepper, sprouts, baked tofu fresh herbs, and a creamy, spicy peanut sauce. It’s also topped with Italian marinara sauce and creamy cashew cheese that blend as the pizza gets crispy and warm in the oven.

10. Spicy Peanut Mushroom Kale Soup

Source: Spicy Peanut Mushroom Kale Soup

This Spicy Peanut Mushroom Kale Soup by Laura Ryan is sort of strange because it’s seasoned with mostly condiments instead of dried spices. This contributes to the rich, velvety texture of the broth, and adds a great umami flavor. You can also make it in the crockpot but saute the mushrooms first if you do.

11. Spicy Peanut Curry With Lentils and Millet

Source: Spicy Peanut Curry With Lentils and Millet

This Spicy Peanut Curry With Lentils and Millet by Sonja Trurnit is made with a blend of spices and peanut butter for a rich, flavorful sauce. On top of an already stacked roster of ingredients, it includes savory tomatoes, hearty sweet potatoes, and kale. It’s served with lentils and millet on the side, so it’s sure to keep you feeling full and satisfied.

12. Chinese Cabbage Salad With Tofu and Spicy Peanut Dressing

Source: Chinese Cabbage Salad With Tofu and Spicy Peanut Dressing

If you’re looking for a salad that’s crunchy, savory, sweet, and with a little bit of heat, then you have to make this Chinese Cabbage Salad With Tofu and Spicy Peanut Dressing by Gabrielle St. Claire. It’s bright, colorful, practically effortless to throw together, and flavorful. The peanut dressing contains no added sugar with a burst of citrusy flavor from fresh orange and lime juice.

13. Spicy Peanut Udon Noodle Bowl

Source: Spicy Peanut Udon Noodle Bowl

This Spicy Peanut Udon Noodle Bowl by Maria Koutsogiannis has summer vibes all the way. Spicy udon noodles, creamy peanut sauce-covered zucchini noodles, marinated figs, a topping of fresh vegetables, and, of course, avocado. This dish is nutty, and citrusy, and will fill you up without making you feel weighed down. Enjoy!

14. Spicy Broccoli Salad With Peanut Sauce

Source: Spicy Broccoli Salad With Peanut Sauce

This Spicy Broccoli Salad With Peanut Sauce by Kristie Williams-Yowell will make even the most blasé broccoli eaters swoon. It has charred broccoli, gorgeous red (and slightly spicy Fresno chilis), crispy garlic chips, toasty peanuts, a fresh sprinkle of cilantro, and a divine spicy peanut dipping sauce. All the elements of this dish come together to make one out-of-this-world plate of veggie deliciousness.

15. Veggie Summer Rolls With Spicy Garlic Peanut Sauce 

Source: Veggie Summer Rolls With Spicy Garlic Peanut Sauce

You can make these Veggie Summer Rolls With Spicy Garlic Peanut Sauce by Emily von Euw raw by leaving out the vermicelli and using collard greens or seaweed instead of rice paper. Otherwise, let’s get riced! There is something so satisfying about rice paper rolls filled with fresh herbs, vermicelli, greens, and veggies, paired with a creamy flavorful dipping sauce.

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness of important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing that is designed to be returned and remade repeatedly.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!