Delicious Peanut Butter Chicken Recipe [+Video]
Looking for a new and tasty chicken recipe? Look no further! This peanut butter chicken dish is easy to make and full of flavor. Try it out tonight!
I kind of have this thing for peanut sauce (hello, Thai peanut noodles with chicken!) and it’s grown even greater in my life because of my friend Kerri! She makes the most amazing peanut chicken with this mango cucumber salsa over the top and we might totally have to convince her to share the recipe on the blog because I can’t stop making all things peanut butter sauce after eating dinner at her house.
So this chicken recipe is totally different than hers. It’s kind of a fun takeout Feik out that even your pickiest of eaters should love. Heck it’s like a peanut butter sandwich, or I guess not. I mean it is chicken, but you see what I’m saying.
Introduction: Why is This Recipe a Must Try
Peanut chicken is great for busy weeknights because you can have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes.
The peanut sauce is to die for! The flavor is so addicting!
Peanut chicken is super family friendly. The flavors are familiar for children but elevated at the same time to satisfy adult palates.
This recipe is perfect for meal prep. You can make the chicken and then portion it out into containers with rice or noodles to eat for lunches or dinner all week.
Ingredients for Peanut Chicken
Sometimes when I see a recipe that leans in the direction of Asian cuisine, I get worried that the ingredients are going to be random and hard to find. This is not the case with this recipe! All the ingredients are easy to find, affordable, and pantry friendly so once you get them, they will last forever. Here is what you will need:
For the Chicken
- Chicken Thighs: boneless, skinless
- Soy Sauce: low sodium
- Canola Oil: or olive oil works great too
- Garlic: fresh and finely minced
- Ginger: fresh is preferred
For the Sauce
- Peanut Butter: we had the best results with natural pb
- PRO TIP: If you have a peanut allergy, almond butter works great in this recipe too!
- Hoisin Sauce: thick, sweet and salty and found by the soy sauce at the grocery store
- Crushed Tomatoes: we love the brand Cento but any brand works great
- Chicken Stock: helps thin out the sauce while adding flavor
- Sesame Oil: gives that signature Asian flavor to the dish
- PRO TIP: Don’t use sesame oil to sauté the chicken. The flavor will be too overpowering. Sesame oil is best in small quantities!
- Honey: adds natural sweetness
- White Vinegar: adds acidity and flavor
- Ground Cumin: adds flavor
- Ground Coriander: adds flavor
- Red Pepper Flakes: adds a tiny bit of heat
- Cilantro: fresh and minced for garnish
- Peanuts: chopped for garnish
The measurements for all the ingredients are listed in the recipe card at the end of the post so keep scrolling for all the details!
Step By Step Instructions
- Prep: cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and get them marinating in the soy sauce while you make the peanut sauce.
- Mix: stir all the ingredients together for the sauce in a medium bowl
- Cook: heat oil in a large skillet and then add the chicken moving it around until it is in a single layer
- Flip: let the chicken cook for a few minutes and then flip the pieces and let them cook a few minutes more then add the garlic and ginger
- Pour: add the peanut butter sauce and let it simmer and season to taste with salt
- PRO TIP: If you have the time, let the chicken simmer on the lowest heat setting for about 2 hours. The chicken will be so tender and extra flavorful!
- Serve: add chopped peanuts and minced cilantro and serve over rice or noodles
All of the instructions in full detail can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post. You can also print or save the recipe there.
How to Make Peanut Butter Chicken Video
Health Benefits of Peanut Butter
Peanut butter has many health benefits. It helps maintain good cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure which all lower the risk of heart disease. Peanut butter also contains omega-6 fatty acid and many important nutrients, including vitamin E, magnesium, iron, selenium and vitamin B6, not to mention it is a great source of plant based protein!
What Type of Peanut Butter to Use
We prefer to use natural because then you are pretty much just getting ground up peanuts. Sometimes natural peanut butter includes salt but you can buy salt free varieties. Pay attention to the food labels for ingredients in the products you buy! If you get regular peanut butter, you’re likely getting several other added ingredients like sugar and oil.
Can I Use Chicken Breasts Instead?
Yes, absolutely! I’ve found that thicken thighs have more flavor, but chicken breasts can definitely be substituted. Cut the chicken breasts into bite size pieces and follow the same instructions in the recipe card.
What to Serve with Peanut Butter Chicken
Like most main dishes in Asian cuisine, we love to serve this chicken dish over simple white rice. It tastes amazing over brown rice as well. Easy and nothing fancy!
It also goes great with rice noodles, like we use in our one pan Asian shrimp noodles! If you don’t have rice noodles, then angel hair pasta or spaghetti works great too. You could also use Udon or Yakisoba noodles or even zoodles to go low carb!
Vegetables always make a great side dish like the simple broccoli salad shown in these images! Something like sauteed snap peas or a grilled asparagus would be great! Our Asian cucumber salad would also be another excellent option!
Chicken Satay Sauce
This is not technically a chicken satay sauce. Satay sauce is made with coconut milk and fewer spices, but it is very similar to peanut butter sauce.
Can I Make This Recipe in an Instant Pot or Slow Cooker?
I would actually stick to the stove top for this recipe. The caramelization on the chicken brings all the flavors and that is best achieved on the stove. If you’re in a bind and need to use a different cooking method, try our slow cooker garlic chicken or our Instant Pot honey chicken!
Storage Tips
Store peanut butter chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for 4-5 days.
This chicken also freezes really well. Let it cool completely and then place in a freezer safe container. It will keep for up to 3 months.
To reheat peanut butter chicken, you can use the microwave or the stove top. If I have the time, I prefer the stove top, especially if I’m heating up more than one serving. If it’s just me warming some up for lunch, I toss it in the microwave.
Skip the Chinese takeout and make peanut butter chicken at home! This recipe is easy and family friendly making it a fantastic weeknight meal! Everyone needs a new chicken dinner recipe in their rotation!
More Easy Asian Chicken Recipes to Try:
Print
Peanut Butter Chicken
Course 50 + Best Easy Asian Recipes, Mom’s Best 100 Easy Chicken Recipes, Over 500 Family Dinner Recipes Ideas
Cuisine Asian
Keyword asian chicken recipes, chicken thighs, peanut butter, peanut sauce
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
Total Time 25 minutes minutes
Servings 8
Calories 421kcal
Author Sweet Basil
Cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces and put them into a large bowl. Add the soy sauce and mix until the pieces are all coated. Set aside the oil, garlic and ginger for the chicken in a minute.
8 Chicken Thighs, 3 Tablespoons Low Sodium Soy Sauce
Set the chicken aside while you make the sauce.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together all of the peanut butter sauce ingredients.
1/2 Cup Natural Peanut Butter, 1 1/2 Tablespoons Hoisin Sauce, 15 Ounce Can Crushed Tomatoes, 1 Cup Chicken Stock, 1/4 teaspoon Sesame Oil, 1 Tablespoon Honey, 2 teaspoons White Vinegar, 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin, Pinch Red Pepper Flakes, 1 teaspoon Ground Coriander
Heat the oil in a large, non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Pour the chicken into the pan (careful, it will splatter) and move the chicken around so that it is in a single layer.
1 Tablespoon Canola Oil
Let it cook undisturbed for 5 minutes then turn the chicken pieces over and let them cook for another 5 minutes.
Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 more minute.
3 Cloves Garlic, 2 teaspoons Fresh Ginger
Pour the peanut butter sauce into the pan and let it cook until it begins to thicken a little, about 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and serve over rice with a little minced cilantro and chopped peanuts. Serve with Asian Cucumber Salad. Cilantro, Peanuts
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 566mg | Potassium: 355mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 89IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
READ: Delicious Peanut Butter Chicken Recipe [+Video]