Description
A quick and flavorful Peanut Butter Chicken recipe featuring tender chicken pieces cooked in a creamy, savory peanut sauce with a hint of spice. This dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner and pairs wonderfully with rice, noodles, or steamed vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Peanut Butter Sauce
- 1/2 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon sriracha (optional, for spice)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup warm water (to adjust sauce consistency)
Garnish
- Chopped green onions
- Crushed peanuts
- Fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken pieces and cook for about 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is fully cooked and golden brown. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Make the Peanut Butter Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sriracha (if using), and minced garlic. Gradually add warm water, a little at a time, until the sauce reaches your desired consistency—smooth and creamy but pourable.
- Combine the Chicken and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet over medium heat. Pour the peanut butter sauce over the chicken and stir to coat the chicken evenly in the sauce. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and the flavors to meld.
- Serve: Serve the peanut butter chicken over rice, noodles, or steamed vegetables. Garnish with chopped green onions, crushed peanuts, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice for added flavor.
Notes
- You can use either chicken breasts or thighs depending on your preference; thighs tend to be juicier.
- Adjust the sriracha amount based on your desired spice level or omit for no spice.
- The sauce consistency can be thinned or thickened by adjusting the amount of warm water.
- This dish pairs well with steamed rice, quinoa, or noodles.
- For a gluten-free option, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
