Thai Peanut Chicken: A Flavor-Packed Fusion of Creamy, Spicy, and Savory Goodness

Few dishes can balance comfort, bold flavor, and irresistible creaminess quite like Thai Peanut Chicken. Tender chicken simmered in a luscious peanut sauce infused with soy, lime, ginger, and garlic — it’s the kind of meal that satisfies both your craving for takeout and your love of homemade food.

This dish captures the essence of Thai-inspired cooking: vibrant, aromatic, and deeply flavorful. Whether served with rice noodles, jasmine rice, or even lettuce wraps, it’s an easy weeknight meal that tastes like it came straight from your favorite Thai restaurant.

Why You’ll Love This Thai Peanut Chicken

• Quick & easy: Ready in under 30 minutes with pantry staples.
• Rich and creamy: A peanut sauce so good, you’ll want to drizzle it on everything.
• Customizable: Adjust the spice, sweetness, or creaminess to your liking.
• Perfect meal prep: Keeps well in the fridge or freezer for busy weeknights.
• Restaurant-quality flavor: Deep, complex notes from soy, lime, garlic, and ginger.

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized cubes
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Thai Peanut Sauce:

• ½ cup creamy peanut butter
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp honey (or brown sugar)
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
• ½–1 tsp red chili flakes (adjust to taste)
• ½ cup coconut milk (or water for lighter sauce)

For Garnish & Serving:

• ¼ cup chopped roasted peanuts
• 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
• Lime wedges
• Steamed jasmine rice or noodles

Instructions

1. Prepare the chicken: Pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel and season lightly with salt and pepper.
2. Cook the chicken: Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sauté until golden brown and cooked through — about 6–8 minutes. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
3. Make the sauce: In the same skillet, lower the heat and add garlic and ginger. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, lime juice, chili flakes, and coconut milk. Stir continuously until smooth and slightly thickened (2–3 minutes).
4. Combine: Return the chicken to the skillet. Toss to coat evenly in the sauce. Let it simmer gently for 2–3 minutes until the flavors meld.
5. Serve: Garnish with chopped peanuts, cilantro, and lime wedges. Serve over jasmine rice, rice noodles, or spiralized vegetables.

Thai Peanut Chicken

Tender chicken tossed in a creamy, flavorful Thai peanut sauce with hints of lime, ginger, and garlic — perfect over rice or noodles.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings: 4 people

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: Asian, Thai

Calories: 410

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Chicken

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 tbsp oil vegetable or sesame
• salt and pepper to taste

Peanut Sauce

• 0.5 cup peanut butter creamy, natural
• 0.25 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar or lime juice
• 2 tbsp honey or brown sugar
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp ginger fresh grated
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 0.5 cup coconut milk or water adjust for consistency
• 0.5 tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional

For Serving

• crushed peanuts for garnish
• fresh cilantro or green onions chopped
• lime wedges optional
• cooked jasmine rice or noodles for serving

Equipment

• Large skillet or wok
• Mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Spatula

Method

 

1. Heat oil in a skillet and cook chicken until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
2. In the same pan, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, honey, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic until smooth.
3. Add coconut milk gradually to thin the sauce. Stir until creamy.
4. Return chicken to the skillet and toss to coat. Simmer for 3–5 minutes.
5. Serve over rice or noodles, garnished with crushed peanuts, cilantro, and lime wedges.

Notes

Adjust spice level by adding more or less chili flakes or sriracha.

Tips for Success

• Use natural peanut butter: It gives the sauce a richer, more authentic flavor. If using sweetened peanut butter, reduce the honey slightly.
• Adjust consistency: Add a splash of water or coconut milk if the sauce thickens too much.
• Make it spicier: Stir in a bit of sriracha or Thai chili paste for extra heat.
• Boost the veggies: Add bell peppers, broccoli, or snap peas for color and crunch.
• Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

What Makes Thai Peanut Sauce So Special?

Thai peanut sauce is a beautiful balance of salty, sweet, tangy, and spicy. The combination of peanut butter with soy, lime, and chili creates layers of flavor that hit every taste note. It’s used widely in Southeast Asian cuisine, from satay dipping sauce to noodle bowls and salads.

In this Thai Peanut Chicken, the sauce not only coats the chicken but also soaks into the rice, creating a comforting, flavor-packed bite every time.

Serving Suggestions

Here are a few delicious ways to enjoy your Thai Peanut Chicken:

• Classic bowl: Serve over jasmine or basmati rice, topped with roasted peanuts and cilantro.
• Noodle night: Toss with rice noodles for a quick Thai-inspired noodle bowl.
• Healthy wrap: Spoon into lettuce leaves with shredded carrots for a light lunch.
• Meal prep: Divide into containers with rice and veggies for a week of balanced lunches.
• Party dish: Serve as skewers with extra peanut dipping sauce on the side.

Variations You’ll Love

• Thai Peanut Chicken Stir-Fry: Add colorful bell peppers, zucchini, and snow peas.
• Spicy Thai Peanut Chicken: Stir in sriracha or chili oil for more heat.
• Coconut Peanut Chicken Curry: Add extra coconut milk to turn it into a mild curry.
• Vegetarian Version: Swap chicken for tofu or tempeh.
• Low-carb Option: Serve over cauliflower rice or spiralized zucchini noodles.

Fun Cultural Insight: The Thai-American Fusion

While peanut-based sauces are found throughout Southeast Asia, the version used in Thai Peanut Chicken is a Western adaptation inspired by Thai satay. Traditional Thai cuisine balances bold flavors — sweet, salty, sour, and spicy — with fresh herbs and sauces.

In Western kitchens, this concept evolved into easy, family-friendly dishes like peanut chicken bowls or stir-fries, which capture the essence of Thai cooking while remaining accessible to home cooks. The result is a delicious cross-cultural comfort dish that’s both authentic in spirit and convenient in preparation.

Make-Ahead and Storage Tips

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of water to loosen the sauce.
• Freeze: Freeze portions in airtight containers for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Meal prep tip: Keep the sauce and chicken separate until reheating for the best texture.

Nutritional Highlights

This Thai Peanut Chicken is not only flavorful but also full of balanced nutrition. Peanut butter adds healthy fats and protein, while chicken provides lean protein. You can keep it light by using coconut milk lite or adjusting the peanut butter quantity.

Per serving (without rice):

• Calories: ~410
• Protein: 32g
• Fat: 22g
• Carbs: 18g

Final Thoughts

Thai Peanut Chicken is one of those dishes that proves you don’t need complicated ingredients or hours in the kitchen to make something extraordinary. It’s the perfect balance of flavor — creamy, nutty, tangy, and just a touch spicy.

Once you’ve tried this at home, you’ll never need takeout again. From its glossy, rich sauce to the juicy, tender chicken, this dish turns any weeknight dinner into a restaurant-worthy experience. So grab your skillet, a jar of peanut butter, and a lime — and bring a taste of Thailand straight to your table tonight.