Peanut Butter Chicken Recipe (20-Minute Skillet Dinner)

Name: Peanut Butter Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: ½ cup creamy peanut butter; ¾ cups chicken broth; ¼ cup sweet chili sauce; 2 tablespoons soy sauce; 1 teaspoon sesame oil; 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; ⅓ cup cornstarch; 1 tablespoon canola oil; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 2 tablespoons fresh ginger (chopped); chopped peanuts, sesame seeds, green onions, cilantro (optional for garnish)

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Grab a large skillet or wok, and in just 20 minutes you’ll have this Thai-inspired Peanut Butter Chicken on the table. Chicken bites simmer in a sweet, spicy, and savory sauce made with peanut butter (of course), sweet chili sauce, and soy sauce. No need for takeout, and no deep frying required. It’s a great option for chaotic weekends and busy school nights.

a serving of peanut butter chicken on a plate with jasmine rice and steamed broccoli and other vegetables with a gold fork nestled beside the plate.

Sheila’s Recipe Snapshot

Style: Thai-inspired chicken bites tossed in a rich peanut butter sauce

Flavor: Sweet, spicy, savory, with nutty depth

Time: 20 minutes

Pro Tip: Don’t skip the cornstarch coating since it’s what helps the sauce cling to the chicken

Best For: Busy weeknights, meal prep, Thai food cravings at home

I’m a peanut butter lover through and through, so much so that I eat it almost every day: on crackers for an easy snack, on toast or in oatmeal for breakfast, and sometimes a PB&J lunch with my grandkids.

That being said, I’d never really thought about peanut butter chicken until I was doing some research for a cookbook project a few years ago. At first, the combination of sweet and nutty peanut butter and tender chicken didn’t sound like the best mix. But then I tried a chicken satay appetizer at a party and realized peanut butter and chicken has a unique and complex flavor of sweetness, spice, and umami notes.

My goal was to create an easy stir fry using common ingredients I could find in my pantry, building on that chicken satay flavor. I found that mixing sweet chili sauce and soy sauce helped balance out the strong peanut butter taste in the best way.

ingredients for peanut butter chicken on a table.

What You Need for Chicken with Easy Peanut Sauce

Chicken | I use boneless skinless chicken breasts for this peanut butter chicken recipe. Still, you can also use skinless chicken thighs or a combination of the two.
Cornstarch | Cornstarch helps the sauce to stick and creates tender chicken bites. Almond flour will also do the trick.
Fresh garlic & ginger | Sautéed together, a couple of freshly minced garlic cloves and fresh chopped ginger add more complex notes.
Canola oil | Use canola oil to sauté the ginger and garlic cloves. If preferred, you may use another high-heat oil, like peanut oil, vegetable oil, or coconut oil.

Peanut Sauce

Peanut butter | Give your recipe peanut butter flavor with your favorite brand of creamy peanut butter.
Sweet chili sauce | Sweet chili sauce gives the mixture a bit of heat and a sweeter flavor.
Soy sauce | Adds salty flavor to the sauce.
Sesame oil | You only need a tiny bit of this strong-tasting oil.
Chicken broth | To bring a savory taste and a thinner consistency to the sauce, add some chicken broth.

Variations and Substitutions

Try another nut butter. Swap in cashew or almond butter for a different flavor, or use sunflower seed butter if you’re avoiding peanuts and tree nuts.
Make the dish lower sodium and gluten-free. Substitute coconut aminos for the soy sauce — it’s naturally lower in sodium and gluten-free.
Add a crunchy garnish. If desired, garnish the chicken with chopped peanuts, sesame seeds, sliced green onions, or chopped fresh cilantro.

How to Make Thai Chicken with Rich Peanut Butter Sauce

whisking together ingredients for peanut butter sauce in a glass bowl.

STEP 1 | Combine sauce ingredients

Add the peanut butter, chicken broth, sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, and sesame oil to a small bowl. Whisk or stir until you have a silky smooth texture. Then, set the bowl aside for later.

Side by side image showing seasoning and tossing chicken in cornstarch.

STEP 2 | Coat the chicken pieces

Grab a few paper towels and pat the chicken dry. Slice the chicken into cubes and add them to a large bowl.

Next, season the cubes with salt and pepper and sprinkle the cornstarch on top. Gently toss with tongs until the chicken is completely coated with the seasonings and cornstarch.

Side by side images showing garlic and ginger sizzling in oil in a wok; chicken cooking in a wok.

STEP 3 | Cook the garlic and ginger

Set a large skillet over medium-high heat on the stovetop. Add the canola oil and heat it until the oil glistens. Then, add the garlic and ginger and cook for about 30 seconds until the ingredients are fragrant. Stir continuously to avoid burning the garlic.

pouring peanut sauce on top of chicken in a wok.

STEP 4 | Fry the chicken with the sauce

Carefully drop the chicken into the hot oil and cook for around 7 minutes until all the pieces are lightly golden and cooked through. Stir in the peanut sauce and cook for another few minutes until the sauce is nice and thick.

peanut butter chicken simmering in a wok.

STEP 5 | Garnish and serve

Garnish the dish with sesame seeds, chopped peanuts, or cilantro leaves if you’d like. Then, serve over freshly steamed white rice with crisp veggies.

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Some other great ideas include topping this dish with spicy red peppers, a variety of bell peppers, a squeeze of fresh lime juice, red pepper flakes, and chopped green onions.

Recipe Success Tips

Don’t skip the cornstarch for this chicken recipe. It helps the sauce stick to the chicken. Otherwise, the peanut butter sauce may not adhere to the meat.

Remember to add only a small bit of sesame oil to the sauce mixture and do not use it for cooking the ginger, garlic, and chicken. For this, you’ll want to use canola oil. Sesame oil has a robust taste that can quickly overwhelm the entire dish if not used correctly.

Storage and Reheating Tips

Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. It can also be stored in the freezer for around six months.
To reheat, toss it in the microwave, air fryer, or skillet over low heat. Allow frozen leftovers to thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Frequently Asked Questions

What vegetables can you add to Thai peanut butter chicken?

Rather than serving this dish with veggies on the side, you can add them right on top for a complete meal. Add red bell pepper, cabbage, shredded carrots, and other vegetables.

Really, just about any mildly seasoned veggie will work well with the flavor-packed peanut sauce in this great recipe.

Is this a good recipe for meal prep?

If you have leftovers, you’re in luck because this Thai dish is delicious after sitting for a few days and is excellent for meal prep. Just toss it on some noodles, cauliflower rice, or brown rice to enjoy as a filling lunch in the middle of your workday.

a serving of peanut butter chicken on a plate with jasmine rice with a gold fork nestled beside the plate.

Looking For More Recipes Featuring Peanut Butter?

Explore more of my easy recipes to use up that jar of peanut butter sitting in the pantry. I have another savory dinner, Chicken Kale Salad with Thai Peanut Vinaigrette, and a breakfast option, Peanut Butter Banana Granola.

There are also several desserts, including Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Pie, these classic Peanut Butter Cookies, fudgy Peanut Butter Brownies, and a personal favorite, Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls.

a gold fork spearing a bite of peanut butter chicken.

What to Serve With Peanut Butter Chicken

More traditionally, peanut butter chicken is served over Jasmine Rice, rice noodles, brown rice, or something similar. In that case, if you’re not adding veggies to the top of the dish, you should complete the dinner with a nutritious veggie side.

Any side dish with a more neutral taste will work, so the intense flavors of the chicken can shine. Try my easy Instant Pot Green Beans or Lemon Mustard Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower.