This easy peanut butter chicken recipe is a delicious meal that’s sure to become a family favorite.
Combining the creamy richness of peanut butter with savory chicken, this flavorful dish is perfect for those who love bold, delicious flavors. You can whip it up in under 30 minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknights.
Check out more flavorful chicken recipes and discover a new favorite dish today!
Pair it with rice or noodles for a complete meal.
How to Make Peanut Butter Chicken
Gather your ingredients:

To make the peanut butter sauce for chicken, saute garlic until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
Stir in the peanut butter, allowing it to soften and combine with the garlic and ginger.
Smooth peanut butter works best to create a silky, rich sauce. If you prefer more texture, crunchy peanut butter can be used for added crunch.
Adjust the sweetness by balancing the peanut butter’s richness with honey or brown sugar. Adjust the amount to suit your taste; more for sweetness or less for a more savory flavor.
If you like a little heat, add chili flakes, sriracha, or even a dash of hot sauce.
To ensure your chicken stays juicy and flavorful, pound it to an even thickness before cooking. This helps it cook uniformly and prevents dryness.
After adding the chicken back into the sauce, let it simmer for several minutes to absorb all the delicious peanut flavors.
Garnish with fresh cilantro, lime wedges, or chopped peanuts to bring brightness and texture to your dish.
Cooking chicken with peanut butter sauce typically takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
What to Serve with Peanut Butter Chicken
Crispy peanut butter chicken pairs well with a variety of sides that complement its rich, creamy sauce.
- White or Brown rice is a classic choice to soak up the peanut sauce.
- Rice noodles or even udon work well to balance the creamy peanut sauce.
- Serve with stir-fried or steamed crisp veggies like broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, or snap peas for a fresh and crunchy contrast.
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes pairs with the savory and sweet flavors of peanut butter chicken.
- Cucumber Salad or mixed greens salad with a tangy dressing provides a refreshing, cool balance to the creamy dish.
- For a fun twist, pair the dish with naan or flatbread to scoop up the sauce and chicken.
These sides help balance the rich, bold flavors of peanut butter chicken and make for a delicious, well-rounded meal!
Looking for more easy dinner ideas? Discover Dinner Recipes with Peanut Butter, flavorful Recipes Using Chicken Thighs or how to make perfect Baked Whole Chicken for your next dinner!






Peanut Butter Chicken
Spice up your weeknight meals with this easy peanut butter chicken recipe. A perfect balance of sweet, savory, and creamy flavors!
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breasts
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 4 tbsp creamy peanut butter
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 3 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 3 tbsp white vinegar
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1-2 garlic cloves, chopped
Instructions
- Dice chicken.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a sauté pan. Brown chicken.
- While the chicken is cooking, make your peanut sauce: whisk together soy sauce, creamy peanut butter, brown sugar, remaining olive oil, ground ginger and white vinegar.
- When chicken is browned, stir in sauce and cook until chicken is cooked through and sauce is warm.
- Serve Peanut Butter Chicken over white rice.
Mary
Monday 14th of October 2024
I went thru these comments and didn't see my question, but you state in one area to saute the garlic with the peanut butter, but there's no garlic in the ingredients--did you mean the ginger? or does this recipe also include garlic?
momma lew
Monday 14th of October 2024
I updated the recipe to include 1-2 cloves of garlic.
Jan
Monday 10th of June 2024
Delicious! Easy! I made with skinless, boneless thighs and had so much yummy sauce for the rice- Thank you!
Teddy
Sunday 5th of May 2024
Can I use chunky peanut butter and teriyaki sauce instead of soy?
momma lew
Sunday 5th of May 2024
Yes, the only probably with chunky is that it will be harder to whisk into a smooth sauce.
Jen
Monday 17th of April 2023
This was absolutely delicious and so easy to make. Thank you!!
Michelle
Saturday 18th of February 2023
What if I have everything but the ginger. Will it still be good?
momma lew
Monday 20th of February 2023
Absolutely! Many times I forgo the ginger and it's just as delicious!