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Peanut Butter Chicken Recipe – Easy, Flavorful, and Creamy Dinner Idea

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. 

peanut butter chicken

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.

peanut butter chicken

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.

peanut butter chicken

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.

peanut butter chicken

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!

peanut butter chicken

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
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peanut butter chicken

peanut butter chicken

Peanut Butter Chicken

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

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

  1. Dice chicken. 
  2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a sauté pan. Brown chicken. 
  3. 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.
  4. When chicken is browned, stir in sauce and cook until chicken is cooked through and sauce is warm. 
  5. Serve Peanut Butter Chicken over white rice. 

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

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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!

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