Dinner

Peanut Butter Chicken Recipe You’ll Love Forever

Name: Peanut Butter Chicken Recipe You'll Love Forever
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: Boneless skinless chicken breasts; Boneless chicken thighs; A single chicken thigh (perfect for a solo serving); 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1- inch knob fresh ginger (grated); 1 Tbsp brown sugar; Juice of 1 lime; 3 Tbsp soy sauce; ½ cup chicken broth; ½ cup creamy peanut butter or natural peanut butter; 2 Tbsp additional soy sauce (for whisking into the nut butter); ¼ cup coconut milk — creates a silky creamy peanut butter sauce; 1 tsp fish sauce — adds instant thai peanut depth; Almond butter or cashew butter (for variety); Extra crushed peanuts for garnish (or sunflower seeds if there’s a peanut allergy)

By Jordan Mike

Published on: April 24, 2025

Crispy Peanut Butter Chicken in a cast-iron skillet, coated with glossy peanut sauce, garnished with peanuts, cilantro, and lime wedges.

Silky chicken with peanut butter might sound adventurous, but this Southeast-Asian–inspired classic is week-night simple. In one pan you create crunchy seared meat, a glossy, sweet-savory sauce, and enough aroma to make neighbors knock. Keep reading to learn exactly how to make this easy crispy peanut butter chicken without special gear, why the method locks in flavor, and how to tweak it for every palate.

Why Make Peanut Butter Chicken at Home

If you’ve never tried peanut butter chicken at home, you’re in for an easy dinner revelation. This easy peanut butter chicken recipe is a recipe that can be made in under 30 minutes, yet the depth of flavor rivals your favorite take-out. Because the recipe is easy and crave-worthy, it’s a great recipe to bookmark whenever the family wants novelty without fuss. In short, butter chicken is a quick comfort classic, but this chicken recipe is a quick riff that dials the nuttiness up to 11.

Ingredients for Best peanut butter Chicken Do You Need

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Chicken arranged in bowls on a wooden surface.

Protein options (choose one):

Boneless skinless chicken breasts
Boneless chicken thighs
A single chicken thigh (perfect for a solo serving)

Marinade base:

2 cloves garlic, minced
1-inch knob fresh ginger, grated
1 Tbsp brown sugar
Juice of 1 lime
3 Tbsp soy sauce
½ cup chicken broth

ingredients for peanut butter sauce essentials:

½ cup creamy peanut butter or natural peanut butter
2 Tbsp additional soy sauce (for whisking into the nut butter)

Flavor boosters & creamy finish (stir in just before serving):

¼ cup coconut milk — creates a silky creamy peanut butter sauce
1 tsp fish sauce — adds instant thai peanut depth

Optional swaps & add-ins:

Almond butter or cashew butter (for variety)
Extra crushed peanuts for garnish (or sunflower seeds if there’s a peanut allergy)

Step-by-Step Cooking the Chicken for Maximum Flavor and Crunch

Step-by-step Peanut Butter Chicken cooking process from cutting to saucing.

Step 1 – Prep the chicken
Cut the chicken into 1-inch cubes so every surface can grab the marinade. Use skinless chicken breast or skinless chicken thighs for the best caramelization; boneless-skinless thighs stay juiciest if you prefer dark meat.

Step 2 – Season
Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of soy sauce over the cubed chicken. Lightly season with salt and pepper.

Step 3 – Coat for crispiness
Toss the seasoned chicken in cornstarch until all the pieces are evenly coated. This thin layer ensures tender chicken pieces with a crisp shell.

Step 4 – Heat the oil
Film a skillet or wok with oil and heat until it shimmers.

Step 5 – Sear in batches
Add half of the chicken (work in batches to prevent steaming) and let it sizzle, undisturbed, for 5–6 minutes.

Step 6 – Flip and brown
Turn the chicken cubes and cook the second side until golden.

Step 7 – Deglaze
Push the browned chicken to one side of the pan, then pour in a splash of chicken broth to deglaze. Scrape up the browned bits—the fond equals flavor.

Step 8 – Finish the crust
When the broth evaporates, each piece of chicken will be coated in a fragile, flavorful crust that’s ready to soak up your peanut sauce.

Cooking Chicken and Peanut Sauce to Perfection?

To cook chicken evenly, warm peanut oil in a wok and add the chicken in a single layer. Resist stirring; it develops the coveted crust and intensifies flavor to the chicken. After one minute, add the chicken and cook another minute, then return remaining chicken and cook until nearly opaque.

Now pour the peanut mixture around the sides of the wok and whisk in two more teaspoons of soy sauce. Immediately add the peanut butter, stirring until a glossy peanut butter sauce cloaks every chunk. Let the liquid bubble to cook the chicken completely; you’ll know the dish is ready when the chicken is cooked through and aromatic oils float. For extra silk, add coconut milk for that dreamy creamy peanut butter sauce. After saucing, let the chicken rest two minutes so the crust drinks in the glaze—a pro move for superior meal prep texture.

Can I Use Chicken Thighs or Chicken Breasts in This Peanut Chicken Recipe?

People often ask whether chicken thighs or chicken breasts make a better peanut chicken recipe. Dark-meat lovers swear a lone chicken thigh yields the juiciest, most tender chicken, while a lean chicken breast cooks lightning fast—perfect when you’re starving. When you use chicken that’s already thawed, you can’t go wrong: this chicken is great every time.

In fact, when you make this recipe with thighs, collagen thickens the sauce naturally, whereas breasts soak up aromatics like sponges for bolder bites of peanut chicken.

What to Serve with Peanut Butter Chicken for an Easy Dinner?

Wondering what to serve with peanut bliss? Steamed jasmine rice is classic, but soba noodles dressed in sesame oil work wonders. Personally, I love serving this peanut masterpiece in chicken bowls over quinoa with blistered broccoli.

Right before you serve the chicken, shower it with crushed peanuts and cilantro. I often serve the peanut butter chicken beside quick-pickled radishes, yet you can also roll it into lettuce wraps and serve this peanut butter chicken taco-style—talk about show-stopping dinner recipe! Because it’s both easy chicken and easy chicken recipes approved, it joins your go-to chicken recipes list immediately and morphs into a sensational peanut sauce chicken snack the next day. It truly qualifies as an easy dinner recipe no matter how you plate it.

Meal Prep & Storage: How Long Can Chicken Be Stored Safely?

This entrée excels at meal prep because the spices deepen overnight. Once dinner winds down, place the chicken in an airtight container on the counter until steam subsides. Label it as cooled chicken in an airtight box and refrigerate.

Properly cooked and cooled chicken keeps four days; yes, chicken can be stored longer in the freezer, but flavor peaks on day three. To reheat, add broth and microwave gently. Always store peanut butter chicken or use almond butteron the top shelf so savory aromas stay put.

Watch the Peanut Butter Chicken Video and Get Pro Recipe Tips!

Visual learners, hit play on the peanut butter chicken video to watch the glaze bubble and hear the crackle that creates easy recipes crispy peanut butter chicken. Seeing the ratio of chicken and peanut sauce helps you replicate restaurant texture—and you’ll soon love this recipe as much as readers do.

A few lightning-round recipe tips: if anyone has a peanut allergy, swap in sunflower butter. Crave deeper Southeast tones? Add lime leaves and fish sauce for instant Thai peanut chicken flair. Want more heat? Toss in dried chilies à la kung pao chicken.

Peanut Butter FAQ: Your Top Questions Answered

Can peanut butter be eaten with egg?

Absolutely. Pairing eggs with peanut butter adds plant-based protein and healthy fats to the high-quality protein already in eggs, making breakfast more satiating. Just be sure to balance flavors—try a thin smear of peanut butter on whole-grain toast topped with a soft-fried egg for a sweet-savory twist.

When should we not eat chicken?

Skip chicken if it smells sour, feels slimy, or shows gray/green discoloration—signs of spoilage. You should also avoid undercooked chicken; always heat it to 75 °C / 165 °F internal temperature. Food-safety first, whether you’re grilling thighs or whipping up a quick peanut butter chicken recipe.

Can I eat banana with peanut butter?

Yes—bananas and peanut butter are a classic nutrient match. The fruit’s potassium and quick sugars combine with the nut butter’s protein and healthy monounsaturated fats to deliver steady energy, making it a smart pre-workout snack or dessert substitute.

Is it OK to eat peanut butter with milk?

It’s perfectly fine. Enjoying peanut butter alongside dairy (regular or plant-based milk) supplies a balanced mix of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Blend them into smoothies or simply chase a spoonful of peanut butter with a glass of milk for a quick refuel.