Peanut Butter Chicken

Easy and delicious protein-rich chicken dinner. Peanut butter chicken is made with pantry staples. This creamy and nutritious dish is our family favorite weeknight meal!

You can serve peanut butter chicken with rice, barley or vegetables. Tasty and spicy sauce is a hit! Quick dinner idea that is ready in 20 minutes.

Peanut butter chicken served in the bowl with rice.

It is gluten-free, soy-free, egg and lactose-free, as well as sugar-free recipe. But check the label of your peanut butter sauce to be sure it doesn’t include salt.

I used chunky peanut butter sauce for this recipe to have crunchy peanut bites. But you can also use creamy butter and sprinkle roasted peanuts on top to add crunchiness.

Chicken breast is my choice for this recipe, and peanut butter adds good fats and extra deliciousness! You can also use boneless and skinless chicken thighs.

This is a healthy and tasty choice for your next dinner! Quick and flavorful dish that will become your go-to recipe for a busy week. This dinner food will give you energy and keep you full.

It is all cooked in one skillet, no special equipment needed. Moreover, it is made with simple ingredients. What else do you need for your next meal plan?

Easy and nutritious dinner that is ready in 20 minutes. Peanut butter chicken is a quick weeknight dinner. Gluten free and lactose free chicken meal. Main dish recipe with delicious peanut butter sauce can be served with rice or vegetables.

What is peanut butter sauce made of?

Peanut butter sauce is made with natural chunky peanut butter, chicken stock, vinegar and spices. I added cayenne, turmeric and black pepper. I also like to sprinkle with chili flakes and scallions before serving.

You can regulate the thickness of the peanut sauce by adding more stock to thin it. You can also add coconut cream to make it creamier. Coconut and peanut flavor combination is really good!

I used natural chunky peanut butter. There is no salt and I like it! You can taste the sauce and adjust flavor, if you need more salt in your dish.

If you don’t like chunky pieces of peanuts, you can use creamy peanut butter instead. Sprinkle toasted peanuts on top of the dish!

Does peanut sauce taste like peanut butter?

No, it is spicy with peanut aftertaste. Rich and delicious. It is very addictive, especially if you are peanut butter fan like us! You can try it with almond butter, but obviously in won’t be peanut butter chicken anymore.

You can adjust the thickness of the sauce by adding more chicken stock to thin it or cooking it further to evaporate extra liquid.

If you like cooking with peanut butter you should also check our Peanut Butter Banana Bread that is perfect for breakfast! Check that post, where I write about which peanut butter to use. It can be helpful.

How to make peanut butter chicken?

First fry chicken bites in coconut oil for 5 minutes. You can use olive oil or peanut oil (not peanut butter!) instead. Rotisserie chicken can be used instead of chicken breasts, but skip the frying step.

Stir in garlic flakes, cayenne, turmeric, ground pepper and salt to your taste. You can also mince and add 1-2 garlic cloves instead of flakes.

I like to use dried spices, when cooking. They are always at hand and can be incorporated quickly.

Add chunky peanut butter, rice vinegar and low-sodium chicken stock to the pan. Alternatively, prepare chicken stock from the cube.

Cook on a low heat, preferably covered with a lid, for 10 minutes.

You can adjust the thickness and creaminess of the sauce by adding more chicken stock to thin it. It is possible to add coconut cream, if you like a creamier sauce.

In this recipe chicken is cooked, covered with a thick sauce that is just enough to cover the poultry.

This was portioned to 3 meals, but you can regulate according to your desire.

How to store and reheat you chicken dinner

Let it cool a little before placing in the fridge. It will keep up to 5 days in the air-tight container.

The sauce will thicken in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave for 2 minutes or in a sauce pan on the low heat. You can add a little water or chicken stock to make the sauce thinner. It may thicken more, when reheating.

Adding peanut butter sauce to the chicken meal.

Tips to make peanut butter chicken:

  • Cook on low heat, covered with the lid until you reach the consistency of the sauce that you like.
  • Fry chicken breast pieces for 5 minutes on both sides. Use any vegetable oil for frying.
  • Don’t cut breast in too small pieces, or you will end with dry poultry.
  • Use skinless/ boneless chicken breast or thighs.
  • Add chunky or creamy peanut butter.
  • Adjust the salt according to your taste, as some brands of peanut butter are more salty.
  • Adjust the sauce by adding more chicken stock or peanut butter. You can also add coconut cream.
  • Serve with rice, barley or vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli and carrots.

Other chicken recipes

Check our other delicious chicken recipes for your next dinner!

This is a truly delicious combination of tender chicken pieces with peanut butter and and crunchy bits of nuts! What’s great, you can also serve this peanut butter chicken cold on top of the vegetable salad.

We highly encourage you to try out this recipe! The only thing you should think, when cooking this dinner, is the amount of spices, salt and thickness of the peanut sauce.

Hope you will enjoy it as much as we did!

Don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest External Link , Instagram External Link , Twitter External Link and Facebook External Link to receive up-to date healthy recipes and amazing desserts! And if you make this peanut butter chicken or one of our other recipes, tag us to let us know. We love to see what you are cooking!

Peanut butter chicken served with a bowl of rice, with scallions and chili flakes on top.

Peanut Butter Chicken

Recipe AuthorCooking Journey Blog
5 from 7 votes
Easy and nutritious dinner that is ready in 20 minutes. Peanut butter chicken is a quick weeknight dinner. Gluten free and lactose free chicken meal. Main dish recipe with delicious peanut butter sauce can be served with rice or vegetables.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings3
Equipment
  • large pan or wok
  • lid for the pan
  • spoon


Ingredients
  • 3 chicken breasts cut into pieces
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 tbsp garlic flakes or 2 minced garlic cloves
  • ¼ tsp cayenne powder
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
  • ¼ tsp turmeric powder
  • 4 tbsp peanut butter chunky
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 ½ cup chicken stock or prepared from the cube with water
  • ½ tsp chili flakes optional
  • 1 tbsp chopped scallions optional

Making this recipe?Mention @cookingjourneyblog or tag #cookingjourneyblog!
 

Instructions
 
  • Heat oil in a pan.
    1 tbsp coconut oil
    Heat oil in a pan.
  • Fry chicken 5 minutes, stirring, so it is cooked on both sides.
    3 chicken breasts
    Fry chicken 5 minutes, stirring, so it is cooked on both sides.
  • Add garlic flakes to the pan.
    1 tbsp garlic flakes
    Add garlic flakes to the pan.
  • Stir in spices.
    ¼ tsp cayenne powder, ¼ tsp turmeric powder, ¼ tsp ground black pepper
    Stir in spices.
  • Add vinegar.
    1 tbsp rice vinegar
    Add vinegar.
  • Add chicken stock.
    1 ½ cup chicken stock
    Add chicken stock.
  • Add chunky peanut butter, stir together.
    4 tbsp peanut butter
    Add peanut butter, stir together.
  • Cover with the lid and cook covered for 10 minutes.
    Cover with the lid and cook covered for 10 minutes.
  • Serve with rice or vegetables, sprinkle with scallions and chili flakes on top.
    ½ tsp chili flakes
    Serve with rice or vegetables, sprinkle with skallions and chili flakes on top.
Rate this recipe and leave a comment

Notes
Adjust the thickness of the sauce by adding more stock to thin it, coconut cream to make it creamier.
Nutrition Facts
Peanut Butter Chicken
Amount per Serving
Calories
480
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
23
g
35
%
Saturated Fat
 
7
g
44
%
Trans Fat
 
1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
4
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
8
g
Cholesterol
 
148
mg
49
%
Sodium
 
545
mg
24
%
Potassium
 
1175
mg
34
%
Carbohydrates
 
11
g
4
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
4
g
4
%
Protein
 
57
g
114
%
Vitamin A
 
260
IU
5
%
Vitamin C
 
4
mg
5
%
Calcium
 
31
mg
3
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword easy, egg free, gluten free, lactose free, quick

Comments COMMENTS

  1. 5 stars
    Love everything about this dish. Peanut satays are a favorite at restaurants so this recipe is a find. Now I get peanut butter and chicken as my main course vs appetizer – haha!

  2. 5 stars
    Oh does this chicken sound awesome!! All the yummy flavors,, including peanut butter. My family is going to love it!

  3. 5 stars
    This is so delish, I could hardly believe I made something like this! Your recipe and tips were spot on and I’m saving this recipe to make again!

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