Grilled Peanut Butter Chicken in 20 Minutes

This Grilled Peanut Butter Chicken is a weeknight take on one of my favorite restaurant dishes. Boneless skinless chicken thighs are coated in a satay sauce inspired marinade perfect for grilling. This Thai inspired main dish comes together in just 20 minutes. 

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This recipe is a household favorite, and is inspired by Thai peanut chicken. I serve it very simply with either white rice and veggies, rice noodles, or over a light coleslaw.

Use half the creamy peanut butter sauce for the marinade and half to serve as sauce on the side.

The best part is that the thick peanut sauce marinade sticks to the outside of the chicken pieces and makes a beautiful brown crust around each piece of chicken.

Make this recipe, because…

The easy peanut sauce is super flavorful and clings to the chicken thighs perfectly for grilling.

The sweet and savory combination of peanut butter and soy sauce with sharp hits from ginger and garlic make for over the top flavorful dish. 

Boneless chicken thighs are packed with flavor and cook quickly. No need for a lengthy marinade time, which is perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs- Thigh meat is some of the juiciest and most tender meat you can get from chicken. It is very forgiving to cook and takes on flavor really well. You can use boneless skinless chicken breasts for this dish, but it can be tricky to grill breast meat without drying it out.

Fish Sauce- This might not be an ingredient you have on hand or have used very much. While it does derive its flavor from fish, I promise, you won't be overwhelmed by fish taste. It does add a nice pungent flavor to the marinade.  The rich peanut sauce has the perfect balance of strong savory flavors and mild sweetness. If you do not have fish sauce you can skip or substitute with Worcestershire sauce.

Crunchy Peanut Butter- The small pieces of peanut add great texture to the sauce.  Creamy peanut butter works just as well, but if you like texture a small amount of ground peanuts really puts this dish over the top.

How to Make Grilled Peanut Butter Chicken

Step 1

• In a small bowl, combine peanut butter, soy sauce, brown  sugar, rice vinegar, fish sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Place half in a separate container and retain to serve over the cooked chicken. 

Step 2

• Pat the boneless, skinless chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and place them into a food storage bag or large bowl. 
• Then, add half of the marinade to the chicken. Toss the chicken pieces in the marinade to coat. 

Step 3

• Next, heat a grill or grill pan on medium heat. Coat the pan or grill with a drizzle of canola oil to prevent sticking and burning.
• Remove the peanut butter marinated chicken from the bag and place it top side down on the hot grill or large skillet. 
• Let cook without disturbing it for about six minutes. It should have a nice golden brown color.

(When the chicken is ready to turn, it will release from the pan without sticking and be well browned.)

Step 4

• Turn the thighs over and finish cooking for six to ten more minutes.

(Thigh meat has a pink coloring making it hard to tell if it is done. The internal temperature should be 165° when fully cooked.)

Serve with the remaining peanut sauce and some diced green onions over steamed rice and vegetables for a simple and delicious meal.

FAQs

Diana's Tips for Success

Whisk the marinade vigorously until the peanut butter is well combined with the other ingredients. A few tablespoons of peanut butter make this sauce super creamy and rich, but take a little effort to get smooth. 

To keep the marinade from burning, lightly brush canola or vegetable oil on your grill or grill pan and turn down the heat to just below medium.

If you are making this dish on a gas grill, I would highly recommend a pan for the drippings. The thigh meat can render off a good amount of fat and a drip pan will make clean up much easier. 

Storage and Reheating

Store leftover peanut butter chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. 

This peanut butter chicken reheats really well in the microwave and is great for meal prep. 

Related Recipes

• Thai Chicken Salad with Peanut Dressing
• Italian Grilled Chicken
• Cast Iron Skillet Pork Chops
• Texas Fajitas with Steak, Chicken, & Shrimp
• Cast Iron Chicken Breasts with Butter Pan Sauce
• Greek Yogurt Chicken

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