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    Home » Chicken and Poultry

    Grilled Peanut Butter Chicken in 20 Minutes

    Published: Feb 2, 2021 · Modified: Jun 6, 2023 by Diana Reis · This post may contain affiliate links

    ↓ Jump to Recipe

    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. 

    .

    Finished grilled chicken picture

    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.

    Contents hide
    Make this recipe, because…
    Ingredients
    How to Make Grilled Peanut Butter Chicken
    FAQs
    Diana's Tips for Success
    Related Recipes
    📖 Recipe
    Peanut Sauce Chicken
    Peanut Sauce Ingredients

    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

    Grilled peanut butter chicken 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 1- thai chicken marinade mixed in small bowl

    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 2- Marinade and chicken in food storage bag

    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 3- marinated chicken thighs on grill

    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.)

    step 4- chicken browned on one side

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

    FAQs

    Can I marinate my chicken ahead of time?

    You can marinate the chicken up to one day in advance. A long marinade will not do much for adding flavor, but you can have your chicken prepared ahead of time to make the day of cooking easier.

    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. 

    plated chicken with sides of rice and zucchini

    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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    📖 Recipe

    close up of thai inspired peanut butter chicken

    Peanut Sauce Chicken

    This easy peanut butter chicken recipe comes together quickly, making it a great option for weeknight meals. The sweet and savory marinade coats the chicken thigh pieces completely,  making a nice brown crust around the juicy meat. 
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner, Main Course
    Cuisine: Asian Inspired
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 People
    Calories: 464kcal
    Author: Diana Reis

    Equipment

    • Grill or Grill Pan

    Ingredients

    • 2 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

    Peanut Sauce Ingredients

    • ½ Cups Low Sodium Soy Sauce
    • ¼ Cup Peanut Butter
    • ¼ Cup Brown Sugar
    • ¼ Cup Rice Wine vinegar
    • 2 Teaspoons Sesame Oil
    • 2 Teaspoons Fish Sauce
    • 4 Cloves Garlic grated
    • 4 Teaspoons Ginger grated, or 2 teaspoons ground ginger

    Instructions

    • 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.
    • Pat the boneless, skinless chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and place them into a food storage bag or large bowl.
    • Add the satay inspired marinade to the chicken. Toss the chicken pieces in the marinade until they are well coated.
    • 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.
    • Turn the chicken over and finish cooking for six to ten more minutes.

    Notes

    Can I marinate my chicken ahead of time?
    You can marinate the chicken up to one day in advance. A long marinade will not do much for adding flavor, but you can have your chicken prepared ahead of time to make the day of cooking easier.
    Tips For Success
    • Whisk the marinade vigorously to make sure 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. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 464kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 51g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 215mg | Sodium: 1659mg | Potassium: 806mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 3mg
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    Comments

      5 from 8 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Ana F. says

      April 29, 2021 at 3:37 pm

      5 stars
      With your tips this Grilled Peanut Butter Chicken came out perfect! I did set them to marinate the night before and the chicken turned out very juice and crispy on the outside. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    2. maryanne says

      April 29, 2021 at 3:41 pm

      5 stars
      I love Thai peanut sauce, and this combination with chicken thighs sounds so delicious and super easy! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    3. Andrea says

      April 29, 2021 at 4:17 pm

      5 stars
      I am a big fan of Thai food and this chicken is calling my name.

      Reply
    4. Aimee Mars says

      April 29, 2021 at 4:25 pm

      5 stars
      Peanut butter is a magic word in my house and this chicken looks outstanding! My husband will devour it.

      Reply
    5. Mairead says

      April 29, 2021 at 4:27 pm

      5 stars
      I love all things satay sauce, and chicken is especially delicious when marinated in a peanut sauce. Thanks for a great recipe.

      Reply
    6. Marcie says

      May 01, 2024 at 12:19 am

      5 stars
      This was lovely! I ended up making this chicken in a skillet and it turned out perfect. My kids enjoyed it too! Thanks! -Marcie

      Reply
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    I’m passionate about the family dinner table. Connecting with each other at the end of the day over a good meal creates strong family bonds and healthy long-lasting relationships. I want to help families and friends build those relationships.

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