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overhead view of Thai peanut chicken over rice on a platter.
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5 from 32 votes

Quick & Easy Thai Chicken with Peanut Sauce

Tender chicken pieces stir-fried with aromatic garlic and onions, then coated in a rich, balanced peanut sauce that perfectly combines sweet, savory, and spicy flavors. This restaurant-quality dish comes together faster than delivery and uses simple pantry ingredients for an impressive weeknight meal.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Thai
Keyword Thai Peanut Chicken
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 250kcal
Author Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 medium white onion sliced
  • 1 pound chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 3 tablespoons peanut butter powder or 2 tablespoons peanut butter
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon garlic chili sauce or sriracha sauce

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over high heat. When the pan is hot, add oil to the skillet.
  • Add the garlic to the skillet and cook until it becomes fragrant. Remove the garlic and set aside. It will burn if it cooks the entire time.
  • Add the onions and chicken to the skillet, turning the chicken every 2 to 3 minutes.
  • While the chicken is cooking, combine the peanut butter powder, water, brown sugar, soy sauce, and garlic chili sauce or sriracha sauce. Stir until well blended.
  • When chicken is done, drizzle the sauce over chicken and cook for about 1 minute.
  • Remove from heat and serve with noodles or rice.

Recipe Tips

Expert Tips for Perfect Thai Peanut Chicken

  • High heat matters: Keep your skillet very hot for authentic stir-fry results and to prevent chicken from steaming
  • Prep everything first: Once cooking starts, this dish moves quickly, so have all ingredients measured and ready
  • Don't crowd the pan: Cook in batches if needed to maintain high heat and proper browning
  • The garlic technique: Infusing the oil with garlic flavor then removing it prevents burning while maintaining flavor
  • Sauce consistency: The sauce will thicken as it cools, so remove from heat when it seems slightly thinner than desired
  • Slice against the grain: For the most tender chicken, cut perpendicular to the muscle fibers
  • Taste and adjust: Everyone's preference for sweet-savory-spicy balance is different, so taste and adjust before serving

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 672mg | Potassium: 487mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 4.1mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 0.7mg
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