Description

Easy Chinese peanut butter chicken is a rich, savory, and slightly sweet stir-fry dish inspired by Chinese takeout. Tender chicken pieces are cooked until golden and coated in a creamy, flavorful peanut sauce with hints of garlic, soy, and ginger. It’s quick to make and pairs perfectly with steamed rice or noodles for a satisfying weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Chicken and Vegetables

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 cup broccoli florets

Peanut Sauce

⅓ cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
¼ cup water (adjust for consistency)

For Serving and Garnish

Chopped green onions (optional)
Sesame seeds (optional)
Cooked white rice or noodles

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Coat the chicken: In a medium bowl, toss chicken pieces with cornstarch until well coated, ensuring the chicken will have a nice crispy texture when cooked.
Cook the chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken pieces are golden brown and cooked through.
Stir-fry the vegetables: Add the sliced red bell pepper and broccoli florets to the skillet with the chicken. Stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp but still vibrant and slightly crunchy.
Prepare the peanut sauce: While the chicken and vegetables cook, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, red pepper flakes (if using), and water in a small bowl until smooth and well combined.
Combine and simmer: Pour the peanut sauce into the skillet with the chicken and vegetables. Stir well to coat everything evenly. Let the mixture simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the ingredients beautifully.
Serve: Serve the peanut butter chicken hot over cooked white rice or noodles. Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds if desired for added flavor and presentation.

Notes

You can use crunchy peanut butter for added texture in the sauce.
Adjust the amount of water in the peanut sauce to achieve your preferred consistency—less water for thicker sauce, more for thinner.
Leftovers reheat well and make a great next-day lunch option.