Description

This Thai Peanut Chicken recipe features tender chicken thighs marinated in a creamy, flavorful peanut sauce made with coconut milk, lime juice, soy sauce, garlic, and spices. The chicken is broiled or grilled to perfection and served with rice and garnished with fresh lime wedges, peanuts, green onions, and cilantro. It’s a delicious and vibrant dish perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner or entertaining guests.

Ingredients

Peanut Sauce Ingredients

½ cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup unsweetened, full-fat coconut milk (from can, stirred well)
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (juice from approximately 1 medium lime)
2 tablespoons soy sauce (or fish sauce)
1 ½ packed tablespoons brown sugar (dark preferred)
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic (approximately 3 large cloves)
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (plus more to taste)

Chicken and Garnishes

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (cut into bite-sized chunks)
Cooked white or brown rice (for serving)
Lime wedges (to garnish)
Whole or chopped peanuts (to garnish)
Chopped green onions (to garnish)
Chopped cilantro (to garnish)

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Instructions

Prepare the Peanut Sauce: In a medium bowl, combine creamy peanut butter, coconut milk, fresh lime juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ground ginger, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes. Whisk thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and fully combined. Reserve some of the peanut sauce separately to use for marinating the chicken.
Marinate the Chicken: Place the bite-sized chicken thigh pieces in a bowl and coat them evenly with the reserved peanut sauce. Cover and marinate for at least 1 hour, or up to 8 hours in the refrigerator for maximum flavor infusion.
Prepare to Cook the Chicken: After marinating, thread the chicken pieces onto skewers if grilling, or arrange them on a baking sheet if broiling.
Broil the Chicken: Preheat your oven’s broiler. Place the baking sheet with marinated chicken under the broiler and cook until the chicken is cooked through and lightly charred, about 5-7 minutes per side depending on thickness. Let the chicken rest briefly before serving.
Grill the Chicken: Heat your grill to medium-high. Grill the chicken skewers for about 5-7 minutes per side or until fully cooked and nicely charred. Remove and rest before serving.
Serve the Thai Peanut Chicken: Plate the cooked chicken alongside a serving of white or brown rice. Spoon additional peanut sauce over the chicken and garnish with lime wedges, chopped peanuts, green onions, and cilantro for an authentic Thai flavor experience.

Notes

Use dark brown sugar for a richer, more robust flavor in the peanut sauce.
Marinating for longer than 1 hour (up to 8 hours) will deepen the flavor of the chicken.
You can substitute fish sauce for soy sauce to add a more traditional Thai taste.
Adjust crushed red pepper flakes according to your spice preference.
This recipe can be made with chicken breasts, but thighs tend to be juicier and more flavorful.