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Home » Dinner » Thai Peanut Chicken

Published: April 12, 2016 Last Modified: January 28, 2022 By Sara 11 Comments

Thai Peanut Chicken

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This recipe for Thai peanut chicken is a quick and easy stir fry with seared chicken and colorful vegetables, all covered in a homemade peanut sauce. Serve it with a side of rice for a complete meal that's ready in less than 30 minutes!

This recipe for Thai peanut chicken is a quick and easy stir fry with seared chicken and colorful vegetables, all covered in a homemade peanut sauce. Serve it with a side of rice for a complete meal that’s ready in less than 30 minutes!

When I get a hankering for Thai food, I whip up my favorite homemade versions including Thai cucumber salad, peanut noodles and this fabulous peanut chicken.

Thai Peanut Chicken | Thai Chicken Recipe | Peanut Sauce Recipe #thaifood #chicken #peanuts #dinner #dinneratthezoo

Thai peanut chicken in a skillet with carrots, bok choy and chopped peanuts.

I absolutely love Thai food but I’ve found that sometimes it can be hard to replicate the same flavors at home. Many Thai dishes call for ingredients like kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce, galangal and lemon grass which can be difficult to find at the grocery store. This Thai peanut chicken tastes like something you’d get at a restaurant but it doesn’t require any specialty ingredients!

Chicken and vegetables coated in homemade peanut sauce.

How do you make Thai peanut chicken?

The base for this Thai peanut chicken is super simple – it’s just seared chicken breast strips and vegetables. I used baby bok choy and carrots but you can absolutely change that up, other great options would be broccoli, bell peppers, zucchini or even eggplant.

While your chicken and veggies are cooking, you can whip up the peanut sauce in the food processor in just a few minutes. I kept this peanut sauce on the mild side because I was feeding kids, but definitely up the amount of red pepper flakes if you prefer more heat. After the chicken and veggies are cooked, pour the peanut sauce over the top, add some chopped peanuts and dinner is served!

A platter of Thai peanut chicken coated in homemade sauce and crushed peanuts.

Tips for Thai peanut chicken

  • I put up a pot of rice at the same time as I start cooking the chicken to complete the meal.
  • You can use chicken breast pieces, chicken thighs or even other proteins such as shrimp or beef in this dish.
  • The peanut sauce can be made up to 3 days before you plan to serve it.
  • Looking to cut carbs? Serve your peanut chicken over cauliflower rice.

A bowl of Thai peanut chicken and vegetables served over steamed rice.

This Thai peanut chicken is a great way to make your own Thai take out without having to make a trip to a specialty store. And it’s also ready in 30 minutes, doesn’t get much better than that!

Still hungry? Follow Dinner at the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more great recipe ideas!

More great Asian food recipes

  • Thai Fish Cakes
  • Thai Chicken Tacos
  • Crab Rangoon
  • Cashew Chicken
  • Sweet Chili Chicken
This recipe for Thai peanut chicken is a quick and easy stir fry with seared chicken and colorful vegetables, all covered in a homemade peanut sauce. Serve it with a side of rice for a complete meal that's ready in less than 30 minutes!
Print Pin
5 from 3 votes

Thai Peanut Chicken

This recipe for Thai peanut chicken is a quick and easy stir fry with seared chicken and colorful vegetables, all tossed in a homemade peanut sauce. Serve it with a side of rice for a complete meal that's ready in less than 30 minutes!
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Thai
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 403kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 pound chicken breast , cut into 2 inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup thinly sliced carrots
  • 4 baby bok choy , cut into quarters
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
  • 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup chopped salted peanuts
  • For serving: steamed rice (optional)

Instructions

  • Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a pan over medium high heat. Add the carrots and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of water and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4-6 minutes until the water has cooked off and carrots have started to soften.
  • Add the bok choy to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes more, until both bok choy and carrots are cooked through. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper to taste, then transfer to a plate and cover.
  • Wipe out the pan with a paper towel.
  • Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil over high heat. Season the chicken generously and add to the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 7-8 minutes or until chicken is browned and cooked through.
  • While the chicken is cooking, make the peanut sauce. Place the ginger, garlic, peanut butter, lime juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, red pepper flakes and 2 tablespoons of water in a food processor; blend until smooth. Add more water to further thin the sauce if desired.
  • Return the vegetables to the pan with the chicken and cook until heated through, 1-2 minutes. Drizzle the peanut sauce over the top of the chicken and vegetables. Top with chopped peanuts and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 403kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 866mg | Potassium: 856mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 7940IU | Vitamin C: 29.8mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 1.9mg
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Filed Under: Asian Food, Dinner, Everyday Meals, Gluten Free

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    Comments

    1. Barb Mcdowell says

      February 19, 2018 at 5:04 pm

      Thankyou for such yummy easy recipes i work some afternoons and I make meals in advance and freeze for my family and I have fibromyyalgia so sometimes Im not feeling well enough to cook so these are just delicious and so easy thanks again from Barb from Victoria Australia xx

      Reply
    2. Melissa says

      February 19, 2017 at 6:19 am

      I’m going to try making this but am wondering if fresh ginger and fresh garlic can be subbed with the jarred minced ginger and garlic? Thank you in advance!

      Reply
      • Sara says

        February 19, 2017 at 8:55 am

        Yes that will work!

        Reply
    3. Greg says

      April 14, 2016 at 4:42 pm

      5 stars
      The pictures are amazing! I want that dish!

      Reply
    4. Chris Scheuer says

      April 14, 2016 at 7:27 am

      This looks so fresh and flavorful. I do believe you and I were in the same line when taste buds were passed out. And I love that you don’t need any fancy, hard-to-find ingredients.

      Reply
    5. Debbie says

      April 13, 2016 at 9:15 pm

      5 stars
      Beautiful Thai dish and love the sauce!

      Reply
    6. Mimi says

      April 13, 2016 at 2:41 pm

      This looks delicious! I also love the carrots and bok Choy!

      Reply
    7. Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says

      April 13, 2016 at 1:11 pm

      Oh this is a personal favorite of mine! Love the peanuts and bok choy and ginger – you cook all the things I want to eat! Your photos are outstanding. Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe!

      Reply
    8. Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners says

      April 13, 2016 at 12:33 pm

      5 stars
      I’m a big fan of Thai food too, Sara, and I particularly crave the lime/ginger combo in the Spring months. I love that this dish is so quick, easy and full of nutrients. I may be poaching it for a future Healthy Meal Plan! lol
      Thanks for a great recipe. Sharing 🙂

      Reply
    9. sue|theviewfromgreatisland says

      April 13, 2016 at 8:29 am

      I have the same trouble with replicating my favorite Thai flavors, this is a great recipe to have around when you crave Thai but can’t get to a specialty store!

      Reply
    10. Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says

      April 13, 2016 at 4:56 am

      We love Thai flavours here and this looks like perfection! Love dishes like this that are loaded with vegetables, but delicious and satisfying, too! Pinned 🙂

      Reply

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