Description

This 30-Minute Peanut Butter Chicken recipe features tender boneless skinless chicken thighs cooked in a rich, creamy peanut butter sauce infused with tomato, fresh lime, ginger, and garlic. Served garnished with chopped roasted peanuts and fresh cilantro, it’s a flavorful and easy skillet dish perfect for weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale

Peanut Butter Sauce

1 medium tomato, diced
½ fresno pepper, minced (or ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes)
½ cup creamy peanut butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar (or more to taste)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 cup chicken broth
½ medium lime, juiced

Chicken and Cooking

1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1½ teaspoons kosher salt
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 small onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1½ tablespoons ginger paste (or 1 inch fresh ginger, grated)

Garnish

¼ cup roasted peanuts, chopped
½ lime, quartered
¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves

Instructions

Prepare the Peanut Butter Sauce: In a medium bowl, combine the diced tomato, minced fresno pepper, creamy peanut butter, brown sugar, soy sauce, chicken broth, and lime juice. Stir until the sauce is smooth and fully combined. Set aside to use later.
Prepare the Chicken: Cut the boneless skinless chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces. Season all pieces evenly with kosher salt, tossing to coat.
Cook the Chicken: Heat 1½ tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken pieces and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken to a bowl and set aside.
Sauté the Onions: In the same skillet, add the remaining 1½ tablespoons of olive oil. Add the diced onion and cook over medium heat until translucent, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid burning.
Add Garlic and Ginger: Stir in the minced garlic and ginger paste. Cook for approximately 1 minute on medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning and to release their aromas.
Combine Sauce and Chicken: Gently pour in the prepared peanut butter sauce, then return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Stir to thoroughly coat the chicken with the sauce. Allow the sauce to simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking.
Serve and Garnish: Remove the skillet from heat. Serve the peanut butter chicken over rice or your preferred side. Garnish with chopped roasted peanuts, fresh cilantro leaves, and lime wedges. Optionally, add additional slices of fresno pepper for extra heat.

Notes

You can adjust the heat level by increasing or omitting the fresno pepper or red pepper flakes.
For a gluten-free option, substitute tamari or a gluten-free soy sauce.
If you prefer less sweetness, reduce the amount of brown sugar.
The chicken thighs are preferred for their extra moisture and flavor compared to chicken breasts.
Serve with steamed white rice, jasmine rice, or quinoa for a complete meal.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Asian Fusion

Keywords: peanut butter chicken, quick chicken dinner, Asian peanut sauce chicken, skillet chicken recipe, easy chicken recipe