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Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce
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Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

Perfect for a backyard BBQ or an easy weeknight dinner, this Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce is bursting with bold, Thai-inspired flavors. Juicy, marinated chicken skewers are grilled to perfection and served with a creamy, tangy peanut sauce. It's a dish that's nutty, savory, and totally irresistible.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: thai
Keyword: BBQ chicken recipe, chicken satay, grilled chicken skewers, peanut sauce, Thai satay
Servings: 8
Calories: 416kcal

Ingredients

For the Chicken Satay Skewers:

  • 1/3 cup coconut milk
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon red curry paste
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
  • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken (thighs, breasts, or tenders), cut into 1-inch strips
  • 16 skewers

For the Peanut Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon red curry paste
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice

For Serving:

  • Chopped roasted peanuts
  • Sliced red chilis
  • Lime wedges
  • Fresh cilantro leaves

Instructions

Marinate the Chicken

  • In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, soy sauce, red curry paste, fish sauce, brown sugar, garlic, curry powder, salt, and white pepper. Add chicken strips and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.

Make the Peanut Sauce

  • In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the peanut butter, coconut milk, brown sugar, red curry paste, soy sauce, fish sauce, and lime juice. Whisk until smooth and bring to a simmer. Stir frequently for about 5 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat.

Prepare the Skewers

  • Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes to prevent burning. Thread the marinated chicken onto the skewers, discarding excess marinade.

Grill the Chicken

  • Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. If using a grill pan, add a bit of oil to prevent sticking. Grill skewers for 3–4 minutes per side until charred and fully cooked.

Serve and Garnish

  • Serve the chicken satay skewers warm with peanut sauce on the side. Garnish with chopped peanuts, red chilis, lime wedges, and fresh cilantro.

Notes

Use chicken thighs for extra juicy and tender skewers.
Chicken tenderloins are a great white meat option that stay moist and are easy to skewer.
If you want to skip skewers, grill whole marinated thighs instead for the same delicious flavor.