Description
This Chinese Peanut Butter Chicken recipe is a quick, flavorful dinner that’s perfect for weeknights. Tender chicken is coated in a creamy, sweet-savory peanut butter sauce with a touch of spice. It’s easy to make, packed with restaurant-quality flavor, and pairs beautifully with rice or noodles.
Ingredients
Scale
For the chicken:
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, diced
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (or sesame oil)
For the sauce:
- ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1–2 teaspoons sriracha or chili flakes (optional)
- ¼–½ cup water (to adjust consistency)
Optional garnish:
- Chopped green onions
- Sesame seeds
- Crushed peanuts
Instructions
- Toss the diced chicken pieces in cornstarch until evenly coated.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden and fully cooked, about 5-6 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and sriracha. Gradually add water to adjust the sauce to your preferred consistency.
- Lower the heat to medium, pour the sauce into the skillet, and stir until it’s heated through, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add the cooked chicken back to the skillet and toss to coat evenly in the sauce.
- Serve hot over steamed rice or noodles, garnished with green onions, sesame seeds, or crushed peanuts.
Notes
- For a spicier version, increase the amount of sriracha or chili flakes.
- Add veggies like broccoli, snap peas, or bell peppers for a more colorful dish.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently over low heat, adding a splash of water to thin the sauce if needed.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stir-fry
- Cuisine: Chinese-inspired
Keywords: Chinese peanut butter chicken, peanut butter chicken recipe, easy peanut chicken, creamy chicken stir fry, Asian-inspired chicken, weeknight dinner recipe