Peanut Butter Chicken turns an ordinary weeknight into something special. Tender chicken is coated in a creamy peanut sauce with garlic, soy, sesame, and hoisin—all made in one skillet in about 30 minutes.
No fancy ingredients or skills needed. Just a few pantry staples come together to create big, bold flavor with very little effort.
Serve it over rice with vegetables, and dinner is done.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Peanut Butter Chicken
- Quick & Easy: The chicken and sauce cook in one skillet, making this a practical choice for busy weeknights.
- Big, Creamy Flavor: Peanut butter, hoisin, soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil create a rich sweet-and-savory sauce.
- Simple Ingredients: Most of what you need can be found at a regular grocery store, and you may already have several ingredients in your pantry.
- Family-Friendly: Tender chicken and a creamy sauce make this an approachable way to introduce the family to new flavors.
- Easy to Customize: Add vegetables, adjust the sauce, or serve it with rice, noodles, or cauliflower rice.
- Great for Leftovers: The chicken reheats well, making it useful for lunch or meal prep the next day.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what goes into this easy skillet dinner:
- 1½ pounds chicken breast: Cut it into bite-sized pieces so it cooks quickly and evenly.
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch: This lightly coats the chicken and helps give the exterior a better texture. Almond flour can be used as an alternative.
- ¼ cup peanut butter: The creamy foundation of the sauce. Smooth peanut butter is easiest to incorporate.
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce: Adds sweetness and savory depth. Teriyaki sauce can work as a substitute.
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce: Brings the salty, umami flavor that balances the peanut butter.
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil: A small amount delivers plenty of nutty aroma.
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic: Because peanut sauce without garlic would be missing some serious personality.
- ⅔ cup water: Loosens the sauce so it can coat every piece of chicken.
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil: For pan-frying the chicken.
- ½ tablespoon sesame seeds: Optional, but they add a nice finishing touch.
- 1 tablespoon chopped green onions: Also optional, though the fresh color and flavor are worth it.
A quick ingredient note: because soy sauce and hoisin sauce are already salty, there’s usually no need to season the chicken heavily with additional salt.
How to Make Peanut Butter Chicken
1. Coat the Chicken
Place the bite-sized chicken breast pieces in a mixing bowl. Sprinkle the cornstarch over the chicken and toss until every piece has a light, even coating.
Don’t worry about making the coating perfectly uniform. You’re not breading fried chicken here; you simply want a thin layer that helps the chicken cook beautifully and gives the sauce something to cling to.
Set the coated chicken aside while you prepare the sauce.
2. Mix the Peanut Butter Sauce
In a separate bowl, combine the peanut butter, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, and water.
Stir until the mixture becomes smooth and well blended.
If your peanut butter is particularly thick, the sauce may initially look a little stubborn. Keep stirring. It will loosen as the water incorporates, and it becomes even smoother once it hits the warm skillet.
3. Cook the Chicken
Place a large skillet over medium heat and add the cooking oil.
Once the oil is hot and shimmering, carefully add the cornstarch-coated chicken. Spread the pieces into an even layer rather than piling them on top of each other.
Cook for about 5–6 minutes, turning the chicken occasionally so the pieces cook on multiple sides.
The chicken should no longer be pink in the center. For food safety, chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F at its thickest point.
4. Add the Sauce
Pour the prepared peanut butter sauce directly into the skillet.
Stir well so every bite of chicken gets covered in that creamy sauce. Continue cooking for another 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
As it cooks, the sauce will thicken and cling to the chicken.
Keep an eye on the heat at this stage. Peanut butter sauces can thicken surprisingly quickly. If yours gets thicker than you’d like, stir in a small splash of water until it reaches your preferred consistency.
5. Garnish and Serve
Remove the skillet from the heat once the sauce is thick, glossy, and the chicken is completely cooked.
Sprinkle sesame seeds and chopped green onions over the top, if using.
Serve immediately while the sauce is warm and creamy.
And yes, this is absolutely the moment when someone wanders into the kitchen asking, “What smells so good?”
What to Serve With Peanut Butter Chicken
Steamed white or jasmine rice is my first choice because it absorbs the extra peanut sauce beautifully. Brown rice works well when you want something heartier.
Noodles are another easy option. Spoon the chicken and plenty of sauce over cooked noodles for a comforting bowl that feels a little like takeout night without waiting for the delivery driver.
For vegetables, try steamed broccoli, snap peas, green beans, carrots, or bell peppers. You can even toss some vegetables directly into the skillet, although firmer vegetables may need to be partially cooked first.
Want something lighter? Serve the chicken with cauliflower rice or alongside a crisp cucumber salad. The cool freshness is a nice contrast to the rich peanut sauce.
Chef Omar’s Tips for the Best Results
- Cut the chicken evenly. Similar-sized pieces finish cooking at roughly the same time. Tiny pieces beside giant chunks are basically asking your skillet to perform a magic trick.
- Give the chicken some room. If your skillet is small, cook it in batches. Overcrowding traps steam and makes browning more difficult.
- Use medium heat. Cranking the burner to high won’t necessarily make dinner happen faster. The sauce contains ingredients that can catch on the bottom of a very hot pan.
- Adjust the consistency at the end. Prefer a thinner sauce for spooning over rice? Add a tablespoon or two of water. Want it thicker? Let it simmer briefly.
- Taste before adding extra salt. Soy and hoisin bring plenty of seasoning on their own.
This is exactly the sort of meal I love keeping in my back pocket. I’ve learned that some of the most satisfying dinners aren’t the ones that require hours of preparation—they’re the ones where a few everyday ingredients suddenly come together and make everyone at the table look up after the first bite.
Easy Variations
Once you’ve made the basic version, there are plenty of ways to put your own spin on it.
For a little heat, add crushed red pepper flakes or a small squeeze of sriracha to the sauce. Start small; you can always add more.
If you want more vegetables, sauté sliced bell peppers, broccoli, zucchini, or snap peas and combine them with the chicken before adding the sauce.
Chicken thighs can also replace chicken breasts. Boneless, skinless thighs are particularly forgiving and stay juicy during skillet cooking.
For extra crunch, finish each serving with chopped peanuts or cashews. That contrast between creamy sauce and crunchy nuts can take a simple bowl of chicken and rice to another level.
Storing and Reheating
Allow leftover Peanut Butter Chicken to cool before transferring it to an airtight container. Refrigerate it promptly and enjoy it within 3–4 days.
The sauce will usually become thicker after refrigeration. When reheating, add a small splash of water to loosen it.
You can warm individual portions in the microwave or gently reheat the chicken in a skillet over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally so the sauce warms evenly and doesn’t stick.
FAQs About Peanut Butter Chicken
Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?
Absolutely. Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs and cut them into similar bite-sized pieces. Cooking time may vary slightly depending on their size.
What can I substitute for hoisin sauce?
Teriyaki sauce is an easy alternative. Keep in mind that the final flavor will change somewhat because the two sauces have different levels of sweetness and seasoning.
Can I make Peanut Butter Chicken spicy?
Yes. Add sriracha, chili garlic sauce, or red pepper flakes to the peanut sauce. Start with a little and adjust according to your family’s heat tolerance.
Why is my peanut sauce too thick?
The cornstarch on the chicken helps thicken the sauce, and peanut butter naturally adds body. Simply stir in water a tablespoon at a time until the sauce reaches the consistency you want.
Can I add vegetables?
Definitely. Broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, zucchini, green beans, and snap peas all pair nicely with the savory peanut sauce. Cook firmer vegetables before adding the sauce so everything finishes at the same time.
What kind of peanut butter works best?
Smooth peanut butter is easiest to whisk into the sauce. If you use natural peanut butter, stir the jar thoroughly first so the oil and peanut solids are evenly combined.
Make Tonight’s Dinner Deliciously Easy
When the day has been long and dinner needs to happen without turning your kitchen into a disaster zone, this Peanut Butter Chicken delivers. You get tender chicken, a rich and savory peanut sauce, straightforward ingredients, and plenty of flexibility—all from one skillet.
Pile it over warm rice, scatter green onions and sesame seeds across the top, and don’t forget to spoon on that extra sauce. It’s simple enough for a Tuesday night but flavorful enough to make an ordinary dinner feel special.
That’s what I’m always chasing in the kitchen: fresh ingredients, approachable techniques, and food that makes people excited to sit down together.
More Flavor-Packed Recipes to Try Next
If you loved the creamy, savory flavors in this Peanut Butter Chicken, keep the weeknight dinner inspiration going with a few closely related recipes from Pulse Recipes. These picks strengthen the article’s topical relevance around peanut sauces, Asian-inspired chicken dinners, and quick flavorful meals while giving readers a natural next recipe to explore.
- Craving another peanut-packed dinner? Try these Thai Peanut Chicken Wraps for a fresh, handheld twist with similarly rich and savory flavors.
- If you want the same cozy peanut-and-chicken combination with less hands-on cooking, save this Slow Cooker Peanut Chicken for your next busy day.
- For noodle night, these Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles turn creamy peanut flavor into a comforting dish with a delicious kick.
- Want something crisp and refreshing alongside all that peanut goodness? This Spicy Peanut Cucumber Salad makes a bright, crunchy companion for an Asian-inspired meal.
Made this Peanut Butter Chicken? ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Leave a star rating and share your review! Tell us how it turned out, what you served with it, or how you made it your own. Your feedback helps other home cooks decide what to make next—and helps us keep bringing more delicious recipes to your kitchen!
Peanut Butter Chicken
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
This easy Peanut Butter Chicken features tender bite-sized chicken coated in a rich, creamy, savory peanut sauce with hoisin, soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil. Ready in about 25 minutes, it’s a flavor-packed skillet dinner that’s perfect served over warm rice or noodles.
Ingredients
- 1½ lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch (or almond flour)
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce (or teriyaki sauce)
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ⅔ cup water
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil, for frying
- ½ tablespoon sesame seeds, optional, for garnish
- 1 tablespoon chopped green onions, optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Place the bite-sized chicken breast pieces in a medium mixing bowl. Add the cornstarch and toss until the chicken is evenly coated.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, and water until smooth.
- Heat the cooking oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the coated chicken pieces in an even layer.
- Cook for 5–6 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is lightly browned and no longer pink.
- Pour the peanut butter sauce into the skillet and stir until all the chicken pieces are thoroughly coated.
- Cook for another 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is hot, glossy, and thickened and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove from the heat. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, if desired, and serve immediately over rice or noodles.
Notes
For the smoothest sauce, use creamy peanut butter. If the sauce becomes too thick while cooking, stir in 1–2 tablespoons of water at a time until it reaches your preferred consistency.
Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can replace chicken breasts. For extra heat, add sriracha, chili garlic sauce, or crushed red pepper flakes.
Because soy sauce and hoisin sauce contain plenty of sodium, taste the finished dish before adding any additional salt.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 360 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg