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Weeknight • Chicken

Speedy Spicy Peanut Chicken

Tender chicken in a quick, creamy, and spicy peanut sauce, perfect for a fast and flavorful weeknight dinner.

Prep
10 min
Cook
15 min
Servings
4
Level
Weeknight
Speedy Spicy Peanut Chicken

Craving takeout but want something homemade and even better? This Speedy Spicy Peanut Chicken is your answer! It's incredibly flavorful, comes together in a flash, and hits all those delicious notes of sweet, savory, and spicy. Serve it over rice or noodles for an instant crowd-pleaser!

Ingredients

Yield: 4 servings

Chicken

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Peanut Sauce

  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1-2 tsp sriracha (or other chili garlic sauce), to taste
  • 1/4 cup warm water or chicken broth, plus more if needed

For Serving

  • Cooked rice or noodles
  • Chopped green onions, for garnish
  • Chopped peanuts, for garnish

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.

  2. Step 2

    While chicken cooks, prepare the peanut sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, grated ginger, minced garlic, and sriracha until smooth. Gradually whisk in 1/4 cup warm water or chicken broth until the sauce reaches a pourable consistency. Add more liquid a tablespoon at a time if it's too thick.

  3. Step 3

    Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Pour the peanut sauce over the chicken and stir to coat evenly. Heat gently for 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to warm through and cling to the chicken. If the sauce becomes too thick, add another splash of water or broth.

  4. Step 4

    Serve immediately over cooked rice or noodles. Garnish with chopped green onions and chopped peanuts, if desired.

Tips

  • Adjust the sriracha level to your preference – start with less and add more for extra heat.
  • Add some steamed broccoli or bell peppers to the skillet with the sauce for extra veggies.
  • This sauce is also fantastic with shrimp or firm tofu!

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