Chicken Satay Recipe With Peanut Sauce

Easy Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce is a classic Thai recipe that will blow you away with its deliciously sweet, salty, spicy, savory, and umami flavors! These Thai chicken skewers are simple to make on a grill pan on the stove and paired with an easy homemade peanut sauce.

Chicken Satay Skewers with creamy peanut sauce are a Thai food favorite, and so easy to make at home!

This recipe is just as delicious as your favorite restaurant’s version, made with fresh, flavorful ingredients, and can be made quickly on the stove or on your outdoor grill.

If you love skewers and kabobs, be sure to grab my creamy, spicy Bang Bang Chicken Skewers recipe next. Or, try a Greek specialty, Chicken Souvlaki skewers. Italian grilled Chicken Spiedini is another favorite chicken recipe on a stick!

Chicken Satay Recipe Highlights

• Dinner or Appetizer – you decide!– This recipe makes about 12 small chicken satay skewers, so you can serve it as an appetizer at a party, or split it into 3 or 4 servings as a tasty family dinner. With some rice and veggies on the side, you can make an easy and inexpensive Thai-inspired meal at home.
• Simple Ingredients – I’ve simplified the satay marinade a bit to make it super accessible, so you won’t need a pile of specialty seasonings to make this recipe. That said, you may want to take a trip to pick up some fish sauce and red curry paste if you don’t already have some. These Asian ingredients are key to the flavor of the recipe.
• Amazing Peanut Dipping Sauce – The best part about chicken satay is the deliciously creamy, nutty sauce that you get to dip it in to. The chicken with the sauce creates the most amazing taste explosion in your mouth!

Ingredients In Chicken Satay

Here’s what you need to make these amazing marinated chicken skewers:

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Chicken: I like you use dark meat in this recipe, so I’m using 1 ½ pounds of boneless skinless chicken thighs. Boneless chicken breast meat works too, but it won’t be quite as juicy. Dice the meat into bite-sized pieces before you get started.
• Fish Sauce: An umami sauce made from fermented anchovies and salt, this is a key ingredient in Thai and Vietnamese cuisines.
• Red Curry Paste: You’ll typically find this in a jar or can, near the Asian foods in the grocery store. This adds a nice spiciness to the chicken.
• Turmeric: Ground turmeric has a complex flavor that is peppery, earthy, and a tiny bit bitter.
• Salt and Sugar: Add just the right amount of each to balance the flavors in the marinade perfectly. In place of sugar, you can also use brown sugar or honey for a bit of extra flavor.
• Peanut Sauce: Not pictured here, the ingredients in Thai peanut sauce include chunky peanut butter, coconut milk (from a can), soy sauce, and additional fish sauce and red curry paste.

How To Make Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

Recipe Tips

• For more flavor, try adding freshly grated ginger and/or minced garlic to the marinade.
• If the sauce is too thick, whisk in a little bit of water to thin it out. You want the peanut sauce to be pourable.
• Soak the skewers. If you’re using wooden or bamboo skewers, they need to be wet when you add them to the grill or pan. Soak them in water for an hour or so before threading the chicken onto them.
• Choose your cooking method. These chicken skewers can be grilled outdoors or on a grill pan on the stove. If you don’t have a grill pan, a regular cast-iron skillet can also work just fine. Chicken satay skewers can also be made in the oven! Broil them for 5 or 6 minutes, or until browned and cooked through.

Storing Tips

• These are going be the tastiest if you enjoy them right away after cooking, but they can be stored if needed.
• Leftover skewers should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• The peanut sauce can also be stored in a separate container in the fridge for the same amount of time.
• To reheat chicken satay, place the skewers on a baking sheet, and bake in a 350°F oven for just a few minutes, until the chicken is warmed through. The sauce can be reheated gently on the stove or in the microwave.
• To freeze, store the chicken and the sauce separately in freezer containers or bags in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

What To Serve With Chicken Satay

Turn this easy appetizer recipe into a delicious meal with a few carefully chosen side dishes!

A Fresh, Crunchy Salad like my Asian Chicken Salad (minus the chicken), or your favorite bagged coleslaw or broccoli slaw mixed with my homemade Asian salad dressing.

Rice: A staple in all Asian cuisines, plain jasmine rice is the perfect side dish. You’ll also love my Savory Coconut Rice, Thai Pineapple Fried Rice, or Instant Pot Fried Rice with these Thai chicken satay skewers.

Grilled Sides: While you’re grilling the chicken, make some grilled pineapple, grilled potatoes in foil, or grilled corn.

Recipe FAQs

What else can I make with Thai red curry paste?

Red curry paste is a staple ingredient in Thai cooking. If you have leftover curry from making chicken satay skewers, use it to make Coconut Chicken Curry, Thai Fish Curry, or Thai Curry Soup!

How do I know when chicken skewers are done?

Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the center of each piece of chicken has reached a temperature of 165°F (74°C). You don’t necessarily need to check each piece of chicken, but you should test the larger pieces.

Can I reduce the salt in this recipe?

The best way to reduce the salt content in recipes like this one is to use Low-sodium soy sauce in place of the regular soy sauce. You can also reduce the amount of salt in the satay marinade if you like.

Enjoy this delicious Asian-inspired appetizer for your next party, game day, or busy weeknight. Save it by pinning it, and share it with your favorite cooks!