Are you craving an easy chicken dish that has rich and creamy flavors of peanut butter? Try Chinese peanut butter chicken! This recipe makes juicy chicken coated in a creamy peanut sauce that will leave you wanting more. With simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, it is perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends when you want a delicious meal with little effort. Let's dive into this delicious dish and learn how to make it right in your home!
Jump To
What is Chinese peanut butter chicken?
As the name suggests, the taste of creamy Chinese peanut butter chicken comes from the peanut butter used to create the sauce.
It combines the richness of peanut butter with savory, tender chicken pieces. The result is a dish that's comforting, satisfying, and incredibly delicious.
Why you'll love Chinese peanut butter chicken
Rich and creamy peanut sauce: Peanut sauce has a delectable nuttiness that enhances the flavor of the chicken. The rich and creamy texture allows the sauce to cling to the chicken, ensuring that every bite is bursting with flavor. The creamy texture of the peanut sauce provides a delightful contrast to the tender chicken pieces.
Bold flavor: The combination of savory and sweet flavors in this dish makes it more interesting and enjoyable. The other ingredients, such as soy sauce, garlic, and ginger, add extra flavors too.
Quick and easy preparation: The simplicity of preparing Chinese peanut butter chicken is desirable. It is a quick and easy dish that makes it perfect for busy weeknights.
Family-friendly: Chinese peanut butter chicken blends familiar ingredients with rich flavors. It is an ideal dish for family gatherings that appeals to kids and adults.
Ingredients you'll need
Chicken breast: the main protein ingredient of this recipe. I used boneless skinless chicken breasts. Feel free to use chicken thighs; they are just as delicious!
Cooking oil: to cook the chicken and vegetables. Olive oil or vegetable oil works as well.
Fresh ginger and garlic powder: aromatic flavor to this recipe.
Salt and pepper: to taste.
Chopped green onions: for garnish.
Roasted sesame seeds: for garnish.
Chopped roasted peanuts: for garnish.
Peanut sauce ingredients:
Water: Water helps create the sauce and adjust the dish's consistency. You can also use chicken stock instead of water.
Light soy sauce: It adds saltiness and enhances the umami flavor.
Creamy peanut butter: Provides a rich, nutty flavor and thickens the sauce. Use crunchy peanut butter instead if you prefer the cruncly texture.
Sugar: It balances the flavors and adds a touch of sweetness to the sauce.
Cornstarch: I used it as a thickening agent for the sauce, but I used very little to avoid making the dish too thick.
Sautee vegetables:
I used red peppers, orange bell peppers, and edamame. Feel free to use your favorite vegetables.
Cooking instructions step by step
Gather all the ingredients. Slice the bell peppers. Cut the chicken breast into cubes or small pieces. Season the chicken pieces with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Set aside for 10 minutes.
Heat the cooking oil in a nonstick wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir fry the ginger slice until fragrant. Add the seasoned chicken breast pieces until browned and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per side. Remove from the wok and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sugar, natural creamy peanut butter, water, and cornstarch until smooth and creamy.
Heat the wok and add the cooked chicken pieces back to the wok. Pour the premixed Chinese peanut sauce over the cooked chicken pieces. Stir well to coat the chicken evenly. Allow the sauce to simmer for a few minutes until it thickens slightly and the chicken is heated through.
Heat a little bit of cooking oil in a separate frying pan. Add the sliced red peppers, orange bell peppers and edamame, and cook until slightly softened. About 2 minutes. Set aside. (You can skip this step if you don't want the sauteed vegetables. This step is optional)
Garnish with roasted sesame seeds, chopped roasted peanuts, and additional chopped green onions for garnish.
Serve this peanut butter chicken with rice immediately, along with the sauteed vegetables, for a complete meal. Enjoy!
Pro tips
Here are some extra tips for making this easy peanut butter chicken recipe:
- Adjusting sauce's perfect consistency: If the creamy peanut butter sauce is too thick, you can thin it out by adding a little water or chicken broth. Conversely, if it's too thin, you can thicken it with a cornstarch slurry (mixing cornstarch with cold water before adding it to the sauce).
- Customizing spice level: You can control the level of spiciness by adding red pepper flakes or adding a dash of hot sauce, such as sriracha or chili oil. This will make a perfect spicy peanut sauce.
- Cooking chicken perfectly: When sautéing the chicken, avoid overcrowding the pan, which can cause the chicken to steam rather than brown. Cook the chicken in batches if necessary to achieve a golden brown exterior and juicy interior.
- Serve with noodles: There are different ways to serve Chinese peanut sauce chicken. Besides steamed white rice, you can also serve this delicious dish with any type of noodles, such as rice noodles or lo mein.
Variations
- Vegetarian/vegan option: Replace the chicken with tofu cubes for a vegetarian or vegan version. Make sure to press the tofu to remove excess moisture before cooking.
- Nut butter substitutions: While traditional Chinese peanut butter chicken uses peanut butter, you can experiment with other nut butter, such as cashew or almond butter, for a unique twist on the recipe.
- Adding vegetables: In addition to the bell peppers, you can add sauteed vegetables like broccoli, carrots, or snap peas on the side for extra flavor.
- Gluten-free option: Use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce to make the dish gluten-free.
Final thoughts
If you love Chinese food or are simply searching for a delicious and satisfying meal, give this dish a try. This Chinese peanut butter chicken might become your new favorite recipe for any occasion!I hope you enjoyed this post so far. I am looking forward to learning how your peanut butter chicken turned out! Until the next post, happy cooking!
Chinese Peanut Butter Chicken (With Vegetables)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breast
- 3 tablespoons cooking oil
- 1 slice fresh ginger
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- chopped green onions for garnish
- roasted sesame seeds for garnish
- chopped roasted peanuts for garnish
Peanut sauce ingredients:
- 1.5 cups water
- 3 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 4 tablespoons cornstarch
Sauteed vegetables:
- half red bell peppers
- half orange bell peppers
- 1 cup shelled edamame
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients. Slice the bell peppers. Cut the chicken breast into cubes or small pieces. Season the chicken pieces with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Set aside for 10 minutes.
- Heat the cooking oil in a nonstick wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir fry the ginger slice until fragrant. Add the seasoned chicken breast pieces until browned and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per side. Remove from the wok and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sugar, natural creamy peanut butter, water, and cornstarch until smooth and creamy.
- Heat the wok and add the cooked chicken pieces back to the wok. Pour the premixed Chinese peanut sauce over the cooked chicken pieces. Stir well to coat the chicken evenly. Allow the sauce to simmer for a few minutes until it thickens slightly and the chicken is heated through.
- Heat a little bit of cooking oil in a separate frying pan. Add the sliced red peppers, orange bell peppers, and edamame, and cook until slightly softened. About 2 minutes. Set aside. (You can skip this step if you don't want the sauteed vegetables. This step is optional)
- Garnish with roasted sesame seeds, chopped roasted peanuts, and additional chopped green onions for garnish.
- Serve this peanut butter chicken with rice immediately, along with the sauteed vegetables, for a complete meal. Enjoy!
Leave a Reply