This quick and easy peanut butter chicken recipe features tender chicken pieces cooked in aromatic, savoury, spicy peanut curry sauce! It is one of my favourite go-to curry dishes, and it can be prepared at home in under 30 minutes.
If you like creamy chicken curries like Butter Chicken, Chicken rendang or Chicken Tikka Masala, I'm sure you'll also enjoy this creamy chicken with peanut butter sauce!
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This Asian fusion peanut butter chicken is a fantastic blend of tender chicken in curry spices and creamy peanut sauce.
It is popular in the UK, the US, and many Western countries. This peanut butter sauce is similar to Chinese satay sauce and milder than Malaysian and Thai satay sauces.
Ingredients
The following is a quick guide; you can scroll to the recipe card for the detailed measurements.
Since this is a simple recipe, you won’t need special Asian herbs and spices. All of the ingredients can be easily found at your local supermarkets.
- Chicken - Boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts.
- Peanut butter
- Onion, garlic & ginger
- Spices - turmeric, chilli, cumin, coriander powder, garam masala.
- Double cream ( heavy cream )
- Salt to taste
- Fresh Chillies & Coriander
- Cooking oil
Substitution & Variations
- Options for heavy cream: Coconut or oat milk are the best substitutes for heavy cream ( double cream ).
- Peanut butter substitutes: You can try this peanut chicken curry with sesame paste, almond, cashew, or tahini instead of peanut butter.
- Variations for Thai Peanut Chicken: To make it Thai-style chicken with peanut sauce, you might want to omit all the ground spices used in this recipe and add Thai red curry paste for a bit more spicy, pungent flavour.
What type of Peanut Butter to use?
Smooth natural peanut butter is great for adding to curries and sauces, which contain no unnecessary ingredients like palm oil and sweeteners. It helps the curry sauce thicken without adding flour or cornflour.
Feel free to use regular peanut butter or crunchy peanut butter to your preference.
Expert Tips
- Adjust the consistency: Peanut sauce thickens as it cools. Add a splash of water to loosen it, then reheat to your desired consistency before serving.
- Add more flavour: To make the curry richer, add low-sodium chicken broth or chicken stock instead of water.
- Make it spicier: Adjust the heat level to your preference by adding more fresh or dried chillies. Thai birdseye chillies go well with peanut sauce!
How to cook Peanut Butter Chicken
- Heat the pan or large skillet over medium heat, drizzle oil and sauté the onions for 2-3 minutes until soft and translucent. Then, add the grated garlic and ginger and cook until the onions are slightly brown.
- Add chicken and spices; turmeric, ground coriander, cumin, chilli, garam masala, and salt to taste. Saute the chicken for 1-2 minutes.
- Add peanut butter, pour the water and double cream. Stir and combine well with the rest of the ingredients. Close the lid and cook for 20 minutes or until the chicken is tender. Stir occasionally.
- Make a taste test and add more salt or water if needed. Finish with chopped coriander leaves and fresh chillies.
Pairing Suggestions
This chicken peanut sauce is best served with cooked basmati or jasmine rice.
It also goes well with rice noodles, egg noodles, bread, and salads. Squeeze some fresh lemon or lime juice to balance the creamy coconut flavour.
Peanut chicken pasta is also a must-try! Creamy peanut butter sauce goes well with spaghetti, tagliatelle, linguine, etc.
Storage and Reheating
How to Store Leftovers
- You can make a large peanut chicken curry and let it cool down before storing it in an airtight container.
- You can keep it refrigerated for up to one week or frozen for up to two weeks.
How to Reheat
- When reheating in a pan or microwave, add half a cup of water per serving. It maintains the creamy texture and moisture of the curry.
- Using a pan, you can reheat at medium heat until sizzle.
- If using a microwave, reheat it in a microwave-safe container for 1 minute or until the curry is loosened and heated.
FAQs
Does peanut butter thicken the curry sauce?
Adding peanut butter creates a creamy, thick sauce without thickening ingredients like flour or cornflour.
Does peanut butter go well with chicken?
Surprisingly, yes! Creamy peanut butter sauce goes well with chicken and most types of protein. It brings a nutty flavour and a creamy texture to the curry sauce.
Can you add peanut butter to other recipes?
Peanut butter is used in popular Asian dishes, like Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce and Spicy Peanut Noodles. The peanut sauce used in this dish is more similar to Malaysian-style Satay Chicken Curry rather than the Chinese Crispy Chicken with Peanut Sauce.
More Easy Chicken Curry Recipes
If you enjoyed this easy Asian peanut chicken recipe, you might also love our readers’ favourite following Chicken Curry Recipes.
📖 Recipe
Peanut Butter Chicken
Ingredients
- 500 gram Chicken thigh or breast, boneless & skinless, cut small cubes
- 2-3 Onions Shallots or small onions, cut small dice
- 1 tbsp Garlic Grated garlic or garlic paste
- 1 tbsp Ginger Grated ginger or ginger paste
- 4 tbsp Peanut butter Smooth natural peanut butter
- 6 tbsp Double cream ( heavy cream )
- 1 cup Water Add warm water
- 1 tsp Salt Or salt to taste
- 2 tbsp Cooking oil
- handful Coriander
- 2-3 Chilli pepper hot or mild
Ground spices
- 1 tsp Turmeric
- 2 tsp Chilli powder
- ½ tsp Coriander powder
- ½ tsp Cumin powder
- 2 tsp Garam masala
Instructions
- Heat the pan or large skillet over medium heat, drizzle oil and sauté the onions for 2-3 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Then, add the grated garlic and ginger and cook until the onions are slightly brown.
- Add chicken and spices; turmeric, ground coriander, cumin, chilli, garam masala, and salt to taste. Saute the chicken for 1-2 minutes.
- Add peanut butter, pour the water and double cream. Stir and combine well with the rest of the ingredients.
- Close the lid and cook for 20 minutes or until the chicken is tender. Stir occasionally.
- Make a taste test and add more salt or water if needed. Finish with chopped coriander leaves and fresh chillies.
Notes
- Peanut sauce thickens as it cools. Add a splash of water to loosen it, then reheat to your desired consistency before serving.
- Options for heavy cream: Creamy coconut milk is the best substitute for heavy cream ( double cream ).
- Peanut butter substitutes: You can try this peanut chicken curry with sesame paste, almond, cashew, or tahini instead of peanut butter.
- Make it spicier: Adjust the heat level to your preference by adding more fresh or dried chillies. Thai birdseye chillies go well with peanut sauce!
Janette Phipps says
found recipe easy to follow but afraid mine does not look like yours ,was looking good untill the cream went in 😔. but Tate was great. only put 1tsp of chillie as I am not to great with to much heat. but I did enjoy the meal. Next time I think I will leave the cream out.