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    Home » Chicken Recipes » Simple Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

    Simple Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

    Published: Mar 6, 2023 · Updated: Sep 21, 2023 by Elaine - 24 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Simple Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce is an easy-to-make meal that's packed with flavour. Sizzling chicken skewers are grilled to perfection and served with the best spicy peanut sauce that will have you coming back for seconds!

    Chicken satay skewers with a bowl of peanut sauce.

    One of my favourite casual meals: Simple Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce! With just the right balance of sweet, savoury, and spicy flavours, these mouth-watering chicken satay skewers are perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a fun weekend barbecue with friends and family.

    Jump to:
    • ❤️Why this recipe works
    • 🛒 Ingredients for chicken satay with peanut sauce
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🔁 Possible Variations
    • ❓Satay recipe FAQs
    • 🍽 What to serve with chicken satay
    • 🥶 How to store and freeze satay skewers
    • 🗒 More yummy chicken recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    ❤️Why this recipe works

    • Sizzling Satay! Even the word conjures up visions of hot Singapore nights, sizzling grills, and flavourful meat. This easy chicken satay recipe makes a great appetizer or a light meal when served with crunchy veggies.
    • A fun way to eat! Spicy skewers make a perfect choice for a casual meal. Who doesn't love food on a stick?
    • Indoors or outdoors! Golden brown bites of chicken marinated in a full-flavoured chicken satay sauce and served with a zesty peanut sauce on the side are hard to resist! It's an easy meal that you can cook on either an indoor or outdoor grill.
    • Delicious peanut sauce is an essential accompaniment to chicken satay. Its nutty and slightly sweet flavour goes perfectly with slightly charred, marinated skewers of juicy chicken.

    If you love these flavours, you'll also like this Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken! It's an easy "dump-and-go" slow cooker meal the whole family will love.

    A spoonful of spicy peanut sauce.
    Spicy peanut dipping sauce is a "must" for chicken satay!

    Let's make some quick and easy satay chicken skewers!

    🛒 Ingredients for chicken satay with peanut sauce

    Here's what you'll need to make satay. You'll find a complete list with amounts in the recipe card below.

    • chicken breasts:  Boneless, skinless breasts cook quickly and are easy to thread onto skewers.
    • aromatics:  Lemongrass, shallots, and fresh garlic add enticing flavours to this satay marinade.
    • spices:  Turmeric, coriander, chili powder, and sea salt.
    • sugar:  Your choice of coconut palm sugar, brown sugar or Monkfruit 0-calorie sweetener.
    • for the best spicy peanut sauce:  You'll need natural peanut butter, canned creamy coconut milk, tamari, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and sweet chili sauce combine to make this amazing peanut dipping sauce.
    Skewers of chicken satay topped with chopped peanuts and cilantro leaves.

    🔪 Instructions

    Chicken satay skewers dipped in spicy peanut sauce and served with fresh veggies make a meal that's fun to eat and share with friends!

    Mix and marinate, skewer the chicken, grill, and dip! This satay recipe is easy, but oh-so-good!

    1. First, soak wooden skewers to prevent them from burning on the grill.
    2. Mix all the peanut sauce ingredients in a blender or food processor and process until smooth. This recipe may make more than what you'll need, so refrigerate or freeze any leftover sauce. It will last for months in the freezer.
    3. Next, slice the chicken breasts into long thin strips. Thread onto soaked skewers.
    4. Mix the marinade ingredients together and marinate the chicken for 2 to 8 hours or overnight.
    5. Grill the chicken satay skewers over medium-high heat for 2 - 3 minutes on each side or until no longer pink in the middle. You can use either an outdoor or indoor grill to cook satay.
    6. Serve the skewers hot and fresh from the grill. Garnish with chopped peanuts, cilantro leaves and wedges of fresh lime.
    Spicy peanut sauce for chicken satay in a food processor bowl.
    1. Combine peanut sauce ingredients in a food processor.
    Satay marinade for simple chicken satay recipe.
    2. Combine marinade ingredients in a food processor.
    Raw chicken on bamboo skewers for simple chicken satay.
    3. Thread chicken on skewers.
    Chicken skewers with satay marinade.
    4. Marinate chicken in satay sauce then grill.

    🔁 Possible Variations

    Change the protein: Satay is also commonly made with pork, lamb or beef.

    Change the level of spiciness: While this recipe isn't overly spicy, you know your family best. You can certainly reduce the amount of chili powder in the marinade or halve the amount of ginger in the peanut dipping sauce.

    Keep it gluten-free: Be sure to use gluten-free tamari instead of soy sauce.

    ❓Satay recipe FAQs

    What countries are famous for satay?

    Satay likely originated in Indonesia, but you'll find it in many areas of Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

    As soon as it gets dark in Singapore, Lau Pa Sat Satay Street wakes up and the area comes alive. It's magically transformed into an outdoor dining area!

    Stalls are swiftly set up on the pedestrian-only street to serve the crowds of office workers who stop in for satay and a cold beer before heading home. Skewers of chicken, beef, pork, and lamb sizzle on grills, filling the air with tantalizing aromas.

    🍽 What to serve with chicken satay

    • The traditional accompaniments to chicken satay skewers are celery sticks, and pickled red onions. However, feel free to add any other fresh veggies. Cucumber spears or slices to cool your mouth from the spicy skewers are good too! Serve with wedges of fresh lime and give each satay skewer a generous squeeze of lime.
    • If you like, you can make this a full meal and serve it with Thai Coconut Rice. A fluffy and fragrant rice dish made with coconut milk, its creamy, tropical flavor pairs nicely with chicken satay.
    • Add a refreshing salad, like Thai Cucumber Salad with Mint, or a noodle salad like this Crunchy Thai Noodle Salad. Chicken Satay skewers are also delicious when served on a bed of crisp Thai-Style Coleslaw.
    Close up view of chicken satay skewers.

    🥶 How to store and freeze satay skewers

    How to store: Store leftover chicken satay skewers tightly covered in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. To be safe, refrigerate within two hours of cooking.

    To freeze: Store cooked skewers tightly wrapped in an airtight container for 3 to 4 months.

    Peanut sauce freezes well. I store it in 4 oz. or 8 oz. Mason jars. It will last for months in the freezer.

    When you make this chicken satay recipe, please leave a comment and a star rating below. Thanks in advance! Subscribe to my newsletter and have new recipes delivered straight to your inbox once a week.

    🗒 More yummy chicken recipes

    • Keto Tuscan Chicken
      Keto Tuscan Chicken (Quick & Easy)
    • Teriyaki chicken cubes with quinoa, sugar snap peas, red pepper strips, julienned carrots, bean sprouts and a small bowl of teriyaki sauce.
      Teriyaki Chicken Quinoa Bowls
    • A bowl of Thai peanut chicken wings garnished with sesame seeds and lime wedges.
      Air Fryer Thai Peanut Chicken Wings
    • Chicken Yakitori Skewers with chives.
      Easy Japanese Chicken Yakitori Skewers

    This satay recipe was originally posted way back in 2017. I've updated it with new photos and extra information and I've tweaked the recipe to make it even more useful.

    📖 Recipe

    Dipping a chicken satay skewer into a bowl of peanut dipping sauce.

    Simple Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

    Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce is an easy-to-make meal that's packed with flavour. Sizzling chicken skewers are grilled to perfection and served with a rich, creamy peanut sauce that will have you coming back for seconds!
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Entrée/Main Dish
    Cuisine: Indonesian
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes
    marinating time: 2 hours hours
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 38 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 430kcal
    Author: Elaine
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    bamboo skewers
    indoor grill pan
    tongs

    Ingredients

    • 4 medium chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
    • 2 stalks lemon grass, white parts only, chopped finely
    • 2 cloves fresh garlic
    • 4 medium shallots
    • 1 ½ teaspoons turmeric
    • 1 teaspoon coriander
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
    • 2 tablespoons coconut sugar, or brown sugar or Monkfruit sweetener
    • 1 - 2 tablespoons water

    Peanut Sauce

    • 1 cup peanut butter, smooth
    • 7 oz coconut milk, (half a can)
    • ¼ cup coconut aminos (for paleo diet) , or tamari soy sauce
    • ¼ cup rice vinegar
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • ¼ - ½ inch knob fresh ginger
    • 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce

    Garnish

    • ⅓ cup chopped peanuts
    • ¼ cup chopped cilantro

    Instructions

    • Soak bamboo skewers in water for 2-3 hours or more.
    • Combine all ingredients for Peanut Sauce in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Add a little water, if necessary to thin it. Set aside.
    • Slice chicken breasts lengthwise into long narrow strips. Thread on bamboo skewers.
    • In a food processor, combine the marinade ingredients: oil, lemon grass, shallots, garlic, turmeric, coriander, chili powder, sea salt, coconut sugar and water. Marinate chicken strips in this marinade for 2 - 8 hours.
    • Grill over medium-high heat for 2 - 3 minutes on each side. If not cooked through, lower the heat and grill 3 minutes longer until fully cooked. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165°F.
    • Sprinkle with freshly chopped cilantro leaves and chopped peanuts, if desired. Serve chicken satay hot with sliced cucumbers, pickled red onions and peanut sauce for dipping.

    Notes

    Note: Cooking time listed does not include time to marinate the chicken.
    Calorie count is high because it includes all the peanut sauce, which you may not need.
    How to store: Store leftover chicken satay skewers tightly covered in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. To be safe, refrigerate within two hours of cooking.
    To freeze: Store cooked skewers tightly wrapped in an airtight container for 3 to 4 months.
    Peanut sauce freezes well. I store it in 4 oz. or 8 oz. Mason jars. It will last for months in the freezer.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 430kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 1104mg | Potassium: 593mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 126IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @enessman or tag #flavourandsavour!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Susan

      September 22, 2023 at 4:06 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious. A keeper recipe!

      Reply
    2. Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy

      September 20, 2017 at 9:56 am

      5 stars
      Chicken and peanut sauce are the perfect match. This is great as a appetizer. I would use it as a meal with a couple of side dishes. Dinner is served!!

      Reply
    3. prasanna hede

      September 20, 2017 at 4:34 am

      5 stars
      I can imagine how the lemon grass will add wonderful flavor here.Lovely recipe to try!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        September 20, 2017 at 9:50 am

        Thanks! Lemongrass adds such a subtle flavour to recipes. I wish it grew here!

        Reply
    4. Jenni

      September 19, 2017 at 6:35 pm

      5 stars
      Oooh, these sound so delicious!! Love the peanut dipping sauce!

      Reply
    5. Colleen

      September 19, 2017 at 5:02 pm

      We love Satay and this recipe looks so much easier than the ones I've made in the past, but still with all the flavour. Will be trying this one for sure!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        September 19, 2017 at 5:45 pm

        Thanks Colleen,
        Hope you like it too!

        Reply
    6. Tiffany

      September 19, 2017 at 1:56 pm

      5 stars
      I would love to go to Singapore and it looks like you had a great time. I must make this for my dad. He loves chicken satay and this certainly looks delicious.

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        September 19, 2017 at 5:43 pm

        We loved Singapore, despite the incredible heat!! The satay street food stands were fun, too!

        Reply
    7. Shareba

      June 25, 2017 at 4:59 pm

      Ooh I love a good spicy peanut sauce. Your satay skewers look delish!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        June 25, 2017 at 5:01 pm

        Thanks Shareba! The spicier the better in my opinion!

        Reply
    8. Terri@foodmeanderings

      June 24, 2017 at 5:37 am

      I love chicken satay with peanut sauce. I have never tried to make it at home - need to give this one a try!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        June 24, 2017 at 1:36 pm

        I hope you get a chance to make it, Terri. It's super simple!

        Reply
    9. Hilary

      June 23, 2017 at 2:58 pm

      Anything with peanut sauce has my name on it!! I could see these become an excellent summertime dinner with the hubby- he will be thrilled when I make these! 🙂

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        June 25, 2017 at 2:09 pm

        Thanks Hilary, I hope you get a chance to make them this summer!

        Reply
    10. Natalie Browne

      June 23, 2017 at 2:20 pm

      What a wonderful trip! The outdoor dining street sounds so neat. I love this for a light summer meal. It looks delicious.

      Reply
    11. Ayngelina Brogan

      February 17, 2017 at 12:58 pm

      I LOVE satay with peanut sauce and haven't had it in forever. Thank you for the reminder and the recipe!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        February 17, 2017 at 1:00 pm

        You're welcome! Sometimes we just need to explore food blogs to discover our old favourites and make them new again!

        Reply
    12. Colleen Milne

      February 17, 2017 at 12:54 pm

      What a great trip that must have been! I love satay, and this looks so good with the peanut sauce!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        February 17, 2017 at 12:58 pm

        Thanks Colleen,
        Yes, we had a fabulous time exploring a part of the world that we hadn't been to before. I love learning about a country through its food!

        Reply
    13. Kathi @ laughingspatula

      February 16, 2017 at 6:36 am

      I could eat this every night! It looks delicious!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        February 17, 2017 at 8:09 am

        Me too! I'm going to make it with shrimp this weekend.

        Reply
    14. Inci @ Bella's Apron

      February 16, 2017 at 5:25 am

      I love food on skewers and this looks like such a good appetizer to serve or even put on a bed of rice. I will definately be giving this a try

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        February 16, 2017 at 9:17 am

        Thanks! Food on a stick is always fun to eat, don't you think?

        Reply
    5 from 5 votes

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