An Edible Mosaic™

Everyday Fare With Extraordinary Flair

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • about
    • contact
    • accessibility
    • privacy policy
    • terms and conditions
  • cookbooks
  • recipes
  • explore world cuisine
    • arabic and middle eastern
    • asian
    • british
    • buffalo foods
    • czech
    • dutch
    • ethiopian
    • french
    • german
    • greek
    • indian
    • irish
    • italian
    • jamaican
    • jewish
    • latin
    • polish
    • russian and ukrainian
    • tex mex
    • thai
  • web stories
  • my other blog

Home » Method » Grilling » Easy Chicken Satay Recipe with Homemade Peanut Sauce

Easy Chicken Satay Recipe with Homemade Peanut Sauce

August 29, 2022 by Faith 1 Comment

Jump to Recipe

This easy Chicken Satay recipe features tender, juicy, and flavorful marinated grilled meat paired with a sweet and spicy peanut sauce. No worries if you don’t have a grill or grill pan; you can also cook the chicken in the oven or in an air fryer!

spread of chicken satay with peanut sauce and rice

One of the things I love most about traveling is exploring a city on foot. I could walk around a place for hours enjoying the architecture, street performers, and local food. The sights, sounds, and smells as you’re walking through give you a much fuller sense of a place.

Satay is street food from Southeast Asia. It’s seasoned meat that’s skewered and grilled. Because of the seasonings and marinade, it’s incredibly tender, juicy, and flavorful.

dipping chicken skewer into peanut sauce

Chicken is my favorite, but you can also find satay made with other meats, such as beef, goat, pork, and shrimp, as well as tofu. It’s typically served with a balanced sweet, salty, and spicy peanut sauce for dipping.

It’s traditional to cook satay on a fire; the aroma is completely enticing as you’re walking around working up an appetite. But this dish is just as alluring when you make it at home. And bonus, you can cook it on a grill, in the oven, or in an air fryer and it’s delicious no matter which method you use!

grilled chicken on skewers

In This Article

  • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
  • The Best Chicken Satay Recipe with Peanut Sauce
  • Cooks Tips
  • Chicken Satay FAQs
  • Must-Try Thai Recipes
  • Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • It’ll transport your taste buds to Southeast Asia, right in your kitchen.
  • You can cook this chicken on a grill, in the oven, or in an air fryer (see the recipe below for instructions for each method).
  • The peanut sauce is good enough to eat on its own. (Or use it as a dressing for salads, rice bowls, or cold noodle salads, or as a dip for meat, veggies, spring rolls, etc.) Make a double batch!
rice with chicken satay and peanut sauce in bowl

The Best Chicken Satay Recipe with Peanut Sauce

Ingredients

Peanut Sauce:

peanut satay sauce ingredients
  • Roasted salted peanuts
  • Canned unsweetened full-fat coconut milk
  • Light brown sugar
  • Fresh lime juice
  • Soy sauce, tamari sauce, or coconut aminos
  • Garlic
  • Spicy red chili pepper
  • Galangal or ginger
  • Salt
  • Water

Chicken Satay:

chicken satay ingredients
  • Fresh lime juice
  • Avocado oil
  • Light brown sugar
  • Soy sauce, tamari sauce, or coconut aminos
  • Fresh lime zest
  • Fish sauce
  • Red onion
  • Garlic
  • Spicy red chili pepper
  • Galangal or ginger
  • Coriander
  • Cumin
  • Turmeric
  • Salt
  • Boneless skinless chicken thighs

Step-by-Step Instructions

Make the Peanut Sauce:

how to make peanut sauce for satay
  1. Add all ingredients for the peanut sauce (except the water) to a food processor.
  2. Pulse a few times, and then process until it forms a sauce, stopping to scrape down the sides as necessary.
  3. If need be, add a little water through the feed tube with the motor running to thin it out until it reaches your desired consistency.
  4. Store covered in the fridge until using.

Marinade the Chicken:

how to marinade chicken satay
  1. Add all ingredients for the chicken satay (except the chicken) to a large bowl.
  2. Stir to combine.
  3. Add the chicken and stir until well-coated.
  4. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours, or up to 24 hours.

Thread the Chicken on Skewers:

how to thread chicken on skewers
  1. Soak wooden skewers in water for 20 minutes.
  2. Thread the chicken onto the skewers.

Pro Tip: If you use 6 skewers, you can easily portion this dish once it’s cooked because it makes 6 servings.

Grill the Chicken Satay Skewers:

grilling chicken satay skewers
  1. Preheat a grill to medium-high; once the grill is hot, add the chicken skewers.
  2. Cook the chicken until it’s charred and fully cooked in the center, about 6 to 8 minutes per side.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget, you can also cook this in the oven or in an air fryer! The recipe below gives instructions for each cooking method.

Storage

Once the chicken is cooked, you can store the leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Store the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

grilled chicken satay recipe with cilantro garnish

Cooks Tips

  • Soaking wooden skewers in water for 20 minutes before grilling helps prevent them from catching on fire.
  • You can easily adjust the flavor of the peanut sauce to suit your preference! Feel free to add more or less sugar, lime juice, chili pepper, and salt to taste.
  • The chicken thighs are fully cooked when there is no pink in the center. Additionally, the thickest part of the meat should register an internal temperature of 170F on an instant-read thermometer.
chicken satay graphic

Chicken Satay FAQs

What is Chicken Satay?

Chicken Satay is a Southeast Asian dish from Java, Indonesia that’s also popular in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. You can commonly find it as street food from local venders.

It’s believed that ancient Mesopotamia (which is modern day Iraq) was the origin of this type of skewered grilled meat. The Afghans brought the dish to India, and later the Mongols brought the dish to China. It’s thought that Indian and Arab traders and possibly Chinese immigrants brought this dish to Indonesia.

You can read more about the history of satay on Wikipedia and Singapore Infopedia.

bowl of chicken satay and rice

What Do You Eat with Chicken Satay?

This dish is commonly enjoyed with peanut sauce (bumbu kacang) as street food in Southeast Asia. It’s one of those things that you can buy from a street vendor or food cart and eat as you walk around.

Chicken Satay pairs well with a lot of things and you can easily make it into a full meal. Here are a few ideas:

  • Peanut sauce – it’s perfect for dipping and drizzling!
  • Prepared rice or cauliflower rice to keep the carbs down
  • Thai Noodles with Chicken and Vegetables
  • Cucumber, Basil, and Ginger Miso Dressing
homemade peanut sauce in stoneware dish

Must-Try Thai Recipes

  • Thai Green Curry Paste
  • Panang Curry with Chicken
  • Thai Green Curry
  • Easy 30-Minute Tom Kha Gai (Thai Coconut Chicken Soup)
chicken satay recipe on skewers with satay sauce

Let’s Connect

I love hearing from you!
Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment.
You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.
To stay up-to-date, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!
xoxo, Faith

chicken satay recipe featured image

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

By: Faith Gorsky
This easy Chicken Satay recipe features tender, juicy, and flavorful marinated grilled meat paired with a sweet and spicy peanut sauce. No worries if you don’t have a grill or grill pan; you can also cook the chicken in the oven or in an air fryer!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Marinade Time 2 hrs
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai
Servings 6 servings
Calories 368 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Peanut Sauce:

  • 3/4 cup roasted salted peanuts
  • 1/2 cup canned unsweetened full-fat coconut milk
  • 3 tablespoons light brown sugar lightly packed
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari sauce or coconut aminos
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1/2 spicy red chili pepper or more to taste (or up to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes)
  • 1 tablespoon freshly-grated galangal or ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Water if needed to thin it out (I needed about 2 tablespoons)

Chicken Satay:

  • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil or vegetable oil
  • 3 tablespoons light brown sugar lightly packed
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari sauce or coconut aminos
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime zest
  • 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 1/2 small red onion thinly sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1 spicy red chili pepper or up to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon freshly-grated galangal or ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces

Garnishes (Optional):

  • Cilantro leaves
  • Lime wedges
  • Crushed peanuts

Instructions
 

Make the Peanut Sauce:

  • Add all ingredients for the peanut sauce (except the water) to a food processor. Pulse a few times, and then process until it forms a sauce, stopping to scrape down the sides as necessary. If need be, add a little water through the feed tube with the motor running to thin it out until it reaches your desired consistency.
  • Store covered in the fridge until using.

Make the Chicken Satay:

  • Add all ingredients for the chicken satay (except the chicken) to a large bowl and stir to combine. Stir in the chicken until well-coated.
  • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours, or up to 24 hours.

Cook the Chicken Satay:

  • Let the chicken sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before you want to cook it.
  • To Grill: Soak wooden skewers in water for 20 minutes, and then thread the chicken onto the skewers. Preheat a grill to medium-high; cook the chicken until it’s charred and fully cooked in the center, about 6 to 8 minutes per side.
  • To Roast: Soak wooden skewers in water for 20 minutes, and then thread the chicken onto the skewers. Preheat the oven to 400F; place the chicken skewers on a baking tray and roast until it’s fully cooked, about 15 to 20 minutes, flipping the skewers once halfway through. Once it’s cooked, you can broil the chicken briefly to brown it a little.
  • To Air Fry: No need for skewers in the air fryer! Preheat the air fryer to 400F. Brush a little avocado or vegetable oil in the air fryer basket, and arrange the chicken pieces in a single layer. Air fry until fully cooked, about 15 to 20 minutes, flipping the chicken once halfway through.

Faith’s Tips

  • Nutritional Information: The nutrition information for this recipe was calculated without the optional garnishes.
  • Storage: Once the chicken is cooked, you can store the leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. Store the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
  • Peanut Sauce Yield: This recipe makes about 1 cup of peanut sauce. There are 6 servings, each serving is 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons of sauce.
  • Peanut Sauce: You can completely puree the sauce until smooth, but I like it with a little texture. For a much smoother sauce, you can use creamy peanut butter instead of peanuts.
  • How to Tell When Chicken Thighs Are Fully Cooked: There should be no pink in the center. Additionally, the thickest part of the meat should register an internal temperature of 170F on an instant-read thermometer.
  • Gluten Free Version: Tamari sauce or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
  • Low Carb/Keto Version: Use almonds instead of peanuts. Use keto brown sugar instead of regular brown sugar. Serve with cauliflower rice.
  • Paleo Version: Use almonds instead of peanuts. Use coconut sugar instead of brown sugar. Serve with cauliflower rice.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 368 Calories from Fat 198
% Daily Value*
Fat 22g34%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Trans Fat 0.02g
Polyunsaturated Fat 5g
Monounsaturated Fat 9g
Cholesterol 90mg30%
Sodium 999mg43%
Potassium 542mg15%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 13g14%
Protein 25g50%
Vitamin A 141IU3%
Vitamin C 22mg27%
Calcium 59mg6%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword Chicken Satay, Chicken Satay Recipe, Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce, Easy Chicken Satay
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
chicken satay recipe pin

Filed Under: Appetizers, Asian, Chicken, Grilling, Thai Tagged: Chicken Satay, Chicken Satay Recipe, Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce, Easy Chicken Satay

Comments

  1. Betsy says

    August 31, 2022 at 7:55 pm

    5 stars
    Tender chicken, and hands down the BEST peanut sauce!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Hello and welcome to An Edible Mosaic! This is my recipe collection of international favorites and updated American classics with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. Here you’ll find a focus on real foods that sustain body and mind, bring people together, and make a house a home.

 

Affiliate Disclosure

An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use. To learn more, please read my Privacy Policy.

meet faith

I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to email me with questions or comments.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

an edible mosaic cookbook

affiliate disclosure

An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use. To learn more, please read my Privacy Policy.

Home | About | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Contact

Copyright © 2023 | Faith Gorsky, An Edible Mosaic™ | All Rights Reserved

This site uses cookies to ensure the best user experience possible.AcceptNo ThanksPrivacy policy