Description
This Easy Chinese Peanut Butter Chicken is a deliciously creamy and flavorful stir-fry dish featuring tender chicken pieces coated in a rich peanut butter sauce with authentic Chinese-inspired flavors. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, it combines the savory taste of soy and hoisin sauces with the sweetness of honey and a hint of spice, all served best over rice or noodles.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Garnish
- 2 green onions, sliced
- Toasted sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: In a bowl, toss the chicken pieces with cornstarch until evenly coated. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5–7 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Make the sauce: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and grated ginger, cooking for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Reduce heat to medium. Add peanut butter, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and water. Stir constantly until the sauce is smooth and begins to simmer, approximately 2–3 minutes.
- Combine chicken and sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Cook for an additional 2–3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and coat the chicken evenly.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from heat and garnish with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve hot over steamed rice or noodles.
Notes
- For extra crunch, stir in chopped peanuts before serving.
- Chicken thighs add more flavor and tenderness, but chicken breast works just as well.
- Adjust the spice level by adding more or less crushed red pepper flakes to suit your taste.
