I am always on the lookout for quick and easy weeknight meals, and although at first glance this recipe may look complex, it’s actually super easy and you might even have most of the ingredients on hand. Serve this spicy Peanut Chicken with some Healthy Fried Rice or Chow Mein for a healthy takeout meal at home.
Although I was on the lookout for something quick and easy, I also had a flavor craving and it was that of spicy chicken in a peanut sauce. So, I had two boxes to check. Luckily, this recipe came together as I was thinking about chicken satay in peanut dipping sauce. I thought, why not combine the two with a spicy peanut dressing and lots of veggies? And, the rest they say, is history.
This chicken breast is transformed into spicy peanutty goodness with a quick sauce of sesame oil, lime juice, peanut butter, soy sauce, and ginger. Then it is quickly cooked along with your favorite veggies and tossed in the sauce. Easy peasy. Dinner in under 20 minutes.
How do you make Spicy Peanut Chicken?
Making this Spicy Peanut Chicken is easy and a great entry Asian dish for the novice cook as well.
The first step is to whisk together PB2 or peanut butter, the soy sauce, water, vinegar, spices, honey, lime juice, and Sriracha do make the dressing.
Next, put the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides, add cooking spray to skillet then add the chicken. Cook the chicken for about 3-4 minutes per side or until cooked all the way through. Take the chicken out of the skillet and set it aside on a plate or on a dish close by.
To the same skillet, add your veggies, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Add water to steam the veggies a bit and put the lid on the skillet. Let that cook for 3-5 minutes or until your veggies start to become tender. Drain the water out if there is any left.
Keep the veggies in the pan and add the chicken back into the skillet as well. Pour over the sauce. Toss it all together with tongs or a wooden spoon and let the sauce and chicken warm up with the veggies for another couple of minutes, then serve.
Side Dish Ideas
I like to eat my Peanut Chicken plain, but you can also try:
- Adding the mixture over brown, white, or cauliflower rice.
- For a different grain option, you could also serve this over or on the side of quinoa or a wild rice mixture.
- To up your veggie intake, make this Sesame Soy Edamame.
- Spaghetti squash is a great, low-carb side that you can eat on the side of or even under the Spicy Peanut Chicken.
- If you're feeling like fries, try a veggie version like these made out of zucchini.
- Roasted potatoes always make a good complementary side dish.
- Try some Asian slaw or spring rolls to stay on-theme.
What is PB2?
PB2 is a brand of powdered peanut butter. There are other brands as well, and any of them will do in this dish if you decide to go the powdered peanut butter route. I use the PB2 brand because it is the easiest for me to find in the grocery store (it'll be with the other peanut butters or in the natural foods aisles) and I've used it before in other recipes.
Powdered peanut butter is made by squeezing roasted peanuts until all of the oils have been pressed out. Then, the nuts are ground down into a powder, which becomes the powdered peanuts that you purchase.
I like to use powdered peanut butter because it still tastes like peanut butter but has 85% fewer calories from fat and less fat to boot. So all you're left with is less calories, protein, and fiber. One tablespoon of PB2 contains 25 calories and 1 gram of fat (compared to 80 calories and 8 grams of fat in regular, creamy peanut butter).
Read the labels of the powdered peanut butter brand you choose to buy, as some do have added sugars and salt.
Although I wouldn't use powdered peanut butter where I'd want creamy (for example, in a peanut butter and jelly sandwich), I would use it where I want to the flavor of peanut to baked goods, sauces, smoothies, etc.
Looking for more healthy Asian recipes?
- Pork Fried Rice
- Spicy Ground Turkey and Green Bean Stir Fry
- Healthy Peanut Noodles
- Moo Shu Chicken
- King Pao Shrimp
- More Asian recipes
I think no matter how you choose to serve up this spicy chicken dish, you'll find that it definitely checks all the quick-and-easy weeknight meal boxes, and I guarantee you'll want to put it on heavy rotation at your house as well!