Name: Spicy Chicken Satay with a Peanut Dipping Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, pounded to ½” thick and cut into 1” strips; 3 T. soy sauce; 2 T. sesame oil; 1½ T. hot sauce; 1 T. pure maple syrup; 2 T. fresh lime juice; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 2 T. fresh ginger piece, finely minced; Sea salt and black pepper, to taste; ¾ c. low-sodium chicken stock; 1/3 c. peanut butter; 1 T. soy sauce; 1 T. pure maple syrup; ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper; 2 T. fresh lime juice; 1 t. garlic powder; ¼ c. fresh cilantro, chopped; ¼ c. roasted peanuts, roughly chopped; salt and pepper to taste

Are you looking for a delicious meal that is full of flavor, easy to make and healthy too? Then look no further than this Spicy Chicken Satay with Peanut Dipping Sauce! This dish has the perfect balance of heat from the hot peanut sauce ingredients, and sweetness from the maple syrup. Plus it’s packed with protein-rich chicken and nutty flavors from the peanut sauce. It’s an ideal dinner for any night of the week – customize it to your own tastes by adjusting the spice levels according to how hot you like it! So get cooking today with this tasty recipe!

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Why you’ll love this recipe

Spicy chicken satay with peanut dipping sauce is the perfect balance of flavor, with a kick of heat and sweetness from the peanut sauce.
It’s an easy and quick meal to make, great for those busy evenings when you don’t have much time to prepare dinner.
You can customize it to your own tastes, adding more or less spice depending on how hot you want it to be.
The combination of protein-rich chicken and nutty flavors from the peanut sauce make this dish a delicious, healthy option for any night of the week!

Ingredients

Chicken: Use boneless and skinless chicken breasts for this, pounded down to 1/2 inch thickness and cut into 1 inch strips
Soy sauce: Go for a light soy sauce so the colour isn’t too dark as it could be with dark soy sauce
Hot sauce: Use a favourite hot sauce to control the strength of the satay
Ginger: Use a freshly minced piece of ginger for the recipe
Maple syrup: You’ll need some for both the chicken as part of the marinade ingredients and the sauce
Peanut butter: Use a favourite, either crunchy or smooth depending on how you like the sauce

Grab the full chicken satay ingredients details and instructions in the recipe card below!

Substitutions and Additions

Try substituting:

Turkey breast for chicken breast.
White miso paste for soy sauce.
Gochujang for hot sauce.
Powdered ginger for fresh ginger.
Agave nectar for maple syrup.
Almond butter for peanut butter.

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the skewers

Place wooden skewers, if using, in a bowl of water until ready to prepare chicken. Set aside.

Step 2: Marinade the chicken

In a large mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, sesame oil, hot sauce, maple syrup, lime juice, garlic, and fresh ginger to create the chicken marinade. Season with a salt and black pepper, as desired, and add the chicken strips.

Cover and store in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight. Turn chicken at least once while marinating.

Step 3: Make the sauce

To prepare the peanut sauce, combine the chicken stock, peanut butter, soy sauce, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, lime juice, and garlic powder in a small saucepan over medium heat.

Simmer gently, stirring frequently, until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened, around 5-6 minutes.

Remove from heat and transfer to a serving container. Top with fresh cilantro and roasted peanuts and set aside.

Step 4: Prepare the grill

To prepare chicken, clean the grates on a gas grill with a stiff wire brush and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Close lid and preheat grill to medium. (To prepare indoors, spray a grill pan with non-stick cooking spray and set heat to just below medium-high).

Step 5: Grill the chicken

Thread chicken strips onto prepared skewers and place over direct medium heat. Close the cover and cook, turning once, until nicely browned and cooked through, approximately 4-6 minutes per side. (If cooking indoors, increase cooking time to 5-7 minutes per side).

Step 6: Serve

Remove from heat and serve immediately with the peanut dipping sauce on the side.

Recipe tips

Cut the chicken breast into thin slices and marinate in the peanut sauce for an hour before grilling.
Grill the chicken over medium heat until cooked through.
For a bit of extra flavor, add some green onions or peppers to the marinade.
To make sure you don’t overcook the meat, use a meat thermometer to check for internal temperature.

Recipe FAQ

What is a satay?

Satay is an Indonesian and Malaysian dish consisting of skewered, grilled meats, typically served with a spicy peanut sauce. The meat is usually chicken, beef, or goat, but can also include fish or shrimp. It is traditionally made by grilling cubes of meat on a bamboo skewer over a wood fire. It is sometimes known as Thai peanut sauce. This chicken satay recipe has a spiciness to it that not all recipes do.

Is satay supposed to be spicy?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question, as the spiciness of a satay sauce can vary depending on who is making it. Some people like a milder version, while others enjoy bolder and spicier flavors. Ultimately, it’s up to your own tastes when deciding how much heat you’d like in your satay dish!

What can you serve with chicken satay skewers?

Chicken satay skewers pair well with a variety of sides and dips, such as a coconut milk, rice, peanut dip, noodle salad, or crunchy vegetables. A cooling cucumber and mint raita is also a refreshing accompaniment. Or you could add something like chili garlic sauce if you want to increase the spiciness of the dish.

Storage & reheating

Fridge: To store leftover chicken satay and peanut sauce, transfer them to an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezer: Add the cooked chicken without the skewers into freezer-safe containers. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat on a baking sheet at 350°F until cooked through.
Reheating: When ready to reheat, place the chicken satay slices on a baking sheet and warm in a 350°F oven until heated through. Reheat the peanut sauce separately in a pan over medium-low heat.

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Yield: 4-6 skewers