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    Home > Quick Dinner Recipes

    Peanut Butter Chicken - Ready in 20 Mins

    Published: Apr 10, 2018 · Modified: Mar 11, 2021 by Nicky Corbishley

    Go to Recipe Go to Video Print Recipe
    Large pan peanut butter chicken curry with green beans, chillies and coriander (cilantro)

    My Peanut Butter Chicken is packed full of flavour and ready in 20 minutes! This Thai Peanut Chicken is a great mid-week meal, with no fussy ingredients!
    Large pan peanut butter chicken curry with green beans, chillies and coriander (cilantro)

    I promise you right now, there is no better use for peanut butter than this recipe!

    Something magical happens when you mix the peanut butter, lime and chilli to turn this into a lip smackingly great sauce.  I love anything Thai, but for once you don't need all the fish sauce, shrimp paste, tamarind, garlic etc. to get that amazing taste.

    This recipe was made as part of our  20 minute Tuesday series on YouTube which includes super tasty recipes like my Pan Fried Salmon with Spaghetti, One of Chis's favourites Crispy Chilli Chicken, awesome Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps and many more quick and easy meals.
    Pan of chicken and onion cooking. Scoop of peanut butter has just been added on top of chicken.

    Peanut butter - which is something that I HATE on it's own bleugh! (sorry peanut butter lovers) is 100% the star of this dish.

    Those red chilli add a great hit of heat, but feel free to leave them out if you don't like it spicy.

    Chopped red chillies being added to a pan of peanut butter chicken curry.

    It's all on the table in about 20 minutes, so this is a great mid week meal too.

    Bowl of rice topped with peanut butter chicken with green beans, chillies and coriander (cilantro). Extra sauce being spooned on top.

    I've been making this for years now, it's one that my mum passed down to me.  I still have the recipe scribbled on a scrap of paper, dotted with oil spots from about 10 years ago!  Mum's version also has beansprouts in, which I include sometimes, along with broccoli or mange tout or whatever bit of veg I have around.

    Close up of a bowl of rice topped with peanut butter chicken with green beans, chillies and coriander (cilantro)

    If you're making this for kids who don't eat chillies, I'd suggest leaving them out, dishing their portions up, keeping them warm and adding the chopped chillies to the rest of the pan.  Then just stir through for a minute or two.

    If you're anything like me and LOVE these Thai flavours then why not try one of these too:
    Seafood Laksa
    Thai Peanut Pork
    Thai Yellow Fish Curry

    If you’ve tried my peanut butter chicken then please rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing your thoughts and add-ons to my recipes!
    You can also follow me on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, and TWITTERto see what I’m up to in the kitchen, what recipes i’m loving, and of course  YOUTUBE to see our latest recipe videos!

    The Peanut Butter Chicken Recipe:

    Bowl of rice topped with peanut butter chicken with green beans, chillies and coriander (cilantro)

    20 Minute Peanut Butter Chicken

    By: Nicky Corbishley
    My Peanut Butter Chicken is packed full of flavour and ready in 20 minutes! A great mid-week meal, with no fussy ingredients!
    4.55 from 20 votes
    Rate this Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine Asian, Thai
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 455 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 tbsp olive oil
    • 1 large onion - peeled and sliced
    • 3 chicken breasts - chopped into bite sized chunks
    • 1 heaped tbsp ground coriander
    • 300 ml chicken stock - water + 2 stock cubes is fine (use bouillon for gluten free)
    • 2 heaped tbsp smooth peanut butter - check if you need it to be gluten free, it usually is though
    • 1 red chilli - chopped finely (I use fresno chillies) - this is optional - leave out if you don't like heat.
    • Juice of 2 limes
    • 200 g green beans - ends chopped off and sliced into short lengths

    To Serve:

    • Boiled Rice
    • 1 red chilli - sliced into thin strips
    • 1 small bunch chopped coriander (cilantro)
    • A blob of sweet chilli jam also tastes great!
    • 2 tbsp toasted peanuts - dry cook in a hot pan for 2 minutes until lightly browned)

    INSTRUCTIONS
     

    • If serving with rice, put the rice onto cook first, then you can cook the rest of the meal whilst the rice is boiling.
    • Heat the oil in a large pan that has a lid, over a medium-high heat. Add in the chicken  and cook, turning regularly, until sealed (about 2-3 minutes).
    • Add the onion and continue to cook for a further 2 minutes, then stir through the ground coriander. 
    • Add in the peanut butter, chopped chilli, juice of one of the limes and the stock. Stir, bring to a gentle bubble, then place the lid on and simmer for 7-8 minutes until slightly thickened. Check on it and stir a couple of times to make sure it doesn't catch.
    • Add in the green beans, taste and add in the remaining lime juice if needed.  Give everything a stir, and leave to cook for another 5 minutes with the lid off.  You can add a splash of water if it's starting to look too dry.
    • Serve with boiled rice, and sprinkle with chopped chillies (or sweet chilli jam) and coriander (cilantro).

    Video

    ✎ Notes

    Can it be made ahead?
    Yes, make it ahead (without the toppings), then cool, cover and refrigerate for up to two days. Heat thoroughly in a pan, adding a splash of water to help loosen it.
    .
    Can it be frozen?
    Yes! Cool, cover and freeze (without the toppings), then defrost thoroughly overnight in the fridge before reheating in a pan until piping hot. You may need to add a splash of water to loosen it up.
    .
    Can it be made gluten free?
    Yes, replace the stock with gluten free stock (water plus bouillon is fine). Make sure your peanut butter brand is gluten free.
    .
    What if I don't like chillies/spicy food?
    Leave out the chillies entirely. This meal has still got plenty of flavour without the chillies.
    .
    Nutritional information is per serving - WITHOUT the serving suggestions of rice and sweet chilli jam.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 455kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 47gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 108mgSodium: 829mgPotassium: 1147mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 705IUVitamin C: 53.5mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 2.7mg
    Keywords Any Time Of the year, easy dinner, quick, Takeout
    Tried this recipe?Mention @KitchenSanctuary or tag #KitchenSanctuary on Instagram!

    Equipment:

    In order to make this Peanut Butter Chicken recipe you will need:

      • A good Kitchen knife. I have recently bought this Dalstrong one and love it.
      • Chopping Board
      • Measuring Jug
      • Juicer
      • Measuring Spoons
      • A frying pan/skillet
      • Wooden or Silicon Coated Spoons. We have just bought these and love them.
      • Rice Steamer.

    This is a remake of a recipe I first published in May 2014. Do you want to see how bad my photograpy was then? Ok here goes (cringe):
    Black bowl filled with rice and peanut butter chicken curry with green beans. Chillies and coriander on top.
    Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.

    Hi I’m Nicky

    I love to cook and I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.

    Read More

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Philip Timm says

      September 26, 2023 at 4:27 pm

      It'd be really useful to know how many servings this recipe gives!

      Reply
      • Nicky Corbishley says

        September 27, 2023 at 10:16 am

        Hi Phil,
        The top of the recipe card section shows you the number of serving (it serves four).

        Reply
    2. Fynlee Connor says

      May 27, 2023 at 9:05 pm

      4 stars
      I personally hate lime so I have left that out. But instead I've added honey and a bit of butter and it phenomenal in taste!! Thank you for a great recipe to just guide me threw my dish. I've revamped it to make it to my own dish. 🙈❤🥰👏

      Reply
    3. Rebecca says

      April 13, 2023 at 4:29 pm

      5 stars
      Hmmm, I saw your recipe a few days ago & just had to make it for my boyfriend & I. I've made ahead of time (as I'm working & driving to see him tomorrow) just tasted the sauce & it's phenomenal. I think this will be a real hit with him too.

      Reply
    4. Andy says

      March 15, 2023 at 12:34 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent as with all the recipes I have tried so far.
      V good web site.

      Reply
    5. Martin says

      January 25, 2023 at 9:27 pm

      4 stars
      Loved it!

      Super simple, nice and quick, and child friendly - what more can you ask for in a quick mid-week cook? Fab!

      Reply
    6. Donna says

      December 23, 2021 at 6:18 pm

      5 stars
      This dish is now a regular in our house. Gorgeous flavours and the kids thoroughly enjoy it.

      Reply
    7. Kevin says

      October 20, 2021 at 9:08 am

      5 stars
      Don’t usually post on stuff like this, but I must say this was really good, made it in the electric frypan, didn’t use the chili or coriander because of differing tastebuds, but it was a massive hit with the family. Definitely added into the cooking rotation!

      Reply
    8. Cao Xin says

      August 02, 2021 at 8:56 am

      5 stars
      ah

      Reply
    9. Chris Emery says

      March 06, 2021 at 2:35 pm

      Made this for my wife on Date Night - used Aldi's Coconut & Peanut butter, used shallots and spring onions, marinaded the chicken in lime juice first and replaced green beans with mangetout, mini corn cobs and beansprouts. Superb! You've given us a great recipe to take and adapt slightly (I took my cue from your comment in the writeup about using up any veg to hand..).

      Reply
    10. Steven Bishop says

      March 04, 2021 at 9:02 am

      5 stars
      Made this last night huge hit with my two children and wife, calls for putting it on next week's menu thoroughly recommend .

      Reply
    11. Wendy Schofield says

      December 13, 2020 at 6:11 pm

      5 stars
      I made this tonight and it was
      delicious. I added sugar snap peas and broccoli. I will be making this again for the family.

      Reply
    12. Vanessa says

      October 30, 2020 at 7:32 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious !!!! Thanks for sharing the recipe I made very spicy !

      Reply
    13. Ross says

      May 26, 2020 at 7:43 pm

      2 stars
      Very bland, and doesn't taste like Thai food at all.

      Followed the recipe to the letter.

      Reply
    14. Angelina says

      April 08, 2020 at 6:06 am

      3 stars
      I tried this recipe last night, quite bland in taste.
      However, it is an OK option for a fast last minute dinner.

      Reply
    15. eric walker says

      February 03, 2020 at 12:34 am

      5 stars
      Easy . to make very tasty few ingredients, all in only 20 mins' Good also you can add whatever else you fancy or any flavour.Thank you will return to your site and recommend.

      Reply
    « Older Comments

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    Hi I’m Nicky

    I love to cook and I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.

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