Chicken Satay Recipe: Thai Skewers with Peanut Sauce 2026

Chicken satay is a beloved Thai-inspired dish built around skewers of marinated chicken served with a rich, creamy peanut sauce. The marinade brings together easy pantry spices like turmeric, cumin, coriander and ginger, so the chicken takes on a warm golden color and a deep savory flavor before it ever hits the pan.

The peanut sauce is just as simple to make at home. It comes together from peanut butter, soy sauce, garlic, milk and a touch of lemon juice, and you can adjust the thickness by adding a little more or less milk until you get exactly the consistency you like.

This is a satisfying main course that pairs beautifully with boiled basmati rice and shrimp crackers. It is a great choice when you want something a little different for dinner without spending all evening in the kitchen.

Ingredients for Chicken Satay

This makes 2 servings as a main course.

• 300 g chicken breasts
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sunflower oil
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• Salt
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 60 g peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons whole milk
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

How to Make Chicken Satay Step by Step

1. Cut the chicken

Cut 300 g of chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces so they cook evenly and thread easily onto the skewers later on.

2. Marinate the chicken

Place the chopped chicken in a bag along with 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sunflower oil, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 pressed garlic clove, 1 teaspoon ground turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, ½ teaspoon ground ginger and salt. Mix well so the chicken is thoroughly coated, then let it marinate overnight in the refrigerator.

3. Start the satay sauce

The next day, make the satay sauce. Sauté 1 pressed garlic clove in a pan with 1 teaspoon olive oil, then add 60 g peanut butter and 2 tablespoons whole milk. Stir everything together well.

4. Finish the sauce

Add 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Stir until everything is well combined, then set the sauce aside.

5. Thread the chicken onto skewers

Heat a pan and insert the marinated chicken onto wooden skewers.

6. Cook the chicken

Cook the chicken satay skewers on all sides until the chicken is fully cooked through.

7. Serve with the satay sauce

Serve the cooked chicken skewers with the satay sauce on the side for dipping.

Tips for the Best Chicken Satay

Keep the key spices on hand

The marinade relies on a combination of easy-to-find spices that are handy to keep in your pantry, since they are used in a wide variety of Asian recipes. If you enjoy this kind of cooking, it is worth stocking the most common spices so you can prepare dishes like this at any time.

Adjust the sauce thickness

The satay sauce is made with peanut butter, which you can now find in the aisles of any large supermarket. You can make it thicker or thinner simply by adjusting the amount of milk you add.

Serve it as a main course

This is an ideal dish to serve as a main course, and it goes wonderfully with boiled basmati rice and shrimp crackers for a complete meal.

30 Favorite Recipes I Keep Coming Back To at Home

Maybe you're wired the same way I am: your kitchen rotation is a blend of cozy standbys, well-loved dishes from around the globe, and sweets that make a crowd happy.

Some nights I want something luxurious, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a deeply rich Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when only fruit-forward comfort will do, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For quick morning meals and lighter plates, I regularly whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And whenever my pantry needs a gluten-free basic, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the trick.

On evenings built around tapas and Mediterranean tastes, I cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also comes out whenever the occasion calls for a little extra polish.

For stick-to-your-ribs midday meals and comforting suppers, my go-tos are this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something even more substantial, I turn to this oven-baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the supremely cozy French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Anytime street food or party fare is on my mind, I'll throw together this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crunchy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine for a light starter or snack.

And when I'm hosting and mixing drinks to go with a full spread, dinner often gets paired with this cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this sweet Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring it all together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or capping the meal with this dramatic Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After countless rounds of testing and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the finest dishes are built on straightforward steps, dependable methods, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely cook on repeat—whether it's a fast solo meal or something festive for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the lush, velvety Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is my pick when I want a dessert that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another treat I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the celebrated Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When light and easy is what I'm after, I lean on the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly done Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For more filling comfort fare, I frequently suggest the crowd-pleasing Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the luscious Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Sharing dishes from across the globe is another joy of mine, among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is yet another category I turn to often, since it delivers speed without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply comforting without any gluten.

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