Description
Peanut Butter Chicken is a flavorful and creamy dish featuring tender chicken breast cubes coated with tapioca starch, sautéed with crunchy bell peppers, onions, and garlic, then simmered in a rich homemade peanut sauce made with chicken broth for added depth. This quick and easy recipe delivers a delicious balance of savory, nutty, and slightly sweet flavors, perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal served over steamed white rice.
Ingredients
Chicken and Coating
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons tapioca starch
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons oil (divided)
- 1 tablespoon low sodium tamari or soy sauce
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced or diced
- 1/2 cup finely diced white or yellow onion
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
Peanut Sauce
- 1 cup peanut sauce (prepared separately, recommended to use chicken broth instead of half cup water for thinning the sauce)
Instructions
- Prep Sauce: Prepare the peanut sauce using your preferred recipe. For extra flavor, use chicken broth instead of water and adjust the amount to about 3/4 cup to account for the thickening from the tapioca starch.
- Cut Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes and place them in a bowl.
- Add Tapioca, Salt, and Pepper: Sprinkle the tapioca starch, salt, and pepper over the chicken cubes. Toss well to coat evenly.
- Heat Pan: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil and 1 tablespoon of soy sauce in a skillet or pan over medium heat until warm.
- Cook Chicken: Add the coated chicken to the pan and cook until golden brown and fully cooked through, about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally to cook evenly.
- Set Aside Chicken: Transfer the cooked chicken to a bowl and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: In the same pan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the bell pepper, onion, and minced garlic. Sauté for 5-10 minutes or until the vegetables are soft and fragrant.
- Add Peanut Sauce and Chicken: Return the cooked chicken to the pan and pour in the prepared peanut sauce. Toss everything to combine thoroughly and let it cook together for about 5 minutes to allow the chicken to absorb the flavors.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste the mixture and add more peanut sauce if desired for a saucier dish.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped cilantro, peanuts, and scallions if desired. Serve hot over steamed white rice and enjoy!
Notes
- Using chicken broth instead of water in the peanut sauce enhances the flavor of the dish.
- Tapioca starch helps to create a velvety texture and thickens the sauce as it cooks.
- Adjust the amount of peanut sauce to your preference for sauciness.
- Garnishes such as cilantro, crushed peanuts, and scallions add freshness and crunch.
- Serve over white rice or your choice of grain for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
