Grilled Thai Chicken Satay Skewers with Peanut Sauce

This recipe for Grilled Thai Chicken Satay Skewers with Peanut Sauce uses marinated chicken thighs grilled and served with a rich Asian-inspired peanut sauce.

Grilled Thai Chicken Satay Recipe

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If you’re tired of making the same barbecued chicken, why not take it up a notch with this Asian-inspired recipe for Grilled Thai Chicken Satay Skewers with Peanut Sauce.

This recipe will definitely allow you to mix cuisines with an Asian twist that is sure to wow your family and friends.

This dish uses grilling to quick sear, quick cook chicken thighs that have been marinated with a flavorful sauce. And, you can assemble it with little fuss or muss.

That’s the beauty of this recipe. While it may take an hour to marinate the chicken meat, the rest of the preparation is easy-breezy.

As mentioned above, my Chicken Satay Skewers are for grilling outdoors, but you can easily bake or broil it indoors to your preference. The cooking time is about same for any of these options.

However, if you need your meal quicker, you might want to try an indoor grill like the one I use at home: Cuisinart Griddler. This is an ideal way to cook it, because this unit offers searing on both sides of the meat and cooks the meat a bit quicker..

Using Lemongrass in Asian Cooking

In most recipes of this sort, you’ll find lemongrass as one of the main ingredients. It is a very tough grass-like herb that when peeled down to it’s flavorful core, this will give your Asian cooking a hint of citrus lemon.

But this herb might not be available in all locales, as I found out, so I substituted lemon zest in place of it in order to get that fresh taste of citrus that is intrinsic of Thai dishes.

Still, if you can find lemongrass in your area, by all means, use it. You’ll need about the same amount, as noted for the lemon zest in the recipe below.

Here’s a quick tutorial how to prepare it if you do use it for this recipe.

How to Prepare Lemongrass for Thai Cooking (Video)

The rest of the ingredients are pretty standard, so no worries there.

To Make:

To start, this Thai Chicken Satay recipe uses boneless, skinless chicken thighs, but if you’d like to use chicken breasts, that’ll work too.

Just be aware that the cooking time when using chicken breasts will be a bit shorter.

RELATED: Thai Coconut Shrimp Curry

Next, cut the raw chicken into one to two inch pieces. This way you’ll get even cooking of the meat on the skewers.

Once you’ve done this, it’s time to marinate the meat. Using a mix of Asian-inspired herbs, fish sauce and sesame oil, coat the chicken pieces in the marinade and place it in the refrigerator for no more than one hour’s time.

Skewer Types to Use for this Recipe

While the chicken is marinating, it’s time to prepare the skewers and the peanut sauce.

There are a couple of ways to go with skewers: metal, wood, or bamboo. For me, I prefer using either metal or bamboo.

Bamboo doesn’t usually splinter as much as wood skewers but regardless of whether you do use wood or bamboo, you will want to prepare the skewers first by placing them in some water to prevent burning.

The skewers should soak for about 30 minutes or so.

If you use metal skewers, the preparation is easier. I usually give them a quick spritz of Pam or other nonstick spray. Then they’re ready to go.

Here’s a quick video tutorial how to cut and assemble the chicken for the skewers.

How to Prepare Chicken Skewers (Jaimie Oliver)

How to Prepare the Peanut Sauce

The Peanut Satay Dipping Sauce is based off the traditional Thai peanut sauce recipe.

It’s fairly easy to make and you can use this sauce in other ways, too.

Just make sure to chop all ingredients finely. Warm on the stove, then mix everything together well. Set aside until the Chicken Satay Skewers have been grilled.

RECIPE VARIATION – Give this recipe an island twist with the addition of chopped pineapple. Just add it to the sauce after you’ve warmed it through. Serve.

How to Grill Chicken Satay Skewers

You will use a direct cooking method when grilling your Chicken Satay. However, you will want to add a piece of aluminum foil for the base of the skewers. This way, they won’t burn and will stay intact throughout the cooking process.

Total time for the Satays are approximately 10-15 minutes. Rotate each skewer for even cooking. Once finished, remove from grill, plate and allow the meat to rest.

Then, serve your Grilled Thai Chicken Skewers with the prepared Peanut Sauce and warmed pitas, if you wish.

I like to also serve this dish with cooked Jasmati rice, garnished with fresh chopped cilantro (optional). Enjoy!

For more delicious grilling recipes, be sure to check out Wisconsin Homemaker’s Recipe Section.

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Grilled Thai Chicken Satay Skewers with Peanut Sauce

This recipe for Grilled Thai Chicken Satay Skewers with Peanut Sauce uses marinated chicken thighs grilled and served with a rich Asian-inspired peanut sauce.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Asian

Keyword asian chicken, barbecue, chicken recipe, dipping sauce, grilling, peanut butter, peanuts, satay, skewers

Prep Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes

Servings 8 skewers (approx)

Calories 402 kcal

Author Deborah L Melian

Ingredients

For the Satay

• lemon zest from 1 lemon
• 1/4 cup white onion chopped finely
• 1 tsp garlic minced
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• Vegetable oil as needed for preparing the grill grates
• 2.5 lb chicken thighs skinless, boneless
• 8 skewers metal or bamboo (or wood)

For the Peanut Sauce

• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp peanut oil
• 1/4 cup white onions chopped finely
• 2 tsp garlic minced
• Zest from 1 lemon
• 1 tsp jalapeño minced
• 1 tsp fresh ginger minced
• 3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
• 1/4 cup coconut milk unsweetened
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1.5 tbsp lime juice
• 2 tsp fish sauce
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

Instructions

For the Satay

1. In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients to make the Satay marinade. Stir well. Set aside.
2. Cut the chicken thighs into 1-2 inch chunks and place in the bowl of marinade. Put this in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
3. If using bamboo skewers, be sure to place them in a pan of cool water. This will help them not burn on the grill. If using metal skewers, spray with nonstick spray.
4. After 1 hour, skewer chicken pieces
5. Prepare the grill by heating it according to manufacturer’s instructions. Oil the grates and then place the prepared Satay chicken skewers on the grates. Set grill to medium high heat and cook for approximate 10-15 minutes.
6. If using bamboo skewers, place piece of aluminum foil for the base of the skewers so that they won’t burn. Rotate and turn the skewers so that each side is cooked evenly.
7. Once cooked, remove from the grill and serve with peanut sauce.

For the Peanut Sauce

1. In a medium saucepan, sesame oil.
2. Next, add the rest of the ingredients and stir well. If the sauce is too thick, you can add a tablespoon or so of water at a time to thin it out. Cook for approximately 10 minutes until warmed through.

Nutrition Facts

Grilled Thai Chicken Satay Skewers with Peanut Sauce

Amount Per Serving (1 skewer)

Calories 402 Calories from Fat 207

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 23g 35%

Saturated Fat 5g 25%

Cholesterol 134mg 45%

Sodium 621mg 26%

Potassium 554mg 16%

Total Carbohydrates 15g 5%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 11g

Protein 34g 68%

Vitamin A 1.6%

Vitamin C 3.2%

Calcium 3.4%

Iron 11.9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.