Satay Chicken Bowls with Peanut Sauce

These Asian-inspired Statay Chicken Bowls come together quickly and feature succulent marinated chicken skewers, an Asian cucumber salad, and that addictive peanut sauce we all go nuts for!  An easy and healthy midweek meal that is also great for meal prep! 

Our favorite appetizer at the Thai restaurant turned bowl! YES, I did it again! Another chicken bowl recipe and may I just say, this one is FIRE! Not in terms of spice, mind you, this one is not too hot! Let's talk about what's in these Satay Chicken Bowls.

This easy peasy Thai chicken bowl recipe comes features pan-fried skewers of succulent marinated chicken served on a base of fluffy white rice, with a quick cucumber salad for that refreshing element and an easy-to-make satay sauce.

Satay sauce, just in case you don't know it, is that addictive peanut sauce you always find yourself short of at your favorite  Thai spot. It is usually served with meat skewers, sometimes with summer rolls. Make lots because this stuff is gold!

Is Satay Sauce unhealthy?

It depends! The one you order at the restaurant probably has some refined sugar and oil in it. This satay sauce recipe is way healthier, though, mind you, not low in calories. In our little hearts, we allknow peanut butter is not exactly low cal... We stretch that pb with some coconut milk and lime juice  to give it the perfect texture and sweeten it with honey! My favorite Asian aromatics aka ginger and chili go in to seal the deal! Savory, salty, acidic, a bit sweet and a touch spicy. Hits all the right spots.

You can pan-fry these skewers!

On to the chicken! We marinate some cut-up chicken thighs in a flavorful mix of red curry paste, curry powder, coconut sugar and coconut milk! SOOOO delicious! 30 minutes marinating time is the minimum, people! I'd give the meat at least 2-3 hours.

No need to turn on the oven or heat the bbq - these babies are made in the skillet!

How to make Satay Thai Chicken Bowls:

Step 1 - To make the satay sauce: Whisk together peanut butter, lime juice, ginger, honey, sambal oelek, salt and 2-3 tablespoons milk in a small bowl or in your food processor. Set aside.

Step 2 - Mix salt, red curry paste, curry powder, coconut sugar, and coconut milk in a large bowl.

Step 3 - Cut chicken into chunks for shish kebabs (about 1 / 1.5 inches). Add it to the marinade bowl and toss well to cover each piece of chicken with marinade.

Step 4 - Marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes and ideally 3 hours. Thread chicken pieces on the bamboo skewers (I usually do 3-4 per skewer).

Step 5 & 6 - Heat oil in a large skillet on medium high-heat. When oil is almost shimmering, add the skewers and cook for about 3 minutes on each side. I recommend using kitchen thongs to flip the skewers. If your skillet is too small to cook all the skewers in one go, wipe the skillet with paper towel before cooking the second batch to avoid burning the residues.

To serve, add some rice and Asian cucumber salad to each plate. Divide peanut sauce into 4 small containers and place in each plate/bowl. Add skewers on top of the rice. Serve with crushed peanuts, sliced chilies, lime wedges and cilantro.

What to serve these bowls with :

As toppings, I would go with crushed peanuts, sliced red chilies, fresh cilantro and limes wedges. I also like to whip up a quick Asian cucumber salad to serve with these bowls. Cucumbers and peanuts love each other and the crunchy salads adds a refreshing element to this bowl.

Here's how I make my Thai Cucumber Salad

• 1 seedless cucumber, halved and thinly sliced
• ¼ cup rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon chili paste (like sambal oelek)

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar, soy, sugar, sesame oil and chili paste.
2. Add cucumbers to bowl and toss well. Let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes or longer before serving.

Tips:

• Use chicken thighs if you can. They stay juicier and are not as prone to overcooking!
• I recommend using kitchen thongs to flip the skewers. If your skillet is too small to cook all the skewers in one go, wipe the skillet with paper towel before cooking the second batch to avoid burning the residues.
• You can also cook these on the grill. If you do, soak the bamboo skewers for 3 hours before using, to make sure they don’t burn.

5 from 4 votes

Print

Satay Chicken Bowls with Peanut Sauce

These Asian-inspired Statay Chicken Bowls come together quickly and feature succulent marinated chicken skewers, an Asian cucumber salad, and that addictive peanut sauce we all go nuts for!  An easy and healthy midweek meal that is also great for meal prep! 

Course Main Course

Cuisine Asian, Thai

Keyword healthy Asian chicken bowl, Satay sauce healthy, Thai chicken bowl

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Marinating 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 310 kcal

Ingredients

For the Peanut Sauce

• 2 tsp ginger ideally grated or finely minced
• 2-3 tbsp coconut milk
• ⅛ tsp salt
• 1 tsp sambal oelek or your favorite chilli paste - omit or use less if you don’t like spicy food
• 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• ¼ cup smooth peanut butter it’s best to use natural peanut butter, with 100% peanuts

For the chicken

• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp red curry paste
• ¼ cup full fat coconut milk
• 1 tbsp curry powder
• 1 tsp coconut sugar or brown sugar
• 1 lb skinless, boneless chicken thighs 500 g - (breasts work too but thighs are juicier)
• 2 tsp neutral tasting oil I used avocado oil - you can also use canola oil

For the bowl

• Cooked Jasmine rice
• Asian cucumber salad see the recipe below

Optional toppings:

• Crushed peanuts
• Small red chillies
• Cilantro
• Limes wedges

Instructions

Peanut sauce

1. Whisk together peanut butter, lime juice, ginger, honey, sambal oelek, salt and 2-3 tablespoons milk in a small bowl or in your food processor. Set aside.

Chicken

1. Mix salt, red curry paste, curry powder, coconut sugar and coconut milk in a large bowl.
2. Cut chicken into chunks for shish kebabs (about 1 / 1.5 inches). Add it to the marinade bowl and toss well to cover each piece of chicken with marinade.
3. Marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes and ideally 3 hours.
4. Thread chicken pieces on the bamboo skewers (I usually do 3-4 per skewer).
5. Heat oil in a large skillet on medium high-heat. When oil is almost shimmering, add the skewers and cook for about 3 minutes on each side. I recommend using kitchen thongs to flip the skewers. If your skillet is too small to cook all the skewers in one go, wipe the skillet with paper towel before cooking the second batch to avoid burning the residues.

Serve

1. To serve, add some rice and asian cucumber salad to each plate. Divide peanut sauce into 4 small containers and place in each plate/bowl. Add skewers on top of the rice. Serve with crushed peanuts, sliced chilies, lime wedges and cilantro.

Recipe Notes

• Nutritional facts do not include toppings, cucumber salad, or rice.
• You can also cook these on the grill. If you do, soak the bamboo skewers for 3 hours before using, to make sure they don’t burn.

Quick Asian Cucumber Salad Recipe

Ingredients

1 seedless cucumber, halved and thinly sliced

¼ cup rice vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon chili paste (like sambal oelek)

Instructions

In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar, soy, sugar, sesame oil and chili paste.
Add cucumbers to bowl and toss well. Let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes or longer before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Satay Chicken Bowls with Peanut Sauce

Amount Per Serving

Calories 310 Calories from Fat 153

% Daily Value*

Fat 17g26%

Saturated Fat 6g38%

Trans Fat 1g

Cholesterol 108mg36%

Sodium 848mg37%

Potassium 478mg14%

Carbohydrates 14g5%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 27g54%

Vitamin A 443IU9%

Vitamin C 3mg4%

Calcium 33mg3%

Iron 3mg17%

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

If you tried these satay chicken bowls, don’t forget to rate the recipe below and let me know how it went in the comments – I love hearing from you! You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook for more deliciousness and behind-the-scenes!

More healthy meal prep chicken dinners you will love:

• Sheet Pan Za’atar Chicken Dinner
• One Pan BBQ Chicken Dinner
• Easy Baked Chicken Thighs
• Sheet Pan Mustard Chicken Thighs
• Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas