Amazing satay chicken with peanut sauce

Last Updated on 2 March 2026 by cooksimply

Technically, satay chicken hails from Indonesian street markets and it is so so good.  Tender pieces of spicy marinated chicken, flame-grilled accompanied by a delicious peanut sauce. There are lots of variations from Malaysia, Thailand, and yes, even from my Chinese folks too, who have made satay chicken skewers this way for decades. 

You have to try this amazing satay chicken with peanut sauce

My parents have used a ‘secret ingredient’ in lots of their dishes from Singapore noodles to fried rice. Dishes that need a satay spicy kick. So for this satay chicken recipe, all you need to do is marinate a few ingredients including this secret paste, soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil with chicken thighs, put them on skewers, and cook them on a hot grill or BBQ. I like to use chicken thighs because the meat is much more tender and works really well for satay chicken. 

So what is the secret ingredient for great satay chicken?

The secret to the satay chicken sauce marinade is Jimmy’s sate sauce. As a cook, I know that there is a lot to be said about making sauces from scratch, but when there is a seasoning that is already amazing, why bother? You may have had satay chicken from a takeaway – and wondered how to emulate the taste. Well, this is a super easy satay chicken with peanut sauce recipe that will impress everyone who eats it – and the taste will be the same as those takeouts. 

Where can I get Jimmy’s sate sauce? It’s pretty much available at all Asian supermarkets but you can also buy it online here from a well-known online store and have it delivered straight to the door! But what if you can’t get hold of a jar? No problem, just substitute it with hot curry powder and it will still taste great.

How do you make the satay chicken peanut sauce?

I’ll admit that the satay chicken skewers are really yummy on their own, without any peanut sauce. So if you’re short on time, then you can skip it. But, the peanut sauce is a wonderful addition. And so easy to make. Just mix together smooth peanut butter with soy sauce, honey, curry powder, and zesty lime, alongside water or coconut milk if you want a creamier finish, and that’s it! It can then be a dipping sauce or drizzled over the satay chicken skewers. 

Amazing satay chicken with peanut sauce

4.82 from 16 votes

This satay chicken recipe is so simple and delicious to make. Everyone will love it – spicy, tender chicken thighs with a moreish dipping sauce

Servings 4

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

Satay chicken

• 1 kg chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 tbsp Jimmy's sate sauce or 2 tbsp hot curry powder if you can't get Jimmy's
• 2 cloves of garlic crushed
• 2 tbsp light soy sauce
• 2 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp sesame oil

Peanut sauce

• 3 tbsp smooth peanut butter
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 lime juice only
• 2 tsp honey
• 1 tbsp curry powder
• 4-5 tbsp water or coconut milk or more if you need it

Instructions

 

Satay chicken marinade

• Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and put into a large bowl
• Add the garlic, soy sauce, Jimmy's sate sauce, sesame oil and sugar to the chicken and combine well. Make sure all the chicken is well coated in the marinade. Cover and put in the fridge for at least 2-3 hours. For the best results, overnight.
• When you're ready to cook the satay chicken, get skewers and pierce the chicken – I add 3-4 pieces per skewer. Put them on a heated griddle or BBQ grill and cook for around 4-5 minutes on each side, until golden brown.

Satay peanut sauce

• In a bowl, mix the peanut butter, soy sauce, curry powder, lime juice and honey together. Then add the water or coconut milk to sauce to loosen it, until you get your desired consistency. Serve alongside the chicken satay skewers and enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories: 631kcal

Calories: 631kcal

Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: Asian, Chinese

Did you make this recipe?

Please let me know if you made this chicken with satay sauce. Leave a comment below and tag @cooksimplyathome on Instagram. You can find other easy meal ideas here.