Healthy Chicken Skewers with Peanut Sauce

There’s something about chicken skewers that always reminds me of backyard get-togethers with friends. Maybe it’s the way everyone gathers around the grill, or how the smell of cooking chicken draws people outside. Add a good peanut sauce, and you’ve got yourself a crowd-pleaser that never fails to make people happy.

I started making these chicken skewers years ago when I was looking for an easy dinner that wouldn’t heat up my kitchen too much in summer. Now they’re a regular at our house, especially on busy weeknights. The peanut sauce comes together in minutes, and I often make extra to keep in the fridge for salads or veggie dips throughout the week.

If you’ve never tried making peanut sauce at home, don’t worry – it’s much easier than you might think. And once you taste the homemade version, you’ll wonder why you ever bought it from the store. Trust me, your sandwiches and noodle bowls will never be the same again.

What Kind of Chicken Should I Use?

For chicken skewers, you’ve got two main options: breast meat or thighs, and both will give you great results for different reasons. Chicken breasts are leaner and will give you those classic, clean-looking kebabs, but they can dry out a bit faster on the grill. Thighs, on the other hand, have more fat content which means they stay juicy and are more forgiving if you cook them a little longer than planned. If you’re buying your chicken pre-cut, look for pieces that are roughly the same size so they cook evenly. When cutting your own chicken, try to make the pieces about 1-inch in size – any smaller and they might overcook, any larger and you risk having raw centers.

Options for Substitutions

This recipe is pretty adaptable and you can make several swaps based on what you have in your kitchen:

• Chicken: While chicken is perfect for these skewers, you can use turkey breast, firm tofu cut into cubes, or even shrimp. Just remember that cooking times will vary – shrimp cooks much faster than chicken!
• Peanut butter: If you have a peanut allergy or just ran out, almond butter or sunflower seed butter work great. The sauce might be slightly less thick, so you may need less water to thin it out.
• Soy sauce: Feel free to use coconut aminos or tamari if you’re avoiding soy or need a gluten-free option. Start with a bit less as coconut aminos are typically sweeter than soy sauce.
• Rice vinegar: Apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar can step in for rice vinegar. The taste will be slightly different but still good!
• Sesame oil: While sesame oil adds a nice nutty flavor, you can use any neutral oil like vegetable or canola oil if needed. The taste won’t be quite the same, but the sauce will still be tasty.
• Ground ginger: Fresh grated ginger works great too – use about 1 tablespoon fresh for every teaspoon of dried. In a pinch, you can skip it, but it does add nice flavor.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Grilling

The biggest challenge when making chicken skewers is ending up with dry, overcooked meat – to prevent this, make sure to cut your chicken pieces into uniform 1-inch cubes so they cook evenly, and don’t leave them on the grill for more than 12-15 minutes total. Another common mistake is not soaking wooden skewers before grilling, which can lead to burning and splintering – soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before threading on your chicken. For the peanut sauce, avoid the temptation to add all the water at once; instead, add it gradually while stirring until you reach your desired consistency, as it’s much easier to thin out a thick sauce than to fix one that’s too runny. To get those nice char marks without drying out the meat, keep the grill temperature medium-high (around 375-400°F) and turn the skewers every 3-4 minutes.

What to Serve With Chicken Skewers?

These tasty chicken skewers with peanut sauce pair perfectly with a scoop of fluffy jasmine rice or coconut rice to soak up all that amazing sauce. For a complete meal, I like to add some quick-cooking veggies like stir-fried snap peas, steamed broccoli, or a simple cucumber salad with rice vinegar dressing. If you’re keeping things low-carb, try serving the skewers over a bed of crunchy lettuce with shredded carrots and chopped peanuts on top. You can also turn this into a noodle dish by serving the skewers over some chilled rice noodles or soba noodles tossed with a bit of sesame oil.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: Got leftover chicken skewers? Place them in an airtight container and store the peanut sauce separately. They’ll stay good in the fridge for up to 3 days. The sauce might thicken up a bit in the fridge, but don’t worry about that!

Make Ahead: You can prep these skewers a day ahead – just marinate the chicken pieces in a sealed container overnight. The peanut sauce can also be made in advance and stored in the fridge. If you’re meal prepping, thread the marinated chicken onto skewers right before cooking for the best results.

Reheat: To warm up leftover skewers, pop them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. If you want to keep them from drying out, add a splash of water before reheating. For the peanut sauce, thin it out with a little warm water and give it a good stir before serving.

Preparation Time	30-60 minutes
Cooking Time	8-10 minutes
Total Time	38-70 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 800-900
• Protein: 70-80 g
• Fat: 40-50 g
• Carbohydrates: 30-40 g

Ingredients

For the chicken:

• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp honey or brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 lb chicken breast or thighs, diced
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 cloves minced garlic

For the peanut sauce:

• 2 to 3 tbsp warm water
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp sesame oil

Step 1: Prepare the Marinade

In a bowl, whisk together the following ingredients to create a flavorful marinade: soy sauce, lime juice, olive oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, honey, salt, and pepper.

Once well combined, add the chicken pieces to the bowl and toss to coat them thoroughly in the marinade.

Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour, allowing the chicken to absorb all the delicious flavors.

Step 2: Make the Peanut Sauce

While the chicken is marinating, prepare the peanut sauce.

In another bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and a pinch of chili flakes for some heat.

Gradually add warm water to the mixture, whisking until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.

Adjust the thickness to your preference for drizzling or dipping.

Step 3: Thread the Chicken onto Skewers

If you’re using wooden skewers, soak them in water for about 30 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.

After the chicken has marinated, thread the pieces onto the skewers, leaving some space between each piece to ensure even cooking.

Step 4: Grill the Chicken Skewers

Preheat your grill or broiler to medium-high heat.

Place the skewered chicken on the grill and cook for approximately 4–5 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is cooked through and lightly charred.

Be sure to monitor the skewers closely to prevent overcooking.

Step 5: Serve the Grilled Chicken Skewers

Once the chicken skewers are done, you can drizzle the prepared peanut sauce over them for an added burst of flavor or serve it on the side as a dipping sauce.

Enjoy your deliciously marinated and grilled chicken skewers with creamy peanut sauce!