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Easy Thai Chicken Satay Recipe

Thai Satay Chicken is loaded with authentic flavors like turmeric, lemongrass, chiles, and fish sauce. A rich and spicy Thai Peanut Sauce is perfect for dipping.

I can’t get enough of the fresh and spicy flavors of Thai cuisine. Some other favorites are Thai Chicken Curry and chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce.

low angle shot of chicken satay

Why you’ll love this chicken satay recipe

  • YOUR FAVORITE THAI FLAVORS – I’ve spent years trying to recreate the flavors I fell in love with on the streets of Bangkok. Now, with the help of a Thai friend, I’ve finally nailed this easy recipe for classic Thai street food.
  • QUICK & EASY – Even if you’re unfamiliar with Thai cooking, this dish is easy to make.
  • ALWAYS A CROWDPLEASER – This chicken satay recipe always gets rave reviews, whether from my family on a regular weeknight or at backyard barbecues.
Overhead shot of ingredients needed to make chicken satay.

What ingredients do you need?

For the complete list of ingredients with quantities and detailed prep and cooking instructions, please see the recipe card that appears at the end of this post.

The ingredient list for this chicken satay recipe may be a bit longer than for some other recipes. Still, the ingredients are pretty easy to find at your regular supermarket (or have easily accessible substitutes). Here’s what you need to make these chicken satay skewers:

  • Shallots
  • Lemongrass or, if you can’t find it, you can substitute lemongrass paste in a tube
  • Garlic
  • Red chilies
  • Galangal or fresh ginger
  • Fresh turmeric or dried ground turmeric
  • Ground cumin
  • Fish sauce
  • Soy sauce
  • Palm sugar assures authentic Southeast Asian flavor, but dark brown cane sugar is a fine substitute
  • Oil (any neutral-flavored oil like safflower, sunflower seed, canola, corn, or vegetable)
  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • Skewers (either metal skewers or bamboo skewers that have been soaked in water for 15 minutes or so)
  • Thai peanut sauce for dipping

How to make Thai Satay

For the complete list of ingredients with quantities and detailed prep and cooking instructions, please see the recipe card that appears at the end of this post.

This Thai chicken satay recipe is easy to make. Here’s how:

  • This Thai chicken satay recipe starts by marinating the chicken in signature Thai ingredients like lemongrass, turmeric, galangal (you can substitute fresh ginger), chilies, and fish sauce.
  • Combine the marinade ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until the solid ingredients are finely minced.
  • Cut the chicken into strips or 2-inch chunks.
  • In a large bowl or resealable plastic bag, combine the marinade and the chicken and toss to coat.
  • Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or as long as overnight.
  • Soak bamboo skewers in water for about 30 minutes and heat a grill or grill pan to high heat.
  • Thread the marinated chicken meat onto the skewers (discard the marinade) and grill for about 4 minutes per side, until cooked through.
  • The end result is heaven on a skewer.
  • Serve these chicken satay skewers with Peanut Sauce or Thai Red Curry Sauce for dipping, wedges of lime, and chopped fresh cilantro.
  • Add a side of Thai Pumpkin Curry, Thai Fried Rice, or Instant Pot Coconut Rice to round out the meal.

When these chicken satay skewers hit the grill, the smell immediately brings me back to the Bangkok night market. And don’t forget the peanut sauce!

If you live in a place that has actual winters, you can always make this chicken satay recipe indoors using a grill pan.

low angle shot of chicken satay skewers with one being dipped into peanut sauce.

More Great Thai Recipes You’ll Love

If you love this Thai Chicken Satay, try some of my other favorite Thai recipes like Pad Kee Mao, Vegetarian Pad Thai, Thai Fish Cakes, Thai Larb, Green Papaya Salad, and Thai Pumpkin Curry.

Low angle shot of thai chicken satay skewers on a black plate with peanut sauce in the background

Easy Thai Satay Chicken

Robin Donovan
This simple Thai chicken satay marinade can be mixed up in minutes in a food processor. Making it by hand takes only a few minutes more. Serve with an authentic Thai Peanut Sauce for dipping and sticky rice if you can get it for a treat that will transport you to the food stalls of Bangkok’s famous Charoen Krung Road.
4.50 from 10 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Main Dish Recipes
Cuisine Thai
Calories 437 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 shallots cut into quarters
  • 1/4 cup chopped lemongrass
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 to 2 fresh red chilies or ½–1 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1 inch-long piece galangal or fresh ginger peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh turmeric or ½ teaspoon dried turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • ¼ cup fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into strips or 2-inch chunks (or use chicken breast tenders)

Instructions
 

  • Combine all of the ingredients except for the chicken in a food processor and process until smooth (alternatively, slice the shallots thinly and mince the lemongrass, garlic, chilies, galangal or ginger, and fresh turmeric and stir together in a bowl, along with the remaining ingredients.)
  • In a large bowl, combine the chicken and marinade and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour and as long as overnight.
  • Soak bamboo skewers in water for about 30 minutes and heat a grill or grill pan to high heat.
  • Thread the marinated chicken meat onto the skewers (discard the marinade) and grill for about 4 minutes per side, until cooked through. Serve immediately.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 437kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 66gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 175mgSodium: 1464mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Last Updated: March 18, 2022

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By on March 18th, 2022

ABOUT ROBIN DONOVAN

Hi, I’m Robin! I am a full-time food blogger, recipe developer, and cookbook author. I spend my days cooking, writing about, and photographing food.

I’m the author of more than 50 cookbooks, including Ramen for Beginners5 Ingredient Cooking for TwoSushi at HomeThe Baking Cookbook for Teens, and the bestselling Campfire Cuisine.

My food writing has also been featured in major print and online pubications including Cooking Light, Fitness, San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle, and others. → More about Robin

2 thoughts on “Easy Thai Chicken Satay Recipe”

  1. I’ve been thinking about this soup all weekend. Don’t care that I had already done the week’s menu planning and shopping – we’re having this soup this week. Now I’ve just drooled all over the keyboard again!

    Reply

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