Keto Thai Peanut Chicken with Coconut Sauce

Prep: 8 minCook: 10 min4 servingsmediumthai
Keto Thai Peanut Chicken with Coconut Sauce

Pan-seared chicken breast tenders coated in a Thai-inspired marinade of coconut aminos, fish sauce, and garlic, then topped with a creamy peanut sauce blended from peanut butter, coconut milk, ginger, and red curry paste. Quick weeknight dinner with optional cauliflower rice base and cilantro-peanut garnish.

Gluten-FreeDairy-FreeKeto

Ingredients

4 servings
  • 1 lb chicken breast tenders, boneless skinless
  • 2 tbsp coconut aminos, or tamari sauce
    tamari1:1sauce

    uses wheat if not tamari, adds:wheat if not certified gluten-free

    Full guide →
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce, sugar-free
    soy sauce1:1umamifish-freeadds glutenadds soy

    increases sodium slightly, removes:soy_free, adds:soy+wheat

    Full guide →
  • ½ cup coconut milk, for marinade
    heavy cream1:1dairyadds dairy

    richer texture, less tropical flavor, adds:milk

    Full guide →
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil, or coconut oil
  • ½ tbsp cilantro, finely chopped(optional)
  • ½ tbsp peanuts, or almonds, finely chopped(optional)
  • 4 tbsp peanut butter, unsweetened, or almond butter, or sunflower seed butter
    almond butter1:1tree_nutpeanuts-freeadds dairy

    provides same richness with different profile

    Full guide →
  • ⅓ cup coconut milk, unsweetened full-fat canned, for sauce
    heavy cream1:1dairyadds dairy

    richer texture, less tropical flavor, adds:milk

    Full guide →
  • 1 tsp coconut aminos, or tamari sauce
    tamari1:1sauce

    uses wheat if not tamari, adds:wheat if not certified gluten-free

    Full guide →
  • ½ tsp fish sauce, sugar-free
    soy sauce1:1umamifish-freeadds glutenadds soy

    increases sodium slightly, removes:soy_free, adds:soy+wheat

    Full guide →
  • ½ tsp ginger, minced
  • ½ tsp garlic, minced
  • ¼ to 1/2 tsp, Thai red curry paste
  • ½ tbsp lime juice, fresh
  • 1 tbsp erythritol, granulated sweetener, or honey for paleo
    honey1:1sweetener

    adds sugar carbs, removes paleo status

    Full guide →
  • 2 tbsp water, for thinning sauce(optional)

Instructions

  1. 1

    Place chicken in a bowl or freezer bag

  2. 2

    Combine marinade ingredients in a freezer bag, add chicken, seal and coat evenly, marinate for 20 minutes or overnight in fridge

  3. 3

    Blend peanut sauce ingredients until smooth, thin with water if needed

  4. 4

    Heat oil in grill pan or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat

  5. 5

    Add marinated chicken and cook until cooked through

  6. 6

    Plate chicken and drizzle with peanut sauce or serve over cauliflower rice, garnish with cilantro and peanuts

Tips

Tip 1

Marinating overnight intensifies flavor complexity

Tip 2

Blend sauce until completely smooth for silky consistency

Tip 3

Test chicken doneness by cutting thickest piece to verify no pink interior

Good to Know

Storage

Chicken and sauce keep separate in airtight containers up to 3 days refrigerated. Freeze sauce up to 1 month.

Make Ahead

Marinate chicken overnight. Prepare sauce up to 2 days ahead, store covered in fridge. Reheat gently before serving.

Serve With

Serve hot over cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, or leafy greens. Garnish with fresh cilantro and chopped peanuts or almonds.

See pairing guide →

Common Mistakes

Watch

Overcook chicken by using high heat without monitoring—cook at medium-high and test doneness at 4-minute mark to avoid dry meat

Watch

Skip marinating entirely—20 minutes minimum allows garlic powder and fish sauce to penetrate for fuller flavor

Watch

Add all water to sauce at once—thin gradually and taste after each addition to avoid oversoftening

Substitutions

Dairy-Free Swaps

coconut milk→
heavy cream1:1dairyadds dairy

richer texture, less tropical flavor, adds:milk

Full guide →

Nut-Free Alternatives

peanut butter→
almond butter1:1tree_nutpeanuts-freeadds dairy

provides same richness with different profile

Full guide →
peanut butter→
sunflower seed butter1:1seedtree_nut_freepeanuts-freeadds dairy

nut-free alternative

Full guide →

General Alternatives

erythritol→
honey1:1sweetener

adds sugar carbs, removes paleo status

Full guide →
coconut aminos→
tamari1:1sauce

uses wheat if not tamari, adds:wheat if not certified gluten-free

Full guide →
fish sauce→
soy sauce1:1umamifish-freeadds glutenadds soy

increases sodium slightly, removes:soy_free, adds:soy+wheat

Full guide →
Find more substitutions →