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+ servings

Thai Orange Peanut Chicken (Grilled or Baked)

Phenomenally juicy, flavorful Thai Orange Peanut Chicken is is one of my favorite sweet, tangy savory chicken recipes ever!   I've included instructions to both grill or bake your Thai Peanut Chicken so you can make it year round.  Because you are going to want to devour this chicken year round because of the sauce.  oh the sauce.  The Thai Peanut Orange Sauce is so out of this world you will want to slather it on everything!  
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 9 chicken thighs

Ingredients

  • 9 bone-in chicken thighs skin removed (3 lbs.)

Marinade (optional)

Wet Rub

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tsp EACH ground ginger, garlic pwder
  • 1/2 tsp EACH onion pwdr, paprika, ground cumin, salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Thai Orange Peanut Sauce

  • 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1/2 cup orange marmalade
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha/Asian hot chili sauce more or less to taste
  • Add later:
  • 1/3 cup smooth peanut butter (may sub. crunchy)

Garnish

  • Chopped roasted peanuts
  • cilantro

Instructions

Marinade

  • Add Marinade ingredients to a large freezer bag and whisk to combine. Add chicken, remove excess air, seal and turn to coat. Marinate 4 hours up to overnight.

Wet Rub

  • When ready to grill, remove chicken from marinade and dab off any excess. Place chicken on a baking sheet. Mix Wet Rub Spices with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Rub evenly over both sides of chicken. Let sit 20-30 minutes.

Thai Orange Peanut Sauce

  • Meanwhile, whisk all Thai Orange Peanut Sauce ingredients together EXCEPT Peanut Butter in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for approximately 7-10 minutes or until reduced and slightly thickened, stirring occasionally (it will thicken more as you add peanut butter and upon standing so make sure it’s not too thick).
  • Stir in peanut butter until smooth. If sauce thickens too much before serving then return to heat and whisk in a little water to thin.

GRILL DIRECTIONS

  • Grease and heat grill to medium heat. Add chicken, cover, and cook 6-8 minutes per side, or until no longer pink and an inside thermometer registers 165 degrees F.
  • Slather chicken with Orange Peanut Sauce and garnish with cilantro and crushed peanuts. Serve with remaining sauce (extra sauce is especially delicious with rice).

STOVE TOP/OVEN DIRECTIONS

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat one tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat. Add chicken (you will need to work in batches), and sear 2-3 minutes per side.
  • Add chicken to a foil lined, greased 9x13 pan (for easy cleanup), COVER with foil, and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil cover, and continue to cook, uncovered an additional 15-20 minutes OR until an inside thermometer registers 165 degrees F at the thickest part of the chicken.
  • Slather chicken with Orange Peanut Sauce and garnish with cilantro and crushed peanuts. Serve with remaining sauce (extra sauce is especially delicious with rice).