This Thai Peanut Butter Sauce blends peanut butter, lime, and coconut milk with other Thai flavors for a creamy craveworthy sauce that's perfect for dipping or drizzling over stir-fries, noodles, or grilled meats. With a balance of savory, sweet, and just the right amount of heat, it transforms any dish into something irresistibly delicious.
Plus, it comes together in 5 minutes, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your meal!
This Thai Peanut Butter Sauce transforms baked vegetables, meats, and rice into something truly special. Whether you're meal-prepping, repurposing leftovers, or making a cozy weekend feast, this sauce is guaranteed to steal the show!
For more low fuss meal ideas, check out my Shrimp Stir-Fry, Stir-Fry Sauce, Baked Chicken Fajitas, Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup, Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Chicken, Tuscan Chicken Salad, and Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore.
For more Thai-inspired flavors, check out my Thai Chicken Soup, Thai Red Curry Soup, Thai Tofu Soup, and Pumpkin Curry with Chicken.
For more recipes featuring peanuts and peanut butter, check out my Rice Paper Rolls with peanut sauce, Healthy Trail Mix, Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls, Peanut Butter Truffles, and Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate.
How to make it
This Thai peanut butter sauce recipe comes together easily by whisking 8 pantry staple ingredients together.
Ingredient Notes + Substitutions
This easy and flavorful Thai peanut butter sauce is super versatile! Make it more or less spicy, thick or thin, and adjust the flavors to treat your tastebuds.
Peanut Butter
I like a creamy natural peanut butter best for this recipe, but I've used many different types and it always turns out great. You can even use crunchy peanut butter for extra texture.
Cashew butter also works nicely as a peanut butter alternative.
Lite Coconut Milk
I recommend using canned lite coconut milk. I think full fat coconut milk is too heavy in combination with peanut butter, but adjust this recipe to your liking!
You can also use water in place of coconut milk. I like this option best when I use rice vinegar instead of lime juice.
Lime
I love the peanut butter, lime, and coconut milk combination in this recipe. However, you can use rice vinegar as a substitute for lime juice.
Soy Sauce
Soy sauce is a common ingredient in many peanut sauce recipes. For a gluten-free alternative, use gluten-free soy sauce, gluten-free tamari, or coconut aminos (which is also soy-free).
I like to use a low sodium variety and add the salt in last after tasting it so I can control the saltiness.
Brown Sugar
I like the flavor of brown sugar to add a little sweetness to this recipe. Substitute regular sugar, coconut sugar, honey, or maple syrup. Add more or less to your desired sweetness.
Sambal Oelek
Sambal Oelek is a chili garlic sauce and can be found in the Asian foods aisle of most grocery stores. You can also used sriracha, a pinch of red pepper flakes, or leave it out entirely.
I used a gluten-free chili garlic sauce (pictured) and like Yellow Bird brand sriracha when making that variation. Sometimes I use both!
You also need a lime, garlic powder, and salt to make this recipe.
Want a little extra texture? Sprinkle some chopped peanuts or sesame seeds on top for the perfect crunch!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Learn how to make peanut butter sauce in one easy step!
- Mix it all together: Combine all the ingredients in a small mixing bowl or jar, adding the lite coconut milk in gradually to reach your desired consistency. Whisk together or shake in a sealed jar to mix thoroughly. Taste and adjust the ingredients to make your perfect sauce. I often make adjustments to the salt and sweetness depending on the peanut butter I use.
Ways to use it
Here are 11 easy and fun ways to use Thai Peanut Butter Sauce:
- Peanut Drizzle Rice Bowls - Pour over a bowl of jasmine rice, roasted veggies, and your protein of choice for a quick, flavor-packed meal. I love this recipe on roasted broccoli and onions and it can be used as an alternative sauce for Spam Musubi Bowl.
- Peanut Sauce Stir Fry - Make a quick stir-fry with oil and drizzle this peanut butter sauce on afterwards. Use bell peppers, snap peas, and whatever you have on hand.
- Peanut Butter Salad Dressing - Use it as a salad dressing over your favorite green salad for a nutty creamy twist. It works nicely as an alternative dressing for my Vietnamese Noodle Salad with Chicken.
- Saucy Peanut Noodles - Mix it with cooked rice noodles for a creamy, nutty noodle dish-serve warm or cold!
- Peanut Chicken Satay or Tofu - Grill or pan fry chicken, tofu, or shrimp before dipping in this sweet and savory sauce.
- Dipping Sauce for Spring Rolls - Use it as a dip for fresh or fried spring rolls, summer rolls, dumplings, or even crispy tofu bites.
- Thai Peanut Slaw - Toss with shredded cabbage and carrots and sprinkle with crushed peanuts for a crunchy, flavor-packed salad.
- Savory Peanut Sweet Potatoes - Drizzle over roasted sweet potatoes and top with cilantro and chopped peanuts.
- Peanut-Lime Roasted Cauliflower - Roast cauliflower florets in oil and drizzle with sauce.
- Bold Peanut Tacos - Use as a sauce for tacos with shredded chicken, slaw, and an extra squeeze of lime for a Thai-inspired taco night!
- Peanut Sauce Salad Wraps - Top large butter lettuce leaves with cooked meat or chopped veggies and drizzle with peanut butter sauce for an easy salad wrap recipe.
Which one sounds the most exciting to you? 😋
Recipe FAQ's
Here I answered some frequently asked questions about this savory Thai peanut butter sauce. Don't see your question? Leave it in the comments at the end of this post and I'll answer within two business days.
Store leftover Thai peanut butter sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I recommend storing the sauce separately from the accompanying dish for best texture.
Yes! This recipe makes an amazing dipping sauce. I usually make it a little thicker for dipping and recommend adding the coconut milk in gradually to get the desired consistency.
Related easy Asian-inspired dinner recipes to consider...
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📖 Recipe
Thai Peanut Butter Sauce
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup peanut butter (80 ml)
- 1 medium lime , juiced
- 1 ½ tablespoons gluten-free soy sauce , gluten-free tamari, or coconut aminos
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon sambal oelek , chili garlic sauce, or sriracha
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt plus more to taste
- ⅓ cup lite coconut milk - adjust to your desired consistency for dipping or drizzling (80 ml)
Instructions
- Mix it all together: Combine all the ingredients in a small mixing bowl or jar, adding the lite coconut milk in gradually to reach your desired consistency. Whisk together or shake in a sealed jar to mix thoroughly. Taste and adjust the ingredients to make your perfect sauce. I often make adjustments to the salt and sweetness depending on the peanut butter I use.
Steph says
This is really delicious! I has all the right flavors in just the right combination. So glad I found this gf version!