Picked With Passion

These healthy Thai Chicken Skewers are marinated using yogurt and Thai curry paste and then paired with the best homemade peanut sauce. This healthy dinner is one kids and parents love and with under 300 calories and tons of protein, it’s a meal you can feel good about. We also love this Sheet Pan Thai Cashew Chicken or Peanut Chicken Stir Fry.

Whenever we go out for Thai food, we inevitably end up ordering at least two orders of chicken satay. There is nothing better then these sweet and savory Thai chicken skewers, and let’s be honest, we are all fighting over every last drop of the peanut sauce. Today’s recipe is inspired by a traditional chicken satay but made with ingredients that most people can find in their local grocery store.

The key to adding Thai flavors to this recipe without needing a long list of hard to find ingredients is to reach for Thai red curry paste. It already has lemon grass, galangal (like ginger), chili, and Thai spices built right. This eliminates the need to add all of these ingredients to the marinade but ensures you still get all their flavor. One important note about curry paste. It can really vary in terms of flavor and strength. Start with the amount recommended in the recipe but adjust to suit your tastes. You may need to add more, especially if you like things spicy.

To cook these, I recommend heading out to the grill or grabbing a grill pan. They are traditionally prepared this way and grilling adds a nice smokiness to the skewers. However you can also cook these Thai chicken skewers in the oven. Broiling them works best since it still adds some nice caramelization and browning.  They will take between 3-4 minutes per side, about the same as grilling. I like to cover the baking sheet in foil to make for easier clean up.

Can I make these Thai Chicken Skewers with coconut milk?

If you want to add some coconut flavor to your chicken skewers, you can take two simple steps. First, use coconut milk instead of the greek yogurt for the marinade. You could also use a coconut yogurt. Secondly, use coconut milk in place of the chicken broth in the peanut sauce. You can also sprinkle some shredded coconut on top before serving.

How do I make Paleo Thai Chicken Skewers?

To make this chicken skewers work for a Paleo diet, you will want to make a few substitutions.  The first is to swap in full fat canned coconut milk for the yogurt. Next you want to use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce. This also works for a gluten free option. You will also need to find a paleo friendly curry paste. Luckily most store bought curry pastes are naturally paleo friendly. Just make sure to check the label and make sure it doesn’t contain soy. Lastly, you will want swap in a different nut butter. You could use almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower butter.

Tips for Making Healthy Thai Peanut Chicken Skewers

• Using yogurt as a marinade is a great way to ensure that your chicken breasts stay moist and juicy. However if you are worried about dry chicken or prefer chicken thighs, they work great for this recipe as well. 
• The peanut sauce turns out delicious using all kinds of diffferent nut butters. I make it with almond butter and cashew butter as well.
• These skewers are great for meal prep. I use leftovers for salads, lettuce wraps, and rice bowls for lunches during the week.
• If you like things spicy, consider adding some Sriracha or sambal olek to the peanut sauce or marinade. 

Looking for side dish ideas?

I love serving these skewers with coconut cauliflower rice, this Thai mango slaw, or with some steamed rice and stir fried veggies. They also make for some really delicious lettuce wraps. Usually I set out cooked rice noodles, shredded carrots, edamame, chopped mango, cilantro, cucumber, and red onions. Then everyone can build their own lettuce wraps. It is one of our favorite summer meals. It is light, refreshing, and always a hit for parties.

Here are some tools and products I used when cooking this recipe:

• If you don’t have a gas or charcoal grill at home, a grill pan is a great option for grilling indoors. I used one for years when I lived in an apartment that didn’t allow grills. The two that I use most often are this nonstick version and this cast iron version. The nonstick is great for easy clean-up but the cast iron will give you deeper grill marks and more smoky flavor.