Skip to Content

Grilled Thai Chicken Sandwich (with Peanut Sauce)

Thai Chicken Sandwich recipe with Peanut Sauce is a grilled chicken sandwich with an Asian flair that is easy to make at home. When the day calls for a fresh and delicious sandwich you’re going to love this sweet and spicy Thai Chicken recipe.

If you love Thai flavors, this sandwich is for you. Just like my Thai Pumpkin Soup, It’s smooth, spicy, and delicious!

Table view angle of Thai Chicken Sandwich layered with bacon and peanut sauce.


If you’ve been visiting the blog for a while, then you know my mother didn’t love cooking the way I do. Sandwiches in my house were something between two pieces of store-bought white bread.

Fancy meant that it also had mayonnaise or cheese on it. It took me a long time to redefine what a good sandwich is. This Thai Peanut Chicken Sandwich is definitely a good sandwich.

Why You’ll Love This Thai Peanut Chicken Sandwich

A few weeks ago John and I went on a bike ride and ended up at one of our favorite places to eat. I was looking at the menu, and while I didn’t order it, there was this sandwich that looked interesting to me.

At home, I took this sandwich idea and started deconstructing it and putting my own spin on it. The result is this easy and delicious Thai Peanut Sandwich!

Tastes better than take-out. Nothing beats a simple, gorgeous homemade hot sandwich you can make with ingredients you already have.

It’s better for you. Use low-sodium soy sauce and a low-carb roll and you’ve already made the sandwich a better choice for your body. You also know exactly what you are putting into your food because you make it yourself.

Ingredients for Your Thai Chicken Recipe

Thai chicken recipe ingredients
  • Chicken Breasts. Skinless and boneless is the easiest to work with for sandwiches.
  • Bacon. This special ingredient can be used to take almost any sandwich over the top and it definitely adds flavor and depth to this one.
  • Fresh Bean Sprouts. Alfalfa sprouts are the most common to find in the grocery store and will work fine.
  • Brioche Buns. A tasty, spongy bun that adds so much to a sandwich! Good buns are essential when you want your sandwich to be better than takeout.
  • Marinade. This plumps up the chicken and keeps it moist as it cooks. See the ingredients for the marinade below.
  • Peanut Sauce. Our homemade recipe is included on the recipe card below!

Thai Marinade Ingredients

  • Peanut Oil. This is one of the most flavorful oils available and very traditional for Thai cooking.
  • Soy Sauce. I use low sodium.
  • Ginger. Freshly grated ginger is amazing, but you can also use refrigerated minced ginger or ginger paste.
  • Crushed Red Pepper. For heat, so you may want to leave this ingredient out depending on your tolerance levels.

Ingredients for the Peanut Sauce

  • Coconut Milk. The lite version is fine for this recipe.
  • Red Curry Paste. Adjust and use more or less according to your heat tolerance.
  • Peanut Butter. I used natural peanut butter.
  • Soy Sauce. Low sodium.
  • Honey. For sweetness and flavor.
  • Rice Wine Vinegar. A little acid to balance out the sauce.
  • Water. To thin it out a little.
  • Peanut Oil. For fat that matches the flavor profile, and to help thin out the sauce and give it a nice texture.

Please note, that the printable recipe card has ingredient quantities, complete instructions, and nutritional information. The following is a quick overview of the recipe.

How to Make a Thai Chicken Sandwich Recipe

To assure that the chicken breasts were plump and moist, I infused them with a delicious ginger marinade before they hit the grill. The chicken is then topped with bacon, peanut sauce, and a sprinkling of bean sprouts, all on a homemade buttery brioche bun. This sandwich is sweet, savory, spicy, creamy, and crunchy. It is definitely not your average sandwich and deserves the distinction of being a main dish meal.

Chicken breasts marinating in a bowl

Step One. Combine the Thai Chicken marinade ingredients in a zipper bag or bowl and marinate the chicken for at least thirty minutes and up to twenty-four hours. Marinate overnight for best results.

Step Two. Grill the chicken.

Step Three. Cook the bacon using your method of choice. Pat it dry with a paper towel to remove grease and set it aside.

Peanut Sauce

Step 1. Combine the peanut sauce ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and whisk continuously until thickened.

You can precook the peanut sauce and then refrigerate it until you are ready to assemble the sandwich or just let it sit while you cook the chicken. This can also be done the day before if you like.

Assembling your Thai Peanut Chicken Sandwich

Layer your bun with chicken, bacon, a drizzle of peanut sauce, and a sprinkling of bean sprouts.

Serve with additional peanut sauce.

Top down view of a chicken sandwich with bacon and peanut sauce.

What to Pair with your Peanut Butter Chicken Sandwich

Thai Chicken Sandwich Recipe Substitutions & Additions

  • Serve over rice instead of a bun.
  • Top with shredded cabbage or bean sprouts

How To Reheat & Store Thai Peanut Chicken

Best Way To Store Thai Chicken

Keep the grilled Thai chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can also make ahead and refrigerate the peanut sauce.

How Long Will a Thai Chicken Sandwich Last In the Fridge?

You can keep the marinated raw chicken in your refrigerator for one to two days depending on the sell-by date. You can keep the grilled chicken in your refrigerator for up to three days after it is cooked. If you have extra sandwiches assembled, they might become soggy but will keep for two to three days otherwise.

Can I Freeze/Thaw Thai Peanut Chicken Sandwich

You can freeze the marinated raw chicken in the bag you marinated it in and pull it out later for grilling. You can also freeze the cooked peanut chicken for a few months in an airtight container and thaw it to use on sandwiches as you wish. The peanut sauce can be refrigerated for a couple of weeks and can be frozen but is best made fresh.

How To Reheat Peanut Butter Chicken Sandwich

Place the chicken in a skillet to reheat, or put it in the microwave. Proceed with caution in the microwave because chicken can switch from heated through to rubbery within seconds. Try twenty to thirty seconds at a time until you reach a safe temperature of 160ºF.

Thai Peanut Chicken Sandwich FAQ

What is the best bread for a Thai Chicken Sandwich?

We love building the sandwich on our homemade Brioche Bun. However, you can use any bread or bun suitable for a sandwich.

Can I make this Thai Peanut Sandwich gluten-free?

Yes. Simply use your favorite gluten-free bun or a leaf of lettuce.

Tips to Make the Perfect Thai Chicken Sandwich

  • Cut or pound the chicken breast to the same thickness for even cooking.
  • Grill the chicken breast for seven minutes per side and then continue flipping every minute or so until it reaches the desired temperature of 160ºF.

Other Thai Recipes You’ll Love

Don’t Forget To Come Back And Let Me Know How Your Thai Chicken Recipe Turned Out!

Table view of grilled chicken topped with bacon and peanut sauce.

Thai Chicken Sandwich with Peanut Sauce

Author: Hostess At Heart
This Thai Peanut Chicken sandwich is sweet, savory, creamy and crunchy. It is definitely not your average sandwich and deserves the distinction of being a main dish meal.
4.84 from 6 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Chicken, Main Dish, Sandwich
Cuisine American, Asian
Keyword: Thai Peanut, Thai Peanut Chicken
Servings: 6

Ingredients
  

  • 6 chicken breasts – skinless and boneless
  • 1/2 lb bacon -12 slices, cooked
  • Fresh bean sprouts
  • 6 buns – Brioche or other soft sandwich buns

Marinade

  • 1/2 cup peanut oil
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce – I use low sodium
  • 1 tsp ginger – grated
  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper

Peanut sauce

  • 1 can coconut milk – 13.5 oz can, lite is fine
  • 4 tbsp red curry paste – more or less according your heat tolerance
  • 1 cup peanut butter – I used natural
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 tsp peanut oil

Instructions
 

Marinade

  • Combine marinade ingredients in a container or ziplock bag large enough to hold chicken breasts. Add chicken and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to a day.
  • Grill chicken until it measures 160 degrees F.
  • Fry or bake bacon. Drain and set aside.
  • Combine all of the peanut sauce ingredients in a saucepan. Heat over a medium heat until simmering. Continue cooking 2 to 3 minutes, whisking continuously. Set aside or refrigerate and allow to cool.

Assembly

  • On a fresh bun, top chicken with bacon. Drizzle peanut sauce over bacon and sprinkle with bean sprouts.
  • Serve with additional peanut sauce.

Notes

Peanut sauce adapted from https://www.melskitchencafe.com/easy-5-minute-thai-peanut-sauce/.

Nutrition

Serving: 6gCalories: 1197kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 72gFat: 77gSaturated Fat: 26gCholesterol: 170mgSodium: 2061mgPotassium: 1384mgFiber: 4gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 1756IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 15mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
Side view of grilled Thai Chicken Sandwich with a Peanut Sauce drizzle.

This Thai Chicken Sandwich recipe was originally posted on May 9, 2016, so it was time for an update. Detailed instructions and additional content has been added to make this delicious Thai Chicken Sandwich easier to make. No changes have been made to the recipe

close up of a Thai peanut chicken sandwich cut in half
Recipe Rating




Fastfoodbing

Wednesday 13th of September 2023

What a fantastic collection… now I’m hungry.

Julie Menghini

Wednesday 13th of September 2023

Thank you!

Asian Style Cucumber Salad - Lisa's Dinnertime Dish

Monday 14th of August 2023

[…] Grilled Thai Chicken Sandwich with Peanut Sauce […]

Kathleen

Wednesday 20th of July 2022

From the marinade to the peanut sauce -- AMAZING! Such a fun and different dinner, my family loved it!

Naina

Friday 24th of June 2016

I love Thai food, so I know I will looooove this sandwich!! Looks and sounds fantastic Julie!!

Julie Menghini

Saturday 25th of June 2016

Thank you Naina! I always love a good sammie!

jane @ littlesugarsnaps

Thursday 23rd of June 2016

Love your post Julie - a little bit of nostalgia for your posh sarnies of childhood warmed my heart even if you were un-impressed :) I have a love thing going on for peanut butter at the moment. I really want to try this sandwich - I even have some posh peanut butter on the go at the moment. Next week I have a day where I literally have no time for a main meal due to running around after kids & school so i might get organised and get everything ready so I can compile this late night feast when my day is over.

Julie Menghini

Thursday 23rd of June 2016

Thank you so much Jane! This sammie was one we really enjoyed. I've never heard the phrase posh sarnies. It's a bacon sandwich right? I just learn so much at this job. Have a wonderful day my friend!

As Seen On