The Best Peanut Sauce Recipe

Make sweet and spicy Thai peanut sauce in only five minutes. Then drizzle this savory, creamy dipping sauce over noodles, salads, grilled meats, and more!

Why you'll love this recipe

The best peanut sauce ingredients might already be in your pantry. If not, they're at most grocery stores. Once you have them, you can make Thai peanut sauce anytime your heart desires – and you will.

Thai peanut sauce is delicious on everything Asian – such as noodles, salads, sandwiches, grilled meats, vegetables, stir fry, and dumplings. It adds sweet and mildly spicy flavors in the form of a creamy, savory sauce.

I love that this condiment is naturally vegan. I'm not diet-restricted, but I'm always up for a plant-based sauce that tastes so rich, it fools people, even me!

Let's also get excited over the fact that you can make peanut sauce at the very last minute – or make it ahead. You can even freeze it!

It's hard to believe a few pantry staples can be whisked together to make one of the best sauces in your collection. This peanut butter sauce is sure to become a favorite if it isn't already!

Ingredient notes

• peanut butter - I recommend unsweetened, smooth peanut peanut butter for this dipping sauce recipe since you'll be adding sweet ingredients to it.
• soy sauce - I personally use low-sodium soy sauce. You can also use gluten-free tamari, liquid aminos, or coconut aminos as gluten-free substitute.
• unseasoned rice vinegar - You can substitute this with lime juice in equal amounts, if preferred.
• maple syrup - This can be substituted with another sweetener such as brown sugar, agave nectar, or your sweetener of choice.
• fresh ginger - This lends to a distinctively Asian-inspired peanut sauce.
• garlic clove - Fresh garlic adds that uniquie spice we love!
• sriracha - Spicy and sweet just go together and this sauce adds the right spice! Chili garlic paste can be added for extra flavor or substituted in equal amounts.
• water - Use plain water to thin the peanut sauce to the exact consistency you want.

As you can see, there are many substitution options. So, even if you're missing an ingredient, as long as it's not peanut butter, you can still make this recipe.

What can I use peanut sauce with?

Thai peanut sauce is the ranch sauce of Asian food. I can't think of any other condiment that goes with so many things in this category of cuisine. Here are my favorite ways to to use peanut sauce:

• dressing for Asian salad or buddha bowls
• dipping sauce for spring rolls, summer rolls, dumplings or gyoza
• sauce for Thai Peanut zoodles
• dressing for Asian slaw
• sauce for Vietnamese sandwich or lettuce wrap
• stir fry sauce
• drizzled over kale noodles
• dip for air fryer Brussels sprouts
• chicken satay dipping sauce
• vegetable platter dip

How to make peanut sauce

You'll love that you don't need specialized tools to make this recipe. This microplane is rather nice for finely grating ginger and garlic. But otherwise, a fork and bowl are really all you need!

To make peanut sauce, place peanut butter, soy sauce, grated ginger, grated garlic rice vinegar, maple syrup, and sriracha in a small mixing bowl.

Use a fork to whisk ingredients together until well-combined. Add small amounts of water and continue whisking until you reach the desired consistency.

Options for more Thai flavor

My recipe for Thai peanut sauce is a family-friendly, mild flavor (as per usual for my recipes). If you like bolder and more distinct Thai flavors, substitute coconut milk for water in this recipe. Then experiment with any of the following ingredients in small amounts.

• lime juice
• chili garlic sauce
• fish sauce
• lemongrass paste
• tamarind paste
• galangal
• Thai red curry paste
• sesame oil

It's fun to explore these flavors from your Asian pantry, but if you happen to overuse any one ingredient, it can overshadow the milder flavors. So, I recommend adding bold ingredients in very small amounts to prevent this.

How to thicken peanut sauce

If you accidentally add too much water to your peanut sauce, simply whisk in small amounts of peanut butter to adjust the consistency, You may also need to add other ingredients to maintain the flavor balance. Peanut butter powder also works in place of peanut butter to make this adjustment. It acts like flour without the extra oil, which is convenient.

Serve warm or cold?

It's up to you! Under refrigeration, peanut sauce can become firm and, at room temperature, it softens again. When serving cold, you may need to adjust the consistency by adding water. To serve warm, simply heat the sauce using the stove or microwave on medium heat, adding water in tiny amounts and stirring as needed.

Can I make ahead?

Yes! Peanut sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated for a few weeks. You can even freeze it up to 90 days (or longer if vacuum sealed). To thaw, let it rest overnight in the refrigerator.

Does peanut sauce have dairy?

No. This peanut sauce recipe is naturally vegan and dairy-free – and it's anything but dull. In fact, this plant-based condiment tastes so rich and creamy, you won't believe there's no dairy!

Grab these easy Asian recipes

• Pickled Carrots and Daikon
• Thai Coconut Soup
• Thai Pumpkin Curry
• Vegan Thai Coconut Vegetable Curry
• Thai Cucumber Salad
• Banh Mi Buddha Bowl