This is our go-to Peanut Sauce recipe, perfect for any Thai-inspired dishes. It takes spring rolls, noodle dishes, and lettuce wraps to the next level. You have to try this quick and easy sauce.
Why This Recipe is the Best
This homemade peanut sauce brings bold, authentic Thai-inspired flavor right to your kitchen with just a few pantry staples. It’s creamy, savory, and just the right amount of sweet with a hint of spice.
Whether you're drizzling it over a fresh salad, dipping spring rolls, or tossing it with noodles or tofu, this versatile sauce instantly elevates any dish. Bonus: it’s naturally vegan and keeps well in the fridge for days!
I've used this with our Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps, and I've even used it to add more flavor to our Shrimp Pad Thai. My family's all-time favorite way to use Peanut Sauce is tossing it with rice noodles and fresh vegetables.
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Key Ingredients
Good news, this recipe is so easy to make and uses simple ingredients. It makes it easy to throw together quickly for any occasion.
- Peanut butter- We suggest using natural peanut butter, but if you use traditional peanut butter, make sure to cut back on the maple syrup and add more water to help the texture.
- Sodium soy sauce- Low-sodium soy sauce was used for the recipe because natural peanut butter tends to be saltier than traditional peanut butter. You can also use coconut aminos or tamari.
- Rice vinegar- To help capture that Asian inspired taste, use rice vinegar.
- Pure maple syrup- A delicious way to sweeten the sauce, you can also use brown sugar or honey.
- Lime juice- To add a tangy yet subtle taste.
- Ginger- Ginger paste and minced ginger are the best to use for a stronger flavor. You can also use ground ginger.
- Garlic- Minced garlic gives the strongest and best taste; garlic powder can be used in a pinch.
- Red pepper flakes- For an added kick, use crushed red pepper flakes. This is optional, but we feel like it enhances the flavor.
- Water- Depending if you are using this sauce as a dip, dressing, or marinade, you may need to add water to thin the texture.
How to make Peanut Sauce Recipe
This recipe comes together quickly and easily. Use the step by step photos for additional instructions.
- Combine all of the ingredients in a small mixing bowl and mix until a smooth mixture is formed. It should turn into a uniform color.
- Sprinkle in crushed red pepper for added flavor and a slight kick. Add more if you like it extra spicy.
Hint: You can make this right before serving; it doesn't need to sit or set.
Top tip
The crushed red peppers add a slight spice but mostly flavor; it's not spicy. If you want it spicier, add a ¼ teaspoon of crushed red peppers at a time. A full teaspoon is delicious and is about a medium spice level.
Recipe
Peanut Sauce Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup natural peanut butter see notes below
- 2 Tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 ½ Tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 ½ Tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 Tablespoons lime juice
- 2 teaspoons minced ginger or ginger paste
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ¼-1 teaspoon red pepper flakes see notes below
- 3-6 Tablespoons water til desired thinness is achieved
Instructions
- Combine peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup, lime juice, ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes. Whisk together. Add water a Tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is achieved.
Notes
- If you don't have natural peanut butter, omit the maple syrup and plan on adding a little more water to thin it out.
- Not all peanut butter has the same amount of salt in it- you may need to add a pinch of salt at the end.
- Feel free to use coconut aminos or tamari instead of soy sauce. You may need to add a pinch of salt at the end!
- You can use brown sugar or honey instead of maple syrup in this recipe.
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes adds the slightest hint of flavor and spice, but is not spicy. We liked it with a full teaspoon of red pepper flakes and felt like it was about medium spicy.
Nutrition
Related
Looking for other homemade sauce recipes like this? Try these:
Substitutions
- Spicy- Add an extra teaspoon of chili pepper flakes to give this more than a medium spice level.
- With coconut milk- Just add 3 Tablespoons of coconut milk and 0-3 Tablespoons of water to thin as needed instead of the 3-6 tablespoons of water.
What goes with Peanut Sauce
We love this easy dipping sauce. This has quickly become our go-to sauce for shrimp and chicken meals. We love adding it to chicken satay for the perfect dipping sauce.
Try this sauce with vegetables, beef, grilled or crispy chicken, fresh salads and slaws, and crunchy salads. Add extra flavor to curry dishes! Our favorite pairing is with rice or soba noodles with vegetables and shrimp.
Storage
Store extra peanut dipping sauce in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. When ready to serve mix the ingredients again in case things have settled. Store for 1 week in the refrigerator.
Andrea says
My family asks me to make this peanut sauce all the time now! I tossed it with vegetables, shrimp, and rice noodles for an easy and fresh dinner.