5 Ingredient Peanut Sauce Recipe

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My go-to 5-ingredient peanut sauce adds so much flavor to any recipe inspired by thai cuisine.  It pairs perfectly with vietnamese spring rolls, rice noodle bowls, as salad dressing, and more! Made with 5 simple ingredients you could find at the grocery store, this flavorful sauce is one to keep around to add excitement to your next meal!

5 ingredient peanut sauce recipe

The amount of recipes here on Fit Mama Real Food shows my love for peanut sauce.

With so many recipes featuring it, it’s kind of funny that my basic, go-to peanut sauce recipe isn’t here. You could find it within other recipes, but it really deserves the spotlight.

Today is the day!  This super simple sauce is here for you.

​You can prep it in advance to have on hand to add to bowls, dip chicken in, or thin it out slightly for a delicious salad dressing.

How to adjust to your desired consistency

Depending on the type of peanut butter you use, the consistency will vary.

I find a natural peanut butter that has just peanuts and salt (or no salt) works best.  With natural peanut butter, sometimes they can be more dry if not mixed well.

If you find your sauce is too thick, add a little water.  Start with 1-2 tablespoons, mix it fully, and then add more if needed.

If you’re going for a sauce that’s more dressing-like, add a full ¼ cup of water and mix it in well.

After the sauce has been in the fridge, it can thicken up more.  Again, water is your friend to thin it out and not change the flavor!

Simple ingredients for the best peanut butter sauce

Scroll down to view the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions.

• creamy peanut butter
• rice vinegar
• coconut aminos
• maple syrup
• sriracha sauce

How to make this easy peanut sauce recipe

1. To a bowl or jar, add the peanut butter, vinegar, coconut aminos, maple syrup, and sriracha sauce.  Using a spoon or whisk, mix the ingredients together until you are left with a smooth and creamy peanut sauce.
2. Store in an airtight container in the fridge if not using right away for up to 1 week.

Watch me make this delicious peanut dipping sauce

The full how to video can be watched below, or on my YouTube channel!

How to store

When you make this recipe, use it at room temperature.

If you prep it in advance or have leftovers, add it to a mason jar or airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 1 week.

When it’s time to serve from the fridge, add a little warm water, whisk it, or shake the airtight jar to combine.

It will thicken slightly when chilled, so if you’re looking for a more smooth and pourable sauce be sure to thin it out a little.

Can you freeze it?

Yes, peanut sauce can be frozen!  Freezing is a great idea if you love to prep a big batch and then have it stored and ready to get out when you need it.

Start by making a single batch, double it, or triple it.  You can make as much or as little as you would like.

Consider how much peanut sauce you want to take out of the freezer at a time.  You can freeze it in individual portions by adding it to a silicone ice cube tray.

Once the cubes are fully frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag, label and date it, and then keep them frozen for up to 6 months.

You can also freeze the entire batch in either a mason jar (leave the lid off until frozen) or a freezer bag.

To defrost peanut sauce, remove the desired amount and place it in a bowl on the counter.  Depending on the quantity, it will take a couple of hours to defrost.

When it is at room temperature and no longer frozen, give it a good stir and add a little water to thin it out if needed.

What’s in this noodle bowl?

You can use your peanut sauce in SO many ways.  I’m sharing all my favorite recipes that use peanut sauce below if you’re looking for inspiration.

But if you’d like to make this tasty bowl pictured above, here’s what is in it!

• ​Brown rice and millet ramen noodles
• Cooked and diced chicken breast
• Edamame (from frozen defrosted in warm water)
• Chopped fresh spinach
• Drizzle the peanut sauce on and enjoy!

What to serve this delicious peanut sauce with

Peanut sauce goes perfectly with all of these recipes!

• Beef pad Thai recipe
• Thai peanut chicken wraps
• Thai peanut chicken pasta
• Healthy teriyaki chicken on a stick recipe
• Salad roll shrimp bowls
• Spring roll salad with shrimp
• Peanut cucumber shrimp salad
• Asian chicken chop salad

What I’d add to this 5 ingredient peanut sauce

If I were adding more ingredients to this delicious recipe, it would be this: ginger and garlic. While they are not needed, if you have them, add them to the mix!

If you have fresh ginger and garlic on hand, add 2 teaspoons of grated ginger and 1 fresh garlic clove minced.

If you only have dried options, add 1 teaspoon of dried ginger and 1 tsp of garlic powder.

How to add more spice to your satay sauce

With just a little bit of sriracha sauce added in, the spice level is low with little heat.  The amount of sriracha can easily increase for your personal preference.

For more heat, add a little cayenne pepper, chili sauce, or red pepper flakes.  Start by adding a small amount, taste, and add more if you’d like!

Substitutions

Below you’ll find a list of substitutions that will work well in this creamy peanut sauce recipe. 

If you try something different out, please leave a comment below letting us all know how it turned out!

Peanut butter – You can swap the creamy natural peanut butter with crunchy peanut butter. For anyone with a peanut allergy, try almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter.

Rice vinegar – Apple cider vinegar, lime juice, or lemon juice will work as substitutes.

Coconut aminos – Coconut aminos offers that umami flavor and a little sweetness.  To replace it, try low-sodium soy sauce.

Maple syrup – Honey and agave nectar are both good liquid sweetener alternatives.  Brown sugar or coconut sugar will work in a pinch too.  Since they are not liquid sweeteners, add 1-2 tablespoons of water with those granulated sweetener options.

Sriracha – Swap our sriracha for cayenne pepper, chili sauce, or red pepper flakes.

More sauce recipes you’ll love

• Roasted red pepper pesto
• Cilantro lime sauce recipe
• Ranch kefir salad dressing
• Healthy special sauce recipe

If you try this favorite peanut sauce recipe, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!

XO

Heather