Grilled bone-in chicken marinated in a rich almond butter and coconut milk sauce with sesame oil, coconut aminos, and lime. Peanut-free, Whole30 compliant, and packed with all the bold, savory flavor of classic Thai satay!
½teaspooncayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes
1tbspfresh chopped cilantro(for garnish, if desired)
1tbspchopped almonds(for garnish, if desired)
Instructions
Make the Marinade and Marinate the Chicken
In a medium bowl, combine ½ cup creamy almond butter, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, 1 cup full-fat coconut milk (stirred well), 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, ¼ cup coconut aminos, 1½ teaspoons ground ginger, 3 garlic cloves (minced), and ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes. Whisk until smooth and fully combined.
Measure out 1 cup of the marinade and transfer it to an airtight container. Refrigerate until ready to serve — this is your dipping sauce.
Place 3½ pounds bone-in chicken pieces in a large baking dish or zip-top bag. Pour the remaining marinade over the chicken, turning to coat all sides evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight, turning at least once.
Grill the Chicken
Lightly oil the grill grates and preheat the grill to medium-high heat, about 400–450°F.
Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard any marinade that touched the raw chicken. Place chicken pieces skin-side down on the grill. Cook for 5–7 minutes, or until the skin is browned and releases cleanly from the grates, then flip.
Continue grilling based on the cut: boneless, skinless chicken breasts need another 2–5 minutes until an instant-read thermometer reads 165°F at the thickest part. Legs need another 5–7 minutes until they reach 165°F. Thighs need another 10–12 minutes, flipping as needed, until they reach 175–180°F for the best texture.
Remove chicken from the grill and let rest 5 minutes before serving. Serve with the reserved dipping sauce and garnish with 1 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro and 1 tablespoon chopped almonds, if desired.
Recipe Notes
Coconut Milk: Use full-fat canned coconut milk only, stirred well before measuring. Light coconut milk is too thin and will result in a watery sauce that won't cling to the chicken properly.Almond Butter: Use a plain, unsweetened creamy almond butter with no added sugar or oils. Many store-bought brands contain additives that aren't Whole30 compliant — check the label.Coconut Aminos: This is your soy sauce substitute, and it's essential for that savory, umami backbone. Tamari or soy sauce are not Whole30 compliant; coconut aminos are the right call here.Storage: Leftover chicken keeps in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven covered with foil for about 15 minutes, or microwave individual pieces with a splash of water or leftover sauce to keep things moist. The dipping sauce keeps separately in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.Make it Nut-Free: Swap almond butter for sunflower seed butter (unsweetened, no added oils) to make this recipe safe for tree nut allergies as well. Keep all other ingredients the same.