39 Surprisingly Savory Uses for Peanut Butter

Thai Chicken Pasta

I try to buy fresh chicken when it’s on sale. I cook a big batch in the slow cooker, then cut it up and package it in small amounts suitable for recipes like this. When I want it, I just need to pull it out of the freezer and let it thaw. —Jeni Pittard, Canon, Georgia

Peanut Turkey Satay

I found this recipe years ago and immediately served it to dinner guests. It’s easy and fun and takes only minutes to cook, but it makes a fancy entree for special occasions. The peanut butter and soy sauce lend a nice Asian flavor. —Lisa Mahon Fluegeman, Cincinnati, Ohio

Thai-Style Green Beans

Thai for two, anyone? Peanut butter, soy sauce and hoisin sauce flavor this quick, fabulous bean dish.—Candy McMenamin, Lexington, South Carolina

Spicy Peanut Butter and Pork Sandwich

A little spicy, a little sweet, with just a hint of curry, this flavor combo is something you just have to try. —James Schend, Dairy Freed

West African Chicken Stew

I really love African flavors, but you don't really encounter them much in the U.S. Here the combination of native African ingredients, all of which can be found in the States, transports you to a new culinary place. —Michael Cohen, Los Angeles, California

Contest-Winning Thai Peanut Chicken

Here’s a colorful and comforting Thai peanut chicken stir-fry with just a touch of heat from crushed red pepper. If you want even more color, add frozen stir-fry veggies. —Lisa Erickson, Ripon, Wisconsin

Slow-Cooker Thai Butternut Squash Peanut Soup

This seemingly exotic dish is simple, vegan, healthy and hearty. The peanut butter blends beautifully with the sweetness of the squash and Thai seasonings. You can also serve this soup without pureeing it first. —Kayla Capper, Ojai, California

Thai-Style Pork

A creamy Thai peanut sauce coats tender pork in this delectable dish. The recipe is from a friend in my cooking club, and it’s always a favorite. —Amy Van Orman, Rockford, Michigan

Thai Chicken Thighs

These very tender and moist chicken thighs come with a tangy peanut butter sauce that is irresistible. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Chicken Satay Noodles

This recipe is so quick and easy. It was given to me by a friend and it tastes just like chicken satay! —Salina Moore, Woodward, Oklahoma

Shrimp Pad Thai Soup

Pad thai is one of my favorite dishes, but it is often loaded with extra calories. This soup is a healthier option that has all the flavor of traditional versions. —Julie Merriman, Seattle, Washington.

Thai Peanut Naan Pizzas

I'm a huge fan of Thai food, but don't always have the time to make it at home. To get my fix, I top fluffy naan bread with a ginger-peanut sauce, fresh veggies, a sprinkle of cilantro and a spicy squiggle of Sriracha. —Rachel Seis, Taste of Home Senior Editor

Southern Peanut Butter Mayo Sandwich

Yep, Southerners love the combo of peanut butter and mayo. The mayonnaise flavor disappears into the peanut butter, just making it creamier and more delicious. I add cheddar to mine because, hey, I'm from Wisconsin. —James Schend, Dairy Freed

Peanutty Chicken Wings

A pleasant, mild blend of peanut and curry flavors makes up the sauce for these wings. I doubled the recipe, and was I glad I did! The tasty wings were devoured. —Kristen Proulx, Canton, New York

Grilled Zucchini with Peanut Chicken

Zucchini slices make perfect finger food. It’s fun to make a topping for zucchini and a good solution for a never-ending crop. — Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grv, Utah

Smoky Peanut Butter Chili

I eliminated beans from my standard chili recipe and added peanut butter and peanuts just for fun. Wow, was it amazing! I tried it on my family and everyone loved it. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

Peanut Ginger Pasta

To get that luscious taste of Thai cuisine, combine ginger, basil, lime and peanut butter in a sauce for linguine. It's so good, we've never had leftovers. —Allil Binder, Spokane, Washington

Thai Chicken Wraps

Thanks to quick-cooking chicken, convenient broccoli slaw mix, and an easy peanut sauce, you can wrap up dinner in 25 minutes. —Trudy Williams, Shannonville, Ontario

Spicy Peanut Soup

After enjoying a spicy peanut soup at a little cafe, I knew I had to try to duplicate it at home. I think my version comes pretty close. It's the best way I know to chase away winter's chill. —Lisa Meredith, Eagan, Minnesota

Slow-Cooker Malaysian Chicken

Malaysian food has influences from the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Thai, British and Portuguese. In this dish, Asian ingredients combine for maximum flavor and sweet potatoes thicken the sauce as the meal slowly cooks. —Suzanne Banfield, Basking Ridge, New Jersey

Peanut Butter Pork Curry

For an anniversary with my boyfriend, I cooked pork Asian style with peanut, coconut and curry flavors. Bonus: The butcher cubed the pork for me to save time. —Angela Robinson, Findlay, Ohio

Shiitake-Chicken Sliders

My husband and I love Asian cuisine. One of our favorite things to order at a Thai restaurant is chicken satay skewers with spicy peanut sauce. These chicken sliders are a fun variation on the skewers. They're moist and flavorful with the addition of shiitake mushrooms, and topped with the spicy-sweet peanut sauce and tangy cucumber slices. —Julie Hession, Las Vegas, Nevada

Spicy Peanut Chicken Chili

While spending time in the Southwest, I discovered Mexican peanut chicken and thought it would be fun to make it into a chili. Chipotle peppers give it a nice spice that's extra warming on a cold day. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, CO

Sweet and Spicy Peanut Chicken

Chicken thighs and a slow cooker— that's a marriage made in culinary heaven! Juicy and flavorful, this simple dish will make you swoon when you return home and find it ready. The filling is also excellent in lettuce wraps. —Janice Elder, Charlotte, North Carolina

Spicy Peanut Chicken & Noodles

This simple spicy peanut noodles recipe tastes like it took hours to make. Everybody says it has the perfect levels of heat and spice. —Sharon Collison, Newark, Delaware

Pork Satay

Cilantro layers on the freshness, while the sesame oil and Thai chili sauce add Asian flavors that pair perfectly with peanut butter. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Thai-Inspired Roast Beef Sandwich

I love Thai food, but I wanted to see how its flavors would translate in a plain ol' peanut butter sandwich. The result is anything but plain—it's just darn delicious. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor

Satay-Style Pork Stew

Thai cuisine features flavors that are hot and sour, salty and sweet. This one-dish pork satay balances all of them using ginger and red pepper flakes, rice vinegar, garlic, lime juice and creamy peanut butter. —Nicole Werner, Ann Arbor, Michigan

PB&J Pork Sandwiches

I came up with this recipe for one of my daughters who loves peanut butter and pork! The result has become a favorite—kids and grown-ups alike often request it for dinner. —Jill Cox, Lincoln, Nebraska

Squash and Lentil Lamb Stew

My family lived in New Zealand many years ago. Every Sunday my mother made a lamb stew—it was Dad's favorite! I changed the recipe to suit my family's more modern palates, but it still seems just as exotic and delicious. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

Vegetable Pad Thai

Classic flavors of Thailand abound in this fragrant and flavorful dish featuring peanuts, tofu and noodles. New to tofu? It gives the entree its satisfying protein, for a delicious way to introduce it to your diet. —Sara Landry, Brookline, Massachusetts

Spicy Peanut Chicken Kabobs

A little sweet, a little sour, and a whole lot of flavor! These kabobs make a wonderful accompaniment to any party or get-together. —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey

African Peanut Sweet Potato Stew

Back when I was in college, my mom made an addicting sweet potato and peanut stew. I shared it with friends, and now all of us serve it to our own kids. They all love it, of course. —Alexis Scatchell, Niles, Illinois

Sweet Potatoes with Cilantro Black Beans

As a vegan, I'm always looking for impressive dishes to share. Sweet potatoes loaded with beans and a touch of peanut butter are one of my mom’s favorites. —Kayla Capper, Ojai, California

Thai-Style Cobb Salad

This veggie salad is like a mix of Cobb salad and my favorite summer rolls. If you have leftover chicken, toss it in. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

Thai-Style Brisket

Here's an unusual take on brisket that will have you hooked. Peanut butter, soy, crisp-tender veggies and zesty seasonings give it the authentic Thai flavor we crave. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan

Thai Veggie Dip

This delicious dip is full of flavor, color and crunch, but not full of calories. There's mild sweetness from the honey with a bit of heat at the end from the pepper flakes. If spicy food is your thing, feel free to add an extra dash of pepper. —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota