Skip to content

Top Navigation

MyRecipes MyRecipes
  • Course
  • Baking
  • Global
  • Healthy
  • Favorite Ingredients
  • Holidays and Occasions
  • Quick and Easy
  • Convenience Recipes
  • BBQ and Grilling
  • How To
  • Extra Crispy
  • Well Done
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Register
  • Recipe Box this link opens in a new tab
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Pin FB

Explore MyRecipes

MyRecipes MyRecipes
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 1 55+ Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights

      Everybody understands the stuggle of getting dinner on the table after a long day. If you're looking for a simple recipe to simplify your weeknight, you've come to the right place--easy dinners are our specialty. For an easy supper that you can depend on, we picked out some of our tried-and-true favorites that have gotten us through even the busiest of days. Whether you're cooking for yourself or for a family, these easy dinners are sure to leave everyone satisfied and stress-free. Read More Next
    • 2 The Brilliant Secret to Making Better Mashed Potatoes

      Trust me, it’s so worth it. Read More Next
    • 3 65 Super Easy Finger Foods to Make for Any Party

      From chips and dip to one-bite apps, finger foods are the perfect way to kick off a party. No forks or spoons required, just easy-to-pick-up party foods, so you can clean up in no time.  Read More Next
  • Course

    Course

    See All Course
    • Best Appetizer Recipes...Ever
    • Best Drink Recipes for Any Occasion
    • Salad Recipes
    • The Ultimate Guide to Sensational Sides
    • Soup and Stew Recipes
    • Easy Entertaining for Everyone
    • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
    • Main Dishes and Entrées
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
  • Baking

    Baking

    See All Baking
    • Bread Recipes
    • Our Most-Loved Cake Recipes
    • Cookie Recipes
    • Pie Recipes
  • Global

    Global

    See All Global
    • Spanish Recipes
    • Thai Recipes
    • Vietnamese Recipes
    • Middle Eastern Recipes
    • Mexican Recipes
    • Malaysian Recipes
    • Korean Recipes
    • Japanese Recipes
    • Italian Recipes
    • Indian Recipes
    • Greek Recipes
    • French Recipes
    • Chinese Recipes
    • African Recipes
    • American Recipes
    • Cajun and Creole Recipes
    • Caribbean Recipes
    • South American Recipes
    • Southern Recipes
    • German Recipes
  • Healthy

    Healthy

    See All Healthy
    • Easy, Healthy Recipes
    • Healthy Breakfasts
    • Healthy Dinners
    • Healthy Desserts
    • Diabetic Recipes
    • Gluten-Free Diet and Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Low Carbohydrate Recipes
    • Low Cholesterol Recipes
    • Low Fat Recipes
    • Low Sodium Recipes
    • Low Calorie Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
  • Favorite Ingredients

    Favorite Ingredients

    See All Favorite Ingredients
    • The Ultimate Guide to Chicken
    • Vegetable Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Cheese Recipes
    • Chocolate Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Shrimp Recipes
  • Holidays and Occasions

    Holidays and Occasions

    See All Holidays and Occasions
    • A Foodie's Guide to Halloween Recipes
    • The Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide
    • Hanukkah Recipes
    • Your Ultimate Christmas Recipe Guide
    • Our Most Festive New Year's Recipes
    • Best-Ever Super Bowl Sunday Recipes
    • Best Valentine's Day Recipes
    • Mardi Gras Recipes
    • The Ultimate Guide to Easter Recipes
    • Labor Day Recipes
    • The Ultimate Fourth of July Guide
    • Memorial Day Recipes
    • Touchdown-Worthy Tailgate Recipes
    • Wedding and Shower Recipes
  • Quick and Easy

    Quick and Easy

    See All Quick and Easy
    • 15-Minute Recipes for Busy Home Cooks
    • 45-Minute Recipes
    • 5 Ingredients or Less
    • Dinner Tonight
    • No-Cook Recipes
  • Convenience Recipes

    Convenience Recipes

    See All Convenience Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Kid Approved
    • Our Top Make-Ahead Recipes
    • Our Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes
  • BBQ and Grilling

    BBQ and Grilling

    See All BBQ and Grilling
    • Grilled Beef Recipes
    • Grilled Chicken Recipes
    • Grilled Fish Recipes
    • Grilled Pork Recipes
    • Grilled Shrimp Recipes
    • Grilled Vegetable Recipes
  • How To

    How To

    See All How To
    • 7 Ways With...
    • Cooking Questions
    • Ingredients and Tools
    • Kitchen Cleaning
    • Videos
  • Extra Crispy
  • Well Done

    Well Done

    See All Well Done
    • Homemade vs. The Internet
    • How-to and Explainers
    • Mom vs.
    • Recipe Videos
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Register
  • Recipe Box this link opens in a new tab
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. Ingredients Chevron Right
  3. 100 Unexpected Ways to Enjoy Peanut Butter

100 Unexpected Ways to Enjoy Peanut Butter

Updated February 27, 2017
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Kira Corbin

The best peanut butter recipes aren't just peanut butter pies and peanut butter cookies (though those recipes are delicious). No, the best peanut butter recipes are the dishes that use peanut butter as a surprise ingredient, one that adds bold, deep flavor to savory dishes and, yes, desserts that you might not expect.

Start Slideshow

1 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Georgia Peanut-Fried Chicken

Credit: Oxmoor House

Georgia Peanut-Fried Chicken Recipe

J.C. and Jo Bell revolutionized peanut butter a few years back when they were charged with creating something amazing from America's massive peanut surplus. PB2, a powdered peanut butter, is a culinary dream ingredient. Cut 5 0/50 with Wondra flour, it makes for an unparalleled dredge for chicken. This dish retains the gentle sweetness of peanut, and has most of the crunch of true-to-form fried chicken.

1 of 99

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Nutty Fried Rice

Credit: Romulo Yanes; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen

Nutty Fried Rice Recipe

We incorporate lots of nutty flavor into traditional fried rice using sesame oil, cashews, peanut butter, and sesame seeds.

2 of 99

3 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Indonesian Shrimp Sate with Creamy Peanut Sauce

Indonesian Shrimp Sate with Creamy Peanut Sauce Recipe

Make a shrimp version of this popular Indonsian grilled dish by marinating shrimp in soy sauce and ginger and serving with a traditional peanut sauce made with peanut butter, coconut milk, lime juice, and cilantro.

3 of 99

Advertisement

4 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

West African Peanut Chicken

Credit: Lee Harrelson

West African Peanut Chicken Recipe

A couple of years ago we attended an "Africa" night at a local university, where a variety of wonderful African foods were served for dinner. The thing I liked best was a delicious peanut chicken dish that sent me scampering for a recipe as soon as I got home.  My family loves this adaptation of the original, served over rice. The original recipe calls for homemade peanut butter. If you'd like to use fresh ground peanut butter, you can grind your own at the grocery store,  whirl some roasted peanuts in your food processor, or buy a jar of natural peanut butter.  

4 of 99

5 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Thai-Style Pork Stew

Credit: Oxmoor House

Thai-Style Pork Stew Recipe

Peanut butter melds with classic Asian flavors to lend this one-dish meal a Thai flair. Lime makes a perfect accent.

5 of 99

6 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Grilled Chicken with Sweet and Savory Peanut Sauce

Credit:  Daniel Agee

Grilled Chicken with Sweet and Savory Peanut Sauce Recipe

This twist on the traditional Asian chicken dish has a very unique flavor, largely due to the use of peanut butter cups as the central flavoring agent. That's right, we created a rich sauce using a blend of soy, rice wine vinegar, seasonings, and chocolate-peanut butter cups.

6 of 99

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Broccoli Chicken Salad

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Randy Mon

Broccoli Chicken Salad Recipe

Betsy Dasenko, a reader from Corvallis, Oregon, submitted this recipe, which makes a terrific packed lunch, side dish, or potluck contribution. We used Skippy brand peanut butter for a smooth, slightly sweet sauce. You can use natural peanut butter if you prefer, but you may want to add a pinch of sugar so the flavors are balanced.

7 of 99

8 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Sweet Potato Medallions with Almond Sauce and Chickpea Salad

Credit: Greg DuPree; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Sweet Potato Medallions with Almond Sauce and Chickpea Salad Recipe

It may seem too good to be true, but it's not: This impressive plate requires only 5 ingredients (water, oil, salt, and pepper are freebies). This recipe calls for almond butter, but you can use any nut butter you like--try peanut, cashew, or sunflower butter. And if canned chickpeas aren't in your pantry, try cannellini or navy beans.

8 of 99

9 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Chicken Skewers with Peanut Sauce

Credit: Andrew McCaul; Stylist: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Chicken Skewers with Peanut Sauce Recipe

Chicken Skewers with Peanut Sauce are a special dinner treat for kids. They'll not only love the dipping sauce but the skewers make dinnertime fun.

9 of 99

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Sesame Noodles

Credit: Ryan Benyi

Sesame Noodles Recipe

This Asian-inspired pasta salad features penne pasta and veggies coated in a homemade peanut sauce. 

10 of 99

11 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Chicken and Noodles with Peanut Sauce

Credit: Randy Mayor; Melanie J. Clarke

Chicken and Noodles with Peanut Sauce Recipe

A thick peanut sauce makes this dish rich and satisfying. It's great served at room temperature or cold; add a touch of warm water to loosen the noodles if serving cold.

11 of 99

12 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Peanut and Squash Soup

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Peanut and Squash Soup Recipe

Hailing from Senegal, the mildly spicy, slightly sweet Peanut Squash Soup would be well complemented by a side of stewed collard greens or Swiss chard.

12 of 99

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Skewered Chicken with Spicy Peanut Dip

Credit: Oxmoor House

Skewered Chicken with Spicy Peanut Dip Recipe

Leftover peanut dip is tasty on fresh celery and carrot sticks for a quick snack. It can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to a week.

13 of 99

14 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Ginny Branch

Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe

Powdered peanut butter (which you'll find on the nut butters aisle) adds richness here; if you'd rather not use it, sub more flour. Find plum sauce in the Asian foods section.

14 of 99

15 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Grilled Asian Flank Steak with Mango Salad

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Bar, Lindsey Lower

Grilled Asian Flank Steak with Mango Salad Recipe

Grilled Asian Flank Steak with Mango Salad delivers a wonderful combination of flavors, and this one-dish meal is on the table in just 40 minutes. The mango adds a nice sweetness to the overall dish while the peanut butter adds a mild peanutty flavor to the dressing.

15 of 99

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

Credit: Ryan Benyi

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce Recipe

Marinate chicken in a coconut milk-curry powder mixture and serve with this spicy peanut sauce for an easy and economical Indonesian-style grilled main dish. Serve with a side of steamed, fried, or cauliflower rice (if that's more your style), a side of coconut soup, or eat the chicken drizzled in the peanut sauce in some crispy lettuce wraps. These chicken skewers are definitely a go-to make-ahead recipe. Enjoy these for a fun family dinner, or make them the star appetizer recipe of any of your upcoming festivities. 

16 of 99

17 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

French Toast Peanut Butter and Jelly

Credit: John Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

French Toast Peanut Butter and Jelly Recipe

What kid (or grown-up, for that matter) wouldn't love this ooey-gooey sandwich? Serve the souped-up peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with fresh fruit.

17 of 99

18 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Indonesian Vegetable Salad with Peanut Dressing

Credit: Kenji Toma; Food Styling: Karen Evans; Prop Styling: Michele Faro

Indonesian Vegetable Salad with Peanut Dressing Recipe

This is a simplified version of the splendid Indonesian salad called gado gado, which along with satay is practically a national dish, often served with crunchy shrimp crackers. It uses shortcut ingredients in the sauce--peanut butter, curry paste--to speed things along. For a spicier dressing, stir in sambal oelek or Sriracha.

18 of 99

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Spicy Chicken and Sunchoke Stir-Fry

Credit: Tina Cornett; Melanie J. Clarke

Spicy Chicken and Sunchoke Stir-Fry Recipe

Sunchokes take the place of water chestnuts in this tasty stir-fry. Look for Thai peanut sauce in your supermarket's ethnic foods aisle.

19 of 99

20 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Malaysian Chicken Pizza

Credit: Randy Mayor; Jan Gautro

Malaysian Chicken Pizza Recipe

Malaysian chicken pizza is a pie with a spicy, sweet, peanut butter and soy sauce-based sauce that seemed ahead of its time in 1991 when it first ran. Twenty years later and it’s still a new adventurous pizza for most people. If you like barbecue chicken pizza, you’ll love this.

20 of 99

21 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Crunchy Chinese Chicken Salad with Wonton Chips

Credit: Oxmoor House

Crunchy Chinese Chicken Salad with Wonton Chips Recipe

Picky kids can shun international flavor, but not this dish. With savory Peanut-Lime Dressing and crunchy wonton chips, kids will clean their plates and ask for seconds.

21 of 99

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Cucumber and Noodle Salad

Cucumber and Noodle Salad Recipe

Intensely flavorful Chinese sausage is worth seeking out for this salad. If you can't find it, bacon also pairs well with the sweet cucumbers and peanut dressing.

22 of 99

23 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Chicken Kebabs with Cucumber Noodles

Credit: Stephen Devries; Styling: Cindy Barr

Chicken Kebabs with Cucumber Noodles Recipe

Marinated in a little honey, ginger, soy sauce, and peanut oil, Asian-inspired Chicken Kebabs with Cucumber Noodles are paired with cucumber noodles to create an easy weeknight dinner.

23 of 99

24 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Grilled Chicken with Peanut Sauce

Credit: Annabelle Breakey

Grilled Chicken with Peanut Sauce Recipe

This is such a simple, flavorful chicken recipe. This quick and easy peanut sauce adds lots of flavor to grilled chicken with minimum fuss. Serve it with steamed vegetables and rice for an inspired busy weeknight dinner that the whole family will enjoy.

24 of 99

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Chicken Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Chicken Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce Recipe

Save time, money, and calories by making this simple stir-fry in the comfort of your own kitchen. Want more for later? Try doubling the batch of peanut sauce and using it as a dip for grilled chicken kebabs tomorrow night!

25 of 99

26 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Chicken with Peanut-Butter Barbecue Sauce

Credit: Kate Sears; Styling: Elizabeth Blake

Chicken with Peanut-Butter Barbecue Sauce Recipe

26 of 99

27 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Whole Wheat Pancakes with Peanut Butter Sauce

Credit: Greg Dupree; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Whole Wheat Pancakes with Peanut Butter Sauce Recipe

Carolyn says: "Cook this batter immediately after mixing to keep the pancakes springy and light. The whole wheat adds flavor."

27 of 99

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Peanut Butter Berry

Credit: Kang Kim; Styling: Tiziana Agnello

Peanut Butter Berry Recipe

You'll never make a boring bowl of oatmeal ever again.

28 of 99

29 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Soba Noodle and Pork Casserole

Soba Noodle and Pork Casserole Recipe

This is not your mom's creamy noodle casserole. After this dish, miso cream sauce will be your new go-to sauce for everything. It only has 3 ingredients, it's perfectly seasoned and creamy, and just thick enough to hold up to a good noodle. The creaminess is complemented by the crunchiness of the peanuts and panko in this casserole and the green onion and cilantro brighten it up. Make this dish gluten-free by replacing the panko with extra peanuts and using gluten-free miso. We think Togarishi-- a Japanese 7-spice blend found at Asian markets-- is worth the buy, but if you cannot find it use Chinese 5-spice. 

29 of 99

30 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Peanut Butter and Chicken Noodles With Carrot and Cucumber Ribbons

Credit: Jonny Valiant; Styling: Sara Quessenberry

Peanut Butter and Chicken Noodles With Carrot and Cucumber Ribbons Recipe

Everything tastes better in a bowl.

30 of 99

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Spicy Thai Chicken Kabobs

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Spicy Thai Chicken Kabobs Recipe

Stir up a superfast peanut sauce, and marinate the chicken before you head out for the day. The remaining ingredients can be quickly put together when you get home from work.

31 of 99

32 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Orange-Sesame Noodles with Grilled Shrimp

Credit: Jean Allsopp

Orange-Sesame Noodles with Grilled Shrimp Recipe

A generous splash of fresh-squeezed orange juice gives a lift to traditional peanut soba noodle salad. Leave off the shrimp if you want to make this vegetarian. Or top with grilled chicken strips, pork, or steak for another variation.

32 of 99

33 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Spicy Peanut Chicken over Rice

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Sabrina Bone

Spicy Peanut Chicken over Rice Recipe

This spicy peanut chicken recipe makes enough to freeze leftovers, which keep for up to a month. Spoon single servings into airtight containers; thaw overnight in the refrigerator, and reheat in a saucepan. You can increase the crushed red pepper, if you like; a dollop of yogurt on top balances the spiciness.

33 of 99

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

34 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Chicken Noodle Bowl with Peanut-Ginger Sauce

Credit: Greg Dupree; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Chicken Noodle Bowl with Peanut-Ginger Sauce Recipe

Make the dressing and prep the veggies the day before, and dinner will be on the table in minutes.

34 of 99

35 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Spicy Shrimp and Peanut Noodles

Spicy Shrimp and Peanut Noodles Recipe

35 of 99

36 of 99

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Beef Kabobs with Broccoli Slaw and Peanut Sauce