Here’s a fabulous way to cook chicken legs in the oven – turn them into satay drumsticks with a peanut dipping sauce for dunking! Drumsticks are such good value, I don’t know why we don’t use them more often.
Cost estimate: $2.05 per serving, using current prices at Woolworths (Australian grocery store).
Satay Chicken Legs with Peanut Sauce
I feel like chicken legs is a cut that is often overlooked, and I don’t know why. You get the juicy meat of thighs, the fun of drumsticks, and they’re good value.
So here’s a recipe to try to get you excited about using drumsticks! I’m giving them a satay makeover – marinated in Thai flavours, roasted until golden, then served with a creamy peanut dipping sauce that you can dunk the entire drumstick into.
Big flavour, little spend!
Ingredients in Satay Chicken Legs with Peanut Sauce
This has the same ingredients as Thai Chicken Satay Skewers, but the cooking method and quantities for the marinade and sauce have been adapted to suit chicken legs. Also, I intentionally made the sauce thinner so it’s suitable for dunking the entire drumstick in!
1. Chicken and satay marinade
Marinating is optional. You will still get plenty of tasty flavour in the chicken even without marinating time.
Drumsticks – You’ll need 10 large drumsticks, totally around 1.5kg / 3lb. If yours are smaller, use more, or larger, use less. Just make sure they will all fit on the tray with a little space between them.
Other chicken cuts – Wings and boneless thighs can be used and cooked in the oven. Breast is better done on the stove. See recipe card notes for directions.
Small can coconut milk – Here in Australia, some brands of coconut milk come in a handy small 270ml/90oz can which turns out to be just the right amount to make the satay marinade for the chicken plus a good amount of sauce (enough for chicken dunking and rice dousing). If you can only get standard 400ml/14oz cans, that’s totally fine, just measure out what you need. You’ll have 1/2 cup left over – use it to make the peanut sauce for Gado Gado!
Thai red curry paste – The secret ingredient in Thai satay, for both the marinade and peanut sauce! Maesri is my preferred brand (photo here). Authentic flavour, cheap and even carried at regular shops here in Australia (Coles, Woolies, Harris Farms). But any will do here as we only use a little. Tip: If using Maesri cans which can’t be resealed, freeze leftovers flattened in a ziplock bag so you can easily break off what you need.
Curry powder – This is a key ingredient for a proper satay flavour. Just use regular curry powder form grocery stores, like Clives or India or Keens. Mild, not hot (unless you want it spicy!).
Oil – This is loosen the marinade a bit and also to help it brown, avoiding the need to spray the chicken with oil before baking. Use liquid coconut oil if you have it, else any plain flavoured oil.
Salt and white sugar – For seasoning.
2. peanut sauce
And here’s what you need for the peanut sauce. As mentioned above, it’s the same ingredients as the peanut sauce for everybody’s favourite Thai Chicken Skewers, except thinner so it’s more suitable for dunking.
Coconut milk – The rest of the 270ml / 9oz can, else measure out 3/4 cup.
Natural peanut butter – The type with no added oil or sugar. Best for stronger peanut flavour and a thinner sauce for dipping. Peanut butter spreads like Bega or Skippy also work, but the sauce will be thicker and milder.
Thai red curry paste – See notes in the marinade ingredients section above. We only need 1 tablespoon for the peanut sauce. Don’t skip it! It’s a key flavouring.
Milk – This is what I use to thin the sauce. Chicken stock can also be used. Water can be a fall-back, though I’d start with 1/2 cup (concerned about flavour dilution).
Apple cider vinegar – This is for a touch of tang, to balance out the richness. It doesn’t make it sour (we only use 1 tablespoon).
Dark soy sauce – Just 1 teaspoon gives the sauce the right satay-brown colour. It doesn’t add flavour though, so substitute light/all-purpose soy sauce or 1/4 teaspoon extra salt, though expect the sauce to be paler in colour.
Salt – To season the sauce.
How to make Satay Chicken Legs with Peanut Sauce
No skewering, no chopping – just some quick slashes to get that tasty satay paste right into the flesh!
Slash – Make 3 slashes into the flesh of each drumstick. Do this on the meaty side, not the side that the bone runs closer to. Make the slashes about 5 mm / 1/5″ deep, in the position pictured in the photo above, taking care not to cut all the way through to the bone (that’s a bit deep and will open up too much).
This will help the satay marinade flavour penetrate into the flesh. It’s especially important not to skip it if you don’t have time to marinate.
Satay marinade – Mix the ingredients together using a rubber spatula in a bowl large enough to toss the drumsticks.
Toss the drumsticks in the marinade using the rubber spatula until they are all coated. Rub the marinade into the slashes to get the flavour right into the meat!
Marinate (if you can) – Leave the legs to marinade for 3 hours to overnight if you can. 3 hours is enough to get the flavour infusing into the flesh.
But even if you don’t marinate, this is still worth making (I don’t always say that about recipes!) because of the slashes, the flavour in the marinade is quite strong and, of course, because you will be dunking the drumsticks into the tasty peanut sauce.
Bake on a rack set on a tray for 35 minutes, then flick to the grill/broiler on high for a few minutes to get some nice charry bits on the chicken. Don’t turn (this is why we use the rack), leaving it undisturbed allows the surface to colour better.
Peanut sauce – Make the sauce while the legs are baking. Just put everything in a medium saucepan, whisk to combine, then let it simmer on medium low for 5 minutes. Don’t let it bubble wildly, it should just simmer. Whisk regularly so the base doesn’t catch. The sauce should be on the runny side, like maple syrup consistency. Not so thick that you feel like you’re dunking the leg into a tub of peanut butter. It should be thin enough so it drips off, but thick enough that it clings generously.
Serve – Pile the legs onto a platter with the sauce on the side. Use a vessel deep enough that you can dunk the whole drumstick in. Sprinkle everything with peanuts, coriander and chilli, if you want a splash of colour. Then dig in!
Matters of serving
Serve these drumsticks with steamed jasmine rice on the side – there’s plenty of peanut sauce to drizzle over.
And I’ve just added plain tomato and cucumber chunks to get greens into this meal. No dressing, nothing. Very typical of how many dishes are served in Thailand – simple and fresh, to balance out strong flavoured mains. Though if you want something more substantial, Asian Slaw or Smashed Cucumbers are two that I always reach for. Else any leafy greens or steamed broccoli with Asian Sesame Dressing (literally takes 90 seconds to make this, and very handy to keep in the fridge as it lasts for weeks and weeks).
And there you go. Dinner sorted! – Nagi x
FAQ
Wings, boneless thighs and breast – see recipe notes for directions!
Yes, it can be! Substitute the dark soy sauce for tamari, and make sure the red curry paste you use is gluten-free (Maesri is, but I haven’t checked other brands closely).
I’m sorry I haven’t tried. You could try cashew butter, I have read online that some people use that instead but I personally haven’t tried it.
Yes! The chicken can be prepared then marinated overnight in the fridge, or you can freeze it raw (with the satay marinade on it). Then thaw and cook on demand. The peanut sauce can be cooked and kept in the fridge for 4 – 5 days, or frozen for 3 months. This is a good way to make this if you are cooking just for one or two people, rather than cooking the whole batch and eating leftovers night after night. 🙂
Watch how to make it
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Satay Chicken Legs with Peanut Sauce
Ingredients
- 1.5 kg / 3lb chicken legs / drumsticks (10 pieces) – Note 7 for other cuts
SATAY MARINADE:
- 1/3 cup coconut milk , full fat (I use a 270ml/9oz small can, the rest goes in the sauce)
- 1 1/2 tbsp curry powder (eg Clives, Keens, Note 1)
- 1 tbsp Thai red curry paste (I recommend Maesri brand but any will do, Note 2)
- 1 tbsp liquid coconut oil or any plain oil (vegetable, canola, peanut)
- 1 tsp white sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt
PEANUT SAUCE:
- 3/4 cup coconut milk , full fat (the rest of the 270ml/9oz can)
- 3/4 cup milk , full fat
- 1/4 cup natural peanut butter , it’s runny, not the spread kind like Bega, Skippy etc (Note 3)
- 2 tbsp white sugar
- 1 tbsp Thai red curry paste (Note 2)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar , or regular white vinegar
- 1 tsp dark soy sauce (Note 4)
- 1/2 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt
For serving
- Jasmine rice
- Coriander / cilantro leaves, red chilli finely chopped, finely chopped peanuts (all optional)
Instructions
ABBREVIATED RECIPE:
- Slash legs, coat with marinade. Marinate 3 hrs – overnight. Bake 35 min at 200°C/390°F (180° fan) on rack, then grill/broil 3 – 5 min to char. Simmer Peanut Sauce ingredients 5 min, serve with legs!
FULL RECIPE:
- Slash – Make 3 slashes into the flesh of the meatier side of the drumsticks taking care not to slash all the way through to the bone,
- Satay Marinade – Mix the Satay Marinade ingredients in a large bowl using a rubber spatula. Add drumsticks, toss to coat, then use your hands to rub the marinade into the slashes.
- Marinate (if you can) for 3 hours to overnight. It's ok if you don't – see Note 5.
- Preheat oven to 200°C/390°F (180° fan-forced).
- Arrange legs – Line a tray with foil and place a rack on the tray. Arrange legs on the rack. Scrape up any residual marinade in the bowl and dab onto the legs.
- Bake for 35 minutes. Flick the oven grill / broiler on high and grill for 3 to 5 minutes with the chicken 20cm/8" from the heat source, to get some nice charry bits. Remove from the oven.
- Peanut sauce – While the chicken is baking, put all the sauce ingredients in a medium saucepan and whisk to combine. Simmer for 5 minutes on medium-low, whisking every now and then to stop the base from catching, It should be fairly runny but thick enough to coat the chicken generously (Note 6). Keep warm until required.
- Serve – Pile chicken on a large plate. Sprinkle with peanuts, chilli and coriander if using. Place sauce in a deep sauce bowl on the side, deep enough to dunk the entire head of the leg in! Serve with jasmine rice on the side (plenty of sauce for dousing) and plain chunks of tomato and cucumber (classic Thai side).
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
More chicken drumstick recipes
I’ve always had a soft spot for drumsticks! Here are some of my favourite recipes – or have a browse through the Chicken Drumstick recipe collection.
Life of Jaffle
Look at my little shoot assistant, gazing up at me adoringly! (Or more likely, he’s worked out I’m the shortest route to the chicken).
Just made this dish Nagi and it was delicious. I changed the legs to fillets of breast and also roasted some peanuts to add to the sauce and decorate on top. We buy satays locally and we have always said that their peanut sauce is the best we have tasted. Well your recipe probably pips it, so it is restaurant quality as usual made simple by you.
These were so tasty and easy, will definitely be in regular rotation at our place. We served with rice, Asian greens and pappadums.
So good and so easy to make! I can very quickly do all the prep for this recipe before I go to work in the morning (marinade drumsticks, put all sauce ingredients together and leave in saucepan in the fridge) and then when I get home in the evening, it only takes me a few minutes to get drumsticks in the oven and warm up the sauce, throw some rice in the rice cooker.
Family love this recipe and we’ve already made it several times.
What australian brand is a “natrual” peanut butter?
Amazing- just made these satay chicken drums – eaten way too many ! And wish I’d had this recipe years ago! Already planning to make it for the family out of town next week. Thank you Nagi
The absolute best satay chicken recipe ever! I have never found a satay sauce with such depth until now. Thank you.
perfect recipe Nagi, they were delicious. my Grandson loved them and he is fussy. didn’t do the extra grill bit as the 15 year old was Hungry!! cooked perfectly. all gone!! sauce Yummy
perfect recipe Nagi, they were delicious. my Grandson loved them and he is fussy. didn’t do the extra grill bit as the 15 year old was Hungry!! cooked perfectly. all gone!! sauce goes with everything!
so, so good! Tasty delicious and moreish. That bit of char at the end with the grill makes it look the goods.
so, so good! Tasty delicious and moreish. That bit of char at the end with the grill makes it look the goods.
The best satay sauce ever. So happy I have a winner. Totally loved the whole dish. And…. so simple. Thanks
Aldi/Woolworths sell 2kg bags of drumsticks for around $8, made this last night .easy and inexpensive, got to admit ” the wife and I ate the lot–oink oink
Having made your satay chicken curry I knew this would be good, it was and as like most of your wonderful creations very easy to put together. The return on time and effort is massive, thanks to you Nagi I am the king of the kitchen
This was absolutely delicious, the sauce was incredible, the chicken was a little crunchy, yum yum yum!
I made this for dinner this evening. All I can say is wow!
I did wonder about the cider vinegar until I tasted the dip.
My wife gave me multiple “Thank you, thank you, thank you”
I guess I need to make this again in the future.
Wondering if this dish is “hot” as cannot do hot curries or anything with cayenne pepper or chillies?
I made this today and it was spicy but only a little. It was delicious!
LOVE THE PEANUT SATAY SAUCE! Took me immediately back to COVID times, getting my Thai ubered (with roti + peanut satay sauce, of course) – in that TINY tub, was never enough. This time, dipping a whole chicken drumsticks on, and still have leftovers. And, home made, even better. Thanks for everything you do, Nagi! 🥹 ps. I said goodbye to my beautiful golden retriever Sam in July; warms my heart seeing Jaffle and you together. X
Hi Nagi, just saying in the FAQs under gluten free, instead of dark soy it says “use tamari” did you mean tamarind? Also, hugs for you and Jaffle! Thanks!
Tamari is a kind of soy sauce. Allegedly – I’m going off what I can remember of the label on my bottle – it’s an older style that uses a different preparation method from “regular” modern soy sauce, which results in a different flavor. And, apparently, no traces of gluten in the product.
Thanks Christopher, I just googled it. It says that tamari is similar to soy sauce. Thank you!
I made it last night, and we both loved it. I omitted the white sugar and used a tiny amount of coconut sugar. It was a hit. Thank you for another great recipe.
Definitely going to try this. My daughter has a peanut allergy so I often make satay sauce with cashew, almond or ABC (almond, Brazil nut, cashew) butter and they also work really well. But I’ve never make it with red curry paste, so looking forward to trying this.