You won't believe how easy it is to make a delicious Chicken Satay in the Ninja Foodi Grill! A quick marinade, and then grill it up in just minutes!
Well, maybe you will believe it, because you've made Chicken Satay before, but I was shocked. For some reason, I've never made it before and figured the marinade had hard-to-find ingredients and it was just too complicated to tackle. Boy, was I wrong!
Now, no promises that this Chicken Satay in the Ninja Foodi Grill is exactly like you are used to, but it is so delicious and EASY, that you must give it a try!
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We served it with this delicious Peanut Sauce and, oh boy, Jeff and I thought it was better than any Chicken Satay we had every eaten out at a restaurant. This will definitely be on our "to make again" list! I bet it will on yours, too!
Just in case you have never heard of or eaten chicken satay, let me explain the flavors to expect.
What is Chicken Satay and What does it taste like?
Chicken Satay is thinly sliced chicken breast that is marinated and then grilled. You don't have to use chicken, of course, other types of meats, like pork, steak, or lamb, will work, as well. It just won't be Chicken Satay!
The marinade can be made many different ways, so there really isn't one common taste profile that I can describe. I can, however, let you know how this version of Chicken Satay in the Ninja Foodi Grill tastes. One word sums it up perfectly... delicious!
There is a slight sweetness from the coconut milk and little spice from the garlic sauce, which are perfectly balanced with the brightness of lemongrass. Of course, you are in complete control of the ingredients in the marinade, so, you can make it taste however you want!
Usually, Chicken Satay is served with a dipping sauce and the most common type is a peanut sauce.
Can I make this Vegetarian?
Yep! First, let me say right up front that I have only worked with tofu a few times in my life, so I am not an expert on it at all. In fact, I'd love your feedback and any information that will improve my suggestions!
You want to use firm or extra firm tofu and definitely press it to get the excess moisture out. This will help it hold it's shape while grilling. You can see just how to press tofu in this article by Spruce Eats: How to Press Tofu
After pressing, marinate it for at least 30 minutes. Place the tofu on the skewers (soaked if using bamboo) and preheat the grill to high instead of max. Grill the tofu on one side for 5 minutes, flip and grill another 5-7 minutes.
Remove and serve with peanut sauce.
If you try the tofu, please let me know how it turns out! Believe it or not, my local grocery store doesn't carry it, so I was unable to test it out!
What do I serve with Chicken Satay?
Chicken Satay can be served as an appetizer or as a main meal, at least in my mind it makes a great dinner! I love appetizers though and could whip up two or three 
different kinds and that is a great dinner for Jeff and me!
If you wanted to have an appetizer dinner or just a few appetizers to serve before dinner, I definitely recommend these Asian Sticky Wings! Oh. My. Goodness! They are, hands down, the BEST wings I've ever eaten. Seriously, that is the truth!
How about 2 different types of wings! Here is a great recipe for wings is this one from The Salty Pot for Teriyaki Wings! YUM!
Another great addition to the appetizer party would be these Asian Lettuce Wraps! So easy to make and so delicious!
If you want to serve the Chicken Satay as a meal in-and-of-itself, I would serve with some Jasmine rice, a stir fry of mixed veggies and the Chicken Satay with the peanut sauce. Don't skip the peanut sauce! Unless of course you are allergic to peanuts, then definitely skip it! I'll bet you could make it with cashews and it would be wonderful!
I would try this Thai Chicken Curry recipe if you want a full meal to follow the Chicken Satay in the Ninja Foodi Grill.
No matter what you serve or don't serve with the Chicken Satay, you will be happy! I hope!
Can I make this Chicken Satay Recipe if I don't have the Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill?
Yes! You can certainly make this recipe in a regular oven, the Ninja Foodi PC & AC, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp, an air fryer, or a toaster oven. You can also make it on an outdoor grill, of course!
Although I have not tested this recipe in any other appliances, the conversion should be really easy!
If you have the (affiliate link)Grill Grate Sear 'N Sizzle accessory for the Ninja Foodi or Duo Crisp, you can even get grill marks! The Sear 'n Sizzle is one of the best accessories for turning your NF or IPDC into an indoor grill. I've been using it in many recipes like this one for Asian Steak Stir Fry 360 meal and it works fantastic! It can even be used with the Ninja Foodi Grill!
If you want to see my video demo on the Sear 'N Sizzle, I'll link to it right here: Grill Grate Sear 'N Sizzle Review & Demonstration
If you have the grill grate and want to use it in the Ninja Foodi PC & AC or the Duo Crisp, set the grate on top of the basket diffuser legs as shown in the video and preheat on Broil for 10 minutes. Place the skewers on the grill grate and Broil or AC on 400°F for 2-3 minutes each side.
No worries if you don't have that accessory, you can still make this recipe. You might not get grill marks, but it will still be delicious. Here are my suggestions for various appliances.
Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker & Air Crisper: Preheat the Ninja Foodi on broil with the basket in for 10 minutes. Lay the skewers or chicken strips in the basket and broil for 2-3 minutes. Flip and broil another 2-3 minutes. Please keep an eye on them and if broil is causing them to get to dark, switch to AC and decrease the heat to 375ºF.
Instant Pot Duo Crisp: Use the same instructions as the Ninja Foodi PC & AC
Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven: Lay the chicken skewers on the tray. Set the oven to the Air Fry setting on 375°F and Air Fry for 3-4 minutes each side. Please keep an eye on the chicken and adjust time and temp as needed.
Regular Oven: Preheat the oven on broil. Lay the skewers on a baking tray and broil for 2-3 minutes. Flip and broil an additional 2-3 minutes or until done.
Outdoor Grill: Preheat the grill. Lay the skewers on the grill and grill for 2 minutes. Flip and grill another 2-3 minutes.
What Skewers Can I use for Chicken Satay in the Ninja Foodi Grill?
My Ninja Foodi Grill came with 5 metal skewers and you can certainly use those, although that won't be enough for all of the chicken. Another great choice is to use (affiliate link)bamboo skewers, which can be found at most grocery stores or walmart. They come in various sizes, but if they are too long for the Grill, then just break them off so they fit.
Make sure to soak your bamboo skewers in water for at least 30 minutes. I usually soak them for an hour or two.
How to Make Chicken Satay in the Ninja Foodi Grill
It's as easy as slicing some chicken, mixing up the marinade, and grilling it up! So easy!
The first thing I do is trim up the chicken breast to remove and silver skin or areas that will end up causing the chicken to be chewy or sinewy. Here is a short video showing how I trim a chicken breast for Homemade Chicken Nuggets.
Then, I slice the chicken into slices on the diagonal. This isn't absolutely necessary, but I do it to get more surface area of the chicken. I love the way it grills up this way. Here is a video showing how I slice the chicken for chicken satay in the Ninja Foodi Grill. Mix up the marinade by combining all ingredients into a medium size bowl. In the video, I mixed the marinade into a smaller bowl and poured it over the chicken. No need to do this, just mix the marinade in the larger bowl and add the chicken as you slice it.
Start the grill preheating by turning it on and selecting the grill function on Max.
While the grill is preheating, put the chicken strips on the skewers. I thread the chicken strip on the skewer and then make sure to stretch it out so it isn't bunched up. If the chicken is bunched up it will not cook evenly.
Once the grill is preheated it will beep and tell you to "Add Food." Open the lid and lay the skewers over the grill. I was able to fit 6 on the grill comfortably, but you may be able to get more depending on their size. Just make sure not to overlap them or they won't cook evenly. Close the lid and set the time for 6 minutes. Grill on the Max setting for 3 minutes and then flip and grill another 2-3 minutes. If the chicken does not release easily from the grill after the initial 3 minutes, close the lid and let it grill another minute and try to flip again. It is not necessary to flip either, so if you aren't worried about grill marks on both sides, just leave them in about 5-6 minutes and then remove.
Garnish with chopped cilantro and crushed peanuts, if desired, and serve with Peanut Sauce. Enjoy!
Chicken Satay in the Ninja Foodi Grill
Equipment
- Ninja Foodi Grill
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs chicken breast boneless, skinless
Marinade
- ½ cup coconut milk
- 2 cloves garlic minced (about 1 tsp)
- 2" piece ginger grated (about 2 tsps)
- 2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon sea salt fine grind
- 1 tablespoon Lemongrass Paste
- 1 tablespoon Chili Garlic Sauce
- 2 teaspoon Lemon Juice
Optional Garnishes
- chopped cilantro
- chopped peanuts
- peanut sauce
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Instructions
- If you are using bamboo skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before using.
- Mix all the ingredients in the marinade in a medium size bowl.
- Slice chicken breast into ½" strips and place into the marinade. Allow to marinate at room temp for 30 minutes or cover and place in the fridge to marinate 1-24 hours. If marinating in the refrigerator, bring the chicken out about 30 minutes before you want to grill it.
- Turn the Ninja Foodi grill on and select the Grill function and MAX temp. Make sure the grilling grate that came with the grill is inside during the preheat. While the NF preheats, assemble your chicken skewers.
- Take a strip and weave it onto a skewer. If it is a long strip of chicken, you will only fit one piece on the skewer. If they are shorter pieces, you can fit multiple on a skewer. Make sure the chicken is not bunched or it will not cook evenly. Continue until you use all the chicken.
- When the Ninja Foodi Grill has preheated it will tell you to "add food." Add about 6 skewers to the grilling surface. You can add more if they will fit, but don't overlap them or they won't cook evenly.
- Close the lid and set the time for 6 minutes. Grill for 3 minutes and flip the skewers. Grill an additional 2-3 minutes. I went the whole 6 minutes and the chicken was wonderful, but if you have thinner slices, you may want to decrease the time by a minute or two. If your chicken slices are thicker, you may need to increase the grilling time.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro and chopped peanuts and serve with peanut sauce. Enjoy!
Notes
- The cook time in this recipe is for about 6 chicken skewers. I made 18 skewers, so my total cook time was 18 minutes.
Nutrition
ABOUT THE RECIPE AUTHOR, LOUISE LONG
Louise is a full-time recipe creator and food blogger @ The Salted Pepper. She has over 30 years of 
experience with cooking and recipe development. She owned a restaurant for several years and was a full-time RN until retiring to blog full-time.
Louise has several very active Facebook groups that help people with the basics of cooking and getting the most out of the Ninja Foodi.
Ninja Foodi Fresh & Healthy Meals
Seeing the need for easy, delicious, and high quality recipes, she is focusing all of her efforts creating recipes specifically for the Ninja Foodi. Her recipes are easy for the home cook to follow and provide step-by-step instructions.
Louise is also a YouTube creator and you can find most of her recipes in video format on The Salted Pepper YouTube channel.
She is very responsive to messages and eager to help in any way she can.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT YOU ARE COOKING UP IN YOUR NINJA FOODI! TAG ME @THESALTEDPEPPER ON YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM WHEN YOU MAKE A DISH!
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Tami
That looks so good. Like the grill marks. I have a small kitchen counter and I plan to buy one. I was thinking to place it on my dining table but on a big wood cutting board. Will it be safe?
Louise
I think that would work fine.
Amber Meyer
Loved this! That peanut sauce was also amazing. I made a meal out of the Chicken Satay, Jasmine rice, steamed broccoli and the sauce. Great flavors that all blended perfectly together. Simply delicious! Thank you Louise!!!
Louise
That peanut sauce is so good! Glad you enjoyed it!