Easy Cashew Chicken
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Love the flavors of takeout Cashew Chicken, but hate the prices of takeout? Us too! This Easy Cashew Chicken uses minimal ingredients and just one skillet making cleanup as quick as making the dish itself. Salty, crunchy, and full of protein – this is a dish the whole family can get behind!
Cashew Chicken Stir Fry
We don’t do takeout often due to the costs of feeding such a large family and the not knowing what’s truly in a recipe. But when we do order takeout, it’s usually an Asian dish or pizza from the local country store.
Much like Mexican cuisine, Asian is one of those cuisines that is hard to truly master unless you have an ethnic background or heritage in that culture. We have neither. We’re as backwoods, country as they come. But that doesn’t mean we won’t give it the college try and adapt traditional recipes to a standard that’s a bit more about ease vs. authenticity.
So by no means am I saying that this recipe is authentic cashew chicken – if there really is such a thing. But I am saying that this chicken with cashew nuts is both delicious and easy! The flavors used in this dish are authentic to Asian culture, easy to find at your local grocer, and will certainly satisfy that craving for Chinese takeout, keeping you on budget and knowing what’s in your food. Plus, it’s a great recipe for using those cashew nuts hiding in your cupboard.
What does it taste like?
Cashew chicken recipes vary across the board. This cashew chicken is heavy on the tangy and salty front due to the amount of soy sauce or coconut aminos used. The chicken is tenderly cooked along side fresh vegetables and notes of garlic and ginger shine through. The crunch of the cashews are my favorite part of the whole dish and add amazing texture. While many other recipes you’ll find out there use hoisin sauce in the recipe, we’re keeping it simple with typical ingredients you’ll likely have in your pantry already.
The Secret of Cashews
Cashews are a powerhouse of a food. Full of protein, these tree nuts are also responsible for reducing heart disease, increasing red blood cells, and giving a boost of tryptophan which elevates your mood! This is a recipe you can get happy about eating! Cashews are a great addition to nearly any recipe that needs an extra crunch or a dairy-free taste of cheese!
Basic Ingredients for Chicken Cashew Stir Fry
Feel free to add vegetables or other Asian inspired flavors to your skillet. These are my very basic, kid-friendly, must-have ingredients.
- Chicken – breasts or thighs
- Vegetables – bell peppers and/or onions
- Seasonings – coconut aminos (or soy sauce), garlic, rice wine vinegar, ginger
- Cornstarch – for thickening
- Cashews
Best Vegetables to Use
Feel free to use any of these vegetables, or combination of them. Stir fry recipes like this are the perfect way to use up vegetables in your refrigerator that are about to go bad.
- Bell Peppers
- Onions
- Broccoli or Broccolini
- Bok Choy
- Water Chestnuts
- Snap Peas
- Snow Peas
- Carrots
Equipment
How to make Cashew Chicken
Start by chopping the vegetables you’re using. Most nights I keep it simple and use only a mixture of bell peppers. I use one green and one red just for visual interest. You could use two of the same color if that’s what you have.
Add avocado oil to a large 12-inch skillet or wok over medium high heat and start to sauté the vegetables, giving them about a 3 minute head start.
Now dice the chicken into about 1 inch cubes. Add the chicken to the skillet with the vegetables and sprinkle on about 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Toss everything to coat the chicken.
Once the chicken has cooked so that there is color on all sides add the garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, sugar, coconut aminos (or soy sauce) and stir to coat. Allow this mixture to simmer for about 5 minutes before adding 2 teaspoons of cornstarch to thicken. If you have it on hand, add a teaspoon of sesame oil for extra flavor. But if you don’t have it, don’t go out of your way to get it.
Easy Cashew Chicken Finishing Touches
Mix it all together and continue to simmer. Lastly add in the cashews, again stirring to coat. Allow everything to warm and the chicken to cook through. Use an instant read thermometer to ensure the internal temperature is 165F. Once finished, top with sesame seeds, scallions, or even basil for a pop of freshness. Serve as is or over a bed of rice or cauliflower rice. The end result should be a thick, sticky sauce you’d expect to find in your favorite takeout dish.
Make Ahead and Storage
You can easily make this recipe ahead of time and enjoy throughout the week. Simply store in an air tight container within the refrigerator. Feel free to also use the sauce as a marinade for the chicken and marinate the night before.
Common Questions About Cashew Chicken
Can I use Chicken Thighs? Absolutely! The cooking time may differ slightly, but chicken thighs are typically very moist, flavorful, and interchangeable with chicken breasts.
Do I need a wok? You can easily order this iron wok. This recipe can be made in a 12-inch skillet or even a 10-inch skillet.
What can I serve with Cashew Chicken? Serve this dish with rice, naan bread, or cauliflower rice if on the keto diet.
Is Kung Pao chicken the same as cashew chicken? While similar in ingredients, they are not the same. Kung Pao chicken has more heat and more of a chili front than you’ll find in cashew chicken.
We love quick and easy stovetop meals. Here are a few more that other readers have enjoyed.
- Sheet Pan Honey Soy Cashew Chicken
- GREEN GODDESS AVOCADO ORANGE AND CASHEW SALAD
- Cream Cheese Substitute Options: Beyond the Block
- 2 WEEKS OF HEALTHY SALADS
- Easy Baked Salsa Chicken
- ASIAN NOODLE RECIPES THAT ARE EASIER THAN TAKEOUT
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Easy Cashew Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons avocado oil
- 2 medium bell peppers chopped in 1-inch cubes
- 2 pounds chicken breasts chopped in 1-inch cubes
- 1 Tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger grated
- ½ cup soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Saute the peppers in avocado oil in the skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Bell peppers will start to become tender and blacken.
- Add the chopped chicken breasts. Stir and cook until all sides have color but are not yet cooked through.
- Add the garlic, ginger, coconut aminos (soy sauce) and stir to coat.
- Add cornstarch and stir, allowing sauce to thicken before adding the cashews.
- Reduce about 5 minutes. Top with scallions.
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are important to you, I recommend calculating them yourself.
My kids enjoyed this recipe and I liked that it took just 20 minutes to make. Thanks for another great recipe.