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My easy Cashew Chicken recipe skips the breading and frying, but you still get that crispy tender chicken! It all comes together in my flavorful sauce!
A Readerโs Review
Thank you for this wonderful recipe! It has become a family favorite!!! Easy and flavorfulโฆ.my go to after a long day when I just want to cook something fast AND delicious!
Game-Changing Cashew Chicken
- No Breading or Frying! With my recipe, you get all the flavor without the mess, making it a healthier choice and a breeze to clean up!
- Flavor Town! The chicken is tender, the cashews bring the perfect crunch, and the sauce is an irresistible blend of sweet and savory goodness!
- Simple Ingredients! You probably already have everything you need in your pantry! No need to go to a specialty store.
Ingredients Needed
- Can I Use Chicken Thighs Instead of Breasts? Yes, chicken thighs work great in this recipe!
- Can I Add Veggies? Yes, I would stir-fry bell peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, or any veggies you have on hand after cooking the chicken. Then add the chicken back once the veggies are tender.
- Garnish: I love tossing in some chopped green onions at the end for a burst of flavor and a pop of color!
How to Make Cashew Chicken
This is the best cashew chicken recipe, and it comes together quickly! If you want an even easier oven version, try my sheet pan cashew chicken next. Try my skillet chicken & broccoli for another quick and simple meal.
- Cut Chicken: Cut chicken breastsย into 1-inch equal pieces for even cooking. Season the chicken pieces withย salt and pepperย to taste.
- Coat Chicken Pieces: Add the chicken to aย ziplock bagย along withย the cornstarch. Seal and shake the bag to coat the chicken pieces in the cornstarch.
- Cook Chicken: Add the olive oilย to aย wokย or largeย skilletย over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken and cook until golden brown, about 5-7 minutes. Donโt cook all the way, it will finish cooking in the sauce.
- Make and Cook With The Sauce: In a small bowl,ย whisk soy sauce, chicken broth,ย minced garlic,ย brown sugar,ย Hoisin sauce, andย sesame oil. Add the sauce to the pan, along withย whole unsalted cashews. Toss until the sauce has thickened. Serve cashew chicken over rice with veggies if desired.
Roast Cashews
Roast Cashews For Flavor! If you bought raw cashews, roast them to bring out extra flavor! Place them on a sheet pan in the oven at 350ยฐF for about 5 minutes. Theyโll crisp up as they cool!
Storing Leftovers
While Chinese cashew chicken is amazing, the leftovers can be a little soggy. But, itโs worth saving because the flavors intensify as they meld together overnight.
- To Reheat:ย To reheat, use the microwave or a pan and flash fry on medium-high until heated through. This will help crisp up the chicken and cashews a bit.
- In the Refrigerator: Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
What to Serve With Cashew Chicken
We love eating our cashew chicken with my easy fried riceย and someย stir-fried vegetablesย for a complete meal. You can also try some of the ideas below.
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Better Than Takeout Cashew Chicken
Ingredientsย
- 1 ยฝ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- salt and pepper to taste
- ยผ cup cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ยผ cup soy sauce or low-sodium
- ยฝ cup chicken broth
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Hoisin sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 cup whole unsalted cashews
Instructionsย
- Cut 1 ยฝ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the chicken to a ziplock bag along with ยผ cup cornstarch. Seal and shake the bag to coat the chicken pieces in the cornstarch.
- In a small bowl, whisk ยผ cup soy sauce, ยฝ cup chicken broth, 3 cloves minced garlic, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Hoisin sauce, and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. Add the sauce to the pan, along with 1 cup whole unsalted cashews. Toss until the sauce has thickened. Serve over rice and with veggies if desired.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made this it was so good !
I will make extra sauce for rice!
very good!! I used Planters Lightly Salted Cashew Halves and Pieces and I liked the way the cashews were distributed all over the chicken! I also used frozen broccoli florets.
Easy to make, but not flavorful.
Iโm sorry it didnโt have enough flavor for you. Thanks for your feedback.
Just made this. Delicious! โ lives up to its name!
Tried this recipe tonight was fabulous. Everyone loved it, will surely make again.
I tried this recipe tonight because it looked so good and very simple. It did not disappoint on either of those things. Simple to make, I always have the ingredients on handโฆand I had fresh string beans which I threw in during the last few minutes which allowed me to stretch the leftovers! I already shared the recipe with 3 other peopleโฆthank you for a quick delicious meal that will become a regular at my house. And it truly is better than the takeout chicken and cashews at my local Chinese restaurant. Thank you for a great recipe!
Just tried this tonight. Very easy to make which I love. While it was very good. I felt like an ingredientmay have been missing from the traditional flavor of this dish that Iโve had several times before. I canโt put my finger on it, but it was very good regardless.
The recipe was absolutely deliciousโflavorful, satisfying, and clearly made with love. That said, I did notice it used a generous amount of olive oil for frying. While olive oil is fantastic for dressings and low-to-medium heat cooking thanks to its heart-healthy fats and antioxidants, itโs not the best choice for high-heat frying.
When heated beyond its smoke point (around 375ยฐF or 190ยฐC for extra virgin olive oil), olive oil can break down, producing harmful compounds and a bitter taste. This can not only compromise the flavor of the dish but may also introduce free radicals that arenโt great for long-term health.
For high-temperature frying, itโs better to use oils with higher smoke points, such as avocado oil, refined coconut oil, peanut oil, or even sunflower oil. These can handle the heat without degrading, keeping both your food and your health in better shape.
So while I thoroughly enjoyed the dish, a little oil switch could take it from great to even betterโtasty and safe.
Thank you for pointing this out. You are right, I switched the oil.
Delicious! I added broccoli and water chestnuts. Will definitely make again!
Great recipe! Itโs become a weekly staple in our house!
Delicious
Loved this recipe!! Easy and delicious!
Loved this recipe and the sauce was fantastic! Double the sauce because of all the veggies I added. I will be using this recipe again and again. BTW it tasted great the next night warmed up..
Iโm so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for commenting and leaving a review! It means a lot!
Excellent! I followed the recipe exactly except I put in less garlic than called for. I doubled the quantity because it wasnโt enough sauce. A keeper for sure.
Easy, quick, and really yummy!