Cashew Chicken Recipe
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This Cashew Chicken recipe makes a favorite quick and easy recipe perfect for busy weeknights! Ready and on the table faster than takeout!
Cashew chicken was always one dish I turned to when I saw it on the menu, but now that I realize I’m sensitive to MSG and preservatives, it is one of those recipes that I just knew I had to make at home so that my whole family could enjoy it.
As I remade the recipe, I was determined that it had to be one that I could make on the busiest of weeknights, that it tasted just as delicious (if not more so) than the restaurant version, and that it had to be easy! Mission accomplished!
Cashew Chicken Recipe
How to Make Better Than Takeout Cashew Chicken Recipe
To make it, I start by cutting my boneless, skinless chicken breasts into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Toss the chicken in cornstarch or arrowroot powder until it is well coated and set aside while you heat your oil of choice in your skillet. You can use coconut oil, butter, or olive oil.
Then, add your chicken pieces to the heated skillet and cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
While you chicken is cooking, stir together the sauce for the cashew chicken. It includes soy sauce or coconut aminos, rice wine vinegar, tomato paste, honey, garlic, ginger and red pepper flakes.
Pour it into the skillet along with the chicken.
And then add in your raw cashews. Stir them in and then cook for just a few more minutes until the cashews are heated throughout, but still have a definite crunch.
For a little color and additional depth of flavor, I like to also include green onions.
The really make it scrumptious, I think.
You can then serve with lo mein, cooked rice, zucchini noodles, or broccoli.
How to Freeze
- Cool. Once cooked, allow to cool completely.
- Place in Containers. Portion into an airtight, freezer-safe container(s), label, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw. Allow to thaw overnight.
- Reheat and Serve. Reheat in oven or microwave until warm and serve.
Here’s my Cashew Chicken Recipe. I hope you love it!
Cashew Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
- 1/4 cup cornstarch, or arrowroot powder, optional
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, or coconut oil or butter
- 1/2 cup soy sauce, or coconut aminos
- 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 teaspoons grated fresh ginger or 1 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 1/2 cups raw cashews
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped green onion, optional
Instructions
- Add chicken pieces and cornstarch or arrowroot powder, if using, to a medium bowl and toss gently with a fork to make sure chicken is well coated.
- Melt coconut oil or butter in a medium skillet set over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until browned, about 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, stir together soy sauce or coconut aminos, rice wine vinegar, tomato paste, honey, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Pour sauce over chicken and stir in cashews until well combined. Cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken has cooked through and the sauce has thickened, about 5 minutes.Stir in black pepper and green onions.
- Remove skillet from heat and serve over rice, zucchini noodles, broccoli and top with additional chopped green onions, if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
I love cashew chicken, but soy triggers migraines. I love that I can make it at home using this recipe because I can use coconut aminos in place of soy. The flavor is phenomenal! My husband and I both love it, so I use this recipe frequently. Recently, I forgot to grab tomato paste at the store but has gochujang paste on hand so I used that instead. It added some heat, so I recommend that modification for anyone who likes spicy food. I enjoy it both ways. Thank you for this delicious recipe!
Jorie, I’m so glad this cashew chicken recipe worked for you with the coconut aminos. I have family that cannot have soy and the coconut aminos have worked great in recipes for them.
So so good. Delicious- whole family loved it!
Thanks, Kathleen. I’m happy your family loved this chicken recipe.
This dish was pretty tasty. MOST DEFINITELY, however, stick to the raw cashews called for in the recipe. I used salted ones because it’s all I had and the dish was too salty between the soy sauce and salt from those cashews. My fault totally. Overall good flavored dish though, and pretty easy.
This is AMAZING. I just made it. It’s the kind of dish you just can’t stop eating!
I make this recipe almost weekly it seems. I didn’t have the tomato paste the first time I made it, so I used ketchup. Turned out great, and the next time I did use the tomato paste, I didn’t like it as well, so I use ketchup every time now. I also use Sesame Oil.
Thanks, Ashley. I haven’t tried making this with ketchup.
I tried this tonight and it was excellent! Will definitely make again. I did not have rice wine vinegar so I substituted sherry and it was worked great.
I’m so glad you liked this, Brenna, even with the substitution. Thanks.
This is a family favorite!
Thanks, Susan!
It seems like I make this every other week I have the recipe memorized. I recently served it over sautéed zucchini chunks instead of the usual green pepper and my husband really liked that too! Thanks for your weekly meal plan too, they come in handy when I’m out of ideas.
Debbie,
I haven’t tried this recipe over sautéed zucchini chunks but it sounds delicious. So happy you are finding the meal plans useful. I wanted it to make meal planning easier. Thanks!