This Cashew Chicken combines crispy pan-fried chicken breast pieces with sweet red bell pepper, tender-crisp broccoli, and roasted cashews in a slightly spicy, sweet, and tangy sauce. The result is outrageously delicious, and it is so much better than takeout.
Quick and Easy Cashew Chicken
This simple and delicious cashew chicken recipe can be made in just one pan, making it the perfect easy dinner for busy weeknights. Try it out tonight and impress your family with this flavorful dish! Hubby and I love eating this with zucchini noodles, but rice, udon, or ramen noodles are also delicious. It is a healthy and hearty meal just by itself, but if guests are coming, I like to serve it with gyoza, crab rangoon, or bacon-wrapped water chestnuts.
Cashew Chicken Ingredient
How to make Cashew Chicken
Start by cutting your chicken into small bite-sized pieces. Then, combine the chicken and cornstarch in a large zipper bag and shake to coat. Heat a couple of tablespoons of oil in a large skillet or wok. Add the chicken pieces in a single layer, cooking until browned on both sides. Work in batches, plating or removing the chicken to a separate skillet. While the chicken is cooking, whisk the Hoisin Sauce, ketchup, soy sauce, water, rice vinegar, brown sugar, grated ginger, and chili garlic sauce.
In the same skillet, cook red bell peppers and broccoli until crisp-tender over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, cashews, and sauce to the skillet, stirring gently to combine. Simmer for a few minutes to let everything heat up and thicken slightly. If desired, garnish with green onions.
Recipe Tips
- Cut your chicken into thin bite-size pieces so that it cooks all the way through.
- Cook the bell pepper and broccoli until crisp-tender. They will simmer for a couple of additional minutes in the sauce.
- Use salted or unsalted roasted cashews. I usually don’t chop them unless they are extremely large.
- This dish is best served promptly while the chicken is slightly crunchy, the veggies are still crisp-tender, and the sauce is the right consistency.
What is Hoisin Sauce?
Hoisin sauce (commonly referred to as Chinese Ketchup) is a thick, fragrant sauce commonly used as a glaze for meat or as an ingredient in a stir-fry sauce. It is dark red in appearance, and it has a unique sweet and salty taste. The Chinese people mainly use Hoisin Sauce as a table condiment. Jars of it sit on tables in Chinese restaurants in the same manner that ketchup sits on tables in American restaurants. Look for it in the Asian food section of your local grocery store. You will only need a couple of tablespoons for this recipe, so you will have some left for this delicious chicken lettuce wraps.
What is Sambal Oelek?
It is an unsweetened ground fresh chili paste that is spicy. Therefore, you don’t need much to add a little kick to your recipes. I like it better than sriracha in my Asian recipes. I think it has a more authentic flavor as it will taste like you are adding fresh chiles. Store the jar in the chilly part of your refrigerator. It can last up to 2 months or more. I use it in bang bang shrimp, Hunan chicken, and coconut shrimp with sweet chili sauce.
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave at reduced power in the microwave.
More Asian Recipes
Cashew Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs cut into bite size pieces
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons Hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons grated ginger
- 2 tablespoons ground fresh chili paste Sambal Oelek
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 2 cups chopped broccoli crowns
- ¾ cup roasted unsalted cashews
Instructions
- Combine the chicken and cornstarch in a large zipper bag and shake to coat. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces in a single layer, cooking until browned on both sides. Work in batches plating the cooked chicken as you go. Add more vegetable oil as needed.
- While the chicken is cooking, whisk together the Hoisin Sauce, ketchup, soy sauce, water, rice vinegar, brown sugar, grated ginger, and chili paste in a small bowl.
- In the same skillet over medium-high heat, cook red bell peppers and broccoli until crisp-tender.
- Add the cooked chicken, cashews, and sauce to the skillet stirring gently to combine. Simmer for 3-4 minutes to heat everything through and thicken the sauce.
Notes
- Cut your chicken into thin bite-size pieces so that it cooks all the way through.
- Cook the bell pepper and broccoli just until crisp-tender, as they will be simmering for a couple of minutes at the end in the sauce.
- Hoisin sauce and ground fresh chili paste (Sambal Oelek) can be found in the Asian food section of most grocery stores.
- In a pinch, either ketchup or Hoisin Sauce can be substituted for the other. I like the combination of both, but you could use 4 tablespoons of ketchup or 4 tablespoons of Hoisin Sauce.
- Use salted or unsalted roasted cashews. I usually don’t chop them unless they are extremely large.
- This dish is best served promptly while the chicken is just slightly crunchy, the veggies are still crisp-tender, and the sauce is the right consistency.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat at reduced power in the microwave.
Nutrition
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Kelly H
This was amazing! I can’t wait to make it again and share it with my brother. Cashew chicken is his favorite! You have the best recipes without a lot of complicated ingredients or instructions.
Julie D
This is exactly what I needed when looking for a cashew chicken recipe. So tasty and easy to make! Cashew chicken is my favorite and this is my new favorite cashew chicken recipe!
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked it!
Haven
I loved this recipe. I’m planning on cooking it once a week now. It’s healthy and taste wonderful.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Haven! Enjoy!
Chris T
I loved that this recipe was quick and easy. Those are the recipes I look for and make after a busy day of teaching. This was so yummy and so much better than carryout. Thanks for sharing!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Chris!
Claudia R
The cashews in this chicken really give it a lovely crunch. We really enjoyed this. I’ll be making this one again.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Claudia! So glad that you enjoyed it!
Allison C
I just printed this recipe out! I already have all the ingredients, and it looks delicious and healthy!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Allison! Enjoy!
Ana Butler
This recipe made my mouth water! I can’t wait to try it tonight. One of my favorite meals is pecans on chicken so this is going to be an absolute win.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Ana! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Gust S
I tried your cashew chicken recipe last night, and it was a hit! The flavors were perfectly balanced, and the cashews added such a delightful crunch.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Gust! We love it too!
William C
Great recipe! I added a little bit more broccoli because I love it! This is such a healthy recipe with so much flavor and texture!
Beth Pierce
I agree, William! It really is delicious!
Merideth M
Fast, easy, and delicious! Better than what you can get in a restaurant!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Meredith!
Kim A
I love cashew chicken and this was delicious! Thanks for sharing such a great recipe for one of my favorite meals!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Kim!
Richard L
I love this cashew chicken. I have many memories of stuffing myself with this dish. thanks for the recipe. It was even better than I remember it!
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked it, Richard!
Emily
This recipe sounds so amazing! I’ll have to try this with pressed tofu and grilled veggies to try and recreate a vegetarian version!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Emily! Enjoy!
Debbie M
When we visited my grandma, a local restaurant made the best cashew chicken. It’s long closed. I’m so excited to find such a yummy recipe to make it at home now! We loved every bite!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Debbie! So glad that you liked it!
Ben H
This could not be better. I love all kinds of Asian food, and cashews are my favorite nuts. I made it yesterday and it gets a 10/10.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Ben! So glad that you liked it!
Claudia King
This recipe is everything I’ve ever loved about take out. The savory sauce and crisp vegetables were perfect with the crunch of the cashews and the tender chicken.