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 end result is outrageously delicious and it is so much better than takeout.
Hubby and I just love eating this with Zucchini Noodles, but rice, udon or ramen noodles are also delicious with this. It is a healthy and hearty meal just by itself but if company is coming I like to serve Sweet Pork Dumplings and Crab Rangoon with it.
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 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet or wok. Then add the chicken pieces in a single layer cooking until browned on both sides. Work in batches plating the chicken or removing to a seperate skillet. While the chicken is cooking whisk together the Hoisin Sauce, ketchup, soy sauce, water, rice vinegar, brown sugar, grated ginger, and chili garlic sauce.
Now in same skillet over medium high heat cook red bell peppers and broccoli until crisp tender. Then add the chicken, cashews and sauce to the skillet stirring gently to combine. Simmer for just a few minutes to let everything heat up and thicken a little bit. If desired garnish with green onions.
Recipe notes and tips for Cashew Chicken
- 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 Hoisin Sauce.
- Use salted or unsalted roasted cashews. I usually don’t chop them unless they are extremely large and then it is coarsely.
- 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 a reduced power in the microwave.
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 One Skillet Steak and Peppers.
What is Sambal Oelek?
It is unsweetened ground fresh chili paste and it is spicy. Therefore you don’t need a lot to add a little kick to your recipes. I personally 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 and it can last up to 2 months or more. I use it in Bang Bang Shrimp, Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Chili Sauce, and Szechuan Green Beans.
Other Asian recipes you will love!
Cashew Chicken
This delectable Cashew Chicken recipe brings crispy pan fried chicken bites, sweet red bell pepper, crisp tender broccoli, and roasted cashews together in a spicy, salty, and sweet mouth watering sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main meal chicken
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: Asian
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 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 Hoisin Sauce.
- Use salted or unsalted roasted cashews. I usually don’t chop them unless they are extremely large and then it is coarsely.
- 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 a reduced power in the microwave.
Keywords: chicken with cashew nuts, cashew chicken sauce, cashew chicken recipe
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Vasu Devan
It looks totally delicious, I will probably try it one of these days. May experiment a bit as usual! 🙂
Renata - www.byemyself.com
While I don’t fancy cashew nuts as a snack, I just love them in stir-fried dishes, hence, this recipe is just right down my alley.
Ntensibe Edgar
I don’t think I have eaten cashew before. Now, if it’s put together with chicken in the same sentence, I am more eager to try it out. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Rosey
I love that you don’t get the cashiers unless they’re too big. I like to have them hold of my meals. Cashews make this dish special.
Melanie williams
How nice is this, I like to cook at home sometimes instead of buying takeaways. My husband will love this x
Elizabeth O
This is really a great recipe Beth, I agree with everyone in the comments. I loved it!
★★★★★
briannemanz
I love the combination of broccoli and chicken breasts pieces. I am working more on making healthy recipes at home and this is perfect. Thanks so much for sharing
★★★★★
Romy
Yum! Chinese food is a family favorite here and I must make this. Thanks for sharing..
Gervin Khan
Oh my gosh! This dish is so delicious and looks easy to make.
It makes my mouthwatering!
★★★★★
Abida
The recipe was really great!
Cristina S Petrini
I must say it is a tasty and healthy way of cooking chicken, I must try!
★★★★★
Heather Klein Wolf
This sounds so much better than takeout. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Talya Stone
I love cooking with cashews. They bring such brilliant texture to a dish and are always a win with chicken and Asian flavors.
Sheila
This recipe is easy and delicious! It’s so full of flavor!
★★★★★
Heidi Schaffer
I’ve made this several times, my family loves it!
★★★★★
Toni
This was so good and amazing! Perfect for dinner any night of the week!
★★★★★
Andrea
This is such a fabulous version of cashew chicken. My family is going to love it.
★★★★★
Michele
This was a hit with the family and so easy to make! We will be making this again and again.
★★★★★
Tracy @ Served From Scratch
Such great flavors!! We loved using our homemade hoisin sauce for it! A new favorite with my kids!
★★★★★
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
This is so delicious and flavourful! I find it hard to find meals the whole family enjoys but this is definitely one of them!
★★★★★
Claudia Lamascolo
The family loved the addition of toasted cashew nuts, they love them so this brought this dish to a flavorful delicious new level!
★★★★★
Katherine
SO many great flavours in this chicken dish! I love that it’s ready in half an hour, too.
★★★★★
Jacqueline Meldrum
Such a colourful dish and I love that you used cashews.
★★★★★
Bintu | Budget Delicious
What a tasty recipe – this sounds so crispy and delicious! Definitely trying it this week with my family.
★★★★★
Jo
Family approved! this cashew chicken is so tasty and easy to make!
★★★★★
Beti | easyweeknightrecipes
Such an amazing meal!! We love Cashew Chicken! Can’t wait to try this recipe!
★★★★★
katerina @ diethood.com
WOW! This looks incredibly delicious!! My family would love it!
★★★★★
Catalina
I love all these veggies in this cashew chicken. Must try!
★★★★★
Amanda Livesay
This is the perfect substitute for my favorite takeout! It’s so good!
★★★★★
Jen
Wow, the chili pastes really gives this dish it’s punch of flavor. It was so good!
★★★★★
Jo
This was a hit all around the dinner table last night! The chicken was perfectly seasoned!
★★★★★
Amanda
This looks like such a good flavor for chicken!