Love quick and easy dinner recipes? This one is for you! This Easy Cashew Chicken takes less than 30 minutes to make and is way better than takeout! Add it to your menu this week! Love chicken? Make sure to check out these 30 Easy Chicken Recipes!
You guys have to put this Easy Cashew Chicken recipe on your menu this week! It is so easy and is just loaded with flavor! When I say better than takeout, I mean WAY better! And this recipe will take less time to make than ordering and picking up takeout too!
My family loves Chinese food and I have found over the years that making it at home is so much better than takeout. This simple Chinese Cashew Chicken recipe is sure to be a hit with your family, just like it was with mine.
Cashew Chicken Recipe
This easy dinner recipe took less than 30 minutes to make AND my family l-o-v-e-d it! I’m talking, not one piece of rice or chicken left on their plates. That is what I call a success!
Not only is this cashew chicken quicker than takeout, it tastes a whole heck of a lot better too.
What You’ll Need
There are a few specialty items that you may not have in your pantry if you don’t make stir fry all that often. That said, each of these ingredients can be found in the Asian section at your grocery store:
- hoisin sauce
- chili garlic sauce
- chicken broth or water
- boneless skinless, chicken thighs
- salt and pepper
- cornstarch
- vegetable oil
- onion
- garlic cloves
- rice vinegar
- green onions
- unsalted roasted cashews
- cooked white rice
Special Equipment
- Now you can obviously use a wok to make this stir fry but a nice wide deep skillet will also do the trick.
- A garlic mincer comes in handy if you want to cut back on the chopping.
- Using a whisk makes quick work of the sauce ingredients.
If you like good, fast, eats, this recipe is for you! In fact, I’ve got an entire cookbook today that is all about good, fast, eats and it’s the filled with deliciously amazing recipes just like this one!
When Amy first told me about her new book, Good Fast Eats, I was so excited! I mean, really, what mom doesn’t want fast and delicious meals for their families? I love this cookbook SO much! It’s filled with amazing recipes, gorgeous photos, and it’s perfectly laid out.
Just last night I served up this Easy Cashew Chicken and Chris immediately requested that this be put in our regular rotation, and then grabbed the book and started marking recipes he wants me to make.
We served the cashew chicken over some steamed white rice but if you’re feeling energetic, making up some fried rice would also be delish.
More Delicious Chicken Recipes
- Chicken Marinade
- Chicken Stir Fry Recipe
- Honey Balsamic Chicken
- 20 Minute Sesame Chicken with Broccoli
- Buttermilk Ranch Oven Fried Chicken
How To Make Cashew Chicken
Easy Cashew Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- ½ teaspoon chili garlic sauce
- 3 tablespoons chicken broth or water
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless, chicken thighs , cut into 1-inch pieces
- salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 ½ tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 small onion cut into 1-inch pieces
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 6 green onions diced
- ¾ cup unsalted roasted cashews
- cooked white rice for serving
Instructions
- Whisk together hoisin sauce, chili garlic sauce, and chicken broth in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Transfer chicken to a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle corn starch on top of chicken and toss to coat.
- In a large non stick pan, or wok, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the chicken, stirring often, until golden brown and cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add the onion and cook for another 3 or 5 minutes, stirring often, until the onion is soft and translucent.
- Add garlic and cook for another minute or so.
- Add rice vinegar and stir. Cook for another minute.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and add the hoisin mixture. Stir to combine and cook for another few minutes to warm through. Remove from heat.
- Stir in cashews and green onions. Season with more salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve over cooked white rice.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published October 14, 2016. Updated February 18, 2018.
Brenda says
I made this recipe tonight and my family loved it! I also added yellow onions, white cabbage, celery, grated carrots, cashews and broccoli. I doubled the Sause and put 1 cup of chicken broth. It will definitely be a weekly meal for sure!
Mish says
Hi. I stumbled onto your site today and found this recipe. I have to say.. it’s delicious THANK YOU!! I did double the sauce and chicken (my husband eats a lot) and I also threw in thinly sliced snow peas, red capsicum, bean sprouts and baby spinach. It came out so delicious my husband never wants to order take out again!! Thank you for sharing your love for cooking, your inspirational dishes that makes me want to cook a delicious, healthy meal. Mish (Australia)
Brie Lindsay says
Made this for the first time tonight and it will certainly not be the last. Even my picky toddler liked it!! This is absolutely going into rotation! Thanks so much for helping me flex my culinary muscles!
Valerie Roberts says
Love this recipe! Didn’t add the cornstarch, but added some chopped red bell pepper. Great flavors and easy.
Tracey says
I made this recipe for 6 adults and It was delicious! Better than Chinese take out!
Birdie says
I made this recipe this evening for my husband and I. I used 1 large breast instead of thighs and I added broccoli along with the onions. I also doubled the hoisin sauce and water mixture. I didn’t use chicken broth since it was only 3 tablespoons and it didn’t seem to affect the recipe. My husband raved about it and said it was delicious. I LOVED it!! It did take longer than what is stated in the recipe but that is probably since it was my first time to make it. This is a definite keeper.We lost our favorite Chinese restaurant a few months ago when the owner retired so I’ve been looking for good recipes to use at home!!! I highly recommend this recipe. Easy and ingredients are also easily available.
Germaine says
My Sweetie loves Cashew/Almond Chicken one dish we order- so he’s going to be surprised when I prepare this dish – but one thing is missing a variety of veggies that our favorite restaurant adds to this dish.. and plus your dish has a lot more chicken which is a huge plus…
thanks for a great recipe..