One of my favorite things about ordering takeout is how many yummy things there are to choose from… my absolute favorite thing to order is chicken in garlic sauce (which I’m on the hunt for a killer recipe for), but my verrrrrry close second favorite is cashew chicken. Â I love that savory sauce, tender chicken, and crunchy cashews… it’s just about a perfect combination. Â
You know what I don’t think is perfect?  The cost, and the lack of cashews lol.  Seriously, around here anyway, cashew chicken comes with about 10 cashews in it.  No bueno.  I LOVE cashews and I want a lot more than that 🙂
So what’s my solution you ask?  Make it yourself at home, for way less money, and get to add as many cashews as you want 🙂
I love how quickly this recipe comes together… barely any prep and a less than 15 minutes of cook time.  Such an easy weeknight dinner recipe 🙂
My recipe makes this cashew chicken spicy, but if you prefer it not to be spicy (or you’re making it for your kiddos), feel completely free to omit the red pepper flakes.  Or if you’re like my husband, and you want it extra spicy… go for it and add more 🙂
To start this recipe, take some chicken breasts and cut them into bite sized pieces. Â Toss them into a bowl with a little bit of soy sauce and hoisin sauce to marinate for 10 minutes or so.
I used that time to go ahead and mince my garlic, slice the green onions, and cut my broccoli into florets.  If you wanted to save a little time, you could buy the pre-sliced florets, or go for a bag of frozen ones… they’re all good 🙂
This is a stir fry, so it cooks fairly quickly, that’s why I try to do all my chopping and measuring ahead of time.  It’s less stressful during cooking 🙂  I went ahead and whisked together my sauce ingredients (soy sauce, sugar, vinegar and cornstarch) and set it aside.
Next I added the vegetable oil to my big deep skillet over medium high heat, and while it was preheating I drained my chicken. Â You want to discard as much of the liquid marinade as you can, so the chicken can really sear in the pan. Â Add the red pepper flakes (if you’re using them) to the hot oil and stir a few times. Â Add your chicken and cook for 2 minutes until golden brown, add your garlic and broccoli and cook chicken another 2-3 minutes until it’s cooked through and golden.
At this point, if there’s a lot of oil in the skillet, you need to drain the oil off.  But there may not be, it just depends.  Add your cashews and turn off the heat.  Pour in your sauce and stir to completely coat the chicken in the sauce.  The sauce will thicken, that’s a good thing.  You want that sticky, savory sauce 🙂
Sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced green onions and serve over rice.  I used my Sticky Coconut Rice and I think it pairs really nicely 🙂
This is a recipe that I think the whole family will love… I know mine did!
This cashew chicken is delicious and perfect for a main dish, but it would also be super yummy as an appetizer. Â Just pick up some butter lettuce (or regular ol’ iceburg) and peel the leaves to make lettuce cups. Â Fill them with this spicy cashew chicken and enjoy!!
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Ingredients
- 2 - 3 chicken breasts cut into small bite sized pieces
- 2 tsp hoisin sauce
- 2/3 cup soy sauce (reduced sodium is preferred)
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 to 2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 4 green onions sliced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 3 Tbsp cornstarch
- 8 tsp sugar
- 4 tsp white vinegar
- 3/4 cup whole cashews or more, if you like
- sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Slice chicken breasts into bite sized pieces. Pour 1 tablespoon soy sauce and 2 tsp of hoisin sauce into a bowl. Place chicken in soy sauce. Let sit.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining soy sauce, cornstarch, sugar, and vinegar. Slice the green onions, mince garlic, and measure out red pepper flakes.
- Pour chicken into a strainer to drain and remove as much marinade as possible. Heat oil in a large deep skillet (or wok if you have one) over high heat. Add red pepper flakes to oil, stir a few times.
- Add chicken and cook for 2 minutes until golden, then stir chicken. Add garlic and broccoli and cook until chicken is cooked through, then drain oil (if necessary).
- Add cashews. Turn off heat and pour in sauce. Stir until chicken is covered in sauce. Sauce will thicken considerably. Add green onions and sesame seeds and serve over white rice.
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Elaine says
I love that it’s spicy!! Almost like Kung Pao!! Thanks for sharing!! Pinned!
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you!! Spicy is good 😀
Cydnee says
Oh my goodness, this looks fabulous! Thank you for joining us at #purebloglove. We enjoy having you every Thursday night at 8PM, EST through Sunday night. ~Cydnee
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you so much!! I enjoy linking up to the #purebloglove party every week 😀
Denise Wright says
I would eat just about anything with cashews it! This looks so good. I was just wondering what to make this week for dinner and now I have at least one meal. Pinning for sure. (Found you on Made By You Mondays).
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you so much!! I’m with you, anything with cashews in it, I’m alllll about it 😀 I hope you LOVE this meal 🙂 Happy Monday!
Petra says
What a lovely recipe! I love cashew nuts in food and I agree that there are never enough of them when you eat out. Recipe saved! 🙂
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you so much!! I’m hopelessly addicted to cashews 😀
Katherines Corner says
this is fantastic! Thank you for sharing this yumminess at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop! Watch for your feature on Monday xo
The Chunky Chef says
Oh wow, thank you so much!! I’m honored 🙂
Justine says
This looks super delicious! I also love quick meals that are easy to come together. I’d definitely love to give this a try 🙂
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you!! I’m with you, the easier the better in my book 😀 I hope you LOVE it 🙂
Karly says
So incredibly delicious! My family would love this for dinner! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you!! It’s such a fun family meal 🙂
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says
I definitely need to try this…it looks like the sort of dinner that my family will love!! Sending foodie love your way!
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you!! Awesome, I hope you all LOVE it 😀
Elaine @ foodbod says
I think making your own and adding all the cashews you want is the only answer!!!
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you! The more cashews the better 🙂
Jhuls says
Oh my gosh! That close-up shot kills me!!
I just pinned this and going to try really soooon!! Cashew Chicken is one of my favorites, too. 😉 Thanks for sharing! Happy FF.
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you so much!! I hope you LOVE it as much as we do 😀 Happy FF to you too!
Dini @ Giramuk's Kitchen says
Yum!!! I LOOOVE Cashew Chicken! My mum used to make it at home! I definitely need to try this recipe… and I love that it’s spicy (and like your husband, we might be adding more! :D)
We had the same problem of having too few cashews in restaurant dishes (but instead they put HEAPS of onion!!) Home-made is definitely the way to go!
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you!! You’re so right, around here they pile on the onions and celery, but add about 10 cashews. Sooooo not enough lol.
Tina | Mademoiselle Gourmande says
I have to admit that I never had cashew chicken and also have never heard of it. But it sure looks absolutely delicious and as I love cashews as well, I feel even more puzzled that I haven’t hear of it before. Spicy is just the way to go I think. Definitely pinning this for later. 🙂
Happy Fiesta Friday 🙂
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you!! 🙂 It’s a common dish at Chinese restaurants around here, and I hope that you try it and love it 😀 Happy FF to you as well!
Miz Helen says
WE will love your Spicy Cashew Chicken! Thanks so much for sharing your talent with Full Plate Thursday. Wishing you a Valentine Day filled with Love!
Miz Helen
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you!! Enjoy your Valentine’s Day as well 🙂
Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake says
I LOVE cashew chicken, there’s a place in Atlanta that does the best cashew chicken (I’ve literally not even tried another dish at that place because I don’t want to not have the cashew chicken) but nowhere in the UK even nearly compares. I need to try this recipe asap, especially since I have a bag of cashews waiting to be used up!
The Chunky Chef says
It’s fate 🙂 I hope you LOVE it… I know what you mean about not trying another dish because you can’t NOT have the cashew chicken… I do that with a place around here too 🙂
sue obryan says
Who doesn’t love cashew chicken? Yours simply looks so fresh and delicious, I can’t wait to try it. Thank you for bringing to FF this week!
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you so much!! Cashew chicken is such a great dish, I haven’t met anyone that doesn’t love it 🙂 Happy FF!
Joy @ Joy Love Food says
This sounds wonderful! I love cashew chicken, I need to try this. Visiting from My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday 🙂
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you!! I’m sure you’ll LOVE it 🙂
Alyssa @ Piece of Homep says
I totally agree that this will become a favorite! How can it not!? Yum!
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you so much!! 🙂
skd says
This looks reallly delicious. can imagine eating with steamed rice/noodles/pasta/breads. Complements so many things. Yumm…
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you so much! It’s really versatile 🙂 6
Stephanie @ The Cozy Cook says
Ahhh this looks SSOOO good (not a surprise.) I’ve learned now that I can’t visit your site if I’m hungry, it’s just cruel 😉 I’ll have to make this for the hubs. I have so many of yours I want to make that it blows my mind! So I haven’t made ANY! HAHA it’s too overwhelming — so I think I’m going to have to close my eyes and just PICK one already! 😉
The Chunky Chef says
Lol well thank you sweets! I can’t go to your site hungry either, or I may try to eat my laptop screen 😉 Whichever one you pick, you’ll have to let me know how you all like it 😀
ohiocook says
Sounds like another winner!
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you so much!!