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Cashew Chicken

The best Cashew Chicken Recipe you'll ever have! It tastes just like it came from your local takeout spot. Soft and tender garlic chicken thighs are cooked and coated in a mouthwatering hoisin based sauce and it's all made in under 30 minutes!

Prep Time
2 mins
Cook Time
2 mins
marinating time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 505 kcal
Course: Main Course , Dinner
Cuisine: Chinese-American Fussion

Ingredients

sauce
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
chicken
  • 1 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1/2" pieces
rest of dish
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil
  • 1 cup roasted, unsalted cashews
  • 2 green onions thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

sauce
    Cup of Yum
  1. Combine all sauce ingredients into a mixing bowl and whisk together. Set aside.
chicken
  1. Combine all ingredients, except chicken into a mixing bowl and whisk together.
  2. Pour mixture over chicken and stir until evenly coated. Allow chicken to sit for 10 minutes.
assemble
  1. Place a large pan or wok over high heat and add 1 tablespoon oil. Add half chicken and partially cook, about 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
  2. Transfer chicken to a plate and return pan to stove.
  3. Add remaining oil and chicken to pan and partially cook, another 4 to 5 minutes. Stir plated chicken back to pan and cook for an additional minute.
  4. Stir sauce into pan and lower heat to medium. Simmer sauce and chicken together until sauce thickens enough to coat chicken, 2 to 3 minutes.
  5. Stir cashews into chicken mixture until evenly combined.
  6. Remove from heat and top with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve.

Notes

  • Tips and Tricks for Cashew Chicken Success
  • Make Ahead
  • Cook cashew chicken as per instructions, but leave the cashews out. Cool dish and transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 2 days.
  • When ready to serve, transfer cashew chicken to a skillet and warm over medium-low to low heat, stirring frequently, until heated through. If sauce begins to dry out, stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons of water. Once dish is hot stir in cashews, garnish with green onions and sesame seeds and serve.
  • Freezing
  • Cook cashew chicken as per instructions, but leave the cashews out. Cool dish and transfer to an airtight container. Place in freezer for up to 3 months.
  • When ready to serve, transfer container to refrigerator and thaw. Once thawed, pour cashew chicken into a skillet and warm over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until heated through. If sauce begins to dry out, stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons of water. Once dish is hot stir in cashews, garnish with green onions and sesame seeds and serve.
  • Don't overcrowd the skillet when initially cooking the chicken. You'll end up with excess liquid in the skillet, causing the chicken to steam instead of sear. Cooking the chicken in batches will give them the ever so slight seared and crisp exterior.
  • Use unsalted (and roasted) cashews in this dish! Salted cashews will be too much and make this dish too salty. If salted cashews are all you can find, give them a quick rinse, pat dry and throw them in a skillet over low heat for a few minutes to gain their crunch back.

Nutrition Information

Calories 505kcal (25%) Carbohydrates 19g (6%) Protein 40g (80%) Fat 31g (48%) Saturated Fat 6g (30%) Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 162mg (54%) Sodium 772mg (32%) Potassium 669mg (19%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 102IU (2%) Vitamin C 2mg (2%) Calcium 50mg (5%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 505

% Daily Value*

Calories 505kcal 25%
Carbohydrates 19g 6%
Protein 40g 80%
Fat 31g 48%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 162mg 54%
Sodium 772mg 32%
Potassium 669mg 14%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 102IU 2%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 50mg 5%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.