Description
Cashew Chicken is a quick and flavorful stir-fry featuring tender chicken, crisp vegetables, and crunchy roasted cashews tossed in a savory-sweet sauce. This easy one-pan meal is perfect for busy weeknights and tastes even better than takeout.
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup roasted cashews
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey or brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Season the chicken pieces with salt and black pepper, then toss with cornstarch until lightly coated.
- Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 4–5 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pan, add bell pepper and broccoli and stir-fry for 3–4 minutes until slightly tender but still crisp.
- Stir in minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey or brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and chicken broth.
- Return the chicken to the skillet and pour the sauce over the mixture.
- Simmer for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the chicken and vegetables.
- Stir in roasted cashews just before serving.
Notes
- Add snap peas, carrots, or mushrooms for extra vegetables.
- For more heat, include red pepper flakes or chili sauce.
- Reduce honey and serve over cauliflower rice for a lighter option.
- Use gluten-free soy sauce and hoisin sauce to make it gluten-free.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave until warmed through.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
