Time to face facts: you're a Cashew Chicken Stir Fry person now. This delicious dish delivers on flavor AND fills you up at the same time.
What is cashew chicken stir fry?
You know cashew chicken as a menu staple at just about every Chinese restaurant in the United States. At its best, the rich nuttiness from the cashews teams up perfectly with tender bites of chicken in a delicious sauce. Cashew chicken stir fry takes these stars of the show and gives them a supporting cast of crispy peppers, green onions, and rice. Sound like a winner? It is.
Cashew chicken stir fry
This cashew chicken stir fry doesn’t aim to recreate the takeout experience—though there are people who can teach you to do that. Instead, I’m taking inspiration from the concept and putting it together in a way that’s quick, easy, and able to serve you all week.
What does cashew chicken taste like?
This cashew chicken stir fry is great because it delivers on taste, texture, and—in the right hands—nutrition. For taste, like many stir fry dishes, the final flavor is a beautifully melded combination of each individual component, bonded together by the sauce that’s used to cook the dish. For texture, the chew of the chicken and the hearty mouthfeel of cashews balance each other perfectly. Add the snap of some delicious peppers, and you’ve got an idea of the multi-sensory experience you’re in for with this.
What is in cashew chicken?
This recipe doesn’t have much more than meets the eye, and that’s a good thing (for our wallets and our time). Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients list:
- Chicken
- Olive Oil
- White Rice
- Cashews
- Bell Peppers
- Optional: sesame seeds & green onions
Sauce
- Hoisin sauce
- Water
- Soy sauce
- Garlic
- Ginger
How do you make chicken stir fry with cashew nuts?
As with the ingredients list, the recipe itself is blessedly simple. It’s only 7 steps (including the super important final step)!
- Add the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl. Whisk together and then set aside.
- Heat up a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil.
- Place the pieces of chicken into the skillet, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook. Use a spoon to stir chicken and cook until internal temp is 165 or browned and cooked through.
- Add the chopped bell peppers to the skillet. Stir occasionally until peppers are desired tenderness.
- Cut the heat to low and add the cashews, rice, and sauce to the skillet. Stir so that the sauce coats everything in the skillet. Keep on a low heat for about 2 minutes so the sauce can thicken.
- Take the skillet off the heat and top with green onions and sesame seeds.
- Enjoy!
What can I add to stir fry for flavor?
In any stir fry, the sky’s the limit for what you can do with sauce and heat. I personally feel like I’m still learning how to not drown everything in flood of sauce so that the ingredients get to speak for themselves.
This recipe is a good example of that effort.
The combination of soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and water that forms the base of the liquid for the stir fry isn’t overpowering, but it does bring the dish together.
How to store stir fry
This is one of those meals that keeps on giving. It’s great fresh out of the skillet, but the flavors really sit together and make for some really awesome leftovers (or a really good candidate for meal prep).
Are cashews good for you?
Nuts can boast a surprisingly excellent nutritional profile—cashews are no exception. Like anything else, there are ways to make them a bit less beneficial, like pouring on the oil or salt when roasting them. However, the healthy fats and protein they provide work really well in this recipe.
Is stir fry good for you?
There are plenty of ways to make a healthy stir fry! Focus on protein, a lot of veggies, and a little bit of sauce for a balance of the protein, carbohydrates, and fats macronutrients. This stir fry leaves me feeling fueled and energized compared to a takeout stir fry.
How many calories are in cashew chicken?
A serving of this stir fry has 434 calories. It has 46g of carbs, 42g of protein, and 13g of fat.
Looking for more recipes?
Why not try some of these other Jordo’s World favorites?
Can I have the recipe?
If you try this recipe and love it, please rate and review it!
Cashew Chicken Stir Fry
Equipment
- skillet
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs chicken cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup rice cooked
- 1 cup cashews
- 3 bell peppers cut into 4 inch strips
- optional: sesame seeds & green onions
Sauce
- ½ cup hoisin sauce
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon garlic
- 1 teaspoon ginger
Instructions
- Add the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl. Whisk together and then set aside.
- Heat up a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil.
- Place the pieces of chicken into the skillet, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook. Use a spoon to stir chicken and cook until internal temp is 165 or browned and cooked through.
- Add the chopped bell peppers to the skillet. Stir occasionally until peppers are desired tenderness.
- Cut the heat to low and add the cashews, rice, and sauce to the skillet. Stir so that the sauce coats everything in the skillet. Keep on a low heat for about 2 minutes so the sauce can thicken.
- Take the skillet off the heat and top with green onions and sesame seeds.
- Enjoy!
Kristin Gray says
Jordo does it again! Another amazingly simple but so delicious dish!
Jesse says
This stir fry was incredibly easy to make and it was DELICIOUS! The cashews and the hoisin really did it for me. Lots of flavor and a great dish to add all your gonna-go-bad-tomorrow vegetables to- we added snap peas and mushrooms. Would definitely recommend and this will become a part of our dinner rotation for sure!
Megan says
Jordo never disappoints! This recipe is no exception. So many great flavors and textures! We want to add snow peas next time. Thanks, Jordo!
Hannah Dillon says
Made this as my partners meal prep and he is obsessed! We subbed out half of the rice for cauli rice, added some sriracha chili paste for spice and BOOM. Personalized for us, with deep flavor and quick to make. We've made it two weeks in a row with no signs of stopping.
Anita Peters says
Oh my gosh! Another flavorful recipe with the right amount of macros! I made this tonight for dinner using up some leftovers (chicken and rice), added an onion, some extra bell peppers and what a hit! My husband told me that I should definitely add this to the dinner rotation. Thanks for another awesome dinner recipe!
Brooke says
This was the best tasting Asian inspired dish I have ever made!!! That sauce is killer!! I will definitely be making this on heavy rotation!
It will not disappoint, try it!!
Katie says
Such a yummy and easy dinner!
Brittany says
I’ve tried other at home Chinese recipes before and they are good but not great… enter Jordo’s Cashew chicken stir fry and white needs takeout! Mind blown. It’s so simple and so tasty. You will not regret making this.
Saretta Holler says
I make this weekly for my boyfriend who loves it. So easy and quick, I even use frozen peppers!
Alley Ray says
LOVE this recipe. I’m always craving something like this. It makes a lot of sauce, so I use extra rice and chicken and use it for meal prep. This will be a staple in our house from now on!
Tovey Painter says
A family favorite. Love this recipe!
Anita Peters says
This is another of our Jordo's favorites, on repeat! So tasty and just as good as any local Cashew Chicken takeout that we're going to find! And I can add extra peppers and chicken to boost veggies and protein! Excited for the lunch leftovers today!!
Emily says
This was so good. The whole family loves it. My son couldn’t wait to take the leftovers to school for lunch.
Kay Lynn Thomas says
This was so good and easy and usual! I didn't have hoisin, so I substituted with Trader Joe's Sriracha and Roasted Garlic BBQ sauce and it was delish!
Pamela says
Excellent! Flavorful and filling! Added a side of broccoli to fill up and add fiber. Perfect, easy weeknight dinner!