Description
Spicy Cashew Chicken brings zesty restaurant flavors straight to your kitchen with bold, restaurant-worthy results that satisfy serious takeout cravings. Restaurant magic happens when tender chicken meets crunchy cashews in a seriously addictive sauce that makes dinner feel like a special treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Nuts and Garnish:
- ½ cup cashews
- ½ cup green onions
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sriracha sauce
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Season 1 lb chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat (375°F). Cook chicken for 6-8 minutes until golden and completely cooked through.
- Whisk together 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons sriracha, 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce, and 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl.
- Add extra oil to skillet if needed. Sauté 2 minced garlic cloves for 30 seconds until aromatic. Toss in ½ cup cashews and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until lightly toasted.
- Return chicken to skillet. Pour entire prepared sauce mixture over chicken. Stir continuously for 2-3 minutes until sauce completely coats chicken and thickens.
- Remove skillet from heat immediately after sauce reaches desired consistency. Sprinkle ½ cup sliced green onions across the top for fresh garnish.
- Transfer chicken to serving plate. Serve hot alongside steamed rice or noodles for a complete, satisfying meal.
Notes
- Toast cashews carefully to enhance their nutty flavor and prevent burning, watching them closely in the hot skillet.
- Adjust sriracha sauce amount based on personal spice tolerance, starting with less and adding more gradually.
- Use room temperature chicken for more even cooking and better browning in the skillet.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular soy sauce with tamari and ensure hoisin sauce is gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 313 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg