Posted Apr 29, 2018, Updated Dec 05, 2023 What do you cook when you have 30 minutes to get dinner on the table and zero inspiration, but still want to make a healthy and hearty meal? I have a few dishes like this up my sleeve, but my absolute favorite dinner-in-a-hurry is this cashew chicken stir-fry. It’s loaded with protein and vegetables and comes together in minutes. I love serving it with this homemade fried rice too! If I’m being honest, stir fry is my favorite meal. I could eat it every night and never get tired of it. And this cashew chicken stir fry is my favorite recipe. I have made it more times than I can count. Plus, it is always the meal I request when my husband offers to cook for me on special occasions (like my birthday and Mother’s Day)! Because he’d take me out to eat, however I usually prefer to dine at home since we have six young kids, who are wonderful, but don’t make dining out very relaxing!
Cashew Chicken Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions
One of the great things about this recipe is that it’s customizable. Don’t like broccoli? No problem. Can’t do soy, easy. So here are a few possible ingredient substitutions.
Soy Sauce. If you are allergic to soy, or follow the paleo diet, then substitute Coconut Aminos in both the marinade and sauce. Mirin. I love Mirin . It’s a sweet/tangy wine and pantry staple I am never without. I purchase it at a local Asian food market, however it is available in most major grocery stores. If you cannot find it, rice vinegar works well as a substitute. Peanut/Sesame oils. These are two more pantry staples I always have on hand and use in my Asian recipes. They impart a wonderful flavor to whatever dish they are in, and I highly recommend buying them. However, olive, canola or avocado oils also work in this recipe. Powdered spices. You can substitute real minced garlic and fresh diced onion in this stir fry instead of the powders. Just cook them with the vegetables. Cornstarch. tapioca flour/starch can be used in place of cornstarch for a paleo-friendly option. Cashews. Peanuts work well in this recipe too, however cashews are my favorite! Vegetables. Use your favorite vegetables. Options not included here that are great additions include baby corn, carrots, onions, sprouts, pineapple, etc.!
How to make Cashew Chicken Stir Fry
Here are a few tips on making sure this recipe turns out fabulous every single time!
Brown the chicken
I am an advocate for browning meat because it creates a delicious taste and texture. That is why, whenever I make stir fry, I brown the chicken first. I also like to cook the cashews with the chicken so they get nice and crispy. Then when it’s time to put everything together I add the browned mixture at the very end so that it doesn’t lose it’s crispiness in the sauce.
Cook
Use a large nonstick fry pan or wok to cook the vegetables. Be careful not to over-cook the broccoli. It will continue cooking (and becoming softer) after it’s removed from the heat.
Thicken the sauce.
Once all the ingredients are covered in the sauce and have had a chance to soak it in a little, thicken it with the cornstarch/water mixture. Do this by creating a “hole” in the middle of your frying pan or wok, pouring the mixture in and then stirring it quickly so that it’s evenly distributed. The sauce will thicken fast so work quickly!
Serve
Serve this cashew chicken warm with rice or noodles. We like to serve it with fried rice! I also love serving it after some delicious appetizers like fresh spring rolls and peanut sauce or asian chicken lettuce wraps.
Store
Leftovers of this recipe are my favorite. Store them in an airtight container with a lid for 3-5 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop. If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
More Asian Recipes:
Asian chicken lettuce wraps are an all-time favorite. We make this Asian quinoa salad ALL the time! My kids love these sweet and sour meatballs! This cashew chicken stir fry is my go-to dinner on busy weeknights. Thai slow cooker ground turkey is SO delicious! I love this slow cooker teriyaki chicken Crispy tofu stir fry with peanut sauce is a great meatless Monday main dish!
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