Delicious, healthy, and easy to make, our Cashew Chicken is a family favorite! Made with all-natural ingredients like chicken breast, cashews, and a variety of spices, this dish is perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a casual get-together with friends. This Better Than Takeout Cashew Chicken is going to be a go-to recipe.
Better Than Takeout Cashew Chicken
Craving Chinese food but don’t want to order in? I’ve got you covered. This easy Cashew Chicken recipe is not only healthy, but it’s also delicious. You won’t believe how good this dish is for you – and your taste buds!
All you need is a skillet and about 30 minutes, start to finish, to make this amazing dish. Plus, it’s perfect for busy weeknights when you don’t have a lot of time to cook.
What is Cashew Chicken
Cashew chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish made with chicken, cashews, and various spices. It’s typically served over rice or noodles and is a great option for those who are looking for a healthier alternative to takeout.
What Does it Taste Like
This dish has a bold, savory flavor with a hint of sweetness from the cashews. The chicken is cooked until it’s tender and juicy, and the cashews add a lovely crunch to the dish.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
There are so many reasons to love this Cashew Chicken Wraps recipe.
First of all, it tastes amazing. Nothing else matters if no one wants to eat it.
It is also healthy. When you are trying to eat healthily, it can be hard to find recipes that tick all the boxes. This one definitely does.
It is so easy to make and it comes together quickly. If you are looking for something that you can make faster than take-out can be delivered, this recipe is for you. Including prep time, this recipe is ready in 30 minutes.
Versatile. Because you are making this recipe yourself, you can customize it exactly how you want it.
Is Chinese Cashew Chicken Healthy?
Cashew chicken tends to be a healthier option when you are ordering Chinese food. By making this takeout version at home, you can make it even healthier. This recipe is made with all-natural ingredients, including chicken breast, cashews, and a variety of spices. It’s also baked instead of fried, so you don’t have to worry about any extra calories from extra oil.
What is Cashew Chicken Sauce Made of?
The sauce for Cashew Chicken includes soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and garlic. This sauce is the perfect balance of savory and sweet, and it ties the dish together.
Is Cashew Chicken White Meat?
Yes, this recipe uses chicken breast, which is white meat. You can also use chicken thighs if you prefer. Just keep in mind that chicken thighs will take a few minutes longer to cook through.
What Type of Cashews Should I Use
You can use either roasted or raw cashews in this recipe. We prefer roasted because they add more flavor, but raw cashews will work just as well. If you are using raw cashews, you may want to toast them in the skillet for a few minutes before adding the chicken to give them some flavor.
Is Chinese Cashew Chicken Gluten Free?
This recipe is naturally gluten-free, but be sure to check the labels on all of your ingredients to make sure they are certified gluten-free.
What is the Difference Between Kung Pao Chicken and Cashew Chicken?
Kung Pao chicken is a dish that originates from the Sichuan province of China. It is made with chicken, peanuts, and a variety of spices. Kung Pao chicken is typically spicy, while cashew chicken is not.
The flavor of Kung Pao chicken and Cashew Chicken differ by the ingredients used. Kung Pao chicken will have a more complex flavor because of the addition of Sichuan peppercorns, while cashew chicken will have a simpler flavor profile due to the lack of these spices.
What is the Difference Between Almond Chicken and Cashew Chicken?
The biggest difference between almond chicken and cashew chicken is the type of nut used. Other than that, these two dishes are very similar. Both are made with chicken, a variety of spices, and either roasted or raw nuts.
Variations
I Can’t Find Crunchy Cashew Butter
I get crunchy cashew butter from Walmart. If you can not find it in-store, their website offers it as well. If you can not find the crunchy cashew butter, you can use sugar-free crunchy peanut butter. You can also use creamy cashew butter and add more toasted cashew pieces to the sauce.
Can I Use Chicken Thighs
I like to use chicken breast because that is my favorite cut but also because it is lower in fat. If you prefer, you can use chicken thighs in this recipe. A lot of people prefer chicken thighs because they are known to be more flavorful and juicier. I would recommend using skinless, boneless chicken thighs to make this dish. When cooking the chicken thighs, keep in mind, that they will likely need a few minutes longer than chicken breasts.
Can I Use Other Nuts
Cashews are my personal favorite in this recipe but you could use other nuts if you prefer, especially if you are not a fan of cashews or are allergic, feel free to use another type of nut in this recipe. Almonds, peanuts, and pistachios would all be great substitutes.
Can I Add Veggies to Chicken with Cashews
Absolutely! This recipe is very versatile and you can add whatever vegetables you like. Some of our favorites to add are broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, and snap peas. Mushrooms are another delicious addition. You can add any veggie that you like or have on hand. Just make sure that they are chopped into bite-sized pieces so that they cook evenly with the chicken.
Can I Make it Spicy
If you like your food with a little bit of a kick, you can easily make this recipe spicy. Just add some more red pepper flakes to the dish or use a hotter chili sauce in the sauce. If you want to spice things up, you could also add some chopped jalapeno peppers to the dish.
Can I Make it Ahead
This recipe is great for meal prep. I love to make this recipe one day at the beginning of the week and then be able to eat it all week long. If you like to prep food so that you can save time making it later, you can prep the cashew chicken and then cook it later.
If you are adding vegetables, you will chop them ahead of time and place them in an airtight container or sandwich/freezer bag.
Combine the sauce and have it ready to go. You can even marinate the chicken the night before or the morning of if you want to add more flavor.
Dice the chicken ahead of time, so that when it is time to cook, you have everything ready.
How to Store Leftovers
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat the cashew chicken in the microwave or on the stove when you are ready to eat it.
How to Freeze Chicken
Can this chicken be frozen? Yes, it can. I like to portion out the cashew chicken into individual servings so that I can pull one out and reheat it as needed. This is great for busy weeknights or when you need a quick lunch on the go.
To freeze, let the chicken cool completely. Place it in an airtight container or freezer bag and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you are ready to eat it, thaw it overnight in the fridge and then reheat it in the microwave or on the stove.
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What to Serve with Cashew Chicken
I am serving the cashew chicken in lettuce leaves but you can serve it over rice or with noodles. Cauliflower rice or cauliflower fried rice is perfect. Steamed or roasted veggies are always great to serve with chicken. You can also serve a simple mixed green salad, fruit, or some delicious crusty bread.
Tips for Making This Recipe Perfect
The key to making this recipe perfect is to make sure that the chicken is cooked through. The last thing that you want is to bite into a piece of chicken that is raw in the middle. I would recommend using a meat thermometer to make sure that the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
One of the most important things to remember when making this recipe is to chop your ingredients into small, even pieces. This will help them to cook evenly and prevent the chicken from drying out.
Frozen chicken can release a lot of water as it cooks and this can make the sauce watery. Thaw the chicken completely before cooking.
Don’t forget to toast the cashews! This will help to bring out their flavor and make them extra crunchy.
Another tip for making this recipe perfect is to chop the cashew evenly. If they are not, they will either burn in the pan or not cook at all. I like to use a food processor to chop my nuts but you can also chop them by hand. Just make sure that they are all roughly the same size.
Make sure that the sauce is thick and not watery. This can happen if you cook the sauce for too long or if you add too much water to it. To avoid this, cook the sauce until it is thick and bubbly and then turn off the heat. Allow it to sit for a minute or two so that it can thicken up even more.
If you find that the sauce is too thick, you can add a little bit of water to it until it reaches the desired consistency.
If you want a little extra flavor, you can marinate the chicken in the sauce for 30 minutes to an hour before cooking. This will help to infuse the chicken with flavor.
If you want a little bit of spice, you can add some red pepper flakes, chili sauce, or chopped jalapeno peppers to the dish.
This recipe is great for meal prep! You can chop the veggies, dice the chicken, and make the sauce ahead of time. Store everything in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to cook.
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How Many Weight Watchers Points in Cashew Chicken
This recipe comes in at 6 points on my personal plan. That is making it exactly as written. I am sure there are changes that you can make to lower the points but with how delicious this recipe is, I am happy with it just the way it is.
With the new personal points plan from WW, your points might be different than mine. In that case, here is the direct link to the recipe in the WW recipe builder app. You can see how many points Cashew Chicken wraps are for you. This only works for WW members in the US. If you are outside of the US, you will need to enter it manually.
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Ingredients
Get the full list of ingredients, with measurements, and step-by-step instructions at the bottom of the post in the printable recipe card.
- Soy sauce or tamari
- Crunchy cashew butter
- Honey
- Rice vinegar
- Garlic cloves
- Sesame oil
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Cooking spray
- Green onions
- Salt and pepper
- Bibb lettuce
- Cashews
How to Make Cashew Chicken
Whisk together the soy sauce, peanut butter, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, and crushed red pepper flakes in a large bowl. Add the cubed chicken breast and gently toss to combine. Set aside.
Spray a large nonstick skillet set over medium heat. Add the white part of the green onions and garlic. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally until the onion starts to develop some color, approximately 2-3 minutes.
Pour the 1-inch pieces of chicken and sauce into the skillet and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce starts to thicken approximately 8-10 minutes.
Remove from heat and divide the chicken mixture between the Bibb lettuce leaves. Top each wrap with the sliced green onions and chopped cashews and serve immediately. Enjoy!
More Takeout Copycats
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- Copycat KFC Crispy Chicken Strips Recipe
- Amazing Copycat Cheesecake Factory Louisiana Chicken Pasta
- Healthy Broccoli Cheddar Soup {Panera Copycat}
- Easy Caprese Chicken
- Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi recipe
Cashew Chicken
Ingredients
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp crunchy cashew butter room temperature
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1-2 large garlic cloves minced
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes For less heat use ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes instead
Ingredients:
- 1 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
- cooking spray
- 3 large green onions sliced (white and green parts separated)
- 1-2 cloves garlic minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 head Bibb lettuce separated, rinsed, and patted dry
- ⅓ cup chopped cashews lightly salted
Directions
- Whisk together the soy sauce, peanut butter, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, and crushed red pepper flakes in a large bowl. Add the cubed chicken breast and gently toss to combine. Set aside.
- Spray a large nonstick skillet set over medium heat. Add white part of green onions and garlic. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to develop some color, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Pour the chicken and sauce into the skillet and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce starts to thicken approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and divide the chicken mixture between the Bibb lettuce leaves. Top each wrap with the sliced green onions and chopped cashews and serve immediately. Enjoy!
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