Best Cashew Chicken Recipe

5 from 2 votes

This sweet, crispy, saucy recipe for Cashew Chicken is a breeze to make at home and tastes just as good as your favorite takeout. Each crispy piece of chicken is coated in a savory cashew and garlic sauce with sauteed veggies.

Prep Time5

Cook Time25

Total Time25

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Chinese

Servings: people

Calories: 577kcal

Author: The Carefree Kitchen

Ingredients

Chicken Brine

2 pounds Chicken Breasts or chicken thighs, cut into 1" pieces
8 cups Water cold
1 teaspoon Baking Soda

Crispy Chicken Batter

2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
1 large Egg White
¼ teaspoon Pepper
4 Tablespoons Avocado Oil to pan fry the chicken

Garlic Sauce

⅓ cup Soy Sauce
⅓ cup Chicken Broth
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
1 clove Garlic grated or minced
1 teaspoon Ginger grated or minced
2 teaspoons Rice Wine Vinegar
½ teaspooon Sesame Oil
1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
1 medium Onion cut into ¾" chunks
2 medium Bell Pepper cut into ¾" chunks (any color)
½ cup Cashews raw or lightly salted

Instructions

Chicken Brine

Place diced chicken in a bowl and cover with cold water. Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda, mix, and let the chicken sit while you are preparing the other ingredients. (This brine will make your chicken even more tender)

How to Make Pan Fried Crispy Chicken Bites

Drain the water off the chicken chunks. Use a paper towel to pat dry, then add the chicken back to your bowl. Sprinkle 2 Tablespoons of cornstarch over the chicken and mix using tongs. Add the soy sauce, egg white, and pepper. Toss again until combined and the cornstarch mixture resembles a paste.
Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add the avocado oil. Add the chicken to the hot pan leaving space between each piece of chicken. (Note: You might need to cook your chicken in two batches.) Cook for 3-4 minutes until the chicken is golden brown on the pan side. Use the tongs to flip the chicken and cook again until lightly golden brown. If you need to, sear on a third side so all sides of the chicken are crispy. Once crispy and golden, transfer chicken to a paper towel lined plate.

How to Cook the Veggies

In the same pan, add the onions and cook for about 2 minutes. Add the peppers and cook for another 2 minutes, or until the onions and peppers are slightly tender.

How to Make Garlic Sauce

In a small bowl add the soy sauce, chicken broth, brown sugar, grated garlic, grated ginger, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, and cornstarch. Whisk together until the cornstarch is dissolved, then add to the pan.
Add the sauce to the pan with the vegges and cook over medium heat until the sauce comes to a boil. Add the chicken and cashews, toss in the sauce, then remove from heat. Serve immediately over prepared rice. Enjoy!

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