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Skip take out and make this easy and delicious Crock Pot Cashew Chicken Recipe at home. Your family will love it and you will save time and money. It’s a great meal.

A serving of Cashew chicken with broccoli, cashews and red bell pepper on a wooden spoon with cashew chicken in the background in the slow cooker
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I have another delicious (but easy) crock pot recipe. This slow cooker cashew chicken is easy to make and packed with flavor. This chicken recipe also works great on the stove top.

You might also like Crockpot orange chicken for another easy meal in the slow cooker. Make sure to check out all our easy crock pot recipes.

Why This Recipe Works

We love this recipe as the chicken cooks tender in the flavorful sauce. This recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight or to feed a crowd. The chicken and veggie mixture is bursting with flavor and even better served over white rice.

We love that right before serving it is topped with cashews for the extra flavor and texture. If you love getting this chicken stir fry at your local Asian restaurant, you will love it even more making it at home.

Ingredients

Cashew Chicken Ingredients - Chicken breasts diced into pieces, cornstarch, olive oil, chicken broth, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, ground ginger, broccoli, red bell pepper, cashew halves, green onions, sesame seeds
  • Chicken Breasts – Cut into bite size pieces to easily serve.
  • Soy Sauce – Check out our Soy Sauce Substitutions if you are out.

For the full recipe and ingredients, scroll to the bottom for the recipe card.

Variations Ideas

  • Seasoning – Feel free to change the seasoning or add in spices to what you prefer. Brown sugar will add a hint of sweetness that blends well with the other ingredients. Red pepper flakes is another great option as it adds a hint of spice.
  • Veggies – You can easily change the vegetables or add in green bell pepper or slice zucchini.
  • Cornstarch – If you are out of Cornstarch, check out The Best Substitute for Cornstarch. We usually use all purpose flour.
  • Chicken – We used chicken breast but you can use chicken breast tenders or boneless chicken thighs to make this recipe.

Step by Step Instructions

Diced chicken in the slow cooker topped with cornstarch, olive oil, chicken broth, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger

Step 1 – Place the chicken, cornstarch, olive oil, chicken broth, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic and ground ginger into a crock pot.

Combining the chicken into the sauce in the slow cooker with a wooden spoon

Step 2 – Stir to combine all the ingredients in the crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for approximately 3 hours until the tender chicken is cooked through.

Topping the cooked chicken mixture with red bell pepper and chopped broccoli

Step 3 – Stir the broccoli and diced bell pepper into the crock pot. Cover and cook on high for 20-30 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

Topping the cashews with chicken, broccoli and red bell peppers

Step 4 – Stir in the cashews. Serve topped with the diced green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips

  • Coat Chicken – We place chicken in the slow cooker and topped with the cornstarch mixture. But if you prefer, you can also place chicken in a freezer bag to coat the chicken. There is no need to brown chicken before placing in the slow cooker.
  • Prepare Veggies – Try to cut the vegetables about the same size so they cook evenly in the slow cooker. Wait to add the vegetables towards the end of cooking time so they do not get mushy.
Cashew Chicken topped on white rice on a plate with chopsticks

Serving Suggestions

This cashew chicken can be served just as it is. But we like to serve with a side of Instant Pot White Rice or Instant Pot Brown Rice to make it more filling. Drizzle with more soy sauce if you prefer then serve.

Cashew chicken in the slow cooker with a wooden spoon

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make on the Stovetop?

Yes, the chicken and veggies with the sauce all cook easily in a large skillet. See the recipe card for specific instructions.

Can I Prepare ahead of Time?

Yes, we recommend preparing the veggies ahead of time and storing in the fridge. This will make cooking day easier as you can simply dump the ingredients straight into the slow cooker.

How to Store Leftover Cashew Chicken

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Can I Freeze Cashew Chicken?

Allow the cashew chicken to cool to room temperature. Spoon the leftovers in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the fridge then reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

More Easy Asian Recipes to Try

We love to hear from you. If you make this Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken Recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.

Crock Pot Cashew Chicken

5 from 13 votes
Skip take out and make this easy and delicious Cashew chicken recipe at home. Your family will love it and you will save time and money. It's a great meal.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
To Cook the Vegetables: 30 minutes
Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes
Servings 6 – 8
Cuisine Chinese
Course Main Course
Calories 368

Ingredients

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Instructions

  • Place the chicken, cornstarch, olive oil, chicken broth, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic and ground ginger into a crock pot.
  • Stir to combine all the ingredients in the crock pot.
  • Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for approximately 3 hours until the chicken is cooked through.
  • Stir the broccoli and diced bell pepper into the crock pot. Cover and cook on high for 20-30 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
  • Stir in the cashews.
  • Serve topped with the diced green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.  
How to Make this Recipe on the Stove Top: 
In a gallon ziplock bag, place the chicken with the cornstarch.  Shake to evenly coat the chicken with the cornstarch. 
Heat ½ Tbsp of Olive Oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat until hot. Add the chicken and cook until the chicken is cooked through (approximately 4-6 minutes).  Remove the chicken to a separate plate. 
In a mixing bowl, combine the chicken broth, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil and the remaining cornstarch.  Set aside.
Then heat the remaining olive oil in the skillet over medium heat until hot.  Add in the minced garlic, broccoli and bell pepper.  Sprinkle the ground ginger, salt and pepper over these veggies.  Sauté the veggies in the skillet until they are the tenderness that you desire (5-7 minutes). 
Then pour in the sauce mixture.  Cook this mixture with the veggies over medium heat until the sauce begins to boil and thickens (1-3 minutes). 
Stir in the chicken and cashews into the skillet with the veggies and sauce. 
Serve topped with the green onions and sesame seeds. 
 

Nutrition Facts

Calories 368kcal, Carbohydrates 16g, Protein 37g, Fat 17g, Saturated Fat 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat 3g, Monounsaturated Fat 9g, Trans Fat 0.02g, Cholesterol 97mg, Sodium 578mg, Potassium 860mg, Fiber 3g, Sugar 6g, Vitamin A 936IU, Vitamin C 56mg, Calcium 55mg, Iron 3mg

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

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Comments

  1. MICHELLE L BAKER says:

    5 stars
    cashews are my favorite nut, so I had to try this and love it.

  2. Sabrina says:

    5 stars
    My husband and I loved this one!

  3. Courtney says:

    Love your recipes and your live segments! I’ve yet to do any of the freezer meals I’m usually just throwing either fresh or frozen meat into the instant pot and adding everything in at that time. I’m curious as to how much of the spices get left in the freezer bag, doesn’t that leave the food under seasoned and waste the spice??

  4. Susanne says:

    5 stars
    The whole family thought this was really yummy! And super easy to make. Thanks for the recipe!