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This slow cooker cashew chicken is better than any Chinese takeout! And the best part is it is easy to make with the help of your crockpot.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
Cashew Chicken is a favorite Chinese take out item, but now you can enjoy all the delicious flavors of this dish made at home in your slow cooker! This recipe is perfect for a busy day. Put everything in the crock pot and dinner is ready when you walk in the door.
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken breasts. Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. If you prefer you could use skinless boneless chicken thighs.
- Cornstarch
- Black pepper
- Canola oil. Can also use vegetable oil or a mild flavored oil.
- Soy sauce
- Rice wine vinegar. Find it on the Asian aisle.
- Ketchup
- Sweet chili sauce
- Dark brown sugar
- Garlic cloves
- Fresh ginger
- Red pepper flakes
- Cashews
- Green onions for garnish
How To Make Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken
- Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine cornstarch and pepper together in a plastic storage bag. Add chicken and shake to coat.
- Heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat.
- Add chicken in single layer and cook on each side until brown, about 2 minutes each side.
- Place chicken in slow cooker.
- Combine soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, sweet chili sauce, sugar, garlic, ginger and pepper flakes in a bowl. Pour over chicken. Stir so that all the chicken is covered in sauce.
- Add cashews half way through the baking time so they don’t get as soft but you can add them at the beginning if your prefer. You can also just sprinkle them on top before serving.
- Cook on low for 3 – 4 hours (I did it for 3)
- Serve over rice and garnish with green onion
- Tip #1
- We love to serve it over white rice or brown rice and sprinkle with some green onions and a few more cashews.
Tips for Making Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken
- Substitute skinless, boneless chick thighs for chicken breasts if you prefer.
- Add veggies into the crockpot with the chicken. A firmer veggie such as carrots or broccoli. If using a softer veggie such as squash or zucchini, add it in the last hour of cooking.
- To make it gluten-free, substitute cornstarch for the flour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add veggies to this?
You could definitely add these veggies into the crockpot with the chicken or cook them separately and serve with it:
Carrots
Broccoli
Red Bell Pepper and Green Bell Peppers
Squash
Zucchini
Onion
Cauliflower
Can I freeze slow cooker cashew chicken?
After cooking, let the chicken cool completely.
Place in an airtight freezer container or a zippered plastic freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible.
Freeze for up to three months.
Allow to thaw in the refrigerator.
Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Check out more easy crockpot dinners:
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Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. boneless chicken breasts (I used 4 pieces)
- 4 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 Tbsp canola oil
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 4 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 4 Tbsp ketchup
- 2 Tbsp sweet chili sauce
- 2 Tbsp dark brown sugar
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger minced
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 cup cashews
- green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Combine cornstarch and pepper together in a plastic storage bag. Add chicken and shake to coat.
- Heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat.
- Add chicken in single layer and cook on each side until brown, about 2 minutes each side.
- Place chicken in slow cooker.
- Combine soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, sweet chili sauce, sugar, garlic, ginger and pepper flakes in a bowl. Pour over chicken.
- I add my cashews half way through the baking timeso they don’t get as soft but you can add them at the beginning if your prefer.
- Cook on low for 3 – 4 hours (I did it for 3)
- Serve over rice and garnish with green onion
Tips & Notes:
Carrots
Broccoli
Red Bell Pepper and Green Bell Peppers
Squash
Zucchini
Onion
Cauliflower
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Nutrition Facts:
Emma Mc says
This has become a firm favourite in my house. An easy to follow recipe with no incredibly hard to find ingredients. Thank you!
Leigh Anne says
So glad you love it too!
Elizabeth S. says
Hi Leigh Anne,
I am a late bloomer when it comes to slow cookers so I have a question that may be obvious to others. Sorry but I am wondering if I can double this recipe or is that not something you can do with crockpot recipes?
Pamela says
If I wanted to add vegetables, should I double the sauce? Love your recipes!
Leigh Anne says
Not sure on that one, I’d just experiment and see how it works. Maybe 1 1/2 times?