This slow cooker cashew chicken is better than any take out! And the best part is it is easy to make with the help of your crockpot.
Things are getting a little fun and crazy at our house! My son is getting married in just over six weeks and we couldn’t be more excited. My brain has kicked into full wedding gear and I am planning a bridal shower, a rehearsal dinner (both in Utah) and then a fun wedding party here in Portland. You may remember the Wedding Carnival I put on for our other son who got married 3 1/2 years ago. We’re not doing a carnival this time but it’s going to be a fun party and you can look forward to some wedding posts coming up. This party will be in a 100 year old barn!
I woke up at 3 am the other night with a million wedding ideas and thoughts running through my mind and sleep was not one of them. I had a busy day ahead of me and a little sleep would have been nice but I was glad I had planned on popping this Cashew Chicken into the slow cooker before I left for book club that morning. Coming home to dinner being all ready was wonderful.
How To Make Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken
It’s so easy to do and it really is delicious! Cashew Nut Chicken is my favorite dish to order when we go out for Chinese and I get it every time. But now, I don’t have to wait to go out to enjoy this yummy dish.
After cutting the chicken up into chunks, just put it in a bag with some cornstarch and pepper and shake so that all the pieces get coated. Then just brown it in some oil and put it into the slow cooker with the yummy sauce you have mixed up and stir it so that the chicken gets covered in the sauce.
About three hours later you have dinner ready. Chicken doesn’t need to cook as long as beef or pork. Stir it a couple of times if you can during the cooking process to get the sauce evenly distributed. You can put the cashews in at the beginning but I prefer to put mine in half way through so they still have a bit of crunch but either way works. You can also wait and just sprinkle them on top when are ready to serve.
We love it served over white rice and then sprinkled with green onions and a few more cashews for good measure. I also have a gluten free cashew chicken recipe that is just as delicious!
Make sure to check out more easy crockpot dinners:
My favorite kitchen tools for Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken:
SLOW COOKER – My favorite one is the classic, the Rival CrockPot. In fact, I love it so much I own three of them. Two 6 qt and one 4 qt.
CROCK POT LINER BAGS – These liner bags are a life saver and make clean up so much easier and faster! Stock up on them!
HOLIDAY SLOW COOKER COOKBOOK – For more delicious slow cooker recipes check out my new cookbook – 100 recipes!
For all of my other favorite kitchen products and tools visit my Amazon Store.
Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken Recipe
All the flavor of your favorite take out cashew chicken, but with an easy crockpot recipe.
- 2 lbs. boneless chicken breasts (I used 4 pieces)
- 4 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 Tbsp canola oil
- 1/2 C 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 C cashews
- green onions for garnish
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Combine cornstarch and pepper together in a plastic storage bag. Add chicken and shake to coat.
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Heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat.
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Add chicken in single layer and cook on each side until brown, about 2 minutes each side.
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Place chicken in slow cooker.
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Combine soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, sweet chili sauce, sugar, garlic, ginger and pepper flakes in a bowl. Pour over chicken.
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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.
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Cook on low for 3 - 4 hours (I did it for 3)
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Serve over rice and garnish with green onion
Recipe adapted from The Recipe Critic.
Did you know I wrote a cookbook? Check out the Holiday Slow Cooker Cookbook for 100 delicious recipes.
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Yum! Thanks for sharing! This is going on the menu for next week.
Jen, Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
Making this soon for sure. We need a little variety and this looks delicious. Is sweet chili sauce with the Asia foods in a supermarket?
Marm, Yes, you can usually find it at your local grocery in the Asian aisle.
I can’t believe it’s been 3 1/2 years since the wedding and carnival! I loved the photos from that.
I made a similar dish the other night in my wok and didn’t like the sauce as much. Too much ketchup. I will have to try the sweet chili sauce, as it’s my favorite.
Holly, I know it’s hard to believe. My other son is getting married soon. Give it a try with the sweet chili sauce, I think it will make a difference.
Could this be made in a wok instead of a slow cooker? How would the cooking instructions change?
I have only done it in the slow cooker but I’m sure it could. It would just cook much faster.
I made this a few days ago and it was a huge hit! Tonight is leftovers for dinner and I know it will be a fight to have this one.
Thanks for sharing your recipe.
I love hearing that! So glad it was enjoyed so much
Look delicious! How much is 1/2 C soy sauce??im not sure if this abbreviation. Thanks. X
C stands for cup
Looks so delicious!! Now that I’m back to work I’m always looking for easy simple recipes…especially slow cooker recipes. This is definitely making my meal plan for next week. Thanks so much!!
Crystal. Slow Cooker meals are the best! Enjoy!
Made this favourite meal ever!
Tally – it is great, isn’t it!! So glad you love it too.
Hi Leigh Anne,
I can’t wait to try this. It looks so good.
I was just wondering…..I signed up for your newsletter, but when I went to print your top 10 recipes it told me that I could only print out page 1 of 1. Just wondering if you would mind sending it to me again. Thanks so much.
P.S. Loved the wedding pictures and the video
Hi Leigh Anne,
I got it to print off for me. Thanks so much.
If I wanted to add vegetables, should I double the sauce? Love your recipes!
Not sure on that one, I’d just experiment and see how it works. Maybe 1 1/2 times?
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?